Hello all - I'm new to the forum and new to Dodge trucks; I bought a '98 Quad Cab diesel last year with a Starcrafter package. It only had 89,000 miles on it and can't believe it has taken me this long to buy my first. I installed a K&N filter on it and a Walker (less resrictive) muffler, but did not straighten the "pipe" because of the extra noise I'd get when pulling our camper. I keep track of the fuel milege with "pencil and paper", since my fuel gage is never accurate, and I get 17 to 18mpg with mixed driving (no real city driving here) and 20 to 21 on the road if I keep it at 2000rpm or less. I get about 13 to 14 when I pull the camper, which is more "drag" than load at 6,000#. I suppose I have a 3.54 rearend by all accounts, and I have the standard "auto" transmission. My biggest problem is off road; I have a 4x2 (sad but true) and it seems to get stuck in just about anything short of a small "mud" puddle. Is there anything I can do, short of trading it in for a 4x4 plus lots of "cash" to help its "off road" performance? I really do like the truck and am convinced that the engine is the best in the industry. Regards, Oki3

 

set of good tires, locker for the rear and maybe some weight

 

I put a flat bed on mine and some wide mud tires, doesn't get stuck in the yard anymore if that helps lol.

 

Tires and weight will help.

 

welcome.

i know the feeling.

my 06 4x2 got stuck on wet (dewy) grass one morning.

weight and tires, i guess.

i gained 1 or 2 mpg in my 06 4x2 3:73 over my 04 4x4 4:10 truck,
so i just stay off wet grass now.

 

Agree, weight and tires. I've had several 2w drives that I put larger mud type tires on the rear and regular AT's on the front. Nothing like 4WD, but much better than regular tires and no weight. The rear locker is also a good idea....I never thought of that.

 

We had a '97 CTD that was 2WD...

That front-heavy pig could get stuck out in the field if you looked in the rearview mirror!

Shouldn't there be a Man-Law concerning 2WD CTDs?

 

I second the man-law! lol, but wieght in the bed and some aggressive all terrains would be a decent option.

 

even though Mine a 4x4 I know what you mean I get out in the feild or off road and I have to put it in 4x4 right away. I am thinking of a locker in the rear end eather a detroit of sometype of sectable one, or go limited slip. other option is you can carry a set of dually tire chains and chain the truck up. when you go off road. I have buddys out in WY that do it all the time. can get a set of double wide dually tire chains on the net for a good price http://www.tirechain.com/DUALTRIPLE.htm some thing like ones here in the pic you can find beter prices I belive search on the fourms here tire chains hope it helps cmf

 

You don't need 4 wd!!! Those who need it must be doing something wrong!!

Just playing.... My truck used to slip allot when it rained and was horrible in the snow until I put these tires on: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ler+A%2FT+Revo

This made a night and day difference.

Joe

 

These seem to have good traction: