Hi I am starting my search for a new truck and could use some opinions.

Right now I have a 2002 dodge reg cab 8' box 4x4 with the 360 and 4 speed auto. It was the first truck I ever bought.
I don't tow much, but the loads I put in the bed when I do use it have proved to be a bit much for the truck, examples: 1/2 chord of oak, .5yrd to 1yrd topsoil or gravel, logs, stones for stonewall building etc...
Also the gas mileage, average 10-11mpg is horrible, I can get up to 14 on the highway, but most of my driving to work is in the city.
Lastly I hate the automatic. I find myself driving my stick shift car more than my truck, for the transmission and the fuel mileage.

I want a 3/4 ton stick shift truck, which I think rules out chevy/gmc these days.
I really wanted a diesel, but I don't think the economics work out anymore, diesel fuel is more expensive where I live than gas, and my commute to work is only 9 miles. I wish they would come out with a 4.5liter 6 cylinder diesel in a 3/4 ton for fuel mileage.

Anyway I am leaning towards the f250 extended cab 8'box stick shift 4x4 gas, but I am interested to hear peoples experiences ford versus dodge, and the cost between them?

Fuel mileage thoughts/experiences?

Does anyone know if there is a website were you can compare the aerodynamics or fuel mileage of 3/4ton trucks? The manufacturers don't seem to post the CD of drag, which is funny cause all the big rig/commercial companies do.

Lastly Gas versus Diesel? Fuel Mileage?

The ford diesel prices out a bit higher online than the dodge, from what I can tell.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Hello Randy. Welcome to the forum. 10 miles per gallon.. Yikes. I get about 10 mpg driving a dually with the 8.1 Liter engine/Allsion. I used to feel bad, but in comparison with yours, Well!

For your consideration:
Diesel vs Gasoline. The new pollution controls make a Diesel even harder to justify. Unless you're going to drive 50 to 100 thousand miles per YEAR, the $5k extra diesel option will buy a lot of fuel. If you're in a cold weather area, a diesel is hard to start, fuel gells, etc.

There are some 3/4 ton trucks that really aren't. Make sure the GVWR is at least 8900 pounds. A quick look at the number of wheel lugs can help. You want 8 lugs. Seems like the 6 lug wheels are the light weight/duty trucks.

Rear axle ratio. The higher the number, the more torque at the wheels. Since you're not towing, go toward the lower number like 3.55 for gas mileage.

Last... What's not to like about the modern auto transmission? Drive with a drink or sandwich in hand.. LOL For mileage, the new transmissions will lock the torque converter. Makes it act like a straight gear. For getting a heavy load moving from a stop, the auto's torque converter is less stressful on the engine. For commuting in traffic, the auto is very pleasant. But if your commute is on clear winding back roads... I understand the pleasure of rowing a gearcase.

As for the automatic I got to give it to you there are some pretty nice ones out there, and I have a lot of experience with them. I just really find them boring, and often that distracts me from the road.

I used to actually tout the benefits of the auto over the stick when I was younger, if set up right they are better off road, better at drag racing, some are even better for gas mileage, especially the newer automatically shifted manuals (haven't found there way into pickups yet, but there coming someday, there already in tractor trailers and some foreign cars.)

Back when the economy was good I used to drive 40,000-50,000 miles a year on company vehicles. One place I worked I had my choice each day between a 4cyl minivan auto, a 6yl minivan auto, or a 5speed 6cyl cherokee. I always took the cherokee for the stick, and almost nobody else wanted it. Where I currently work we have two ford F150's with caps, ones a 2007 Reg cab 6ft box with 4.6l V8 auto gets around 14-14.5 mpg, the other is a 2006 Crew cab 6 ft box with 5.4l gets 13-13.5mpg.

Both are loaded to the hilt all time, there are both slow and boring.

to each there own on the transmission issue, my girlfriend refuses to learn how to drive stick...

quote:

Originally posted by RANDY82:
to each there own on the transmission issue, my girlfriend refuses to learn how to drive stick...

Patience ... You've won her affections. It'll take the same efforts to win her over to the manual transmission side.

If you make her your bride, You'll be a stronger couple. Able to compliment each other on those long drives together. Not to mention being able to drive home after your ski accident. (another story, for another time)