Dodge 1500 Diesel

[BoatingWilly]

Has anyone had any experience with the 1/2 ton Dodge diesel? I am currently towing aprox. 5000 Lbs with a 2012 Hemi. Milage is generally poor (9-10 mpg) and the tranny shifts a lot. I would like to improve performance and milage and wondered if the 1/2 ton diesel would do both. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

Real owner here not some interweb want-to-be truck expert.

I have about 14,000 miles on it now (see sig for truck stats) and have loved every mile of it. makes 27-28 MPG highway without any problem and @ 77 mph! Try that with a Ecoboost, never going to happen. Towing my 24' Larson boat weighing in @ 6,200#+ it pulls down 17-19 mpg @ 65 mph again the EB can't come close to it.

The ride is also in a class of it's own, neither the Ford or the GM can come close to it. Even my Dad said it rides as good as his 2014 Caddy! Has the best sat/nav system, the Uconnect rocks and unlike what others have said I like having the nav integrated.

As far as payload my loaded Laramie has a door sticker P/L rating of 1085# and tow rating of 7850#. Go over to the ecodiesel forum and there are guys towing well over the ratings. I don't, won't and would not recommend it but we have one guy towing a 10,000#+ TH with his.

Like the Ecoboost this truck is going to prove itself to be a very good towing machine. Yep the Ecoboost is a very good truck and so is the Ecodiesel.

Towing a 5000# RV is not a problem for this truck. Again go over to ram1500diesel.com and check out the towing section to see what these trucks can do.

Here are a few pics of her.





Don

[Samsonsworld]

I have nothing against the ecodiesel or power (pick one, because you don't get both). I just get a kick out of those who think its the be-all end-all. It is not without it's flaws.

[dshelley]

I believe it's the number of smiling faces per mile of others who have had the wisdom to recognize it's ability to provide owner satisfaction. They are selling that well. Perhaps even trolling Eco or Boost (pick one because you don't get both) drivers may one day recognize its value.

[Samsonsworld]

ChooChooMan74 wrote:
26 to 30+ highway.

Is that the 0-60 time in seconds while towing? :B

[ChooChooMan74]

OH48Lt wrote:
If you're willing to give a $4000 premium just to get an underpowered foreign diesel in a "truck" with the lowest payload in its class, just to (maybe) save a few bucks at the pump, go for it. The hemi you have now is a much better towing machine, but I have to agree, that 9-10 mpg is bad. Chevy/GMC and Ford both have better options in payload and road/towing fuel economy.

have you driven one?

Expect on 12 to 16 towing with the ecodiesel. 20 to 24 combined wiyh no trailer, and 26 to 30+ highway.

[dshelley]

BillyW, yeh, comments like that by those who don't own the product being discussed and know little about it confirm there are some heads buried in the sand. Those who own the ED are quite happy with them and enjoy their towing abilities fine. The op mentioned a 5000 pound trailer, of which the ED would pull with ease and have plenty payload for passengers and provisions. If I were buying tomorrow for such a task, that ED would be on top of the list. I had a 2013 5.7 RAM with 3.55 rear and 6 speed. I didn't think the transmission allowed the engine to make its power as well as it should. I traded it for a 2014 5.7 with 3.92 rear and 8 speed. The difference is night and day. It pulls my trailer much better and is so much better in everyday driving. Fuel mileage pulling a 5000 pound full frontal area trailer would probably average around 10. About the same as a Eco(or)Boost, a GM 5.3 or 6.0 or any other capable half ton truck. That trailer's wind resistance requires power to overcome at highway speeds and the only way to make power is to burn fuel.
My advice to the op, if you think you might enjoy a diesel powered half ton Ram, get it and enjoy it. It's limitations are beyond your stated requirements.

[Samsonsworld]

At $2 per gallon, you might save $40 per month at 12-15k miles per year. I guess $40 is $40 but its hardly worth a trade, unless you're just wanting a new truck.

Also, I'm not sure how 240hp is a superior driving experience but each to his own. It should be plenty for a small trailer...as long as you don't have to pass.

[TurnThePage]

OH48Lt wrote:
If you're willing to give a $4000 premium just to get an underpowered foreign diesel in a "truck" with the lowest payload in its class, just to (maybe) save a few bucks at the pump, go for it. The hemi you have now is a much better towing machine, but I have to agree, that 9-10 mpg is bad. Chevy/GMC and Ford both have better options in payload and road/towing fuel economy.

My Hemi is getting 9 - 10 mpg towing in the hills and mountains of the northwest. The F150 it replaced was getting 5 - 8. The ED is not a $4000 premium over the Hemi. And around here at least, the ED is as inexpensive as any comparable Ford, while getting superior driving AND towing mileage. I would love to give one a test tow.

[OH48Lt]

If you're willing to give a $4000 premium just to get an underpowered foreign diesel in a "truck" with the lowest payload in its class, just to (maybe) save a few bucks at the pump, go for it. The hemi you have now is a much better towing machine, but I have to agree, that 9-10 mpg is bad. Chevy/GMC and Ford both have better options in payload and road/towing fuel economy.

[IdaD]

Another Ecodiesel Read

I'd personally get an Ecoboost if I were buying a half ton, but the Ecodiesel does put up some impressive fuel economy numbers.

[ib516]

Seems to do just fine as a tow vehicle and around 5000 pounds.

[Samsonsworld]

+1. I think the ecodiesel would be a great match for a 5k trailer.

[APT]

9-10mpg is quite good for any high walled RV pulled by a gas engine. You may get 11-12mpg with any diesel, the Ram 1500 3.0L or Ram 3500 6.7L. Are your towing miles that significant to justify? 9mpg vs. 12mpg @ $4/gal for either fuel towing 5000 miles saves $555.

If the trans is shifting a lot by whatever definition you have, then lock out the highest gear or two. Also use tow/haul mode. Preventing the transmission from using too high a gear will provide less shifting nuisance, better throttle response, and possibly use less fuel. At 65mph on flat highway, I recommend keeping your engine in the 2500-3000rpm range.

[ChooChooMan74]

I just picked up a RAM (not a Dodge, since they and Ram Trucks split back a few years now) 1500 with the 3.0l diesel. I have not towed with it, but with the Green Diesel Tune, I am getting on either side of 30 highway with it. Head on over to Ram1500diesel.com and lots of friendly people will assist you in answering your questions.

[Bionic_Man]

The EcoDiesel would likely do very well towing that small of a trailer. MPG would certainly be increased, but I am not sure what you mean by "improved performance".

The Hemi has more HP, and the EcoDiesel would have more gears, so you likely would shift more in the new truck if that is what you are trying to change.