I think it's safe to say that if you're really concerned about fuel efficiency in a full size truck, then a Rebel isn't your best choice. It has the most compromised aero, more aggressive AT tires, and 3.92 gearing. A different model with the deployable air-damn, low resistance highway tires, and 3.21 gears should be much better than a Rebel.
Hell, I'll take it a step further... if you want/need the most fuel efficient full size truck, maybe RAM isn't the brand for you. Every brand/manufacturer has it's pros and cons... not sure RAM has fuel efficiency as a pro.
Lastly, fuel costs have been low for two years and likely will remain so for some time unless the govt wants to tank domestic energy production and put 1.8 million people on unemployment (very unlikely since that would lose you PA in the next election). As a result, it's hard to get the $$ back for the upcharge in a diesel, unless you have other considerations like ultimate range or towing.
Just my 2 cents.
It's not that - I fully understand what 3.92's and off road trim does. In fact that's precisely what I want in a truck. The opposite would be useless to me. I spend much time in the sand and on mountain fire "roads".
Fuel costs have been low because the party in power was friendly to oil independence, and fossil fuels. The party in charge now is
openly hostile to oil and coal ( I am from gas/oil/coal country, please don't try and tell me differently, I live it daily and we are already seeing the effects of Biden's policy here) PA knew full well what they were getting and they voted for him anyway. Just like the pipefitters union. Gas has gone up 50 cents a gallon here (from 2.09 to 2.59) in 6 weeks, so please, don't patronize me on oil prices or this administraton's policy toward them. People will be screaming bloody murder by summer and wonder why. Please, don't make me post empirical data and past precedent here. I get enough of politics screwing with my livelyhood - I don't care to engage in it here.
I'd be perfectly happy if the thing was capable of even sniffing at 20-21 MPG on the highway at 60. It isn't It' 25% off from that. The around town MPG is perfectly fine at 13-14.
I don't "need" the most fuel efficent truck. I am simply commenting on the frustration of having all this tech, and still not being able to get any better mpg than we did 20 years ago in a 1/2 ton. Hell, small rangers, tacos, and Colorado only get marginally better FE.
I'm still not sure what I will do. I am looking. The BTS edition may have been a much better entry for me into the 1500. A mild lift, fake leather and 3.21's would have made an interesting do it all truck, as would 33 gallons and 25mpg on a diesel. I've driven diesels for 10 years. I've experienced the EPA's ever tightening grip, choking the life out of them with failure prone SCR's, brokern def heaters, and grenaded fuel pumps that starve for lubrication with ULSD. Gas probably IS the way to go, it would just be nice if the EPA rating wasn't so off.