city noob asking for help

[canadian_bacon]

Hi,
Last year I had to sell my baby, the only truck I ever had, a 2012 Sport loaded and since then, I keep drooling every time I see one on the road. So the times are better now, I will soon pull the trigger on another one. Since I noticed I got some features I never used, I would like to take advantage of your expertise to maximize MPG; after-all, I go on the 403/401/QEW every day. This will be my daily driver and I am looking at the QC V6 with 3.21 gears in SLT, sunroof, 8.4, bucket seats, 8 speed. I drive about ~100.000 miles in 3 years. So it comes down to "do I need this" over "do i want this"...

1. How much of a difference in MPG is between the 4x4 and 4x2? Had the 4x4, never used it, don't go off-road. I am seriously leaning towards the 4x2. I might tow a boat (just a 15 footer Legend V151) 2-3 times a summer. Will I be able to take it out of the water or being RWD, it will slip on the boat launching pad? Besides that, no out of the ordinary roads that I do with my Malibu. Even with the harsh winters of Ontario, I'd rather get a pair of winter tires and take it easy.

2. I had the CC and leaning towards the QC; I don't have any kids or family. Will the weight gonna make a difference in MPG between CC and QC? I couldn't find at a short glance the diff in weight, maybe somebody could throw in some numbers...but the space in the CC sure was nice. Besides some regular camping gear (tent, bbq, chairs, coolers, etc) I don't haul anything at all.

3. Which tires are better, the 17" or the 20"? Had the 20" on the Sport, they looked nice. Is there any advantage for any of them?(I think I cant get the 20" with the 3.21, have to get the 3.55)

4. Do I need the LSD? Again, this will be driven a lot on the highway and not off-road.

5. Does the 3.21 help MPG vs the 3.55?

Not sure if I want to gamble and wait for the diesel and find out it is a $4000 option available only in the upper trims...

Thanks in advance.

 

[Burla]

Honestly, do you even need truck? Buy a prius and never wonder about maximizing gas. If your going to tow a boat I'd get the hemi or Cummins, but that's just me. Bigger the tire. worse the mileage but rims don't matter so much, even if you had a small rim in theory you could raise the tire pressure enough to get same gas mileage as the larger rim, assuming same size tire. Plus, having a 4x4 can also help with slimy conditions on a boat ramp? You have a lot to think about. Maybe get an old cheap 4x4 and a prius for the same price as a 2013 ram.

 

[JCJ4290]

Sorry you had to get rid of it, sounds like an amazing truck. My advice, if you don't use the 4x4 for off-road, you don't need it. It keeps the value of the truck higher just as it costs more when you get it, but it takes about 2 mpg from mileage. And to pull a small boat out of the water won't phase these 2wd trucks, that's what traction control is for.

The crew cab is worth it to me because it just looks nicer and it doesn't really cost more nor does it particularly affect the gas mileage.

The 20's weigh more and take a lil off the mileage, but look much nicer IMO.

Gears and what not are essentially personal preference and also help with gas mileage, so keep that in mind.

All in all, it's always up to you, but they are great trucks! And rumor has it Ram will be incorporating the 6 cylinder diesel soon.

Hi,
Last year I had to sell my baby, the only truck I ever had, a 2012 Sport loaded and since then, I keep drooling every time I see one on the road. So the times are better now, I will soon pull the trigger on another one. Since I noticed I got some features I never used, I would like to take advantage of your expertise to maximize MPG; after-all, I go on the 403/401/QEW every day. This will be my daily driver and I am looking at the QC V6 with 3.21 gears in SLT, sunroof, 8.4, bucket seats, 8 speed. I drive about ~100.000 miles in 3 years. So it comes down to "do I need this" over "do i want this"...

1. How much of a difference in MPG is between the 4x4 and 4x2? Had the 4x4, never used it, don't go off-road. I am seriously leaning towards the 4x2. I might tow a boat (just a 15 footer Legend V151) 2-3 times a summer. Will I be able to take it out of the water or being RWD, it will slip on the boat launching pad? Besides that, no out of the ordinary roads that I do with my Malibu. Even with the harsh winters of Ontario, I'd rather get a pair of winter tires and take it easy.

2. I had the CC and leaning towards the QC; I don't have any kids or family. Will the weight gonna make a difference in MPG between CC and QC? I couldn't find at a short glance the diff in weight, maybe somebody could throw in some numbers...but the space in the CC sure was nice. Besides some regular camping gear (tent, bbq, chairs, coolers, etc) I don't haul anything at all.

3. Which tires are better, the 17" or the 20"? Had the 20" on the Sport, they looked nice. Is there any advantage for any of them?(I think I cant get the 20" with the 3.21, have to get the 3.55)

4. Do I need the LSD? Again, this will be driven a lot on the highway and not off-road.

5. Does the 3.21 help MPG vs the 3.55?

Not sure if I want to gamble and wait for the diesel and find out it is a $4000 option available only in the upper trims...

Thanks in advance.

 

[CaliDodgeRam]

The man just wants a nice truck! Don't jump on him for missing his dodge!

 

[canadian_bacon]

Thanks, I admit I got my first truck (and only) in the spur of the moment. Do I need a truck? No. I can deal just fine with my Malibu....but I had one and nothing else pleases me now at all. I check this forum every day (as others), I build one every day on the website. I don't care about the power as much as the comfort (had the Hemi). Being up high on the highway, the legroom, the quiet cabin, the sheer size, it all adds to a perfect highway ride. Nobody cuts you off, nobody tailgates you, nobody want to be near you, suddenly everybody pays attention to the road. At least this is what struck me the most in Toronto/GTA traffic. Given the gas prices here, I have to cut some corners
Now, tires...isn't the 20" going to better for MPG? It has to rotate less to cover the same distance as a 17"..less rpm at the same speed...what am I missing here?
I am NOT buying a ford. No. I had one and I have sworn I will never ever buy another one again. I'll walk to work if I have to. GM's don't look as good and the issues they have with the 5.3 eating oil for breakfast, lunch and dinner, no thanks. The new ones, still on a 6 spd I think. Already behind the times.
Plus, I can get them really cheap, I mean CHEAP. My work place has the preferred customer thing in place. Got a brand new white 2012 Sport, Hemi, 4x4, 20", Alpine sound, bucket seats, sunroof, CC, bluetooth, hitch, trailer brake control, etc, all the the goodies for 35k. I priced out a nice loaded SLT with sunroof, 8.4, subwoofer, camera, 17", QC. 4x2 for under 30k (28k something I think)...It's cheaper that a nice sedan and bea's all SUV on the market equally equipped.
This is the only car that beats the comfort I had in my old, trusty Buick Roadmaster (still a 5.7 )

 

[Burla]

I was serious, my neighbor has a 4x4 and a honda civic for everyday driving. It just makes financial sense. He saves 4 gallons of gas per day, he can make his truck payment just on what he saves by driving the 40mpg civic.

 

[canadian_bacon]

You forget one little thing
This is Canada. What I save on gas I will pay 10 fold in insurance.
Plus, I'd have to rent another parking spot.
I need either one car only or to move out. Moving out is not an option yet.

 

[quietpeen]

i don't know how heavy of a boat you are towing but i would think the v6 with 3.21's would be a real dog towing anything with some decent weight.

however the v6 with the 8 speed is your real chance of getting close to the advertised mpgs for a 2013 ram