5.7 1500,6.4 2500 & 6.7 2500 comparisons

Hockeydad55 · Jun 21, 2015

I have noticed that a lot of people are comparing the 6.4 2500 to the 6.7 2500 a lot when maybe it should be the 5.7 1500 to 6.4 2500 we know the 6.7 2500 is a better towing vehicle but it is a extra $8000 when the majority of people are probably buying a truck for light to medium loading and towing purposes and the 6.4 2500 is only $2000 more then the 5.7 1500 when I went to buy my truck I went to buy a 1500 but after seeing the 2500 with a much better towing and load capacity built a lot more heavy duty bigger and more horsepower motor and only a couple miles worse on gas for only a couple grand more it pretty much was a no brainier I would have liked to got the diesel but I don't tow anything and if I do it probably would not be more then 6-7 thousand pounds and it would probably only be 3-6 times a year and my drive to work is only 10 miles one way so in my case diesel was not practical I might have left out some other things but please weigh in on your thoughts I'm curious how other people think about this.

stoney · Jun 21, 2015

Not sure about your area, but a 1500 SLT (as an example) is 32,000 and the same trim in the 2500 is 37,000.
The 6.4 engine is another 2,000 over the standard 5.7 in the 2500.

I think people tend to compare the 6.4 to 6.7 because it seems most who are not towing allot on a weekly basis like the 6.4 option over the 6.7.

In the 2500 I am not sure why someone would buy the 5.7 with less power & lower fuel economy.....however the 5.7 will have more aftermarket options that the 5.7 currently has.

MADDOG · Jun 21, 2015

I got my 6.4L 2500 for just a smidge over $38K with the Bighorn 22Z package and all the options available except leather and cooled plus a couple of other small items I don't exactly recall right now.

I got such a great price because it was a leftover '14 (I found out why later) and my thoughts on the matter were:

1. I needed more towing capacity than the 1500 offered.
2. I needed less towing capacity than the 6.7L 2500/3500 is capable of.
3. I do loaded and unloaded road trips in my trucks so having a comfortable cabin and ride was pretty important.
4. It Had A BIG HEMI!!!

regularcab2500 · Jun 21, 2015

There is no comparing a half ton with any motor to any 3/4 ton period, other than price point i suppose. A 3/4 with a 5.7 is gonna handle its max capacity much better than a 1/2 with 5.7/6spd combo. The 8spd is a game changer for the 1500 and i believe its the reason why many people on here and everywhere treat their 1500 like its a heavy duty. Some of our brothers here look like f-150 owners with what they haul around.

drittal · Jun 21, 2015

stoney said:
In the 2500 I am not sure why someone would buy the 5.7 with less power & lower fuel economy.....however the 5.7 will have more aftermarket options that the 5.7 currently has.

Price point, fleet vehicles, etc

bryan28 · Jun 21, 2015

MADDOG you said you found out why your truck was a 14 leftover. I'm curious what you found out. I also purchased a 14 in May. Wondering if I missed something.

1500ram12 · Jun 21, 2015

bryan28 said:
MADDOG you said you found out why your truck was a 14 leftover. I'm curious what you found out. I also purchased a 14 in May. Wondering if I missed something.

He had to have his motor replaced. Maybe others realized something was wrong or it was just bad luck. Don't be scared of the term leftovers. (previous year vehicle that didn't sell) You get your best deals on them. Dealers will push to get them off the lot especially when there is a redesign or change.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

Jerry1984 · Jun 21, 2015

When shopping for a truck last October I thought I wanted a diesel. I was coming from an 01 powerstroke that I used for truck duties and a civic that I used as a commuter. I wanted to have one vehicle for both so that's why I went with a half ton. 20 mile commute each way to work and I only tow a camper and dirt toys. If I towed all the time or way heavy I would have gone the 2500 route. The 8 speed is a game changer as stated above and with 3.92 gears it rated to tow 10000+ pounds and if I load it right I should be near payload. Overall I'm happy with my 1500.

MADDOG · Jun 21, 2015

bryan28 said:
MADDOG you said you found out why your truck was a 14 leftover. I'm curious what you found out. I also purchased a 14 in May. Wondering if I missed something.

It only applied to the 6.4L powered trucks so I figure yer good to go.

1500ram12 said:
He had to have his motor replaced. Maybe others realized something was wrong or it was just bad luck. Don't be scared of the term leftovers. (previous year vehicle that didn't sell) You get your best deals on them. Dealers will push to get them off the lot especially when there is a redesign or change.

Exactly. I've purchased "leftovers" before and had no fear that there was anything wrong with them. If they fit my needs and wants, then I'll go get 'em. That was the case with this truck.

Unfortunately, in this case, this happened:

The Clattering Truck Thread

PassivAggressor · Jun 21, 2015

I admit that the 2500 with the 6.4 appeal to me, but I just don't need that much truck. I hardly tow at all and if I do it hardly ever exceeds 3,000 LBS. If I don't need a rough riding HD truck then I won't get it. Now I'm not a towing expert, but please don't always go off of what the manufacturers total tow weight says. It's important IMO to go off of the GVWR of the truck.

DrTron · Jun 22, 2015

PassivAggressor said:
If I don't need a rough riding HD truck then I won't get it.

Maybe someone who drove the recent years 1500 and 2500 care to comment on that? Is the 2500 (when unloaded) really a rougher ride than the 1500? Is its 6-speed transmission (my current 1500 only has the 5-speed) so much worse than the new 8-speed in the 1500's?

I'm asking because my interest may be a CrewCab truck with a 6'4" bed. That is available for the 1500, but there are only few available, especially if you want the good deal of a off-the-lot truck. The same configuration is standard for the 2500, so there a many more available.

MADDOG · Jun 22, 2015

PassivAggressor said:
I admit that the 2500 with the 6.4 appeal to me, but I just don't need that much truck. I hardly tow at all and if I do it hardly ever exceeds 3,000 LBS. If I don't need a rough riding HD truck then I won't get it. Now I'm not a towing expert, but please don't always go off of what the manufacturers total tow weight says. It's important IMO to go off of the GVWR of the truck.

It is important to keep the GVWR in view when setting to tow.

3,000 pound of trailer + tongue weight + truck + passengers + payload (fuel, gear in the truck bed, etc...) should not be a problem for your truck.

I've driven both 1500 CC's and 2500 CC's and the basic differences I felt were:

1. The 2500 is a bit higher off the ground.
2. The ride is stiffer. Not harsh or jarring, just a bit bouncy without a load is all.

Both trucks handle pretty nicely although the 2500's with the radius arm front suspension do handle a bit differently.

If you need a 2500 for the loads you carry or the weight you tow, so be it. If you don't, then I see no reason to get one... well, maybe one reason....

Having the 6.4L HEMI... :naughty:

stoney · Jun 22, 2015

DrTron said:
Maybe someone who drove the recent years 1500 and 2500 care to comment on that? Is the 2500 (when unloaded) really a rougher ride than the 1500? Is its 6-speed transmission (my current 1500 only has the 5-speed) so much worse than the new 8-speed in the 1500's?

I'm asking because my interest may be a CrewCab truck with a 6'4" bed. That is available for the 1500, but there are only few available, especially if you want the good deal of a off-the-lot truck. The same configuration is standard for the 2500, so there a many more available.

Yes, the 2500 is rougher, not like the 1/2 ton car like ride most are accustom too.
Is the 2500 all that bad, I guess that depends on your threshold, I do not think it is all that bad, I think for a 3/4 ton, it is actually great.
Keeping the tires inflated to the recommended PSI (60 & 80) makes them much worse, but that is a quick adjustment.

DrTron · Jun 22, 2015

stoney said:
Yes, the 2500 is rougher, not like the 1/2 ton car like ride most are accustom too.
Is the 2500 all that bad, I guess that depends on your threshold, I do not think it is all that bad, I think for a 3/4 ton, it is actually great.
Keeping the tires inflated to the recommended PSI (60 & 80) makes them much worse, but that is a quick adjustment.

Then I'll probably won't like it, as I already notice the much stiffer ride my 1500 has vs. a "normal" car (at least what we consider to be normal over here...). But I guess I'll need to test drive one day.

Btw., our second car is a VW Touareg, its ride is a lot smoother than the Ram.

1500ram12 · Jun 22, 2015

Yeah you won't like a 2500 then. I drove a 1500 the other day and it felt like I was riding in a car.

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River19 · Jun 22, 2015

My 2500 rides like a 3/4 ton truck should ride in order to handle its intended purpose, which indecently isn't providing a "car-like" ride......so yes, the 1500 would ride smoother from that perspective.

I came from a 2001 F250 and this new Ram while stiff as it should be is 100% better than the older rigs.

stoney · Jun 22, 2015

DrTron said:
Then I'll probably won't like it, as I already notice the much stiffer ride my 1500 has vs. a "normal" car (at least what we consider to be normal over here...). But I guess I'll need to test drive one day.

Btw., our second car is a VW Touareg, its ride is a lot smoother than the Ram.

That reminds me, I saw a Touareg last year towing a large airstream trailer (at least 30 feet - had three axles if I recall), I meant to go ask the guy driving it what it was like, but never did.

R/T_Fire · Jun 22, 2015

1500ram12 said:
He had to have his motor replaced. Maybe others realized something was wrong or it was just bad luck. Don't be scared of the term leftovers. (previous year vehicle that didn't sell) You get your best deals on them. Dealers will push to get them off the lot especially when there is a redesign or change.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

Picked up my 07 5.9L Cummins this way, lost leader clearance to make room for new stock. picked it up for 31.5k bighorn. almost fully loaded, and it was the best truck I ever bought. it was a odd truck that even on 35's and stock tune no bolt ons. it put down 296.4hp and 690-lf tq. stock specs for that HO motor that year were 325hp and 650lbtq. so they are out their.

But to compare a 1/2 ton to a 3/4 ton is just plain silly. Once just has to do as I have read a few have done but alot dont unfortunately, gotta look at your use and what fits your needs and budget. Around my area every Florida georgia line douche bag buys the big diesels lifts them, makes them roll coal (waste of power) and never even puts as much as a bag of dog food in the back of them... So I will take the overloaded 1/2 ton cause atleast they are using it as a truck.

QwikKota · Jun 22, 2015

I was surprised a 2500 Laramie was actually cheaper than my 1500 I ordered. I was considering it except for the transmission, mainly for fuel milage, not towing. The 6.4 is a $1400 option just doing a quick build. The main that kept me away was ride quality. They are probably better than the older leaf spring trucks but typically a heavy duty rides very rough out back without a decent payload.

bcolwell81 · Jun 27, 2015

Coming from an 04 power stroke this 2500 rides like a Cadillac

5.7 1500,6.4 2500 & 6.7 2500 comparisons

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