Welcome to DTR, CheapSkate!

 

****, any mods? If I drive mine like that I get 12 mpg...

 

cheapskate - sounds right in line with what a 2WD 12 valve should do.

 

The best ive seen is 700 miles in a tank,its a longbox ext can 4x4 12v auto .I was carrrying 75 gallons in the bed as well as a full big toolbox(sideways),cannopy and 2 spares as well as plenty of extra stuff.The very best thing I did to get better mileage is pump the tires up from 65 to 75,it was like 10 percent

 

Sorry, new to the forums. Couldn't believe that there was already a HayHauler registered!!
Anyway, here is my spreadsheet from the day I brought her home, started with 300 miles on her. The times that it is between 10-12 I am pulling my 23' travel trailer, 6000#'s at 65-70. No long trips yet, but on the last one that got me 19.1mpg, I was not pulling, cruise set on 65 mph all the way for the whole 349 miles. I don't think that the newer trucks get as good mpg's as the older ones, because of all the smog and emissions equipment.
Hay

Date ODO Miles Driven Gallons PPG Total Purch. MPG
08/21/06 300 300 22.500 1.579 $35.53 13.33
08/30/06 637 337 22.623 2.829 $64.00 14.9
09/04/06 995 358 29.514 2.829 $83.50 12.13
09/12/06 1224 229 15.905 2.829 $45.00 14.4
09/20/06 1472 248 16.868 2.549 $43.00 14.7
09/25/06 1732 260 21.210 2.499 $53.00 12.26
09/30/06 1902 170 12.003 2.499 $30.00 14.16
10/05/06 2067 165 11.182 2.459 $27.50 14.76
10/07/06 2312 245 23.962 2.379 $57.01 10.22
10/09/06 2577 265 22.366 2.459 $55.00 11.85
10/13/06 2890 313 23.117 2.379 $55.00 13.54
10/19/06 3167 277 20.521 2.339 $48.00 13.5
10/22/06 3416 249 24.578 2.319 $57.00 10.13
10/27/06 3638 222 16.061 2.319 $37.25 13.82
11/01/06 3902 264 23.052 2.299 $53.00 11.45
11/06/06 4244 342 24.132 2.279 $55.00 14.17
11/16/06 4493 249 17.616 2.299 $40.50 14.13
11/19/06 4849 356 29.610 2.499 $74.00 12.02
11/22/06 5110 261 18.074 2.379 $43.00 14.44
11/25/06 5459 349 18.265 2.409 $44.00 19.11
11/30/06 5862 403 25.221 2.379 $60.00 15.98

 

mine gets 65-85mpg, once 120mpg.-oh, sorry, were talking about our trucks . mine gets 17-18 unloaded.@65-70mph.

 

I've been seeing this now and then...I was told my diffs already had synthetic fluids....maybe its a arctic thing...

 

I usually get 21.5-22.0 mpg with everyday driving. That's with about 50/50 highway/city, with speeds kept 65 or lower. I have gotten 23.5 on a 400+ mile trip. I do have a SO 2wd with 3.73 gears and a RE48. It looks like that combo should give the best milage. I don't have alot done to the truck either. Total milage is around 113k. I get 575-600 before the fuel light comes on and put in about 27-28 gal.

 

it just doesn't make any sense the way these mileages vary so drastically. I have had several of these Dodge trucks and have NEVER seen anything close to 20 mpg. i have gone to 100% synthetics driven a full tank at 50MPH on the interestate with hardly any stop and go---everything imaginable and 16 is the best i have ever got and that was with my 01.
I know that the older 12v were exceptionally good fuel millage trucks but since the 24's came along the mileage hasn't been anything to write home about.

 

The mileage difference between an empty 2WD 2500 stock shortbed with the best final drive ratio and a 4WD 3500 longbed with lots of stuff in the back and big tires can be dramatic, especially when different driving habits come into play. The Cummins sweet spot is ~1900 rpms, so 10mph on the highway can make a big difference in fuel economy.

My steeltoes usually give me 15-16 mpg in mixed driving, but if I'm patient on the interstate I could be knocking on the door of 20 mpg.

 

My last Cummins was a 95 2500 2wd reg. cab longbed, 5 spd., 3.54's, all stock and I got about 18 around town. That's the most fuel efficient package you could get in a Ram. That was driving it like a grandma, 5 psi or less from stops. On the highway I got a little more. Everytime I made sure I filled it to the same spot (two clicks). Now this truck I have is a different story. I honostly got to get a better torque converter. The stock one robs so much power and kills mpg's.

 

When I drive 76 mph i get around 19 mpg.
If I drive 60-65 I can get 21-22 sometimes and I would like to believe that the xzt and roll tarp helps acheive 2+ mpg.

 

I don't know about you guys, but that just depressed the hell out of me.

 

Dang, you're right. It is depressing. It amazes me how much fuel this world sucks everyday and we still seem to have enough to keep going.

 

I am missing something here.
355s 265/75-16s, 96k miles, stock truck. around town 12-13, at 65 = 14 to 15; at 55 = 16-17. above 65, forget it! I have never, but never, gotten above 17.9 downhill, with a tailwind and a kenworth pushing. With the new VP-44, no difference. these are calculated figures, not watching the computer. Maintenance is regular. either I have a problem or there is some creative accounting going on. still, I am not complaining, even 16-17 is great for a 3/4 ton.