This is posted so that anyone thinking about buying a new 06 can hear information from a person that just purchased one.

Sold my 99 4x4 Long Bed 5 Spd and purchased the 06. Reasons were with three kids those back doors looked very good. Family complained about the noise with the 99. It was all stock except for tires.

06 is a 3500 4x4 with 6 spd Big Horn Edition - SLT, Long Bed. Purchased 3/31/06. Not a daily driver used for excursions into the great outdoors carrying a camper and pulling a boat, horse trailer, 4-wheelers or snowmobiles.

Started the trip on Thursday 5/11 and got home 5/14. At the start of the trip the truck had 800 miles. Pulled into the driveway with almost 1600 miles. Pulled a small boat that weighs probaly about 2000 lbs and carried a Honda Foreman 4x4 ATV.

Likes - The new truck handled better than the old at higher speeds. The new truck doesn't rattle nearly as bad. No complaints from the family. Drives nice, power is unbelievable.

Dislikes - The seats didn't seem comfortable in the front. Maybe they are not broken in yet. Visability on the posts seemed somewhat impaired. Dodge still doesn't put a good sound system in their trucks (I now this is an easy upgrade and not an important factor in choosing this type of truck, still sub-par quality) and the main dislike - MPG!!!!!! I got 12.47 miles per gallon hand calculated. Compared to the 22 - 24 I got with the old truck I was greatly disappointed. Took the truck into the dealer before I left for the fishing trip and asked if it had the latest "Code" on it. I was told it did. I did not go to the dealer I purchaseed the truck from here in North Idaho as there is some animosity between the dealers I feel. I will definately take the truck back to the dealer I purchased it from and have them verify the Code on the truck. It was made in 07/05 so it is one of the first ones I think. I sure hope it need reflashed.

All in all if it weren't for the MPG I would be happy with the trade. Hopefully I can get that solved and get up to aroung 18 - 20 MPG.


Stock 99 CTD - Old
06 CTD 6 Spd 4x4 Big Horn Ram 3500 L.B.

 

Been there done that...I was getting 13.8 in my "06" after honest 21+ from my "03". Was dissapointed to say the least! Overhead was way off. It didn't seem to matter if it was town or freeway. Then I had a CEL ....threw a code "battery rational sensor"....took it to the dealer and they flashed it. I have 2500 miles on it, just took a 500 mile round trip. got 20.2 MPG was getting 16.5 in town . Some will say they just need to break in...and I agree...but the flash was an overnight fix...The overhead is almost on...and the MPG are up.... Hang in there...and get a good dealer to take care of it.

 

I just made an 845 mile trip in my 06. I started off with almost 100 miles on the odo. Essentially empty with all interstate except 30 miles and 2 trips over passes. Hand calculated for the first tank was 17.6 mpg with over head reading 17.0 I drove 69-70 most of the way. Anytime I went over 70 I could see the miles clicking off on the DTE reading.

Carl

 

I just took my first road trip also, I got 16.8 mpg in between 70 and 75 mph. The truck only had 800 miles on it when I started, I am hoping it improves to around 18mpg.

 

As I mentioned I did not take it to the dealer I purchased it from. I purchased it from a small town dealer that still knows you by name and sight. I took it to a large dealer that works on volume not customer service. I hope to get it back to the dealer I bought it from and have them verify the truck has the latest flash. I could live with 16 in town and 18 on the hwy but 12.47 MPG hurts at the pump. Thanks.

 

You may also want to try to advance the timing either by doing the tone ring mod or the Rokktech ATS. The timing is retarded quite a bit on the newer (04.5-06) Cummins in order to decrease NOX emissions. I installed the Rokktech sensor and immediately got an additional 1.0 MPG hand calced on the first tank.

 

I picked up my truck from Lou Fuzs, first tank averaged 16.6 over 540 miles or so, the second tank went 640 for a little bit under 18MPG. Overhead is within a few tenths each time. Hang in there, There should not be that kind of difference for similar trucks. Got to be something wrong or programming related. They should not go that low, most guys that pull huge amounts of weight do better than that. Scotty

 

Ive had my 06 for about 2 weeks and i have not been on the highways at all yet! Truck has little over 1000 miles and the over head has just hit 18 mpg and was between 16.5 to 17 at around 600 miles. Is this concidered good?

 

I wish I could find out about this magic reflash. I to am pleased with my first dodge, but my mileage is terrible 10-12 mpg unloaded 70 mph or slower. I have just turned 1500 miles and still see no improvement. Does any one have this magic tsb #

 

Someone please post it. Mine is at 2100 and it still sucks. 11-13. Mostly local and some hard running for break in but not too much

 

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/index.html

 

I do not want to be a dummy, but I read the TSB and it says for white smoke at start up and oil pressure problems which I have neither. Is this the TSB that everyone is claiming a gas mileage improvement when it cures there white smoke problem? Again my truck is perfect running just crap mileage.

If this is the TSB, do I say I have white smoke at startup to Qualify for this update?

If they do it, will it hurt my truck because it runs great now? ANy help is appreciated before I go broke buying diesal and paying a truck note

 

I had mine in for some body work, and asked about that white smoke tsb. They said they did it to the shop truck and an emplyees truck and it made it worse. so I had them skip it on mine.

 

I agree on the Pillars. They seem to like to hide things from you. Not bad once you get use to them but I have noticed I look around a lot more then my old truck due to this.... feature.

Seats (mine laramie) seem to be good. Took a few miles to get them broken in though but I like them.

Mileage. You didn't say if training wheeled or not. That would cause less MPG but you should be getting better once it gets broken in. My single wheel MPG increased a little once I got around 18,000 miles.

 

I would be o.k with that. It is about 4-5 MPG better than mine