If a person (me) started from scratch and the goal was to have the ultimate pickup for economy, what year and configuration would be the best?
Also, what would be the most cost effective mods to do to enhance mileage?
This would assume driving for economy and occasionally pulling 5 to 7 thousand pounds.

 

2002 SRW 2500 2X4 manual 5 spd. 3.54/5? gears. All synthetic oils including power steering fluid. Stock engine and stock filter box with Amsoil air filter. Fuel pressure, boost and EGT gauges.

 

Thanks for the reply Busboy. What makes the 02 a best choice?
I actually wasn't expecting that year to be a top contender.

 

Check this out http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/g...s/viewall.html

 

It still has mechanical injectors along with a VP but if you monitor things you should be ok hence the gauges and because the VP is electric you could use a programmer of some kind on a fuel saver mode. It seems the later common rail injectors are quite fussy about how clean the fuel is and are expensive to replace. 2001.5 was the change to rear disc brakes so 2002 has 4 wheel discs which I think when towing is helpful. The manual trans would have the Dana 80 as opposed to the auto with the Dana 70. The 5.9L with no pollution should easily get over 20 MPG, my 2001 5 spd quad cab 4X4 got 20.5 mpg driven hard and fast on a lot of gravel roads. I know our 2011's 6.7 auto and manual were awful before deletes and it was a chore just to keep the manual running without check engine light on. Just my opinion, I would like to hear more.

Of course you could fold in the mirrors and tape over the wheels like in the link SOhappy provided. I did get a chuckle though.

 

I would say find yourself a 94-97 2500 single cab 2X4 5 speed with 3.54 gears, keep it as low as possible, and swap in a 4BT......

 

If I was after fuel mileage only I'd swap a first-gen motor and 3.07s into a second-gen half ton with 47RH and gear vendors.

 

I got just under 24 mpg on a trip back and forth to Maine (about 450mi round trip) just going about 60mph the whole way there and back. Thats rolling around 7k lbs without all that duct tape on the wheels/grill and the mirrors folded out! That was about 5 years ago, haven't beaten 22 since then.

So I'm with patdaly. I've heard good numbers from 03-05 CR's as well.

 

It is unfortunate that they didn't have 2 choices from the factory, because the 4BT will actually shock you with what it will pull. Would it be adequate for a big gooseneck? nah, at least not without turning it way up, but for say a 7K typical homeowner load?

Plenty.........and upper 20's would be very easy to do day in and day out.

 

Mid 80's Toyota 1-ton diesel.....

Hard to find but probably could expect close to 40 mpg.

Only came in longbed 2wd,

Where you asking in general or refering to Dodge trucks only?

 

Years back I was working the evening shift when two storms came together, it looked really menacing and tornado warnings were issued along with large hail. I was working on a 727 in one of the 4 slots of the widebody hangar and because it was hot we had the doors open. The wind picked up so I decided to fill up the hangar to minimize damage to the aircraft. I sent guys to get another 2 727's with the only two tractors we had there while I grabbed a baggage tractor with a 4BT. As it was not approved to move aircraft with I decided I should drive. We hooked a DC9-32 and started to drag it inside, it was slightly up hill and as it started to rain the tires started to lose traction so guys jumped onto the tractor to add weight and we slowly pulled it inside and closed the doors. DC9-32 is 110,000 lbs gross so not sure how much weight was there as I didn't know how much fuel was on board. Tough little engine.

 

For Diesel Economy - Volkswagen TDI

 

I had one with a flatbed, was a very economical, but beat the hell out of you driving around empty.
Sort of wish I hadn't of sold it.

 

busboy a toyoto can pull a space suttle

 

Thanks everyone for the input. I was hoping someone would recommend one of the pickups I have in my signature block or whatever it's called. I was considering either one of them or maybe a 2nd generation. Or, maybe a 2013 with all the emissions stuff taken off. Then I could pull my 14000 lb backhoe with the 6000 lb trailer. At any rate I would have to have a 6 cyl. Cummins.
Is that straight thinking or just wishful thinking?