If you plan on towing heavy then buy the diesel, I have had two Hemi's and love them both but the fuel savings with the diesel are stupid. I pull a 24 ft toy hauler that weighs around 8400 loaded with my 05 2500 QC 4X4 and I can pull fine but in order to maintain 50-55 on a hill my mileage drops to about 6 1/2 - 7, on flat ground I get about 9. Keep in mind that I am running 35" tires with the 3:73's in the rear end, 4:10's are coming soon. My highway mileage is about 11 1/2. A friend of mine has the same truck with the diesel and he gets 14 pulling the same hills and about 17 on the flats.

 

I read somewhere the Diesel gets a different transmission (I'm talking Automatic) than the Hemi. Does anyone know if the Hemi 2500 has the same transmission as a Hemi 1500?

Thanks

 

Runnings 35's on 3.73's will do that. 4.56's would do more for you than 4.10's.

 

hdt551,

Yes, the Hemi in the 1500 and 2500 have the same automatic transmission, the 545RFE. The CTD uses a 48RE which is built to handle the torque range of that motor.

Mike

 

Amen!! Oh, and to all you who say you're getting 14+MPG outta yer Hemi [sm=alcoholic.gif]...maybe downhill. [sm=confused06.gif] But, if you are, let me know your secret, then maybe I can up my CTD mileage from 23 to who-knows-what.....I have friends who have Hemis, and I know what thery're getting...True, the Hemi IS a FUN engine, and fine one, unless you want good MPG and the best towing motor.

Now, (stepping off soapbox), I think that we can all agree that our Rams are bulletproof, no matter the truck/motor/etc...and I'm not here to offend anyone. Let's just agree that we are all Ram enthusiasts...


[sm=deal.gif]

 

I agree. I average 14MPG (according to the computer) driving to work. I've noticed my best economy is actually up near 80MPH and that's where you start to see 17 to 18MPG, but I can't count on that unless I'm on a road trip.

When I'm getting onto the interstate entrance ramp, reset the fuel economy computer display, and punch the gas... it displays 4MPG or less!!!

So, you can average 14MPG and still eat someone's lunch at a stoplight time to time, but anything more then that and you'll need to be prepared to pay for it.

My drive to work is about 28 miles each way. With that said, if I fill up on Friday and get heavy on the throttle throughout the weekend (for standard running around), and end up running late to work on Monday and chopping up traffic, it seems like I can plan on dropping another 50 bucks at the gas station by Tuesday afternoon.