Buying used (250/2500), what to avoid (engine/trans known issues)

[dodge man]

Being a past owner of a 2004 with a Cummins, I'm betting his overhead actually says 25 mpg, mine said 21 all the time but I really got 14 to 16 mpg. I will say his combinations of 2wd and the manual transmission has a reputation of hauling down really good fuel mileage. 20 mpg or a little better is possible.

 

[motownbrowne]

Being a past owner of a 2004 with a Cummins, I'm betting his overhead actually says 25 mpg, mine said 21 all the time but I really got 14 to 16 mpg. I will say his combinations of 2wd and the manual transmission has a reputation of hauling down really good fuel mileage. 20 mpg or a little better is possible.

Yeah, I'd believe 20 with a 2wd six speed. I'd probably even believe 22 going 60 on the highway. 25 though is pretty hard to believe. Maybe on the display, but not in real life.

 

[coobie]

Oh c'mon, you really expect us to believe that you're getting over 25 mpg with a 3/4 ton truck?? Really??

I used to get 22 mpg,s on the highway with my 2004 dodge 3/4 ton cummins 5.9 diesel driving 55-65 mph.

 

[motownbrowne]

I used to get 22 mpg,s on the highway with my 2004 dodge 3/4 ton cummins 5.9 diesel driving 55-65 mph.

Yep, I'd believe that. 25 mpg is more than 10% better than that.

 

[terryknight]

Oh c'mon, you really expect us to believe that you're getting over 25 mpg with a 3/4 ton truck?? Really??

i believe him.... 2wd 6 speed is a great truck for getting good fuel economy, dad had a 04 2wd auto cummins that would do 22-23 without any trouble, he now has a 96 PSD 2wd auto that will do 26 without any trouble, i have a 94 PSD 4x4, 5 speed that i have seen 24.8 out of once and routinely does 21.6-22.4.

 

[4570Man]

Around here you'd be stuck with a gas truck at that budget. Any decent diesel is bringing 25k or better. You definitely need a 3/4 or 1 ton. A 5.4 Ford has adequate power as long as you don't expect to go hot roding around while loaded. The v10 is way stronger though. A buddy has a Ford V10 and a Chevy 6.0 and he says the Ford will pass anything except a gas station. In reality it can't run with a diesel, but he has less than 1/4 as much in that truck VS a comparable diesel truck.

 

[sd455dan]

Yeah, I'd believe 20 with a 2wd six speed. I'd probably even believe 22 going 60 on the highway. 25 though is pretty hard to believe. Maybe on the display, but not in real life.

My best full tank to empty on my 03 3500 4x4 Quad cab with nv5600 was 24.4 MPG- hand calculated.
But the over head was reading over 28 mpg... that was all hiway/interstate.
about 17 pulling the 10 k fiver with a lite load and as low as 13.5 with 10 k load + trailer weight on local roads,
Woops- that is unloaded one way- loaded the other and repeat till re fill So the #s would be lower for fully loaded the whole trip
unloaded short- just town and back (15 miles total) for a whole tank nets about 18.5 mpg

Since the owner has only had his 2500 ram for 3 weeks he may have trusted the overhead display,
have not heard of any 2007 and older rams having accurate fuel mileage displays- and in every case I have heard of they always give (over optimistic) mileage

 

[DieselBound]

That's about 9k worth of trailer and cargo: hauled a good 60+ miles, even through Seattle. 23 year old 7.3L IDI F250 with approximately 250k miles. Bought the truck about 3 years ago for $2,500. Trailer was also $2,500.

Truck will sit for months on end (it's a farm truck). No matter what, glow plug it and it fires off. No electronics (other than a $70 GP controller). 5spd with clutch that's only got about 35k miles on it. If I need something more powerful I'll go rent it.

 

[jack707]

Got a different question I have a Chevy 01 4th with the 6.0 gas engine. I would like to take that engine out and put a 5.9 Cummings 1st generation in how much work will it be? . I. Thing both axles will be strong enough the only question is the engine and tyranny to get together.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Got a different question I have a Chevy 01 4th with the 6.0 gas engine. I would like to take that engine out and put a 5.9 Cummings 1st generation in how much work will it be? . I. Thing both axles will be strong enough the only question is the engine and tyranny to get together.

Google is your friend, many swaps like that done and documented, easy to do a search and find loads of info...