I was going to wait till 2000 mile mark but 1700 miles will be close enough with all the time taken up the next 4 or 5 weeks with selling old house (sold and closing next week) and buying new house on 10 acre track in Ozark Hills and moving starting next week so I thought I do a quick report.


1. Computer error for MPG per actual math places reporting error of about 2.5% below actual MPG, so in reality it is getting slightly better millage per gallon, but not enough to brag about IMHO.


2. Around town MPG runs by computer 23.8 to 24.4 so far. Cruising at 75 mph interstate computer shows 28-29 mpg depending on winds. At 65 mph truck seems to settle in at 33/34 MPG really steady. IIRC that's about 1500 RPM range but I don't remember exact numbers.


3. Best sustained MPG's was 42 MPG on a trip to Arkansas and speed limit was 55 mph or below because of one small town and shot couple miles in MO.


So far I have had no complaints about the truck except it's so dang high I carry small Tupperware step to assist wife and I in and out. I'm 6'5" and wife is 5' 2" but I'm 69 today and wife is almost 62.


Number of diesels owned in past is about 6 cars, 4 MB's last MB was 05 model and two VW's, '00 & 01 models.


I have used Power Service additive for cetane boost on each fill up.

Interesting, thanks for the update. I'm interested in the 4 cyl diesel Ducato van they started selling in the US. I'm curious to see how the long term reliability pans out.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Apparently you can't order a base model Tradesman with a 6'4" bed and the Eco diesel. The 4x4 version it's allowed...

Also when did pick up truck prices get to be $20k for a stripped out tradesman?

I'm going to stay on my original path of getting a decent 65 or 70 Chevy C10

Not a good idea; they're not really safe in comparison to modern trucks. Get a 5 or 6 year old pickup with ABS and airbags. They can probably be obtained for the same price as a vintage pickup in comparable condition.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the little Dodge - er - Ram. I hope it works over time as the concept is a good one.

My 2002 Dodge is lowered - about the first thing I did to it. Nice FE boost and it's a lot easier to get in and out of. When I did mine bell was the only maker to have a kit - 3" front (springs/shocks) and 4" rear (spring mounts and shocks).

Good luck on the move.

Dan

I'm going to wait for a couple of years before I consider one. I really hope that Dodge made another winner. At present my 95 GMC 1500 6.5 Diesel is running just fine with 160K on it. after all the 6.5L is a German motor if you think about it

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1993 MB 300D 245K died.

Those mileage figures are most impressive!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Amazing the improvement from common-rail injection, compared to our old mechanical squirters. As I understand, the advantage comes from both a finer spray and tapering the injection so you don't need the pre-chamber to keep the rattling sound tolerable. Disadvantage is it needs a complex 20,000 psi continuous pump (mechanical) and electronic-controlled injectors. But, if enough are sold, maintaining that complexity might not be too expensive. I have seen decent deals on ebay for such parts when browsing.

So many advances have been made in IC engine controls that a 6 cyl seems to be all one needs today for gas or diesel, even in trucks and performance cars, plus you can now see the mountains in the summer from the SoCal beaches. Most of this came from government-funded DOE research, begun way back in the days of Jimmy Carter's presidency when our energy future looked bleak. He willingly took the blame (plus Iran), but in the long run dedicated engineering research paid off in both engine efficiency and drilling technology. Appears a direct counter to those who demand a tiny federal government.

By your logic we should all sell our old
Mercedes Benz automobiles and buy off lease C classes.

My desire to own a classic truck is something I can freely do.

That statement is not representative of my logic. A 1965/1970 Chevy pickup is not really comparable to a w123 240D in terms of design safety.

Of course you are free to own a classic truck. No one is stopping you. If I see someone walking towards a cliff edge in the dark, I just might warn them about the cliff. I'm kind of a busybody like that.