I`m sure it has been posted a million times but needed a fast answer as I’m down to a power wagon or a 1500 slt sport.

I have been shopping for a new dodge and have found 2 of them that I really like. I will be leasing one this week and it is now down to the nitty gritty.

Most driving will be in the city and I will be faced with some pretty cold winters up north here. I will not be doing any towing.

The only thing that I’m down to is the gas mileage I realize the 2500 doesn’t have the mds and have also heard that it doesn’t make a drastic difference.

Any advice would be greatly help! thx

 

Your driving habit's are going to determine your mileage, a hemi with a auto in a quad or reg cab will get moving a hell of a lot quicker than a 2500 5.7 with a 6sp manual but will only get 2 to 3 extra mpg, so Far in my 2500 reg cab, I have atained a best of 17MPG, not bad for a 3/4 ton 4x4, truck is still new with less than a 1000 Km on it, city mileage is really good, highway not so good, thiers a lot of truck to push down the highway at 60 mph with a 373 ltd slip, performance with the 5.7 hemi is excellant, Gas mileage in a hemi truck is pretty good when compared to GM or Ford, more power is going to mean less gas mileage if your driving like a NASCAR driver, Dodge is the best combination of power and economy, in the end, decide what you want your truck to do..

For highway, a 5.7 with a 330 rear diff will get awsome mileage, but will dog it in the city..Dodge has a lot of axel ratio's to chose from..

 

I'm no expert, and i can only tell you from my experience that the 1500 is probably what you want. Especially when you're talking about gas mileage, and no towing. I have a 1500 Quad cab, and i know that the gas mileage I'm getting is a whole lot better than the 2500.
Hope this helps.

 

I'd have to agree with NYPANAMA, you probably would want to go with the 1500, especailly since you won't be towing anything, and mileage would probably be 1-3MPG better with the 1500 vs. the 2500 gasser.
I've read some posts from a few people with the Hemi MDS in their trucks, and some people get up to the low 20's, of course, you have to realize, you have to control your driving habits, no burn outs at every stop sign.
Personally, the only reason I would get a 2500 is if it has the Cummins (my next truck will have one!)

 

i have a 2006 2wd. quad cab and i`m getting 20miles per gallon with the cruise set on 60mph. i have a magnaflow exhaust and an air raid intake with the 3.92 rear diff. along with the 20in. wheel package

 

Gobby,
You are looking at two ends of the spectrum here. The Power Wagon is obviously for more rugged off-road use, while the 1500 is lighter duty.

Just have to decide what you really want to do with your truck. If you are into lighter off-roading, the 1500 is great. But is you want to do serious mountain climbing, or desert off-road, then it might be better to go with the PW.

The biggest reason I purchased my 2500 is that I plan in the not too distant future to pull up stakes and move back to the desert southwest. My Brother and I truly enjoy some nasty stuff for off-roading. Its kinda like a roller coaster ride for the price of the gas.
I wish now I had purchased the Power Wagon myself. Hind site is always 20/20.

 

The solid axles on the 2500 are bullet proof and are built like a brick. In truck land that is everything. The MPG are close to the 1500 but remember the 2500 is alot more truck in every aspect.

 

My Power Wagon is giving around 10.8 MPG mixed city and Hwy.
Cruizing on a flat Fwy at 75Mph gives about 12. If I drove at 65 and was real careful, I could get maybe 14.
Is that any help?
The Owners Manual says you can use regular, with some pinging possible.
Recommends mid grade, and premium fuel for towing/very hot weather.

If the Diesel was available on the PW, I would get that. There would be no room for the 12,000lb Warn winch though [sm=noooo.gif] and the front suspension would have to be stiffened up to allow the much heavier engine.

 

note in this long term test the MPG of the 2500 is 'about' the same as what most people report for the 1500.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...fications.html

In the auto industry there is a 'rule of thumb' that for every 10% you increase the weight of a vehicle you will see a 6% decrease in MPG in city driving.

 

Tire pressure is important for mileage, My truck came with 50 psi, I dropped it down to 45 psi and mileage has dropped abougt a 1/2 mile to mile, I Have a 1000 Km on the truck now, I will up the tire psi to 55 psi and I have built a false floor in the box to hide my tools, average mpg is 13.5 and I have gotton as high as 17 mpg 55 mph 6th gear..

I Can get 700+KM out of tank of gas ( reg cab long box 29 gallon tank ) with high way driving, at 55 mph, but that's not realistic speed for me to travel..
This is acording to the on board coumputer, and I'm sorry for mixing up imperial with metric ( mileage )

2500 reg cab 4x4 5.7 6sp