I am thinking about getting a 3/4 ton 4X4 with the diesel. But the thing is I don't have a NEED for it right at present. I currently have a durango that I pull a travel trailer with and a worn out dakota that I need to replace with something more reliable. Eventually we would like to get a 5th wheel so that is where the idea of the 3500 came from. But is this a half *** efficient vehicle to drive if I am not USING it. Are there extra maintenance / running costs that would make it silly to be using it to haul my kids to hockey in?
Thanks for you thoughts.

 

I think it depends on how serious you are about buying a fifth wheel. These are definately expensive to drive if you are not using them for their intended purpose of towing and hauling. The average car takes 5 quarts of oil a diesel takes 12 quarts. And you are not going to get the fuel economy of a car or small suv. Don't get me wrong I love my diesel ram but I use it for what it was meant for.

 

The cost to operate depends on if you will maintain it yourself or pay someone to do it, how you drive it, where you buy fuel, if your state penalizes larger vehicles. ect. My truck with mixed driving usually returns 18 -19 MPG and I now do my own oil changes for about $45, but the short interval is 7500 miles so you have to factor that in against your 3000 mile schedule on the gassers. Just spend some time thinking and make a list pro and con, you will come to the right decision for you.

 

I have a 2004 dodge ram 3500 CTD I use it for what it is intended for and then drive the kids to football games. I don't get the greatest MPG. cost to drive for me is high in fuel costs $70 per week and in plates$180 year, city of chicago city sticker$180 year, truck parking permit for cityof chicago$90 year, state of IL inspections $26 every 4 months. Just keep the durango and then buy a big truck to pull enough for what your planning on buying in the future. If you buy a 2500 now then later want a bigger trailer its pointless to buy the 2500. just look around and get a 3500 I got mine for 21 grand had 38k on it. and it came with the fifth wheel hitch witch i have never used!!!!!

 

The only problem I found when buying my truck was that the 2500 were more than the 3500. On the order of about 6 to 9k more!! My Plate was 300 last month. I used to haul cars with it but now it's my daily driver. I get better mpg's than my wifes sequoia. I get about 17-19 mixed driving and she gets 13. I change my oil every 5000 miles and my fuel filter ever 15000. Also in my state diesel is 25 cents higher than gas.