I'm new to this and will be getting my first CTD in the next wek or so. It's an '06 2500 Quad Cab 4x4 w/ 25K miles on it. I drive mostly highway & city (70 miles round-trip for work M-F) and do some off roading during hunting season. I will be upgrading to a small lift and bigger tires soon and an exhaust system and air intake in the near future. I'm getting the truck b/c it's reliable, strong, and a bad-*** in general. I don't do much towing but will be getting a 5ht wheel travel trailer when we start a family in the next couple of years. I think it's got 3.73 gears now. Definitely not 4.10. I might upgrade thos later to compensate for the tires & towing needs. Not sure yet. Here's where I need help:
1. Mileage--What can I do to get the most mpg possible? Can I achive 22-25 mpg hwy like some claim? What chip/programs or other add-ons do you recommend? I'm not heavy footed when driving.
2. Fluids--What intervals to you recommend me changing theoil, tranny, t-case, front/rear diff? Any thougths on biodiesel? What productsdo you recommend?
3.Engine/tranny upgrades--What can I do to get good mileage and still have plenty of power? What exhaust & air intake combos do you recommend? I don't need to blow smoke all over, don't need to dragrace, and don't need to move a mountain. But I don't mind more power and any thing else that will help it last longer. Keep in mind I willbe getting a 5th wheel later. A turbo upgrade later is possible, but not sure yet.
4.Cost--While i'm not hurting for money, I'm also not a bank. I can afford good stuff but will no doubt need as much sparemoney as possible w/ diesel being more expensive than gas. What's up w/ that? Especially when it costs less to refine diesel!

Thanks in advance for your timein considering these topics and giving recommendations. I look forward toadding pics and talking on this forum.

 

1. If you not heavy foot you can make that and I say go with Edge/Att. get chip with power and gauges
2. Oil every 5k miles or closest you are able to. The pickup is at 25k miles so if hasnt changed over to Syntetic do so.
3. If its manual it will prob be ok if you only do minimal to it, but auto don't try to put alot more on.

As for Turbo the stock is fine if you just driving, keep the 3.73 it will pull fine and get better milage specially if you look into the Edge/Att. I wouldn't bother with a 4.10 unless it does nothing but pull big loads.

For me I use mine like you and I'm not heavy foot so I'm looking into 4 things. Intake, exhaust, chip and transmission. Intake and exhaust I'm pretty much done with. Chip I want Edge/Att. so I can get gauges and HP/Milage and transmission I'm going to have rebuilt by end of next summer and most likely before the Edge comes.

 

My 06 2500 4x4 gets 22mpg or so on the highway with my 6spd on stock tires, around 17 in town and about 14 when pulling a 10k trailer. Not too bad for such a big truck. Sure beats the heck out of my dads 07 hemi that can barely stay above 13mpg's. As for exhaust I chose the MBRP catback. I got it for 370 shipped, it looks great and sounds good too (although not too loud). Intake I'd say either S&B or AFE proguard 7. I don't have a programmer yet, but many like the Smarty I believe. I change my oil ever 6000 miles with 3 gallons of Rotella T and use a mopar filter. good luck with your new purchase, you will love it!

 

I have stock tires 3.73's and an auto and mine is almost the exact same with the Edge. Before that I got 1-1.5 mpg better. I think my mileage would actually improve but I can't keep my right foot off that damn pedal since I got all that new found power. Oil change every 5k with Valvoline Premium Blue.

 

I forgot to mention that it is an auto. But thanks for the advice on what to use.