Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives 1/2 ton diesel truck becomes reality

+1.

I don't tow big loads, mostly ATV's, utility trailers, small boats, small tractors, etc. I'd like to see a large-ish compact truck with 4 doors and 4 wheel drive that I could average 25mpg unloaded, when mixing in a moderate amount of city driving. That's what I'm driving 90% of the time. You could average 19-21mpg under the same circumstances with some of Toyota's mid-size options in years past and they were V6 gas-burners with 4spd autos. Why wouldn't a 10yr newer version of a similar size vehicle with a good 2.5L 4cyl turbo diesel and a appropriate 6-7spd auto be capable of knocking out another 4-5mpg?

Realize that in many parts of the world, even one ton trucks have 4 cylinder diesels with a manual 6 speed trans and sometimes a split rear axle. More gears and less power.

I have gotten as high as 24 mpg from my 7.3 liter Ford one ton with an auto trans. Thirty is totally doable in a 1/2 ton. Diesel technology has a long way to go to fully exploit its capabilities.

The old Willys Jeeps had little straight 6s in them, but 4.88 rear gears and tight ratio gear boxes.

We have been spoiled by cheap fuel in this country for so long that we are slow to respond to changes in the World Market and increasing prices.

All of the Jeeps we had in service were 4 cyl. I never saw a 6 cyl one.

Hound,
I am thinking of the Hurricane 6. Was that after Willy's was out of the picture? Maybe the old Jeeps had the 6.

I read a article where the Audi Q7 diesel averaged about 28 mpg on a extended road trip. That is a heavy vehicle. Have to believe that a mid size or even full size truck could do as well.

Y'all's trucks might cost less up there????....but I doubt he was talking about paying 45 for the truck you bought for 30?

The motor they are putting in this new Ram truck is already in the 2014 Grand Cherokee and rated at 21 mpg city and 28 mpg hwy. I don't think it'll hit the same numbers in a full size Ram truck but I could be wrong.

I don't think I would be a candidate but really like the idea that it's being offered as an option.

I won't be a candidate either but it sounds cool. I do know diesels respond well to programmers and can see a "turned up" 1/2 ton being fun.

That said it'll still be a 1/2 ton and I would rather have a 3/4- 1 ton for hauling our horses cattle hay etc....

For a 1/2 ton person that does some towing it sounds good. I too totally agree the diesel will pull/tow much better that a wound up gaser.

I'd guess about 25 mpg highway. If it can get that out of a 4x4 crew cab then it'll be a game changer. Any gas 4x4 crew cab 1/2 ton is going to top out at about 17-18 hwy, despite some of the bogus claims you hear. 25 MPG is about a 25% increase in fuel economy, that's significant. Diesels aren't all about towing, though many in the U.S. seem to think that's all they're good for. I have a 98 dodge 2500 diesel 2wd that'll get about 22 mpg highway. Over it's 375K mile lifespan it's saved me a LOT of money in fuel. It only occasionally got used for towing.

I also have a 2006 jeep liberty diesel with the VM motori 2.8L 4 cylinder. On the highway at reasonable speeds it'll get 28 MPG or so. It's small but it's pretty heavy (4200 lbs.), is 4wd, and has the aerodynamics of a brick. If it'll get 28 hwy then I think 25 hwy is reasonable for the dodge truck.

The funny thing is if the diesel 1/2 ton was available when I got my 2500 cummins in '06 I would have gotten it and it would have been a better choice for what I've used my truck for the past 6 1/2 years.

But now I'm considering a bigger boat in the next couple years and hence the 1/2t diesel wouldn't be up to the task.

Diesel fuel today at my local station is .04 cents cheaper than regular gas.

Thirty mpg is totally possible with a 6 cylinder diesel in a 1/2 ton truck.

Geez, around here it's about $0.50 more per gallon!

It's running about $.40 more per gallon also.

Gas $3.36, Diesel $4.04. almost 20%

Today diesel is about .12 cents more than gas. It is a moving target and subject to evolving technology.

458,
Maybe you could consider a smaller boat. The rigs with 3 axles are always for sale because they are a pain in the ass to haul around. A cuddy cabin always sounds good to people but takes up too much room and adds weight.

I have a 19 foot aluminum boat with an outboard that weighs less than 2000 pounds and does everything.

Um... no offense intended, but a smaller boat?.... that is a terrible idea!

I agree on the triple axle - not interested in owning a triple axle trailer ever again. But a 19 foot boat would seriously cramp the fun...

A 19 footer could be tossed in the bed of the truck.











almost.

Do you think a 19' boat would be a good boat for a family of 5 on a week long trip running 200 nm and carrying two 160qt coolers and 100# of ice for fish and shrimp, not to mention carrying an inflatable for getting to shore and shrimp pots/pullers?

I would never own a saltwater fishing boat for Alaska that didn't have a cuddy cabin and pilot house. The value of being about to get out of the weather is priceless.

Not to mention needing the bigger boat for the typically rough waters up here. I went on a hunting trip in PWS in a 23' boat, and we got stuck in a bay at Naked Island for a couple of days because of 6' seas.