Highway Cruiser

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Apr 6, 2006 | 01:21 PM

Nate1040

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From: Washington State

Highway Cruiser

I am researching the purchase of a 3/4T pickup with a diesel to use for highway driving. I don't pull anything. Just wondering if I could get the RPM's down into the 1,600 range at 70-75 mph to just cruise around the country.
My current daily driver is a supercharged 5.4 and I love it, but I'm running about 2,000 RPM's at 70 (3.73 gears) and getting a little over 17 mpg. The mileage really falls off if I push it too hard.
Could a person start with a Powerstroke, or the Dodge Cummins and make a decent highway cruiser out of it. (I'm not too fond of the Chevy although I would like to have the Allison transmission.)
I tend to spend money on making more horsepower and it looks like the diesels would be fun to work with. I'm at the early stages of this project so your opinions are welcomed. Thanks in advance.

Apr 6, 2006 | 02:03 PM

Grunt0311

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From: Paw Paw, MI

I hate to say it, but if you are looking for mpg, I would look at a cummins 4x2, with no more than 3.73 ratio. The Cummins seems to get the best mileage that I have seen!

Apr 6, 2006 | 03:35 PM

Nate1040

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From: Washington State

Cummins

I am honestly leaning toward the Cummins. I like the straight six design and their reputation. Six hundred and ten foot pounds of torque at 1,600 rpm's.
Thanks

Apr 6, 2006 | 04:03 PM

X GM GUY

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A great option would be a Gear Vendors or US Gear overdrive. That would bring your revs down to 1,600 or so on the highway, plus its way cool to have a 10 or 12 speed transmission.

Apr 10, 2006 | 04:53 PM

Nate1040

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From: Washington State

Diesel Power

I've been scanning the "DodgeTalk" forums for information. I ran across the website of "relentlessdiesel". Their twin turbo 3/4 ton truck is running sub 13's in the 1/4 mile. They have a bunch of videos to watch. Very cool. I want that kind of power. My supercharged 5.4 just can't compare.

Apr 11, 2006 | 10:04 AM

FleetFilterBrian

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate1040

My current daily driver is a supercharged 5.4 and I love it, but I'm running about 2,000 RPM's at 70 (3.73 gears) and getting a little over 17 mpg.

Most 3/4 ton diesels will be right around that mark on the highway. You may go up a point or two depending on engine and configuration, but if you love the SC 5.4, I'd keep it. You'd have little to gain swapping.

Apr 11, 2006 | 10:20 AM

Nate1040

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From: Washington State

Trade to Diesel

Thanks for the reply. Your words are wise and no doubt true.

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May 9, 2010 | 11:19 PM

Nate1040

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From: Washington State

It has been awhile since I've posted here. Since my last post, I've purchased a new Dodge Ram 3/4 ton and added the Banks Big Hoss Bundle to it before it had 200 miles on it. That was in August 2006. I get just over 20 mpg if I don't go more than 70 on the freeway. The Cummins 5.9 engine is fabulous. On the Dyno Jet, with the highest non-off-road setting, I made 371 HP and 771 ft lbs of torque. This is my normal daily driver setting. It would pull my house if I could get it hooked up.

That all said, I still have my Kenne Bell S/C 2002 Ford F-150 7700. I still drive it and it has had no issues. In fact, now that I have toyed around with the diesel power, I'm going to sell my Dodge and continue driving the Ford as my daily driver. It is just too much fun to get rid of.