[Dan in Pasadena]

David, I think your problem with mileage is somewhat the same one I've got with my truck.

Mine is an '02 Dodge Ram Quadcab 4x4 wit the 4.7 engine. I truly wanted the Hemi but found my truck only 14 months old with less than 8K miles on it and a transferable 100K warranty for $23K versus the sticker on the EXACT same truck with a Hemi (a new 2003 model then) for $37,000! DOH! I couldn't justify paying the difference to get the opportunity to buy the $800 Hemi option.

I get 12.6 MPG no matter what. If I tow my Jetskis or run in town or on the highway I get almost the exact same mileage. Bottomline is the truck is too damned heavy for the engine thats dragging it around. I think thats your problem too. With a Hemi, my same truck gets 14-15mpg AND it has 110HP more!!! (My nephew has one) That kills me.

Right now I am considering selling (giving away!) my truck AND my 911 to get a 3500/F350 series. My significant other and I want to get a Lance camper. Can't decide to get a diesel or gas engine. Sure, the cost of fuel is outrageous but I won't be driving it at all other than vacations. Prices on both are dropping drastically. It is a buyer's market on fuel guzzlers right now. I will be looking for a crew cab/4x4 too so this will be a BIGASS truck. Perhaps a dually too. Diesels get better mpg than gas but I'd have to get a Ford V10 to approach the power levels of an un-modified diesel. Decisions, decisions.