I really like how the ram is styled and the comfort. The mega cab is on my radar for sure.

I am not really ever going to tow anything that I could think of, BUT

I want to buy a truck that will last a long time, I put about 30k miles a year on my ride now.

I want power to pass and just have some fun in a vehicle that I will fit in comfortably. 6'5" 350lbs or so (my current ride is really cramping me). This would be my equivalent of a sports car, cause I don't fit in ANYTHING that remotely resembles one. Plus, I like the utility of a truck. I can use the bed and be able to tow somethings, it's just that I don't really NEEED a truck. I am starting to feel the need for that room inside a vehicle though.

Just how close will the hemi get to the ctd's mpg?

I am totally sold on diesels. The longevity, the power, the efficeincy. The problem is, they cost so dang much.

If you throw in the mpg being pretty close to similar, then that makes me really think if diesel is the right thing for me. I plan on keeping the truck for 10 years or more.

 

by far diesel is the way to go.

 

i think u already know which u want. the cummins $5,555 is a small price to pay considering the upgrade you're getting. the hemi in a max-cab may only get 12-15 mpg, cummins will no doubt get around 20, plus the cummins is 325hp/610 ft/lbs, hemi is 345hp/375ish ft/lbs

 

I once had a new 98 ram 1500 with 360 didn't want to spend the extra cash for the cummins at the time. after filling the gaser up at 4000 miles I averaged 8.0 That is when I traded for a cummins and I will never go back!! gas could be 1 dollar and diesel $3 I still wouldn't buy a gaser again. Heck my wifes next car will be a diesel.

 

no comparison...

 

I've had both. If you aren't going to tow, and don't need a 3/4 ton, it's more then just the difference $$$ of the engines. The hemi I had got about 16 mpg , most of the time. If you drive 55, it's nice and warm outside, and you get the new MDS engine you might get 20 mpg all the time. (It would get 22 mpg if you kept it below 60mph, it was warm out, no wind, 89 octane fuel aka midgrade, cruise control set, driving through a national park) My diesel has consitantly given me 18 mpg all winter and in the summer on summer fuel I get 23 mpg. 10 mpg towing on winter fuel and 13.5 towing on summer fuel. Figures are all imperial. If you don't have a load for the engine you'll never break it in or seat the rings. It will slober unused fuel past the rings and dilute your oil. If it's cold in the winter where you live, it won't heat up for a half hour unless you put in an engine brake to put a load on it. It is a tractor engine. If you don't have a load for it, you aren't doing it (or yourself), any favours. If you buy one, you may just go out to deliberatly find a load for it. (That Hemi on the highway will bring a smile to your face. It's not to offten you find a 1/2 ton truck that acts like a sports car. You have to choose, towing or convience.)

 

There was an intersting article in a San Diego newspaper talking about diesels and the new emissions standards. It outlined the increased cost of the diesels coming next year (expected $2000 more than this year) but of importance to you:

"With the $5-6000 adder over a gasser, it takes 6 years to pay back the cost differenetial with driving 15k miles per year". If you are driving 30k miles per year you would make up the difference in 3 years. This is based on better mileage and didn't stipulate that towing was involved where the diesel does MUCH better.

It said that with the cost of the new engines with their emissions control stuff and the higher cost of low sulphur fuel the payback period under the same conditions will be 10 years. Dealers are expecting to be selling more gassers next year. DON'T KILL the messenger - according to the quoted dealers this is what Chevy has told them.

 

I've had both, 2 CTD's and 1 Hemi. I went from a 98 24v 5spd, to a 03 Hemi Auto, now I have an 02 24v Auto. All were 2500's and 4x4's. I tow a 5500lb travel trailer 10-15 times a year, with two large 4x4 ATV's in the bed. With the Hemi, I averaged about 7-9mpg towing. Empty on the freeway @ 65mph, I would average 16-17. Mixed driving would get me around 14-15mpg. The Hemi had plenty of power, but after driving diesels for 4 years prior, pulling hills at 4500 rpm just seemed wrong, though that's where the Hemi gets it HP at. Another thing that I did not like was on flats with my trailer the truck would not hold overdrive. I had 3.73 gears, which is partly to blame. Other than that I would buy another in a second, as long as I still had a CTD in the fleet. With the 02 CTD, I avg 17-18 with mixed driving, 20-21 on the highway. Towing I get around 13. Once you go diesel, it is almost impossible to be really happy with a gasser, at least for me.

 

post up your locatoin, and meet up with some local guys,

and drive a BOMB'ed deisel.

the plugging in thing is not that big a deal,
and you can borrow a trailer to pull (or post up on here) and you can break it in that way.

i just took one weekend and spent with a circle track buddy, towed his car/trailer all weekend to break mine in. never saw any difference???

 

tog, you answered your own question, you want to keep it 10 years, 30K a year, 300,000 miles. Will a hemi go 300K? I think hemi's longevity is unknown still, the Cummins has proven itself. If you really plan on keeping it 10 years get the diesel.

 

Tog,
I just went to the Kelley Blue Book website and checked out trade in values. I used my 05 for an example. With the CTD, the value is $29600. With the hemi, the value is $23125. $6475 difference. Just something else to think about.

 

Buy the Cummins. Gas is junk.

Besides when you buy the Cummins you get the 11.5" rearend and solid front 9.25" axle and the heavy duty (biggest on the market) N271 transfer case.

 

gas only if i have to walk. dont plan on ever going back

 

What 6cylinders said, 300000 miles in 10 years I´d vote for the cummins. Plus a better resale value with 300000 miles on it, better mpg either. And if you want more power the cummins takes it, just have a look at the ultimate horsepower list

 

This isn't quite accurate^^.

It WILL break in and it WILL seat the rings. It will just take a lot longer to do so.

I don't know if you consider Cheyenne, WY cold (6000 ft elev, temps below zero), but my truck would warm up to operating temp in 10 minutes of hwy operation from a bitter cold start. In the winter, I remove the fan.

True, these engine love to work, and that's the best break-in they can get. But it's not like you are ruining your Cummins if you don't have a house on wheels to tow