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I have a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 (Hemi). The truck drives nice, looks nice and pulls great, but mpg is horrible. 7 mpg on the way to Table Rock this weekend. I spend about 400-500 a month in gas in my truck alone. Looking to buy a new GMC 1500 crew cab 4x4. I would like a deisel but don't want to spend the extra money. Does anyone know how these tow first hand. Also am considering a Ford F-150 4x4 crew cab. Appreciate any information.
Thats exactly what I tow with. 1500 GMC SLT Z71, xtra cab though. 5.3 motor tows my Champ fine. Just gotta keep it outa overdrive in the hills. About 12-13 on the highway with the boat.
I have an 02 chevy 2500hd with the 6.0 and I get 14 around town and 11-12 pulling the boat. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif
2003 Chevy Z71 5.3 with 373 gears. Tows fine. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif Get about 12 pullin, 17-18 highway
My dad's truck is a 2004 Silverado extended cab, 5.3L Z-71 w/tow pack (3.73 gears)......has pulled my little boat a few times http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif gets around 14/15 in town.....gets 13/14 towing.....and gets around 18 on Hwy as long as your not trying to go faster than 75 http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif then MPG dropps off a bit http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/ohwell.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif
I'd tell ya what I have but probably too OLD for your liking http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif
Good freind of mine has a 2004/05 F-150 4x4 XLT ext cab.....5.4 Triton and tows on occation heading to Colorado or Salt Flats with his uncle.......clims he only gets around 9/10mpg on hwy towing but I think he's pulling max load with it too
My last and my current tow vehicles were / are the F150 4x4 SuperCrew I had a 2001 and now a 2006. Both IMHO are great for towing. The newer truck sits lower to the ground than the 2001 did and while IÂm not sure, it feels as though it tows more effortlessly. Make sure you get the 5.4 Triton V8 to get the best performance. I get about 13 MPG while towing, less if I try to tow with cruise control on.
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I get about 13 MPG while towing, less if I try to tow with cruise control on.
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I'm thinking that might be why my buddy only gets about 10 http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/ohwell.gif plus I think he sets the Cruise control to "Going to PLAID" http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif
I appreciate the information guys. I really am not excited about getting rid of my truck. I hate dealing with stealerships. Be nice if gas went down some. Oh well my own dumb @$$ fault. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/doh.gif
My 05 Ram 1500 quad cab 4x4 hemi got right at 12 average on a 2000 mile trip with my 19'er and about 600 lbs in the bed at 75. Dropped to 10 when I was doing 82, so I figured it was worth dropping back to 75. Will do 13 at 60-65.
I think most trucks will get around 12 mpg (4x4)....
7 is pretty bad for a V8, even a Dodge. Heck, I can get that with my gas guzzling V-10. You sure there's not something wrong with it?
Here is a stupid question but when is the last time you changed your air filter? That will cut you MPG down.
I put a KN airfilter on it right after i bought it. I clean it everytime I change the oil. Airpressure is good on the tires. I have never had any troubles with. I have taken it in for the scheduled services and the mechanics have always said it is good. don't know. I love the truck but it is 100 trip each time I head to a tourney. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/crying.gif What do you think could be wrong?
I had a 03 dodge that got terrible mileage too, but I can't remember what I was getting towing. Went to a Dodge Cummins and got 12 pulling a trailer and got rid of it because all of my buddies where getting 12 in a gas truck and that was when diesel sky rocketed. I have a 1500HD now and get 12. I don't know what could be wrong except the Dodges love gas. One thing you could change on your next truck is that 5 speed will ge better gas mileage that an auto. I think I would get rid of it too if you can afford it.
Josh - if you are planning to buy a GM product, talk to Parks Chevrolet in Augusta. I bought my '04 Tahoe Z71 there and they have always been more than fair to me.
Parks is one of the few dealerships where you can actually talk to the OWNER if you have a question or problem. I had my Tahoe in for some service and I while I was waiting I lamented to Saretta (the owner) how much I missed the Suburban that I traded in on my Tahoe. She said "let me put you in an '07 Suburban for the weekend to see if that would suit you better - no strings attached." I drove the Suburban for the weekend, liked it but did not want to spend the $$$. I told them exactly that when I returned it Monday, and that was that. No high pressure, no BS, nothing but "thank you for considering it".
BTW - when I first looked at the Tahoe(used) on Tuesday, they shot me a price. I told them that the price was more than I was willing to pay. Thursday I got a phone call from the salesman who said "if you are still interested in the Tahoe, you can have it for $1,000 less than the Tuesday price." I took my wife out to Augusta, we drove it, and we took it home for good on Friday after it went thru the shop for a couple minor adjustments. Great people to deal with IMHO.
Doc
I've got a 03' Dodge 3500 dually 4x4 and I get 15 towing, with nothing I am getting 17 city and 20 to 23 highway. and ya it's got a CUMMINS http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/USA1.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif
Yeah, they are great people to deal with. I have bought 3 vehicles from them. I will give them the business if I can. Good people to deal with.
That's good to know about Parks, sure wish we had a good GM dealer around these parts. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthdown.gif
Josh,
Have you by chance put great big tires on that rig?
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TimS »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sure wish we had a good GM dealer around these parts. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthdown.gif </TD></TR></TABLE>
I used to work at a Good GM Dealer http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/ohwell.gif not a GM Dealer no more http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/doh.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif
and NO not because of me either for all you smart allecs out there http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/mad.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif
Yeah, I did. The are the same height as what came on the truck but they are 2 inches wider. I know that didn't help but it was bad to begin with. I think my problem really is some of my friends have bought GMC's and I was an idiot and drove one and man they are awesome.
What gears does it have in it?
373
Josh,
If you have tried everything in regards to working w/the dealer to see if there's something wrong with why it's burning so much gas and you can't get it resolved, you might just wanna dump it. The tires aren't that much different than what it came with and w/373 gears you shouldn't be getting that bad of mileage. Something just isn't right. I have the gas suckingest pig known to mankind in a V10 Dodge and I can pull my boat w/2000 lb slide in camper and get 7. I know the Dodges suck it down, but that's excessive for a V8. It will at some point really limit you in how far you wanna travel to fish, esp. if gas stays high, which I think it will.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TimS »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That's good to know about Parks, sure wish we had a good GM dealer around these parts. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthdown.gif </TD></TR></TABLE>
We do, You just dealt with a bum who got fired shortly after dealing with you. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/ohwell.gif
I am looking, I would like to find a diesel for a reasonable price. $$$. I would like to find a single cab long bed and by a cheap car to drive back n forth from work. I hate vehicle payments (necessary evil sometimes). My wife tells me I have my priorities in the wrong place cause she thinks I should sell my boat, buy a cheaper one and have a nicer truck. I am the opposite. I would rather drive a older truck and have a newer boat. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif Anybody have any leads on a single long bed diesel 4x4?
I'll check the local dealerships around here. Looking for a patriclular brand?
I am the same way about a nice boat. I am going to keep my 03' Chevy as long as she is still ticking. Hoping to get a boat around Jan/Feb time. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/praying.gif
The ford is what Dennis Hamel just bought.
I have a 2004 Z71, 4 x 4, Extended Cab with 48000 miles, with camper shell, that I am the orginal owner. Tows great, v8 gas engine I would say around 14 towing and 16 not on the hwy. I just bought 4 brand new tires and truck runs great. I am looking at a 2007 or 2008 Chevy Duramax 2500HD in the next few months.
Let me know if interested.
same truck I have. sounds like
Either a GMC or a Dodge. Preferably a GMC but will take another Dodge for the right price. I appreciate your help.
isn't GMC and Chevy the same manufacturer? When I looked at the GMC vs the Chevy, before I bought the Chevy, they looked the same, some minor differences, but the GMC was 10% higher price.
I think I might learn something from this exchange of ideas.
They are but I like the look of the GMC's, the grills are different and I think the look of the front ends are a little different too. Either one, I think you will like them both especially with that Duramax and Allison tranny. GMC with a Banks exhaust and programmer is a bad @$$ pullin machine.