Traded in a 2001 Super duty 250, 4x4 ext. cab, short box, 5.4 gas on a 2006 3500 qc, short box, 4x4, auto, with the Big Horn package (SLT). Test drove yesterday and made the deal. Will pick it up in about an hour from now. My first diesel. Am really excited. We tow a 30ft. travel trailer and looking forward to our next trip in a few weeks.

 

Wow, You are going to be excited once you pull with a diesel. I made the switch this year and just love it.
Congrats.
Strea

 

Congrats... you're gonna love it compared to the SD...

 

You're buying a new Cummins and you found DTR. Life is good, isn't it?

Welcome!

 

Congrats....you'll never go back to GAS...this I promise

 

CONGRATS on the New Truck...Theres only one prob that all of have here is that WERE ALL SMILING EAR TO EAR when we drive our trucks!!! And your going to have to check the rear view mirror often when your pulling your trailer just to make sure its back there!! Give Her H*LL

Tyler

 

I just bought my first one in July as well. I love it. Traded a half ton gasser Silverado. Worlds away from this truck. I will go on record and say that I HAVE to do something about the plastic woodgrain in the interior. That is the ONLY thing I have to complain about. So sad huh?

 

We picked the truck today and have already put on over 200 miles. What a great machine. Now I know what the big grins are for! We went up several hills that would cause our gasser to downshift out of overdrive and the CTD just cruised up hill like it was flat ground. The display is showing 16 MPG, but I will calulate true milage when I fill up. Hope the display is correct as that is very acceptable milage for the first 200 miles. Thanks for the replies. cdru

 

Congrats two ways . . . one leaving Ford and two picking up the diesel. There's no comparison. Grew up driving rice burner 4x4s admiring the big dogs. Got my first diesel about 3 years ago and couldn't imagine owning a gas truck again. The comment about the hills and not downshifting . . . get used to it in the CTD, though it'll annoy you if you ever ride with your buddies in their gassers (listening to their trucks downshifting every small incline you go up!)!

Thomas

 

One of the guys that works for us (farm manager) has an Excursion w/v-10. He could never stop talking about what a great tow vehicle it is. He borrowed mine one day to pull a cory wagon full of corn. Now he can't stop talking about how great the Cummins pulls. It's hard to explain how much difference there really is. You almost have to pull a heavy load with the ctd then try and pull the same load with your gasser to get the full effect.
Joe

 

Congrats on the diesel! I went from a 2000 Chevy Blazer to a 2000 Dodge Ram CTD and was pretty much just amazed when I switched...Now people like to get out of my way in the wal-mart parking lot!
I don't have one, but others have said that the overhead MPG display usually is quite a bit off..so I wouldn't rely on it, I would just hand calculate and see what you get. oh and Welcome to DTR!

 

Just a question about my new diesel. What kind of oil do they put in from the factory? Dealer said Rotella synthetic, but he didn't know if it is 5w40 or15w40. The truck was built in Mexico and we live in Minnesota where it gets well down below zero in the winter. Thanks cdru

 

cdru,

The CDT comes with 15W40 from DCX. Use should use 15W40 in your truck for the at least 10,000 miles. I see you will tow a 30ft. travel trailer, this will work your CTD like it needs to be for a good break-in.

Anyway unless you will have at least 10,000 hard working miles on your truck before winter then do not change to synthetic oil just for winter. In the winter time use your block heater like the rest of us will do when it comes time.

My dealer here in N Iowa tells me to use 15W40 all year round, but once I get it to 20,000 miles I will go to 5W30 synthetic from Amsoil. BTW even Cummins tells you to wait until 20,000 miles before you use synthic oil.

So go enjoy your new 3500 Dodge truck. Once you too your 30 footer you will wonder why you waited so long to buy a diesel.

 

It should be Valvaline Premium Blue 15w40 diesel rated oil. This is regular dino oil, not synthetic. It is my understanding that the Mopar 15w40 oil is the same Valvaline PB just repackaged in the Mopar bottles.

 

Well our overhead mileage display IS off. Fortunately it is reading low! First fill was hand calculated at 18.9 and the second fill came in at 20.4! We now have about a thousand miles on the truck. We have been doing LOTS of driving the past few days. This is a great truck. cdru ps the overhead is now showing 17.8 mpg.