Just returned from a 5,000 mile trip - VA to UT to AZ to VA, with various stops in between. My odo hit 220,000 miles this afternoon. It was great to watch it turn with all those zeros. The truck performed well for the whole trip except the fuel mileage was not what I had hoped. Averaged about 12mpg pulling a tongue-pull trailer with a car on it, about 5,000# . Delivered one car to my daughter at college in Utah and ended up buying another from my other daughter out there and brought it home to repair for my son. Probably could have planned that better with a little foresight. Also picked up some cabinet shop tools from my Dad in Arizona and brought them home to VA.

Anyway, I was extremely pleased with my new Dynatrac ball joints, my new Terra Grappler tires, and my Bilstein blue/yellow shocks, and even my Bully Dog Triple Dog programmer. My best mileage was 14mpg at 65-70mph in NM. I would like to improve that before I start pulling a 5th wheel around. More research needed.

Part of the reason for my poor mileage, though, was that going out to UT, I set the cruise control at 70-75 (depending on the speed limit) and let her go. With the programmer set on "Tow/Economy" I never had to downshift once, all the way to Orem, UT, except on a couple downhill grades. The truck pulled up all those hills in 6th gear and hardly broke a sweat. EGTs were good and the coolant peaked out at about 221*. On the trip back I drove a little more conservatively and was making around 13-14mpg.

Great trip.

 

Congratulations on the mileage sure hard to beat the cummins engine. Keep us posted on the ball joints,I would like to get the same one in the future.

 

Thanks for posting. I love reading all of the info on the high mileage rigs. Have you had to make any major repairs on her?

 

Not sure you're going to improve much over what you got... most guys on here report in the 12-13mpg range towing...

 

Figured that. Just hoping.

Spoolinup: I'm very happy with the Dynatracs. They are a high-quality part.

Yellowhemi:

I bought the truck at 208K. It was in great shape. I expected to run into some expenses, regardless of condition, with that much mileage, but I didn't expect to have to change out the ball joints. The Dodge dealer I bought it from assured me the front end checked out, but when I bought new tires and tried to get it aligned, found out the ball joints were completely shot. So here's what I've done since I bought it:

- Bought a Bully Dog Triple Dog programmer (to accompany the Outlook Monitor that came on the truck) $100 on ebay
- New Bilstein yellow/blue shocks $150 shockwarehouse.com
- New 235/80-17 Nitto Terra Grapplers $1100 Merchant Tire
- Dynatrac ball joints $600
- Ball joint installation/alignment/lube/front brakes (including rotors/pads/calipers) $1000
- Tuff Country sway bar end links $107
- floor mats $100
- mud guards $100
- changed all lube fluids (trans/xfer case/diffs/engine) $250
- changed rear brakes (rotors/calipers/pads) $450
- Fleetguard oil filter $26
- PIAA fog and driving lamps $450
- Cleaned the AFE CAI air filter $25

Prices are approximate, to the best of my memory, and include tax/shipping. I don't have the receipts handy at the moment.

I expect I'll have to change out the clutch in the not-so-distant-future, as well as possibly the injectors, although it is possible they were changed out already by the previous owner. The truck is in great shape, with very little oil showing on the engine or the drive train, even after my long trip. No blow-by, engine is strong, trans is good. It is evident the truck was a "Hot-Shotter", which explains the high mileage. It was owned previously by a medical equipment company, which probably explains the good condition and the Laramie package. It was repossessed, sold at auction to the Dodge dealer, then I bought it, so I am essentially the second owner. I paid $18,400 out the door last February. I think I did well (although the ball joint thing was a surprise). You can see the pics in my album.

 

Cool Thanks Thenrie
The dyantrax look like great quality for the money

 

Good to see people are getting that many miles out of these trucks, I'm not anywhere near you with 68K on the clock.


Planning to keep mine for a long time, there are much better things to put money into than a $50,000 truck! Lube, maintenance, and keep her in the garage.

 

Congrats on rolling that many miles!!