I am thinking in the near Future of buying a 5500 Dodge CC. I would use to pull a 4/5 car trailer. The only reason I ask about 4x4 is I could put a plow on it. Even with out weight on back wheels. The truck could still do very well plowing with the heavy motor over front wheels in the 4x4 package. But maybe the fuel savings would out weigh the plow money. So this would be a empty comparison if possible. Or same weight comparison.

 

4 wheel drive not only reduces the total power to the wheels but it also reduces fuel mileage being that it has to go through the T-case, then along the drive shaft to the front Diff.

It depends on how much plowing you plan on doing. I don't neccasarlly know how much it snows up where you are but I don't quite think it will be snowing all year long. If you look at it from the plowing standpoint ONLY, unless you have a good lineup of people you will be plowing for your going to be kicking yourself in the rear a few times.

 

My plowing stand point up to this point has been it makes the payments and I am happy with that. On the flip side I do own 2 trucks now. And I would probably sell the 04 to buy the 5500 and trailer and would still have the 02. But during the winter car sales slow down a bit. Plus dealers dont buy cars in bad weather at the auctions. So I could get 75/hr or so for that truck as a sub

 

Nobody posting any fuel mileage info? I am looking for a 4500 myself, but am concerned with what kind of mileage I will be getting. Any input would be nice.

 

Dead Headin' Hwy I'm up to 14MPG's at 8,000 miles on the odo, loaded and / or off road with a lot of hi idle time 9-10.

I would opt for the 4x4 as the low range option is nice backing or on steep hills..

 

empty mostly city driving in SF Bay area 12.5 -14mpg have about 9700 miles, 90% commuter driving.

 

Don't have either so can't post mpg. Do have some questions/comments though...

Can you get the free spinning front hubs on the 4500/5500 series??? If so then you'd have the best of both worlds (neglecting the extra few hundred lbs of axle and drivetrain stuff ya need to carry around with you).

Personally....seeing how easy I get my dually stuck when in 2wd in a pretty much flat backyard with grass when it rains....I would NEVER get a truck this size without 4wd. I've had to kick in 4wd many times I where I thought you wouldn't need it. Just my opinion though....

I'm also keeping an eye on the 5500 when the new body style comes out! Should be sweet!

 

Yeah The Exhaust brake and the new tranny with a 180k warranty on it. I am thinking Septemberish to start looking.

 

Nope no free spinning hubs. Don't know about aftermarket though. I hear there isn't that much difference in mpg. I would rather free spinning hubs also but as far as I know no one make em.

 

Empty about 13,000 lbs. 8.9 mpg average for 7000 miles. Loaded 19,500 about 7mpg.

I unpluged the EGR acouple of days ago and now the overhead is reading 13.8 average. I don't have enough miles to tell for sure, but it looks like this one thing increased mpg by about 50%.
Is anyone using a tuner on their 5500.