Hi everybody. I am new to this forum and looking for some input and opinion. I have been shopping for a used quad-cab RAM and ready to buy one soon. I test drove a 2004, 2005 and 2006 SLT all with the 4.7 engine, and they were all nice... then later today drove a 2004 SLT with a 5.7 Hemi -- which was awesome! However, I am afraid the Hemi might be a pig on gas, and wondering if I'd be better off with a 4.7. I don't plan to do any heavy towing or hauling .

Question: is there much gas mileage difference between the 4.7 and the 5.7 Hemi ?? Are there any other pro's and con's I should consider when comparing the two engines??

Other than this dilemma, I love the styling and the handling of these trucks.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Joe

 

Get a left over 2007 5.9 CTD.

 

Do a search on this forum, the topic has been exhausted, but suffice it to say that the Hemi works much less to move a heavy QC truck and will, in almost all situations, yield BETTER gas mileage than the 4.7.
I think the 4.7 is best suited for SC 4x2 trucks...

 

Yeah, I noticed that when I was looking for my truck; the 5.7 is rated HIGHER gas milage than the 4.7, go figure.

 

For my money I'd go for a 2006 or 2007 model with either engine. Mostly to ditch the torsion bar front suspension. One of the biggest complaints with previus model years is body roll and weak shocks, which is really just body roll since shocks have less to do with suspension than most think.

My '07 QCSB 4.7L 4x4 has in my opinion and others who drive GM and Ford trucks has very little body roll. My friend who drives the Chevy thought my Dodge was phenomenal, proclaimed it cornered like a go-kart. I agree with him!

I get 19.5-20.5 mpg on the highway at 60 mph. You'll find a few with the Hemi in that range, but not too many on here.
I get a combined stop and go traffic/city/highway average of 17.7 mpg week in and week out, temperature has little effect.
This equals my last vehicle 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 4.0 L inline 6 cylinder!

Overall the Hemi has a lot of advantages that you might never need, those are the obvious horsepower and torque and all that comes with that like towing capacity etc. but the 4.7 has more of both of those things than say the old 360 or 318 or an older 350 GM that you might be used to.

The Hemi's other niceties are a reasonable bunch of aftermarket additions that the 4.7 is a bit lacking on, but if you're not into add-on aftermarket stuff, that's of no interest to you. Resale is likely higher on the hemi. You'll get kids pulling alongside in those plainly styled Hondas wanting to race, you'll have the HEMI badging and the required "does that thing have a HEMI man?!"

--Matt

 

Matt, thanks. I did not know the suspension was changed in 2006. I found a 2006 4.7 QC SLT for about the same price as the 2004 Hemi QC SLT. (~$19,000, both with mileage in the 20K's). The Hemi appeals to my ego more, but the '06 just feels more like a brand new truck.

Based on what I've read on the forum so far, there's a split opinion on which way to go. The mileage doesn't seem to be a tie breaker. I guess I can't go wrong either way. (?)

 

Suspension change is only an issue if you are looking at 4x4's. And the torsion bar vs. coil overs is a matter of what you are planning to do with it. The change to coil overs was to appeas the vast majority of the people who purchase a 4x4 truck and never take it off road.The coil overs have a far smoother ride on pavement, kinda the same reason they started making 1/2 ton 4x4's with cv axles up front instead of a solid front axle. It's a much softer, car like ride on pavement.
For moderate/heavy off road use, I kinda like the torsion bars, less to break, easier to fix, especially in the field...

 

Ithink that if you go with the 4.7 you'll be glad that you will get a few more mpg's. If you go withthe hemi you'll be glad that you got more power. I think it comes down to what kind of driver you are. If you are a granny-like driver the 4.7 would seem like the way to go but if you like to get on it i would go with the hemi.......Either way....it's still a nice truck

 

06 and newer Hemis are equipped with MDS as well if Im not mistaken? That oughta definitely up your mileage on highways. I personally like the 06+ front ends much better, but thats just as far as looks go.

 

I would go with the HEMI.