I don't own one, but i have drove them and talk to someone with one cause I was thinking about trading my truck in if it was worth it. And well, its not. its only a 20 percent increase on the highway which works out to be about 1-maybe 3 mpg depending on what speed you are at. its a nice feature although not worth trading my truck in.

 

Yeah I think to trade might not pay off.
I have sold my old truck and now looking to replace it.
So that is why I was considering the MDS Hemi over a 2005 reg. Hemi.
Heck I just might buy the V6 and call it a day....

Thought we might see some 24,,25 MPG on the high way in a 2wd
Reg. Cab MDS Hemi... Probably won't happen....

OH WELL

Anyone else have anything to add???


Ron D

 

The MDS is supposed to kick in on nonload hwy type driving. Im not sure a heavy truck with no aerodynamics could ever not be underload. I test drove a 06' 2500 on the hwy with no difference in mpg (per on board display) then my 05' 1500. This was a brand new truck however and will give the benefit of doubt. MDS makes sense for smaller lightweight vehicles Im just leary if it can work for a truck.

 

IIRC the MDS is only on the 1500's and not the Heavy Duties.

 

I'm suppose to get my 06 1500 tomorrow (ordered 28 July :VHOT: ). I'll report back once I get some miles on her.

Tim

 

I'm suppose to get my 06 1500 tomorrow (ordered 28 July :VHOT: ). I'll report back once I get some miles on her.

Tim

Hey Tim
Great,, Glad to hear your Truck is in....
I'm looking forward to seeing your Rig. POST some Pictures!!!

Are you getting the Reg. Cab or Quad Cab???

I will be watching with Great interest on what your MPG will be with the
MDS Hemi !!!

I saw a Mega Cab yesterday Nice.

I've decided to help keep the cost down I will probably get the
Reg. Cab ,,, The extra space behind the seat will probably be
enough for me....
Running light and not towing I was hoping for the best case
in regards to MPG with the MDS system...
But A$$klown makes a good point about the Truck being
heavy and not being very aerodynamic....

Hope you will have time to do some Hwy. tests and let us know
what the computer says and what actual is when you fill up at the
pump....

Ron D

 

Yeah I think to trade might not pay off.
I have sold my old truck and now looking to replace it.
So that is why I was considering the MDS Hemi over a 2005 reg. Hemi.
Heck I just might buy the V6 and call it a day....

Thought we might see some 24,,25 MPG on the high way in a 2wd
Reg. Cab MDS Hemi... Probably won't happen....

OH WELL

Anyone else have anything to add???


Ron D

I am getting 20 ( PA east west TKP at 65-70)on my 2005 so a 20% increase would be 24

 

Here's the thread from when I ordered:
http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65450

Don't worry will post as many pics as people want and will give updates on MDS numbers. Just hoping it is there tomorrow!

Tim

 

I am getting 20 ( PA east west TKP at 65-70)on my 2005 so a 20% increase would be 24

That's good milage and you are right about the numbers now if what's on
paper works in real life....
I sure hope so....
Nice Rigs. you have there.. Sure like the way you have that two tone
on the blue one....

Tim you got all the Bells and whistles......
From you earlier post a lot people on here want to see those
Pictures......

 

Regular Cab MDS Hemi's are rated at 15/19 mpg city/hwy and quad cabs are rated 14/19 with 4wd's getting 14/18 which is the same as the 4.7L but the Reg Cab Hemi's get better mileage than a similiarly equiped 4.7L. Those are just EPA estimates, so some will see more and some will see less. We'll just have to wait for real world numbers.

 

Regular Cab MDS Hemi's are rated at 15/19 mpg city/hwy and quad cabs are rated 14/19 with 4wd's getting 14/18 which is the same as the 4.7L but the Reg Cab Hemi's get better mileage than a similiarly equiped 4.7L. Those are just EPA estimates, so some will see more and some will see less. We'll just have to wait for real world numbers.

I wonder if Dodge and epa used the numbers from a reg. Hemi.
I was thinking they may not have had time to do a through test
of the MDS Hemi before release. Thinking worse case the non
MDS Hemi numbers should be conservitive..

Probably Dreaming here.....

Anyway Satcomtim should be able to give us the real numbers soon...

Ron D

 

The MDS is supposed to kick in on nonload hwy type driving. Im not sure a heavy truck with no aerodynamics could ever not be underload. I test drove a 06' 2500 on the hwy with no difference in mpg (per on board display) then my 05' 1500. This was a brand new truck however and will give the benefit of doubt. MDS makes sense for smaller lightweight vehicles Im just leary if it can work for a truck.

A follow on question here...
Does anyone know the speeds that the MDS system will kick in
when there is very little load on the engine..

IE: MDS system will not Activate below "X" miles per hour regardless of
Load on engine....???

Ron D

 

Spoke to a DCX rep yesterday who explained what we should expect in terms of benefits from MDS on the Rams.

He said it will average out to about a 5% increase in fuel economy for everyone who buys a Hemi Ram, but that some drivers will see a much more significant improvement.

If you tow with the vehicle constantly, you'll see no improvement. If you have a heavy foot, you'll see no improvement. But if you are like the majority of 1500 truck buyers these days and drive the truck like a car for normal commuting and an occasional road trip, you may see as much as a 15% improvement.

The MDS is most effective during highway driving when you are not speeding up and slowing down constantly. So if you do mostly highway driving at constant speeds, you will see better results.

The Ram's improved EPA rating this year is due to several small changes to the truck that were made with fuel economy in mind, and one of those is the rear tailgate spoiler. Ugly though it may be, it does reduce air drag at the back of the truck.

 

my 2004 with superchips can get 22 hwy (by overhead computer, probably 21 maybe 20 in actuality) So, I would think the MDS could get 24 on the highway.

 

FWIW...
For a point of reference, I have a 300C with the MDS, and I just got back last night from a 3 day road trip with my son. We drove over 1100 miles round trip. On the way there, I was trying to make good time, and averaged about 90 mph on the open freeway. There was a bit of traffic other times that got me to stop and go. And I did have one 125 mph blast up a long hill that I wanted to see if this car would keep pulling (it had more left, but I was already going too fast so I backed it down to 95). I averaged 19.8 mpg on paper, and 19.6 on the overhead.

On the way home, I kept an easy 80 mph for most of the first tank of gas and averaged 24.2 mpg actual (24.1 overhead). With much more stop and go the second half of the way home, it took my overall trip economy down to 21.6 actual (21.4 overhead).

To make a long story short...with a heavier truck (ie QC 4x4), I don't think you would get anywhere near that kind of ecomony, but with a regular cab short bed 2x4, you could have economy over 20 if you babied it a bit.

 

Here's the thread from when I ordered:
http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65450

Don't worry will post as many pics as people want and will give updates on MDS numbers. Just hoping it is there tomorrow!

Tim

Satcomtim

Did you get your new ride?????



Ron D

 

Re MDS

"If you have a heavy foot, you'll see no improvement".
This pretty much sums up all the regular HEMI owners/drivers.
I will just hold on to my truck since I fall into that category! A 1 to 3 mpg difference is just not worth it to me.
IMO but if I wanted something that is great on gas, I would of bought a cheap ricer........NOT!
We all will have to wait and see the true results of these newer systems (MDS) that have been added to the 1500 series HEMI trucks.

 

Sorry....still no truck.... :VHOT:

 

I have felt your pain.
I ordered a new Mustang 1984 in Sept. of 83 Convertable....
Didn't get it till Feb. or 84....But I got it!!!! Loved it!!!

Keep us posted....

Local dealer just called me and they got a Mega Cab with Hemi and two QC's
with the 4.7..
They will call when they get there first Reg. Cab Hemi with MDS ...
I can hardly wait....

Ron D

 

FWIW...
For a point of reference, I have a 300C with the MDS, and I just got back last night from a 3 day road trip with my son. We drove over 1100 miles round trip. On the way there, I was trying to make good time, and averaged about 90 mph on the open freeway. There was a bit of traffic other times that got me to stop and go. And I did have one 125 mph blast up a long hill that I wanted to see if this car would keep pulling (it had more left, but I was already going too fast so I backed it down to 95). I averaged 19.8 mpg on paper, and 19.6 on the overhead.

On the way home, I kept an easy 80 mph for most of the first tank of gas and averaged 24.2 mpg actual (24.1 overhead). With much more stop and go the second half of the way home, it took my overall trip economy down to 21.6 actual (21.4 overhead).

To make a long story short...with a heavier truck (ie QC 4x4), I don't think you would get anywhere near that kind of ecomony, but with a regular cab short bed 2x4, you could have economy over 20 if you babied it a bit.

My dad has about the same results as you with his 300C with MDS. Back and forth to Florida last fall and this spring he averaged 24.5 MPG on paper doing 75 MPH. I am highly doubting a Ram with the square box look will get over 20 MPG on the highway no matter what they say.