auber

OK, so maybe I'm nuts, but I figure this is the place to ask. I'm in the market for a truck (new or used will depend on the money situation when I actually buy), and need some advice.

I'm looking for the following in a truck:
1.) Must be a manual transmission
2.) Must be a 4x4 (I live in CT)
3.) Must have at least a 6 ft bed (any shorter, and my mountain bike won't even fit)
4.) Must be a Quad Cab (or whatever a specific brand calls it).

I'm mostly going to be using this for a daily commuter (about 25-30 miles each way), moving fire wood for the stove, and yard work. I was thinking about a small truck (specifically the Tacoma), but 3 and 4 togeter knock out that whole class of truck.

If I'm going to bite the bullet, and buy a full size truck anyways, I really like the idea of a diesel, mostly for the fuel mileage, but I also love the sound of a diesel engine.

My question is this: Is a 2500 CTD going to fit the bill, and how will it take not really being used like it is meant to? I've seen some posts about people not pushing their CTD "hard enough" and having problems. If this is the exception, and not the rule, I really like the idea of a truck that should last me a good long time.

P.S. Are the 17 - 22 MPG highway I've seen people posting with or without mods, and are they tipical?

drew03

17-22 mpg would be about right for a few mods

screaminbanana

I had a Dodge Dakota 4x4 club cab, manual, with a 6.5ft bed and a 5.2L 318 under the hood last truck. Great vehicle, loved every second I had it.


This CTD (2500, 5 speed manual, extended cab, long bed, ranch hand bumpers front and back) on its worst day hauling a full 6x12 enclosed U-Haul (read extra heavy) trailer gets better mileage then my Dakota did on its best day. I have seen 16.5 MPG at the worst on the CTD and usually saw 15-16 on the Dakota. Right now commuting more then freeway driving I am seeing about 18 on a regular basis (last fill up was 18.03 MPG). I just did a trip to the beach (about 290 miles total) and am only down to a have tank at the end of a commuting day afterwards with 340 miles total on that tank of gas now.

TxDiesel007

CTD as a commuter

ULL LOVE IT! i get 20 mpg if i stay off the skinny pedal and drive right.. With some mods, you should be ok, I have teh banks plate full forward and still manage 18 mpg even with the occasional romp, tows what i hook to it, the truck aint that bad for stop and go traffic, but on the highway its a dream, awesome mileage, and a sheer pleasure to drive, ppl cannot beleive the MPG i get outta my ride, but its always nice to just explain to them how its done and how this lil six cylinder not only get economy, but it can rip the foundation outta the base of their home

Tx

bmoeller

Getting a truck with 3.55 gears will help in the mileage department.

Gear Poet

Heh, my dually 3500 4x4 CTD gets better mileage than my wife's Toyota Tacoma truck, highway and city.

Heh, I love saying that because it drives her just a little nuts.

I use the truck as a commuter vehicle. Good in traffic because people generally give you a clear shot at everything you do.

farmer dave

I use mine as a commuter. I only drive about 15 minutes to work and only 8 miles. I get about 17-20 depending on how much city driving I do. You'll love it.

hump

I have an 03 4x4 with the 6-speed and drive it as a daily commuter. I drive 22 miles one way to work and the truck doesn't skip a beat. I average around 18 1/2 mpg with the Edge Ez set on #4 and running 35" tires with 3:73 gear ratio. I bought the truck used last year with around 12,000 miles on it and it currently has 22,121 flawless miles on it. Have never had any problems out of this truck. I also use it to tow the travel trailer (approx. 10,000lbs) without any problems. Smooth ride, great handling and of course excellant power.

HUMP

Joe N.

I use mine for commuting anywhere from 35 to 65 miles one way, then driving down electrical transmission line right of way while at work. I pull my travel trailer once or twice a year and that is why I bought the CTD. I love the truck and most likely will buy another one as long as I continue to work since it is a tax deduction. My brother has a truck almost identical to mine except with a hemi and at best he gets mid 15s on the highway. I usually average low 18s on the highway running 70 MPH. However you will have to drive lots of miles to make up the difference in the cost of the two trucks in fuel savings. The CTD is about $4k more and that will buy a lot of gasoline even at today's prices.

12PACK

Auber, A buddy of mine works in sales at a Dodge dealer in New London, where I got a great deal on my 05. PM me if you want his contact info. He's a big Dodge guy, too.

Red3quarter

They work great as a commuter, but i suggest if you get one for that do like what some one else said in the thread... get one with 3.55's in it. I have 4.10's,in town i get 16.5 mpg-hwy i get 19.5 - 20.5 mpg. you'll never want a gasser again!

Lee S

I commute with mine. Stop and go, stop...go...stop...go. You know the drill. It doesn't even get warmed up well on my short commutes.

11.9 mpg based on a pen and paper computation last Friday. The 2005 models don't get as good mileage as the older models. I've yet to do any unloaded highway miles long enough to compute what I'm getting. Towing a trailer was around 13-14 mpg but it was during the break-in period doing under 60 mph so it doesn't count in my book.

Of course my truck only has 1700 miles on it currently and mileage is supposed to improve as more miles are accumulated.

auber

Thank you all for the responses. And 12Pack, when I finally get around to buying, I'll keep your offer in mind.

Which brings me to my next question. Some of the options I'd really like (two of which being a manual transmission and a sunroof, which I've seen on the Dodge website) don't seem to exist in dealer inventories anywhere around here. The sunroof wouldn't be a deal breaker, but would be nice. The manual, however, is, as I really don't want to go back to an auto (just a personal preference). If I end up having to order a truck, how painful is the process, and how long does it usually take? I ask, because I don't see my car lasting much more than 6 - 8 months.

05mxdiesel

ordering isn't painfull at all more like nerve racking. i ordered mine on Nov 4th of 04 and picked it up on Feb 3rd 05. NV5600 6spd was on backorder over christmas time. Ordering is the way to go, plus the ******* makes less money on the deal.

12PACK

How do you figure? If you pick up the vehicle soon after it arrives, they'll get almost all the holdback.