Hello, I am new to this forum, and I have some questions regarding the Hemi version of the 2500/3500 trucks. I am thinking on entering the market for a "new" truck again, and I'm thinking in the back of my mind about a Hemi 2500 or 3500 with a manual transmission. I have never heard good MPG claims for any of the hemi trucks with an auto, but how about a manual? I've heard claims of up to 3-4 MPG improvements on GM fullsize trucks between the 4L80E auto and manual transmissions, but I haven't heard much about these trucks. Is there anyone that owns one of these that can chime in for me? Thanks a bunch.

 

Well, first of all..... If your buying a 3500 series truck based on MPG's, you'd better move to a civic hybrid. Not trying to be a smart ***, but the 2mpg difference you may see from a manual or auto will be such a small diffrence from the 12mpg you really get. Either way it will be a pump shock if you haven't got a truck already. Count on twice the trips to the pump.
Generally, anyone who looks at a heavy Duty work truck doesn't talk about MPG's although every little bit does help, 2mpg won't even really be noticeable.

If you don't need the towing capabilities of a 2500 or 3500, then I would go smaller. The diffrence from a 1500 to a 3500 is probably the difference your looking for.

Me being a 2008 Ram owner for a year now and getting a steady 13mpg's around town, I too hear claims of people getting 3-4mpg's better in the cuty than myself. i say BS!!! I have been driving my truck long enough i know what it will and will not get.
Anyone who makes MPG claims always thinks their truck gets the best mileage. ANY dodge Ram truck you drive will not get better than 18mpg highway or 13mpg city. It's the sad truth reghardless of what some people claim.
Also, i thought the Cummins was standard equipment in the 3500???

 

I called my buddy a little bit ago and asked him what he had for tunes on the Diesel engines. He is running his 3500 Diesel with a program he wrote to save on MPG's. He said he achieved 21mpg highway on his last trip to the SEMA show. He's in the Carolina's and drove to Nevada and back. Anyways, the best MPG tune for a gasser he could obtain was only 22mpg highway for a 2wd reg cab V8, didn't say if it were a 4.7 or 5.7, but they are very close in MPG's anyways..
With the diesel tune, I never mentioned.....he was towing a 28ft Enclosed car trailer that weighed 12,600#'s on his CAT Scale reciept. How about that for mileage! he gets 27mpg not towing on the Fuel saver mode and a consistent 5mpg city with his +240hp/500ft.lbs setting....lmao

 

sounds good to me, and that's without propane!

AFAIK, the hemi never had a manual...you have to swap one in, don't you?

 

yeah, I already own a GMC 6.0L K2500HD...I know ALL about bad mileage, I just don't want WORSE than I get already. I consistently get 10 MPG around town (I go to college in Houghton, MI...lots of hills) and I have seen 16 MPG cruising, but not very often.

You could get a manual in the HD trucks with a hemi, but not the 1500.

 

I get about 12-13 City and 16-17 Highway in my 2500. It is a 6 speed manual. Although these numbers may be a little less than a stock 2500 hemi because I have larger tires and a body lift.

If you are looking into a 3500, I would go with the cummins.

 

My friend has a 99 3500 w/ cumming and 5 speed, welded 5th gear, tows a tri-axle gooseneck horse trailer @ highway speeds in 5th no problem, about 12 MPG.

 

a hemi with a manual? i didnt know rams have that option, i wish they had it for the 09' ram R/T

 

they don't that i know of. But I THINK The viper trans (tremec T-56 isn't it?) supposedly can bolt up?

I don't see anything listed for the hemi on the advance adapters website...

 

I shall stand corrected.

http://www.xvmotorsports.com/news/ne...play1.cfm?id=7 (Tremec T-56)

http://www.dodge.com/en/performance/2009/index.html (Challenger 6.1 has a manual)

http://www.burnsvilleoffroad.com/Art...ersionKit.aspx (Getrag 238)