RAM 2500 opinions

[imarobot]

I'm up in the mountains in northern NH so there is a lot of hill climbing.

 

[dirtydeed]

I'm up in the mountains in northern NH so there is a lot of hill climbing.

Check this guys channel. He has lots of info with truck camparisons/towing fuel mileage. He also owns a 2500 with the 6.4 and seems to really enjoy it.

 

[imarobot]

Great post by this guy, thank you. So as anyone experienced the issues shown in this video?

 

[BAP]

What he doesn’t tell you in his video is that the Hemi tick is Not exclusive to the 6.4L. The 5.7L has experienced it a lot longer than the 6.4. Ram specifically recommends Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0w-40 motor oil that they developed the 6.4 engine to use. He is pushing the Amsoil oil because he is a dealer, he never mentions that it is Not what is recommended. My 1500 with 5.7L and 90,000 miles has developed a small tick. My 2500 with 6.4L and 60,000 miles only has it when very cold and on the first minute or so after starting. I run the Pennzoil in it. The cylinder deactivation can be annoying particularly going up hills in the 25-35mph range because sometimes it doesn’t kick off quick enough. Easy way to deactivate it is to turn on Tow Haul as it shuts off the cylinder deactivation. As far as the engine being old design like he keeps talking about, he doesn’t tell that both other companies have had issues with their new design engines, so new doesn’t always mean better. Yes the Rams have their own quirks, but so don’t the other brands. Ford has a great following in their products, but they also are constantly issuing recalls, the same as GM and people ignore that. All companies have recalls. Most are kept quiet.

 

[Botamon]

other companies have had issues with their new design engines, so new doesn’t always mean better. Yes the Rams have their own quirks, but so don’t the other brands. Ford has a great following in their products, but they also are constantly issuing recalls, the same as GM and people ignore that. All companies have recalls. Most are kept quiet.

Recalls - issuing recalls - seems to depend on the corporate philosophy of the manufacturer. I drove a 2016 F150, bought new, for 9 years. Completely trouble free truck - all I ever had to do was change fluids and filters and rotate the tires. It had 3 recalls issued for that model truck - all of which were completely frivolous and unnecessary and I never had them done. I also own a Toyota 4Runner and on the Toyota forums one of the big complaints is that, though most Toyotas are very dependable, when there is a problem Toyota corporate refuses to issue a recall - they prefer to just fix the problem without publicizing it.

 

[chim]

I'm not in the market for a truck but enjoy looking at them. That vertical piece of trim on the HD Ford's front fender is still something that gets my attention in a bad way. My first impression was it looks like damage from the door hitting something when the driver was backing up.

 

[lugbolt]

we have a 23 ram 2500 ext cab 6.4 at work. Shop delivery truck. It doesn't usually move unless there's a trailer behind it.

It's got enough power but it's not a diesel. It loves fuel (loaded or not). It is the roughest riding pickup truck I have ever driven in my entire life. I have a 2003 F250 CCSB 4x4 diesel (7.3) which rides pretty rough unloaded and I thought it was bad? The Ram takes the cake. We have about 80,000 mi on it now. It's ticking from somewhere up on the top of the engine. It wasn't like that when new. Seats are ok, not comfortable for a long trip but that's ok because it has to stop every, about 2 hours for gas anyway. I don't like it as well as my F250 but it's not mine, and I doubt I'd consider it if I had to replace my F250.

 

[dirtydeed]

Great post by this guy, thank you. So as anyone experienced the issues shown in this video?

My point in showing this channel to you is that he's done extensive towing tests with 1500 and 2500 trucks. Do some searching and you'll find it. I believe he's towed 8k and 11 or 14K with it. You'll get a better idea of the towing MPG's that you were looking for.

here's 1 of them:

as I've said. I have a 2015 Ram 3500 (cab/chassis). 4:44 rear and the truck is 9,800 lbs empty. it gets 10 mpg unloaded. Between 7 and 8 mpg when pulling about 10K (trailer, buckets and mini).

 

[jyoutz]

My point in showing this channel to you is that he's done extensive towing tests with 1500 and 2500 trucks. Do some searching and you'll find it. I believe he's towed 8k and 11 or 14K with it. You'll get a better idea of the towing MPG's that you were looking for.

here's 1 of them:

as I've said. I have a 2015 Ram 3500 (cab/chassis). 4:44 rear and the truck is 9,800 lbs empty. it gets 10 mpg unloaded. Between 7 and 8 mpg when pulling about 10K (trailer, buckets and mini).

View attachment 176444

And that terrible mpg is basically why most heavy duty trucks are sold with diesel engines.

 

[dirtydeed]

And that terrible mpg is basically why most heavy duty trucks are sold with diesel engines.

Don't know your situation but here, the difference in fuel costs between gas and diesel negates much of the arithmetic. Adding the diesel option can also negatively affect the payload as well (especially in a 3/4 ton).

Some of us don't want/need a diesel. The OP has mentioned several times that he wasn't interested in one. Let it go man.

 

[jyoutz]

Don't know your situation but here, the difference in fuel costs between gas and diesel negates much of the arithmetic. Adding the diesel option can also negatively affect the payload as well (especially in a 3/4 ton).

Some of us don't want/need a diesel. The OP has mentioned several times that he wasn't interested in one. Let it go man.

Just pointing out the mpg differences. 10 mpg sucks, especially when I can tow at 18 mpg. Diesels get 30% better fuel economy than a gasser v8 doing the same work making the higher priced fuel cheaper overall. But people are free of course to choose the 10 mpg option. Seems like the 1970s trucks again.

 

[BAP]

And that terrible mpg is basically why most heavy duty trucks are sold with diesel engines.

Go back and READ the OP’s question!!! Stop giving your personal opinion that is not related to what the OP is looking for.

 

[jyoutz]

Go back and READ the OP’s question!!! Stop giving your personal opinion that is not related to what the OP is looking for.

Do facts bother you?

 

[CTinline-six]

I love diesel trucks, but unless you tow heavy and daily, diesel isn't worth it. They get better mpg, and tow better, but are less cost effective for anyone who doesn't tow daily. Back in the day of the Cummins 5.9, 7.3 PowerStroke, etc, diesel was the better option for sure. Modern diesels are maintenance nightmares. Many of the municipalities and local fleets have switched all diesel pickups to V8 gas now for maintenance costs. Diesel is a more expensive option when initially buying, the fuel is more expensive, and the maintenance is very expensive. You can buy a lot of gasoline with the amount of money a modern diesel fuel or emissions system costs to replace. A friend needed the entire fuel system replaced on his 6.7L Powerstroke and it was ~$15,000. The truck was under warranty, but all the dealer had to do was claim he got bad fuel, and left him with the bill.

If you work a modern diesel by frequent towing, the emissions systems actually last longer since they are designed to function under heavy use. Short trips and getting groceries like many people use them for is what results in big repair bills.

As far as the 6.4 hemi, that combined with the ZF8 transmission is what I would buy. All of the brands have their issues, and the 6.4 hemi and 5.7 hemi CAN have lifter failure, but many won't. All manufacturers across the board are having issues with materials quality in their lifters from sourcing them from the cheapest suppliers. The hemi lifters were redesigned a few times, with the most recent redesign coming with a larger roller and bearings in 2018. I have a few family and friends with 6.4 and 5.7 hemis and they love them. Exhaust manifolds can break bolts, but they make upgraded manifolds if that happens. Change the oil with 0w40 and a good filter every 5,000 miles, and service the ZF8 transmission every 50-60k miles and you will have a solid truck. I daily drive a 5.7L Grand Cherokee and tow my B2620 with it, no issues. My father has owned 3 5.7L hemi powered vehicles with heavy towing.

 

[BAP]

Do facts bother you?

No facts don’t bother me. What bothers me is when people like you don’t answer the questions OP’s post in their post but instead post rambling responses that are just pure Personal Opinions, not answering the question asked. If you bothered to read his post, he specifically stated that he only wanted feedback about a Ram 2500 with the 6.4L. The problem on this site is people only half read posts before posting comments that have nothing to do with the question that the OP is asking.

 

[jyoutz]

No facts don’t bother me. What bothers me is when people like you don’t answer the questions OP’s post in their post but instead post rambling responses that are just pure Personal Opinions, not answering the question asked. If you bothered to read his post, he specifically stated that he only wanted feedback about a Ram 2500 with the 6.4L. The problem on this site is people only half read posts before posting comments that have nothing to do with the question that the OP is asking.

MPGs isn’t a personal opinion.

 

[CTinline-six]

MPGs isn’t a personal opinion.

Very true, but it also isn't the only metric that factors into the total cost of ownership.

 

[jyoutz]

Very true, but it also isn't the only metric that factors into the total cost of ownership.

No it’s not. And resale value is also a factor that is often overlooked.

 

[imarobot]

I know and understand the pros and cons of a diesel truck, I've owned one.
As I initially posted, I am not considering a diesel engine option. Soi could we please keep this to inputs on what I've asked for.
If anyone wants to start a post on the pros and cons of a gas versous diesel, I'll read it!

 

[Bearcatrp]

I had a 2014 1/2 ton Ram. Good truck with the 5.7. Moved up to a 2017 3/4 when I bought a 5th wheel. The 6.4 did good but the six speed transmission sucked! Moved up to a 2021 Ram 3500 with the 6.4 and the 8 speed transmission. Great truck. Around 14 mpg driving local. Got 17 mpg on a long drive. Get around 9 to 10 mpg pulling my 5th wheel. Love the truck. Wanted a diesel but when I found out it was over $600 for the oil change and 2 fuel filters, plus dealing with DEF, I stayed with the 6.4. Did good going through the mountains in Colorado. Sure, not as fast going up the hill like a diesel but I still get up the hill. You may want to check your states tab fees on a 1 ton. Minnesota has a flat fee of $130. 3/4 tons are around $450. Check out the Ram forum for allot of good information on both gas and diesels. My 2017 3/4 ton had coil springs. Not sure if the new ones still do. I put air bags that go inside the springs to reduce the bounce when I pulled my 5th wheel.

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