Last winter I posted looking for ways to improve the mileage on the 01 Dodge 4X4 Off Road Edition Ram I purchased to replace the 94 Ram 4X4 that I lost in a fire. I was getting about 13.3 mpg on the highway. I also found that I needed to do the plenum repair. After the plenum repair my mileage went to 13.6 mpg with an occasional 14 when the winds were right.

I was pointed to a thread that had extensiveinformation on mpg and our trucks. I printed the thread and read everything several times.After much thought and researchI decided againstaCAIand a Chip change. It seemed my best bet would be a tire change. When I bought the Ram it had larger than stock tires (305/70R17) on therims but the tread was still usable so getting new tires right away was not flying with the wife. Three weeks ago I orders new tires to replace the nearly bald ones on the truck. I ordered 285/70R17 tires. What a differance!!!!!!!!! The truck actually tracks very well and does not need the constant steering corrections required with the old tires. The best part is mymileage has jumped to 16.2mpg.

 

Did you make sure you compensated for the tire diameter differences in your mpg calculations?

 

Shhh silver, dont blow this away with your silly facts and knowledge. We'd all be very happy if we think we can get 16 mpg lol. Im sure the tires have helped a lot buti cant get rid of my big boys. Would be nice to drive without adjusting the wheel every five seconds though.

 

Yes I adjusted for tire size. I drive 280 miles round trip. The two complete trips have both used less than 18 gallons. First trip 17.24 gallons used= 16.24mpg second trip 17.37 gallons used 16.11mpg. In my favor is there is no stop and go on the drive. I only have to slow down and stop to make a turn once on the trip. I am able to keep a constant speed through most of the trip. I do have to turn off the overdrive when I pull several grades. Prior to the tire change it was taking me 20.5 - 22 gallons to fill my tank after a round trip..

 

That's probably about right though. It's a good running truck, almost all highway miles and it doesn't sound like you jump on it hard.
You make damascus knives??

 

Yeah I have 265 tires on mine, and with a few upgrades/repairs I pulled 518 miles on 30 gallons = 17.26 and there was still a little left in the tank, so it was actually more but i figure yall would call bs on me anyway, lol.

It's weird for me to understand because I was going up and down a ton of hills, and was stuck near charleston for about 30 minutes in gridlock traffic.

 

no offense, but aren't our tanks 26 gallons. or is yours bigger

 

Yes I make Damascus knives. PM me ad I'll send you a web addy if you are interested.

 

Long beds have 35 gallon tanks I believe

 

There are probably two factors that are skewing your gains. 1. Air pressure. Your tires are new so your air pressure is correct (or higer because some tech think the stamp on the tires is the air pressure to use) and it is summer time. Your mileage will increase in the summer.