Went and bought three Chevrolet 2500 HD crew cabs and three Dodge 2500 crew cabs in March, 2005.

May one of the Dodge's was back in the shop getting a new transmission.
June one was getting a new transfer case.
August new front end parts for two of them.
September they were gotten rid of and replaced by Chevrolet's.

Never had the first problem with any of the Chevrolets as of yet. They have more power than the Dodges and got better milage. The Cheverolet's average around 12 to 14 miles per gallon. But do remember that they are 4x4, Crew cab and Heavy Duty models that carry an in bed 150 gallon fuel tank for equipment, Bed side mounted tool boxes and other equipment. I had one of them weight at a truck stop with the normal 5 man crew and full gas tank. The aux fuel tank was empty. Yet the truck weight in close to 9500 lbs. If the trucks were two wheel drive, extended cab, and did not carry all of the equipment. I would guess that the fuel milage would be closer to 18 and 20 if not more.

I have been burnt on Dodges and will never buy another as things stand now.

That is a inaccurate guess many consumers make. Just because it is a smaller engine they think that it gets better milage. Truth is, in the real world they dont. The smaller engine has to work twice as hard to get the same job done as a 2500 with a 6 litre engine. I am talking if you take a 1500 and a 2500 hook up a trailor to each of them that weights the same. With the same amount of fuel in the tanks. I will bet anything that the 1500 will have to stop for fuel way before the 2500 with the 6 litre engine will.

"The 2500 rides like a dump truck.."

If you are talking about a Chevorlet, You could not proove that by me. The Dodge 2500 and Ford F250 and F350's I have had did not give a comfortable ride at all. They were rough riders.

DuraMax, Cummins, Power Stroke diesel's? Sure they are strong powerful engines. Cant afford to use them. 8 to 10 miles per gallon. Maybe 12 if you drive down hill a lot.
Insurance nearly twice the cost of a gasoline in the same class.
Parts..lol.. Take one $850 dollar fuel pump for a Power Stroke diesel, add a $250.00 cam sensor (wont run without one).

I will stick with my Chevy 2500HD's.

Like you said. You have sold and driven. But when it comes to having to depend on one to make a true living besides getting you from home to the office. I dought.

Haven't had much time to ride this year.

I only have one Backhoe, a 420 Cat. It's under contract to another mine . Do most of the digging work with Excavators. Much faster and and can be put into places that a rubber tire would not have a chance.

"How much beer per hour do they consume? : )"

lol cant say.

But the 4 to 6 thousand gallons of offroad diesel fuel I buy each week to keep them all from going thirsty, sure does take a good chunk of change out of the beer and Hog fund.

I would suggest you to go for a chevy that has a 6 litre engine. This gives power to the engine that you will see when you will use it.

Stella