at work there are about a dozen dodges around. we got so used to them that we just purchased without checking things out. the dealer fed us a couple of lies and we got stuck with the lower geared six speed and the high rear end. this pickup sucks for driving down the road. we just aren't going to take it down the road as a driving pickup. instead, it is going to get sutck with a heavy trailer or utility bed and get used as a pulling pickup. the mileage is less then twelve empty and the enginge screams at highway speeds.

is there two six speeds a higher and lowered geared?

 

they are around 3K, will you see immediat improvement. . .maybe a little, but right now time is what you need. when I pulled off the lot I was doing 13mpg. these engines have a wear in period, this period is different between trucks in that if you tow something they will wear in quicker.

 

BROKENE - I have 4:10's and an 11.5 rear - as Drew says, it's the diameter of the pumpkin.
MALTESE - the reflash is what DC calls it when they reinstall an updated program in the "computer" controlling everything - dealers who are on top of things offer to do this when you bring in your truck, but others have to be asked. As DC discovers errors in the program, or things that can be done better, they rewrite the program and then when it's put on your "computer" whatever they changed now operates per the new program.
But Drew caught the strongest point I missed - your miles are so low that as you get more the mpg will improve. It might be best to wait to get about 10K miles before determining what you want to do as far as significant changes go.Obviously the larger tires change the effective engine-to-pavement ratio, but if you need every ounce of the low end, you'll lose some by putting larger tires on it (just as you would if you changed the gear ratio). Since I had the lower (higher numerically, lower ratio) rearend, I had power to spare and the larger tires weren't an issue at low end (or anywhere else)...

 

nevermind....too late.

 

Gear Vendors "Overdrive" adds 22% more gear. In 6th overdrive I only turn 1750RPM at 70 MPH

5th over is about the same as stock 6th, but is DIRECT DRIVE.. So you can tow with it. :-)

Some serious $ but will pay for it with fuel savings. I got a true 3+ MPG I am at 6K miles an am at 18.5-19.5 MPG each tank If I drop from 6th over to 6th my MPG on the overhead PLUNGES downward when at 70 MPH I prefer 75 MPH. That was impossable (for me) before the install.

Now the truck is MADE for the highway... 80 MPH is not big deal. 2500 is FAST around 90-95 MPH IIRC.

I can drive by RPM now not by gear. If I want 1200 on the flats... simple... Up hill bump to 1800-2000 . I have PLENTY of gears to chose from.

4th in OD is perfect at 30-35MPH in town.

5th over and 6th over on the highway empty and 5th, 5th over, and 6th over towing (you skip 6th as it is the same as 5th over, 6th over is for low "load" slight down hill or flat with tail wind towing)

Down side is $ and fluid changes every 10K miles. (slight drive train strength reduction too as it has a smaller output shaft and U-joint)

Both not a problem to me I do not tow extream weight. 5-8K at most. Mostly just light loads in the bed.

 

Similiar topic but apologize if I digress:

I have an '06 2500 diesel automatic w/ the sport package with about 10K miles. I threw the 31" Michelin's out the dayIgot it and went with some 35's (same rims). Some of you said this might be a good thing because it reduces the RPMs, however, my concern is the stress I'm putting on my tranny by not redoing the differential. I tow about 10-12K lbs up and down mountains at least once a month. Seems to do great, but every Dodge owner I've met that tows has gone through a couple trannys. I obviously want to keep it in as long as I can, so should I be considering going to a 4.56 to keep some of the stress off when I'm towing (and to maybe improve mileage)? I get about 16 on the freeway and 8 when I tow.

Thanks for the help.

 

maltese i would just grin it and bear it you only have i think you said 2500 miles your engine is not even broken in yet. You should wait till at least 6k or more miles to start making changes. Everything is still getting seated give it osme time and you won't be dissapointed

 

I've got an 06 QC 4x4 CTD with Automatic, it turns 2000 RPM @ 70mph and has 1,500 miles on it. I'm getting hand calc'd 15.5mpg 50/50 city/hwy. Seems to do better in town than hwy as well. So maybe we both just need to wait till it breaks in.

 

Well, thanks for all your suggestions! I guess I'll just keep using the brew and give it some time and miles. I rarely pull anything much so break may take awhile. I like the overdrive option the most, cant be those super-low RPMs, but don't want to spend the money. We'll see.

 

I JUST cought this.

thats wrong, 04.5 and later all 2/3500's have the 11.5" pumpkins in the back. the 10.5's were used in 03 and early 04 with the hemi or the v10 under the hood the Cummins got the 11.5.