Hello to all! Glad to be here. I am going to be purchasing a Ram within about a month or two (depends how long my Cherokee holds out) and I am faced with some hard decisions. I know I definetly want a 05 or 04 Quad Cab 4x4. The problem is with the engine. I have heard that Hemi's get dismal gas mileage and the 4.7 is not much better. Granted this is a huge truck so it wont be a civic on the gas - but which one is actually better for mileage? My driving is mostly city (90%) and some trips to South Texas when I get a chance. I have been considering the Cummins, but avalability and price are prohibitive.

Does the 4x4 really make that big of a difference? Thanks for all the help! Looking forward to not folding myself in every morning!

 

Hello, I have a 99' Dakota 3.9L, 2WD, Sport. I need to replace rack and pinion, and/or tie-rods. Anyone, tried this yet? Ithink I can do this myself. Any suggestions on where to find parts?

 

You might want to check out the sticky at the top, about the gas mileage everyone is getting. No matter what you get its pretty @$#tty. lol Good idea actually looking into it though. I wish I had just gone on and bought a 4 x 4. I didn't find this forum until AFTER I bought my truck though. sigh.... good stuff here, great bunch of guys too. Good luck and happy searching.

 

If you're going QC I'd stick with the HEMI. CTD is awesome, but a bit of a price kill unless you're going to be towing on a reqular basis. I've got a RCSB and couldn't be happier with my 4.7L. Can't say that I don't have HEMI or CTD envy, but the 4.7L moves my truck along quite nicely for now.

 

From What I've read on here the 4.7 gets slightly better in town. HEMI gets same or better on hiway. I have the HEMI and love it . Gas milage sucks in city right now cause its hardly gotten over 10 deg F the last week.

 

In the gas mileage department in 04 and 05 trucks, between the 4.7 and 5.7 it's very minute. In the newer modles they have the MDS for the 5.7 and the 4.7 has some kind of mileage enhancer as well. Both engines are very solid, you can't go wrong either way. I used to have a Hemi, now I have my 4.7L and have been happy with both.

 

I get about 17-19 in town and 22-24 on the highway, my 4.7 has plenty of power, it's nice and quiet and very smooth. Couldn't be happier with my purchase!

 

no matter what, they are gas guzzlers, but who cares, it's a truck. i got the magnum andwas very pleased with the stock performance. my buddy's got the hemi,our usage is the same around 13.4miles/ gallon.

 

So, is that your co-pilot there? Yeah, well the wife wont LET me get a Hemi (unless of course its in a car). The plain fact is, I miss my old truck and I want another one. Oddly enough, when mine was in the shop for about 3 weeks in 2005 (great hailstorm $3500 in damage) the rental place gave me a 04 QC with the 4.7. There started my love affair. I also miss having my pups up front with me when I go driving. They used to just lay in the middle on the bench between me and my wife. They dont like the back of the Jeep much [:'(]

If I can afford it, I will go with the Cummins - if I cant I think I will just go with the 4.7 to be on the safe side. Besides, I dont haul or tow anything for the most part. gaspermarino, what is the difference between a TRX4 and a reguar 4x4? I dont think I have seen one of those before!

 

HEMI