Are you happy with the

....6.4L HEMI for towing?

Looking to tow a 10K RV bumper pull trailer. Wife and I have been looking at the Ram 2500 BIG HORN with the 6.4-Liter V8 Mid Duty HEMI® MDS.

We're wondering, for those with this gasoline engine, are you happy with its towing performance? Yes, we'll likely be crossing some mountain ranges so dealing with inclines and declines are a consideration for us.

Clearly, our current 2014 1500 Laramie Long Horn with the 5.7 Hemi and 3.21 rear differ won't tow our RV. Seems that this truck is limited to about 7800 pounds max trailer weight.

TIA for your comments.

Yup, I am very happy with mine. I haven't tried that size bumper pull/TT with my truck but my 5'vr runs close to 10K.

My truck has the 3.73 gears, which are a bit of a compromise. 4:10's would be nice for towing but for day to day driving they would suck. The 3.73's do both with no problem.

Check to make sure you get the Class V hitch (I believe it is standard on the HD trucks) and the 7-pin connector.

Also, I find the rear auto self-leveling air suspension is a nice touch and high recommend it to any HD owner, or potential owner, who plans to tow. I don't need any additional airbags to level the load when towing other than what was provided with the truck.

I'm happy with mine for my travel trailer. Mines only about 8000 lbs loaded up and we don't get away as often as I'd like so I don't tow it alot. If the trips were more numerous and more frequent, I'd have gone diesel. It does show increased effort on hills but definitely not struggling. Now at 10000 lbs, the 6.4 will definitely be working for those hills. I know a lot say it doesn't matter but I would not go 3.73, stick it out for a 4.10.

I tow an 8000 lb loaded flat bed work trailer more frequently usually non-highway. it does fine with that too, minus the speed/wind resistance, it feels a bit easier on the occasional highway runs. having said all that, if it weren't also my daily commuter, I'd imagine I'd be a bit happier with the Cummins. Not ALOT happier, just a bit.

I tow a 14k toy hauler. 2015 3500 with 4.10 gears. In Montana with wind and mountains. Will not have another gasser to tow heavy with again. Previous rig was a Ford V10. Only reason I went gas again is that my daily commute is 1.5 miles each way. Regret it every time I back up to the trailer.

Yeah, I'd say ^^^14K^^^ is a bit much for the 6.4L engine.

But for pulling 10K it should be just fine.

I'm at 11K with a 5th wheel (more wind resistance than a TT) with 3.73 gears and tow some decent mountain passes regularly. I'm overall satisfied with the performance. When I bought the truck I had a lighter TT. If I had it to do over again I'd probably go diesel but that's not to say I'm miserable with the Hemi. For a gas engine it's a beast.

My only real complaint towing is the seemingly mile gap between 1st and 2nd. In slow winding roads the choices are basically rap out 1st gear to 4500rpm or constantly shift back and forth from 2 to 1. I ultimately just put it in 1st and roll along at 25mph.

On straight roads heading up mountain passes I can pretty much pull whatever speed I want. The meat of the power in 2nd gear is right around 55-65 which is nice. All of my complaints would likely be less noticeable with the 4.10s but I just can't justify spending the money to re-gear for that slight of a change.

If I were in your shoes a lot would depend how often you tow. I'm a working guy so 95+% of the time my truck is a commuter. If I were out a lot more I'd consider a diesel more strongly.

I'm happy with mine. I have a 2017 6.4 megacab. I pull a 26 ft center console that weighs around 11k with the trailer. I also have the 4.10 gears and have no issues. I like that the truck will get up and move too when not towing

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im more than happy with mine. i pull a 28ft cruiser cabin, when fully loaded it has to be up in the 13k range including trailer. i average about 11-12 mpg on the display, not sure real world calculation. i can easily get in and out hairy situations with 4.10 gears. i made a 220 mile trip one way on one tank of gas with a few gallons left upon arrival.

Make sure you get the 4.10 gears if you go with 6.4l.

Is the RV 10k max or empty?

I had a 2015 2500 with 3.73 towing 11-12k depending how I loaded it. I was right at max GCWR and GVWR and ended up trading for 3500 Cummins. 4.10 geared 6.4 don't seem to be on lots.

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Guys, thanks for the responses.

Wife and I were chatting and we might go another way. I'm starting a new thread with my new question.

Thanks again!!

I enjoy mines, I have a 36'.6" TT with about 9500 lbs loaded or so it pull it fine, like it's not even back there, I have the 410 gears. Oh I see that you are a retired military, I was in for twenty-eight years myself.