Would you buy this truck?

[Skydiver]

I'll start off by saying a semi or tri axel dump is around 76,000-80,000 lbs loaded with approximately 450-500 hp and 1400ish ft lb torque. Around 160 lbs per horse power.

Today’s pickup trucks 300 hp 12,000 GVWR has a 40 lb per horse power ratio.

If a manufacturer produced a 3/4 or one ton truck turbo charged diesel with one fourth that power using a 7, 8 or 9 speed transmission and GVWR the same as today’s trucks.

Sure it would be slow taking off and weak on the hills loaded, but what would the fuel mileage be like? Is it true (electric or combustion, can’t remember) that an engine runs most efficiently at maximum capacity?

My question is would you buy a full size underpowered 9 speed truck if it would get around 38 mpg empty, 22 mpg loaded and was dependable.

I would like to place a 1.5 to 2.0 liter industrial turbo diesel in a ¾ ton for better mpg.

In 1981 I bought a new V.W. Rabbit with 52 horses that got 43 mpg combined using a 4 speed.

Thoughts .