Author

[Modern View]

JRosenberger 03-17-2013 17:53:59 198.229.236.124 Report to Moderator

Id like to add a few things to the discussion. Hopefully my experience will help clear a few things up for prospective buyers. I owned a Dodge 2500 w/ the hemi engine. Bought it with 20k, traded it with 80k. It was an 04 model year - regular cab long bed 4x4 with the 5 speed automatic and 4.10 gears. 265/70/17 rubber. The best mileage the truck EVER got was 13.1 - thats unloaded, southbound on I-57 with a tailwind. I pulled a Big Tex 22.5k gooseneck trailer with the truck. With a 15k load the truck regularly returned 7mpg. The hemi is a very good engine, but it is not the best towing engine. It does not have the low end grunt like a large cubic inch gas engine would. Have to keep the RPMs up to move the load. The engine was using almost 3 full quarts of oil per oil change interval by the time I traded the truck. It had been used for farm work and it hauled heavy loads. To a buyer who tows occasionally, a hemi powered Dodge truck might be great. To a buyer who plans to tow heavy loads daily, perhaps consider a diesel or be prepared to trade pickups often. [Reply]   [No Email]