Joe T

15K oil changes per cummins with fuel filter at the same time.

robmints

Not what most would do especially if they were going to buy out the truck at the end. I don't know about Cummins, but I think DC recommends schedule B for commercial service. But that might just be tow trucks and such.

moterhead

Since he said he won't be towing for work, IMO, he could go with the 15K oil change intervals, especially since he didn't mention buying the truck. It's not his lease anyway, it's the company's.

The new hemi 1500s have the 4/6/8 engine management I've not seen any mileage reports on them. I do know my '03 1500 with trailer tow and 3.92 gear got 14 mpg empty on the eway. That was BEST mileage. If I ran more than 70, it went down from there. As DC invested a good bit of money in the 4/6/8, I'd assume it gets better mileage. That truck was a gas hog and wasn't fast! I still can't believe I could have bought a left over new '02 Harley Ford QC with the supercharged engine for the SAME money and chose the 1500 Ram instead. I kept that truck 9 months and broomed it for my '04 CTD. If I'd bought the Harley Ford, I'd likely still own it.

06 DIESEL

As for maintance costs if all of your miles are OTR or Highway you will only have to change the oil every 15k or so, That means that you only have to do one oil change every two months about instead of about 3 a month, just a FYI. This transulates to about $650 for oil changes for the diesel and about $2310 for gas oil changes for the 200k proposed. This is figuring $50 for diesel and $35 for gas.

wadecool

06 diesel, thanks for reminding me about the difference in oil change costs for gas vs diesel. I love my 01 & I'd drive it but I still haul Fema campers with it occassionly. I'll take care of the new one even though I'll get rid of it in 2 yrs just out of respect for the Cummins.

annabelle

I have a 98 GMC 3/4 ton. I've gotten 330 K out of it. It's been a good truck. I have gotten 14 MPG compared to 20 + in my CTD. There is no comparison when it comes to power and fuel economy. Besides, diesel is about $.30 a gallon cheaper around here.

Firemanhoser

So if you are not pulling anything. Why do you need to get a 3/4 ton truck. Why not go with a 1/2 ton or a car. Sounds like your company has money to blow so I wouldn't worrie about it. Go with the Diesel baby!

Joe T

Oh yeah if there is nothing to pull I'd definately be in a GM 1500 truck. They are so comfy .

Grizzel

I have a 2007 QC 1500 with a Hemi 4/6/8 blah blah blah & Auto-tranny, and I can tell you that you will be lucky to hit much over 18mpg if you keep your foot out of it. UNLOADED. If you have any hills at all your mileage will drop like a rock. I have previously owned a 2004 QC 4x4 with the CTD and Auto and I was getting 16-17mpg around town and 18-20 Highway. I traded down at 23k miles (long before it was even broke in!!) to make the wife happy and now she is POed and wants another diesel. So in 2-3 months I am trading off the Hemi and going back to my roots!

With the dealers offering $7000 in cash allowance AND low rates, I don't know why anyone would not just buy one a 1500 for a work truck, be a cheap...er excuse me....inexpensive work truck?? I see that the Gods at Dave Smith have them at or below $21k very nicely equipped!

Now... since this is the Diesel Truck Resource...I can tell you, without regard, I won't buy another gasser as long as Cummins keeps putting their engine in Dodge trucks or any truck for that matter. My future 3/4 Mega Cab WITH a TDC 5.9 OR a 6.7 will be the last I buy for a long while!

If you don't need a truck...then maybe your can talk your company into the new Diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee??!! Food for thought!

Off the box,,, Gentlemen, Have a great day!!

G

wadecool

After owning my 01 CTD, I can't imagine owning a gas truck & since CTD's only come in Dodge, its my only option. I also like the 35 gallon tank for longer range between fuel stops. I think that over 200,000miles, I can save enough money with the CTD to justify the extra initial cost.

Joe T

I don't think 2500 trucks come with the 4/6/8 technology though?

rip 112

Too bad you couldn't just get a new cummins and keep it longer than 2 years...it surely would last.

Lark

Please tell me you're not one of those guys that puts the huge FEMA seal on the side of their truck. I'm just waiting for those guys to get arrested.

wadecool

Lark, I did have some "fema disaster relief" signs on the truck for the first 2 months after Katrina, but only because it helped avoid speeding tickets. Mississippi & Alabama troopers wouldn't pull us over during that time if we had those signs. After that, we had to follow DOT rules & post signs with our Trucking company name, DOT#, etc & keep a logbook. I've seen a few guys get pulled over since then for having those "Fema" signs.

you da man

Like someone said, look at the trade-in/resale value of the diesel vs. gas motor. In 2 years with 200,000+ miles on a Hemi you wouldn't get 1/3 or 1/2 the money compared to a Cummins. As an example, I was test driving my first Cummins this year as my buddy is a sales manager for a huge Dodge dealer in Texas. Next to the brandnew Dodge 2500 I was going to drive there was a 2002 Dodge 2500 with Cummins that was taken in earlier the sameday as a trade-in. This truck was obviously a farm/ranch truck. It had 220,000 miles on it, tailgate was bowed out from somebody hitting it with a gooseneck more than once, interior was torn up bad, door panels/console were cracked, windshield was busted up, paint was horrible with scratches down both sides from tree limbs/brush. They still gave the guy $12,000 towards his new Dodge 2500. You couldn't do that with a gas motor.