I have a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500, 4x4, Quad-Cab, with a 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel. The truck came with a 34-gallon fuel tank and I average 15-16 MPG in the city and on the highway (driving 50 to 60 MPH) I average 18-22 MPG, but when I crank it up (65 plus,) the mileage drops back to the 15 MPG range.
The best mileage I got was almost 25 MPG driving on Route 40, about 20-years ago, driving from Virginia to Arizona and it was on the Tennessee to eastern New Mexico leg.
The worse mileage was on the return trip when I was hauling a Backhoe Loader that tipped the scales at over 14,000 pounds, the trailer weighed another 3,500 pounds plus, and if I include the 7,200 pounds plus of the Truck, the rolling weight approaching 25,000 pounds and I was still getting at least 15-MPG…
And this is my baby today, I just recently renewed her plates for the last time as a regular registration, next year she gets her 25-year old Historic Vehicle Plates…
Yeah I know all about it but I just can’t stand to have bills outstanding. When my hvac guy comes, he can give me a bill right away instead of waiting a month. I charged $500 for car rental on my Gm card. I don’t remember which bank was handling it then , bu5 I waited and waited. Finally I called and they said they had sent it. Ok can I just pay over the phone and be done with it? With a checking account so gave them the routing and account number and checked again. I had missed a digit so had to do it again. Finally it was paid and I was relieved. Got several statements with zero balance then they changed banks again. I’ll use my cards once in a while just to make sure they work but don’t like waiting for a bill and really don’t like giving them my account information.
Yeah, I’m not a business with income from many different sources so I have little concern for cash flow. The bill paying terms I am held to do not allow me to invest that floating cash easily
I’m like you, I pay my bills immediately (if not sooner ;)) and like to be debt free. I’ve never gone more than 9 years in paying off a mortgage. Some people say I’m nuts for not trying to leverage that cash but last I checked, the banks are pretty good at figuring out how much to charge me for the privilege of using their money. If they could invest it elsewhere and make more, they would. Plus, I sleep better at night without debt hanging over my head…
Nice looking truck, I’ve always liked that body style.
I’m not saying I don’t believe you about your mpg, but those numbers seem awfully high compared to what I see around the PNW for pickups pulling trailers.
Remember that he has a truck with a diesel engine, and you are likely comparing the MPG figures for a truck with a gasoline engine, which will be much worse when towing.
However my fuel mileage claim is right in line the average fuel mileage for a 2025 Ram 2500 diesel which is approximately 16–18 MPG for combined city/highway driving, with highway driving potentially reaching up to 25 MPG under ideal conditions.
My claims go right along with these estimates, but mine are not estimates. From force of habit, I keep a gas log and here is peak at my last page… I do not take my baby on long trips anymore and she spends most of her time “resting” in her stall in the garage… I take her out at least once a month to keep the batteries charged up, the seals wet, the tires round… and only on sunny days…
I favor this body style, even with the “jump seat style back bench seat…” I do not take passengers… I have had folks offer me money just for the “Gangster Grill” as that is a special adornment I really like… I have also had some ridiculous offers for this truck since it has never seen Salt Water and the undercarriage still has its clean rust-free Blue color, but until the cash is laid on the hood, I’m not interested in what they have to say…
When your vehicles look as good as my truck, and as you might remember what our 40-years old '85 Toyota looked like when we donated it, you might have the right to criticize my vehicles pronouns…
Huh? That is weird. Everywhere I have lived the electric bill (and nat gas included) came every month. In one city, the water and sewer was every 3 months. Where I am now water and electric (no gas) is monthly. Interesting.
My wife calls my fun car my mistress and my truck my baby… lol
You just think it is silly cause you only have a vehicle as a mode of transportation to get you from point A to point B.. it is just an object you own…
But a lot of people often name their cars to form an emotional attachment, and they also often take better care of their vehicle… Neither one is right or wrong, just the way you are wired…
Some of us animal lovers also call our dogs and or cats our fur baby’s, they become family not just a pet(s)…
I live in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and I am just miles from the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean and I am all too aware of what salt water and salt mist can do to a vehicle… But I grew up in Upstate New York so I saw what the salt on winter roads did to vehicles back then, even 5-year old vehicles had serious rust damage in them…
Friend had a Toyota like that. No offense but tried to weld a patch on the fender and the metal was so thin that one touch and I’d blow a hole right in it. Didn’t have gas at the time so that might have helped.
