My 96 on 31's gets 11.2 mpg in daily use......................but I live 2.5 miles from work, and in that 2.5 miles, I have to make 13 stops........

Every vehicle I have owned in the last 15 yrs has gotten 11-12 mpg daily driving....except the 97 3500 dually 12v ctd 4x4 5 spd. That 7800 lbs beast got 15.

All the other vehicles would get from 18-28 on the highway, but a cold engine making that many stops....no way they get good mpg.

I live with it....I fill the cherokee up once every 5 weeks or so (same for the Ram when I drive it), and still spend less than $1000 / yr on fuel tgotal between the 2 vehicles.


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For gear ratio, check the diff cover area, there may still be a tag there? If not, here is what you can do. Mark a spot on the tire that lines up with a small spot on the body. Then, jack the rear of the truck up on stands. With the truck up, rotate the driveshaft until the mark comes around again. However many rotations its takes, 3, 3 1/2, 4, to one turn of the tire, is your ratio. 3.07:1, 3.55:1, 4.10:1.

Also, I suspect that a good tuneup would probably in order, because you never know how the previous owner cared for the vehicle.

 

Nice between me and the wife we burn about 6 to 7000 dollars in fuel per year. Wife burns about 4000 i burn 2 to 3000.

 

Oh, yes I jave a Dana 35 rear axle, if that is what you mean?

 

Assuming you have an automatic transmission, and gearing is stock, you probably have a 3.55 gear ratio. This will work ok with 31" tires, probably better with 235/75r15. Just start doing a lot of basic maintenance.

 

Yep, 4 speed auto trans. Not sure if gearing is stock.