I am going to e going to college next year in cleveland, and I ave decided that I dont want to bring my jeep down there. I curently have a 1998 Cherokee with a 4" lift and 32" MT's. I am not looking to sell it, just store it while Im at school. I am looking for either a ram o a silverado/sierra. I dont want the older body style chevy though, so I need a 1999 up (fairly expensive) since the chevys are out of my price range unless I make some decent money fairly quick, I am looking at mostly rams. I want a 1/2 ton, 4x4, with a V8 and extended cab/short bed.

I was looking at the different engines, a 5.2 and a 5.9. Id love to have the 5.9 because thats just the way I am, I love big engines, but Im afraid Im not gonna be able to aford gas (pushin it with a V8) but Im willing to sacrafice that for the V8. What kind of mileage does they both have, as well as power and reliability. I will need to drive 10 hours to get there, so obviously I need a reliable truck, and mileage would be good, but I realize its a truck...its gonna suck

Thanks in advance

Drew

 

well you will get better milage with the 5.2 12-15 city i think. my 5.9 get's me 11-13 city and 15-18 hwy.

i have a 2001 ex cab short bed 5.9 4x4 stock lift.

the rams are pretty reliable i've never had a problem with anything major yet, but watch out for the trannys as they are the first things to go on the 2nd gen rams. i have seen some go out at 60k and some at 170k and have yet to have a problem.

 

OK, thats not much of a difference, so it doesn't seem like a HUGE deal cause neither one gets decent mileage. What about powerwise, whate are the HP/tourque numbers on the two engines. I will be pulling a 12' trailer, but my jeep can pull it with 32's and stock gears, so thats not a prob, but if I decide to get a bigger trailer...Also I will probably end up pulling my jeep out of some mud, will either one do that easily?

I guess what Im trying to ask is does the 5.2 have some *****, or will I be better off just paying for a bit more gas in the 5.9?

 

If you get a 5.2 and add a hypertech programmer, the power and torque becomes about equal to a 5.9. I have a 5.2 with a hypertech programmer, ported tb, cai and dual exhaust with a 4.10 rear and I have smoked every other quad cab ram I have come across in my neighborhood. So to answer your question, a 5.2 can give you good power with a couple of simple mods. By the way, I also get about 19 to 20 mpg on the highway with it.