We used my friends 15 4x4 3.4 geared CTD to pull my race trailer (11.5k).... 14mpg. Maybe 1-2 better than my 01, but certainly more of a pleasure to tow with for sure (torque management and exh brake is awesome)!

At work I often see these pickups (14 newer) come in with avg mpg at 18+....

I went back into this thread and wanted to ask you what in your opinion makes a truck a "soccer mom" level rig? For decades, trucks have had different sized engines and suspension capacities because there are different market segments and user needs. There are compromises going in either direction for sure. But if a gas-Hemi truck is a good pulling alternative to a much more expensive diesel (at a potential loss of mileage), why wouldn't a diesel with more torque than a hemi (but less than a 6.7 Cummins) be an even better option?

- EM

Im in soorta the same boat.
I sold my V10 ram back in Ky. it would pull ANYTHING I ever had behind it like it wasnt back there. Fuel mileage or lack there of was another story

Ive been casually looking for a replacement out here. Would love a Cummins truck but I think no more than I ever have any kind of load or pull something with it . I have serious doubts it would ever pay for itself over a gas motor truck.
Been finding LOTS of 4.7 trucks but not a big fan of the internal water pump / timing chain deal that comes with them.
So for me its either an older 5.9 truck or hemi only depending on the year I decide on ( aka also known as what the budget will allow )

Well your in luck then because the 4.7 does not have an internal water pump!

My Sister bought an 05 2500 4x4 5.7 new. She still has it and it has almost or just over 200,000 miles on it. She has towed gooseneck horse trailers all over with it including colorado. I think she has had to do basic things like water pump, radiator etc but as far as I remember it has never let her down.

I work on Rams.... there is absolutely NO WAY IN HE77 I’d ever own an Eco-diesel...... ya’ll do what you want! I have no personal experience with the Nissan/Cummins version other than subpar reviews from my buddy that was a GM at a dealer. However as the op was requesting in something in the 2500 segment I’d definitely look at the 6.4 Hemi. I’ve even noted the last couple years the sno-bird crowd has been showing up in the south with this package. I just worked on a 122k mile one the other day. 18.1 avg mpg in the display. This is a work truck and I know they move spray equipment with it, but it’s probably driven lightly. Still, decent for a 2500 4x4.

No one is advocating a particular truck and engine. I simply asked the question of what in your opinion falls into your own category of a "soccer mom" truck.

- EM

Large cab.... no bed (or very little by what used to be pickup standards), station wagon with a box attached

I think my favorite "truck" is the Honda Ridgeline.

My favorite soccer mom truck is the rigeline.


I worked at a honda dealer for 5 years and all those doors and junk in the tiny bed don't hold up for crap to people using them like real work trucks, they are only really good for a tiny pop up camper trailer or a cooler full of drinks. In my opinion dakotas go either way, I use the crap out of mine but they could still be used by soccer moms, I just wish I could get a 4 door with a long bed, the tiny bed the 4 door got is a shopping buggy. There are even some full size trucks that are soccer mom rigs, laramies with no middle seat in the front and infotainment crap to break down and be un fixable in 10 years, rotary shift knobs...