HeavyGunner Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 My brother called me late last week to tell me that my Dad was planning on selling his trusty old Dodge that he has had since its new. I couldnt stand the thought of the ole girl getting rehomed after this many years in the family and thought she might have a hard time adjusting to a new family at this stage in her life. So I talked to my understanding wife about the need to adopt this poor truck and how I would be willng to sell my '79 short box 4x4 Dodge truck to afford the adoption of the ole trusty back bone of Dad's logging fleet. I put the 79 for sale and sold it a few days later (to my wifes disbelief) and my Dad and brothers brought it over to me Friday. I will miss my little short box Dodge but I wont miss the 9-12 mpg that it got. It really cuts into my bottom line running my trapline. The 93 that I bought from my Dad has a Cummins and a 5 speed, 3/4t, 4x4 purpose built work truck. It spent its whole life hauling people and equipment to logging sites all over Montana while getting 20+mpg. Dad put 176 miles on it bringing it to me and it showed just a touch over 1/4 tank used, I have not fueled it up yet but it now has about 300 miles on the tripometer and just a little over over a half tank of fuel used. Dad thinks the tank is 26-30gal range but I will let you know how things shake out when I fuel it up and figure out exactly what mpg I am getting. Quote The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by the people who vote for a living.The government can only "give" someone what they first take from another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
other dog Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 indeed, nice truck! Quote Producer of poorly photo-chopped pictures since 1999. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slpwlker Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 sharp truck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyGunner Posted April 8, 2012 Author Share Posted April 8, 2012 Here are the pics of my 79 Dodge that I just sold to buy the 93. 1 Quote The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by the people who vote for a living.The government can only "give" someone what they first take from another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Maikshilo Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 Great save! Those are some tough trucks. Not like the new ones we have today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umodelnut Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 Dang that 79' is awesome, but yout new one is cool too. My papa had a 79' Dodge single axle dump truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Dash Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Looks well cared for. It's nice that you not only keep it in the family but also know it's history.20 mpg sounds great for a workhorse like that. Quote Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyGunner Posted April 9, 2012 Author Share Posted April 9, 2012 Better fuel mileage will be very appreciated right now, and its nice to know a trucks history. Quote The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by the people who vote for a living.The government can only "give" someone what they first take from another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Those early Dodge Cummins were pretty miserly on fuel. I don't doubt you'll get 20+ on the highway. Our shop has '95 F250/PSD and it gets an easy 20+ mph on the highway with 3.73 gears. It has 250K miles on it. Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucerne tractor Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 That was the last of the best, when they went with that big chrome grill was my favorite year. Shortly after, the new design came out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyGunner Posted April 9, 2012 Author Share Posted April 9, 2012 Those early Dodge Cummins were pretty miserly on fuel. I don't doubt you'll get 20+ on the highway. Our shop has '95 F250/PSD and it gets an easy 20+ mph on the highway with 3.73 gears. It has 250K miles on it.Going to respectfully disagree with you on the 12valve cummins getting poor fuel mileage front. They were/are known to get excellent mileage, I had 94 cummins years ago and it always got 18+ depending on how you drove it and it had an auto tranny and 3.55's the same gears as the one I just bought. As for a powerstroke getting 20mpg, that hasnt been my experience but I only had one and it did around 15mpg. Not trying to start a huge stink or war these are just my opinions and experiences. Have a good one. Quote The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by the people who vote for a living.The government can only "give" someone what they first take from another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivetroad Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 I have a 2004 Dodge one ton crew cab with a flatbed. The last time I took it to Chicago (no trailer) I averaged 19 mpg with my lead foot flat to the floor. I think all those Dodge trucks with Cummins get good mileage for the application they are in. Mine is in the shop though right now getting new injectors - it just turned over 100,000 miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Going to respectfully disagree with you on the 12valve cummins getting poor fuel mileage front. They were/are known to get excellent mileage, I had 94 cummins years ago and it always got 18+ depending on how you drove it and it had an auto tranny and 3.55's the same gears as the one I just bought. As for a powerstroke getting 20mpg, that hasnt been my experience but I only had one and it did around 15mpg. Not trying to start a huge stink or war these are just my opinions and experiences. Have a good one.Reread my post. I said they are miserly (like "don't use much"), not miserable.My 2000 CC DRW PSD only got 15+ on the highway, but it had 4.10 gears. If you can keep them UNDER 2000 rpm they are great on fuel. I ran it up to Michigan one weekend. On the way up I ran 75-80 mph and it got 12 mpg. On the way home I kept it at 65 mph and it got 15-16 mpg. Very noticable difference. "Most" dodges only had 3.54 gears out back, so they really idled on the highway. Fords don't get geared that way.Back in 2001 I went to Florida. There were 4 of us(2 Ford, 2 dodges). Buddys Dodge had 3.54 gears and it might have done a bit better on fuel(be both had big trailers), but mine would pull Fancy Gap in 6th gear(OD) and hold 55 mph without issue. Buddy was lagging behind badly and I had to wait for him at the top. Both trucks were basically stock(no chips/exhaust). I know he did a LOT of downshifting since it was geared so long. Not what I would call a proper set up. Maybe for daily driving, but not pulling. Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyGunner Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share Posted April 10, 2012 Easy there Freightrain, I do apologize for assuming miserly was similar to miserable. Kinda thought the root word was the same my bad. Quote The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by the people who vote for a living.The government can only "give" someone what they first take from another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Oh, no biggie. Didn't think I came across so rough, til I just read it again. NO harm, no foul. Guess I shoulda put one of after it. 1 Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyGunner Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share Posted April 10, 2012 Sounds good Freightrain, on another note I fueled up this morning had 392.3 miles on the odometer and put in 18.2 gallons which gave me a whopping 21.55mpg!!! I am very pleased with this considering the first 176 miles were highway when my Dad brought it to me and the rest was gravel roads and little two tracks along the river that I used while pulling my traps for the year. Quote The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by the people who vote for a living.The government can only "give" someone what they first take from another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivetroad Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 I fueled up this morning had 392.3 miles on the odometer and put in 18.2 gallons which gave me a whopping 21.55mpg!!! Sounds like you made the right choice to swap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyGunner Posted April 11, 2012 Author Share Posted April 11, 2012 Sounds like you made the right choice to swap!It will definitely put more money in my pocket next year on the trapline. Quote The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by the people who vote for a living.The government can only "give" someone what they first take from another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebilly Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Great save! Those are some tough trucks. Not like the new ones we have today.AGREED!I had a 91.5 W250 like that and it was great. I also had a 2003 Laramie with the Cummins and it was the worst POS I ever owned. For what that POS cost me in the 3 years I owned it, I could have made payments on a new Porsche 911 Turbo.2 transfer cases, a tranny (Mopar reman), steering box, front wheel bearings, 2 front drive shafts, rad, death wobble, heater controls, 3 torque converters in a month (these were warrantee), wiring, brake lines, fuel lines to back if truck when transfer case #2 came apart, throttle position sensor, fuel pump, and I know I am forgetting a bunch of stuff. The truck also sat for 13 month of my 3 year ownership... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivetroad Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 death wobbleWow! You are lucky to be here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slpwlker Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Wow I have a 2500 and only problem I have had was fuel gauges.10 to be exact Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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