Thats pretty well thought out, Jonathan. I'm driving a Dodge 2500 Cummins, NV5600 6 speed, Dana front and rear 3.73:1. I'm planning on about the same set up in my 65 1 ton, as I mentioned above. Let me confirm your theory 'cause its about the same set up your talking about.

I am confronted by green people often that I should feel guilty driving such a monster. So I do the math in front of them. I easily get 20-21 mpg highway with up to 2 ton of trailer with the AC on. The Dodge gas models get 10-11 mpg in the same config. So until diesel is over twice the price of gas, I drive the monster. I have personally confirmed those numbers. In Diesel Power mag and on the 4bt.com web site, there are anabundance of stories of tweeking 4 and 6 cylinder cummins to 400+ HP and STILL get 20-22 mpg. Lastly, How many trips will it take to get 13,000 lbs of hay out of the hills in the mud in a chevy s-10 that gets 20-25 mpg? One in my PU.

So, yeah I like your planned set up.

Dave.

What's the last thing a red neck says, "Hey guys watch this."
What's the last thing a redneck hears, "Go ahead Bubba, you can do it."

Build plan: 65 Chevy one ton, 5.9L Cummins HO, NV5600 six speed, 2wd 1972-1987 IFS disk front, frame off restore/mod, custom dump/flat bed, Alcoa rims, Dana 70 3.73:1 duals drum rear, plush interior, Guards red with Marine Corps decals. Donor is retired 2002 Ram 2500, 194K miles.