Just got back from a trip from Raleigh, NC to KY, North Platte River, Cheyenne, Snowy Range Pass, Douglass Pass in western Colorado, Moab UT, Great Basin National Oark, US 6 across Nevada, 120 into Mono Lake, Death Valley from the west, I-15 pull from Baker to Las Vegas, North Rim of the Grand Canyon then I40 back to Raleigh.

I wanted a 6 speed but had to take the auto because of the gear ratios on the 6 speed. I started the trip with doubts about the truck but I have to say that it proved itself. I used the Tow-Haul mode and just let it do its thing. It actually worked very well. Torque converter lock up in 2nd and Drive is definitely a wonderful thing, going up or down hill. There were only a few pulls where I could not stay in 2nd locked and that was because of very crooked roads or slow traffic in front of me. Even when I was pulling unlocked the heat never got out of hand.

I miss my exhaust brake but with 2nd lock up I got by fine without it. I would have to tap the brakes occasionally going downhill but never had any problem with brake overheating because the transmission/engine did most of the work.

On a downhill I would slow to about 48mph and the transmission would shift down from overdrive to drive and stay locked up. That makes a difference.

I drove one whole day with temperatures at 110 with a peak of 113 and many uphills. The engine ran a little warmer than normal but not by much. In stock form I think Dodge finally has the whole cooling thing with the auto worked out. I like the new computer controlled fan. It comes on much earlier before the water has a chance to get too hot.

I started with 4000 miles on the truck and now have 11,500. I could detect a difference in mileage between the start and end of the trip. I drove 60-65 mph for about 70% of the trip, 70+mph for 20% of the trip and 10% unhooked 4 wheeling or fast local trips.

At the start I have to baby it at 60mph to get 11 mpg. On the last day I drove 70-75 mph and still averaged 11 mpg.

And the power of the 5.9 325hp motor is awesome. I was constantly amazed at the inclines the thing would pull in overdrive.

This is my 3rd Cummins. My 2002 6 speed may still have been my favorite for towing but this is a good truck.

I pulled 18,500lbs for 7500 miles and averaged 11 mpg. All mpg hand calculated and the computer showed almost exactly 2 mpg too high for the whole trip. Will the thing ever be correct?

Bobby

 

That's quite a load! Sounds like good MPG.

 

yes i think the overhead will correct overtime as the engines breaks in.