Need advice on choosing another Tow Vehicle?

jerem0621 wrote:
My dad has an 03 Ram Cummins 2500 that gets about the same empty on highway trips. He routinely gets 16-18 mpg mixed driving. He gets 10-11 mpg towing his 36 ft fiver at 55-60 mph.

Good trucks but the newer Rams with the cummins do not get that kind of MPG. The 03-05 were the best HD's for MPG and a good choice.

Your half ton could have a gear swap to a 3.73 or 4.11 and would make a more capable towing machine.

Good luck no matter what you decide.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Yeah, this is what I have heard as well. 2005 was the last year that Dodge put the 5.9 in their trucks. I heard they switched to the 6.3 in 2006 and lost fuel economy and then added a converter of some sort and lost even more. If you do a search you will find that you can buy a 2006 for less then a 2005, at least around here it is that way.

10-11 MPG seems a little low, but my dad is not pulling that big of a trailer either.

There are a couple of 2005's with the 5.9 about 250 miles for up in Oklahoma that are of interest. One is $11,000 and the other is $8,900. Both have less then 160,000 miles on them. The $8,900 looks a little rough on the outside and that is why it might be priced so low. I would have to drive up there and give them both a test drive with my friend who is a retired Army diesel mechanic and a Dodge nut. ( has been trying to get me to come over to the "dark side" for years. LOL!