I'm currently looking for a new (or slightly used) truck. I'll be towing a 23 foot runabout (ski boat), a 19 foot bass boat, and an 18 foot jonboat (for duck hunting) so it's not like I'll be testing the limits of a 3/4 ton truck. A half-ton will do nicely. However, Fuel mileage is important to me, as is reliability. Ideally, I want to keep it around for a long time and it be trouble free. Fuel mileage is important to me, too.

I'm considering a slightly used 2500 with the cummins because (#1) I've heard that they get around 18 mpg city and about 23 on the highway wthout a trailer, and (#2) the reliablity factor.

This will be a daily driver, so fuel mileage is important.

I also know once a gas engine car/truck gets to about 100,000 you will have to dump tons of money into it because stuff will start breaking. Since the Cummins Ram is rated to 350,000 miles, does that mean that stuff won't start breaking until about 350,000 miles?

I will be doing a TON of driving, and a LOT of trips that are 6 hours round trip and more, so I don't want to have to worry about stuff breaking in the middle of nowhere. I'd buy new and trade a gas engine truck at about 80,000-90,000 for that reason. However, If I can buy a slightly used 2003-4 Diesel Ram and keep it for about 200,000-250,000 miles trouble free, then that's ideal for me.

Then again, would it be stupid to buy a 3/4 ton truck to tow a bass boat?

 

I just read that people have gotten about 15 mpg in the HEMI around town and 19.3 mpg on the highway at 70 mph. Dang, that's better than I thought a gas engine could get. That's about what I get with my '95 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 4.0L I6!

It might just not be worth it to get the cummins over the HEMI, becuase the mileage isn't too bad for a truck, 100,000 miles is about 4-5 years for me, a half-ton will ride and handle better than a 3/4 ton, and I will still get a decent trade-in on a truck with about 90,000 miles.

 

I get 17-18 in town with my cummins....24+ open road. no major tune up for 350k....fuel is cheaper till now....and you can pull you mother-n-laws house over...lol

 

I purchased a 2004 QC Hemi 4X4 in July, and I had the same questions regarding buying the Cummins or the Hemi. It came down on what I was going to use the vehicle for. I own a 21ft boat, which weighs approx 5,000lbs with the trailer. I did consider purchasing the Cummins but the break even point would be 150,000 miles or 12 years of owning my truck. I really did not need a vehicle that could tow 20,000 plus pounds, plus my 1/2 ton rides a lot smoother than the 3/4 - 1 ton trucks. I do get 14.5 mpg around town and have gotton over 19 mpg on the freeway driving at 70 with the cruise control. My best towing my boat has been 12.5 mpg towing at 62 mph with the cruise contol in tow/haul mode. I expect to easily get over 200,000 miles on my Hemi. I sold my 89 Suburban 4X4 with a 350 to buy my Hemi. My Suburban had over 200,000 and still ran good. I run my vehicles well over 200,000 miles with no problems, maybe because of Amsoil. No I'm not trying to sell anybody Amsoil, but it does work....

 

I have owned 2 Dodge diesels...and would never buy another truck but that one
I have pulled 24,000lbs with a auto and single rear wheels...and never made less than 14mpg in the mountains
I have put on a 11' camper over the cab...and drove across Colorado with a side wind of up to 40 mph and still got about 20 mpg
when driving unloaded and a bed cover...I will get up to 24 mpg in O/D
you must be up on matainance...oil changes, air filter and fuel filters...plus make sure of your alignment and tires
I use synthetic oil...try to buy bio-fuel when I can get it...and have never had black oil when I change it
also you must keep up with the tramsmission...if you have not modified it...the oil will turn brown fast and start sliping....so if you can...change the torque converter and valve body to one made for heavy towing...and use synthetic oil....and change oil pan on tranny so you can change the oil yourself...instead of having a shop do it
if you do all of the above...your truck will last over a million worry free miles...and all you will need is a simple rebuild to last another million

 

uuhhhh this post is almost three years old, I hope the guy made a decision by now

 

"never had black oil", I find that hard to believe.

 

had a 2003 ram 2500 with hemi with a super chip and intake and 35s and hauled a triple axle trailer and it didnt go anywhere and the ride was just as nice as in my 2002 cummins 2500 that i just traded for. I have 35s on the cummins and it hauls like no other and rides better then the hemi did...get the cummins...you will regret it later!

 

You'll never regret having extra power laying around if you ever come across the need for it. You'll be just fine pulling them boats with a half ton, butyou would do it so much better with a diesel. I traded in my 04 f150 fx4 for my 2500 diesel, best decision of my life. That ford rode like crap too compared to my 3/4 ton which amazed the heck outa me. I get better gas milage too, the ford got a religious 15 where as my diesel willcreep well into the low-mid 20's on the highway about about 17-18 around town

 

I traded my HEMI for a Cummins back in July and a Magnflow Exhaust and K&N Air Filter are the only things I did to it and I was NO WHERE NEAR 15mph on the street or 19 on the highway. I was a consistent 12.5-13.0 around town and NEVER broke 16 on the highway even on long straight away trips.

Cummins Diesel all the way ;o)