Went for the pick up truck

I am a little nervous to tell the truth. My Chevy venture was still running it was showing some signs of future problems but was going to hang in for a wile .
But it got to a point of Looks It just was looking really bad - even I was starting to feel paranoid with the smirking looks from people . But let me tell you the chev venture is a run till it dies auto .
I replaced it with a Dodge 1500 ram 4X4 pickup , 318 CI. . No question it holds more weight has more room & looks very respectable. I was getting 17 to 18 mpg with chev and I assume i will get 13 to 15 MPG with the dodge and 15 might be hard also .
I guess what I am worried about is if the delicate balance of decent fuel economy that i feel i will give up as I hunt for product
the chev always found plenty of product for $10 gas . I pray at most my l increased fuel expense will be $10 more ($20 a day) If by some chance I was to hit $40 per day with same driving route I would be disappointed .
But on the side of truth there will be less to shy away from as I have in the past not botherd with some projects .. I hope I make more money with it. I figure when I have a few bucks extra a K & N air filter Better spark plugs and best quality oil might enhance MPG.

What year is the truck? My '02 averages 11 miles to the gallon. It gets around 17 on the highway, but over the life of it has averaged just over 11 gallons. The electronics give me real time MPG as well as lifetime MPG. I also need to mention that the first 60,000 miles on the life of this truck were all highway. Setting at 107k miles now.

year is 2001
If I look at the INTERNET info, yes they say 12 mpg.
I once had a dodge van with a 318 and the fuel MPG was killer but that was a carb motor. I have developed a scrapper stile of driving
( I feel it is at least) I drive slow like a egg is on the gas peddle . I will give it a flooring once in a wile to clean it out but I drive with a floating style,just trying my best to utilize torque to flow along .
I also feel this style of driving is essential to local police that for sure will not tolerate a scrapper who drives fast in town.
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Any way back to the truck , a 1500 would not be my first choice , but the deal was doable. I have had dodges in the past and feel they are a good auto. A good strong truck.

iv got a 99 Ram 2500. Mind you its a diesel, 360ci. Great truck, will haul anything you put in it or hook up to it. I had to tow a transport tractor once that ran out of fuel, about 2 miles from a gas station. Pulled it nearly at idle in 4 LO. On the highway its great, fuel mileage in town... hahahaha. Iv got big 315 mudders on it and its lifted 2 inches though. Both kill MPG. but for 30 bucks I was able to drive around for 3-4 Hours before it was all gone.

With yours, make sure it has the proper sized tires. Look at the VIN sticker. Here in canada its on the door frame or on the inside of the door. Im sure its the same in the US but not totally sure. they have the proper tire size and proper PSI for optimal MPG and performance. Put in good quality plugs, and plug wires. Dont cheap out on plug wires... trust me, its worth it. Cant tell you how many times we have vehicles return to the shop 6-12 months down the road with misfires, cause of cheap plug wires. Misfires kill mileage and sometimes you cant notice subtle misses, and wont till it triggers the engine light. By that time, you could have destroyed the O2 sensors and Catalytic converter, unburnt fuel destroys them.

If fuel prices are decent where you are, try putting in a higher octane. Burns much cleaner than the low grade. If its close enough to regular, may be worth it once in a while. Iv noticed with my diesel, if i go to the cheap "No Name" gas station and fill up, I get less MPG than i would if i spent the same amount at say Shell or Esso. No name gas stations get CRAP fuel sometimes. But above all, Maintenance is key! I think you'll like the truck a lot more. You'll be able to pick up more, heavier material, and if you've got one, it'll tow trailers much nicer. I love mine and wouldnt ever scrap in anything else if i could help it!

Copper, I think your description of your driving style "like an egg under the pedal" is right on. I've heard this same saying before when talking about maximizing gas mileage.

Good luck with your "new" truck! Hopefully you will profit from being able to move larger loads.

Jon.

well I'll say a few things The dodge is a nice looking truck . tight not a rattle box.You get the feeling your in a rig.
It's a little bit old school wanderer on the road like the feel of a jeep. Yet on the dirt roads feels dead on accurate as a jeep feels.

The pick up has worked out well , I can load awkward items that I stayed away from in the past, but 2000 pounds is all i can go with safety . I can go higher in pounds (and have) but the rubber snubs really start to look like they want to bust a gut .
Fuel MPG is fine - load carrying NOT.

But your carrying one ton on a half ton truck, not too bad.

True it's doing its task and the truck is a 2001 . But when I got the truck I figured I could handle more then I see I really can.
I am no iron man ,so I will feel it (in my human body) after loading 4500 pounds of boiler or pipe from such projects.
But for sure I need my truck to be up to my ability of hand loading a truck with cast iron. I should not have to hold back
if I have the physical strength to do so . Some day in the future my physical strength to do so , might not pull it off & with scrap thats a reality one can't ignore
But now - I need Ram tough as I see on commercials even if I have a 2001 .

I am not as big as Brodus Clay

get you a trailer to carry that extra weight, axles will bend

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bear

get you a trailer to carry that extra weight, axles will bend

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not looking to bend it thats for sure

Timbren Suspension Enhancement Systems
has a $200 cure
http://timbren.com/timbren-ses/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Copper Head

Timbren Suspension Enhancement Systems
has a $200 cure

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Now that won't really increase you load capacity by substituting the factory snubbers for those, ...they maybe softer on the axle when you're bottomed out but no better really. for that price range, you're better off investing in adding springs to the spring pack. You 'll probably have a slight rougher ride back there while empty though. And of course you will still have your 1/2 ton axles/bearings and carrier assembly.

I am inclined to feel the enhanced snubbers might be the best choice. I am probably not alone as a scrapper , that my truck is used two ways loaded or unloaded
I saw some very convincing videos show the enhanced sunbbers in action http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opdvry7IjmM.
Shocks with springs I feel wont work well
. installing air shock system looks really enticing but must cost more then $700 in parts

The snubbers list as being able to handle 6000 lb . Since all I want is to hold 4000 lb for 1 to 2 hrs for the load and drive to yard time I think its the best choice. As of now when I feel my current snubbers in action I drive slow and mellow.

Still I could visualize the possibility that to much weight on a snubber area could still allow the leaf springs to bend at the ends. If $200 gets me to 3000 lb thats ok also .
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I see also there are add a leaf kits for $100
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb-FhVNgYsU

Also been looking at the air bags for my 2000 Dodge Ram 8ft box 4x4 318
This is a great scrapping vehicle, yes take it easy on the gas pedal, she will serve you well for a long time.
Also check the plenum, haven't done mine yet but apparently the Magnums are famous for having a bad plenum gasket. When that goes so do your 02 sensors and will also clog the cat.
Remove your throttle body and check inside or with a small mirror for signs of oil. If you have that problem it will kill HP and suck back the oil.

a buddy of mine just out a set of air bags in his 97 12 valve. with the bags and helper springs its like driving a rock unless you have a 1000lbs in the back or some tongue weight. I've been looking for a set for truck. he got his from the scrap yard for 100 bucks with the brackets he mounted his right in the middle of the stack of springs. we removed the rubber stopper and bolted the bag brackets on.