5.7 w/Warranty or ED with 8/125

An interesting consideration I've been presented. It's possible we may be getting back into the RV lifestyle and will have to get a new truck to properly tow a Rockwood Micro-Lite 2509S (5075lbs), or Flagstaff 25BRDS (Same trailer). Our choices will be a 5.7 V8 w/3.55's or EcoDiesel w/3.92's. Both Laramie Crew Cab models with the 5'7" bed. Yes, I'm aware there's a stop sale on the ED's right now, but that's another discussion for another time.

That said, were you making the choice, would you go with the V8 and Lifetime warranty or the ED and the 8 year/125K warranty? For us, if the Maxcare was available for the ED, this question would not have been posted. As long term owners, typically 15 years and 200k, there are positives to both scenarios. The V8 is obviously a lower buy-in but lower fuel mileage, especially when towing, and the availability of the lifetime Maxcare warranty. This makes for a lot of comfort when traveling. The ED has the higher buy-in but provides much better fuel economy, even while towing but limited to an 8 year/125k warranty. We found, with our 2002 Ford F150, Problems didn't start becoming a regular occurrence until the 9 year 100k mark. Also, we'll likely be pulling the trailer on, at least, one multi week trip and probably three smaller trips, one week or less, per year. Also, the truck will be driven on a regular basis as an extra vehicle. I do not commute with the truck, fortunately, public transportation is available where we live. Below will be our initial towing stats to give a better picture of what we'll look like loaded up.


Just something to ponder. Thanks in advance.

Multi week trip:

2 adults, 2 kids: About 600lbs
Trailer: 5075lbs
Trailer cargo: 500lbs
Tongue Weight: 600lbs
Weight Distribution Hitch: 100lbs?

Smaller Trips:
2 adults: 400lbs
Motorcycle: 700lbs
Trailer: 5075lbs
Trailer Cargo: 500lbs
Tongue Weight: 600lbs
Weight Distribution Hitch: 100lbs?

You know you can get into a 3/4 ton for really close to the same price as a 1/2 ton?
Ya if a brand offerd life time warranty on Diesel engines they would dominate the market- The entire def/dpf/egr/scr process is a fckn joke if you ask me- completely gimps a Diesel engine and robs it of its known longevity. If you are going to primarily tow and seldemly use it as DAily driver I would look at a 3/4 ton- The diesel do get amazing mileage for what they are and the 6.4 hemi does good for what it is. The ed 1500"s are pricey as hell imo. Where are you located?

my first thought is go with a 2500 in case you decide to move up in camper size. between the two trucks listed, i would go with the hemi, not only for the reasons you listen, buy because all that EPA "stuff", really makes for a complicated engine and exhaust. if you do happen to need repairs in "anywhere USA, you had better hope that dealership has a trained diesel mechanic, not just a reg mechanic who was assigned to your truck that day. iirc, if you go with the hemi, your gear choices are 3:21 and 3:92.

They also have a 3.55 option. Realistically, for what I'm towing, I could get away with the 3.21 but the 3.55 gives a little cushion while not giving up much in fuel mileage.

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kltk1 said:

They also have a 3.55 option. Realistically, for what I'm towing, I could get away with the 3.21 but the 3.55 gives a little cushion while not giving up much in fuel mileage.

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kitk1, not that it matters, but i am reasonably sure your only choices with the hemi, are the 321 and 392, at least for 2016 MY. personally i would go with the 3:92 of the occasional time you are carrying a "few" extra items and going up that steep mountain pass in colorado. the 3:92 does add a couple thousand pounds more tow capacity.

Out of those 2 choices I'm taking the hemi 10/10

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I have always been of the thought that you should drive more truck than you need when towing. When I used to tow my car trailer, 30' enclosed, I always had a 2500 Cummins. Just makes for better stability and peace of mind over the 1/2 ton. You should consider the 2500 with the 6.4

If the only towing you are doing is a few times a year, and thats it, get the hemi. If you're towing a LOT, or driving a lot of miles and need the mpg savings, get the ECO.

I just went from a 15 eco 3.55 to a 15 hemi 3.21. You can only get the 3.55 or 3.92 with the diesel. I LOVED the eco mpg, 24 average, 30 on hwys going 60ish. The low end torque was great, but it falls on its face after about 40mph. Passing power was lacking. Where I live diesel is consistently 20+cents more. DEF fluid wasnt too much of a concern, oil changes are more expensive as well.

The hemi im averaging about 18.5 on my route to work compared to the eco at 23-25. Power wise there is no comparisons, even with the 3.21, no 3.55 offered with the hemi.

Im happy with my choice, and the main reason for switching was i just missed having some muscle. You really cant go wrong with either. I had ZERO issues with my 2 years and 20k miles with the ECO.

Let me know if you have any questions!

I had a 2016 5.7 with 3.92s, traded up to a 2016 6.4 with 3.73, and my wife has a 2017 Hemi with the 3.21. IMO, for towing the 3.92s are not an option. So much more umph when you need it and feels much peppier when not towing. However, I would strongly urge you to test drive a 6.4. I got mine for the same price as my 1500. You just can't beat the extra weight of a 3/4 ton. The only qualm I have is with the mpg, but it's a truck and with you not daily driving it it shouldn't be as big of an issue for you.

Just pulled this from the summary page of a Build & Price on the RAM website. 3.55 is an option...


Powertrain
5.7-Liter V8 HEMI® MDS VVT Engine $1,450
8-Speed Automatic 8HP70 Transmission $500
3.55 Rear Axle Ratio $95
Anti-Spin Differential Rear Axle $435
GVW Rating - 6,900 Pounds $0

My opinion based on only my perspective, is that a Diesel is not worth the money. The up front is acknowledged to be higher, but the fuel economy numbers are offset by the higher cots for the fuel. Around here diesel is 40-60 cent higher per gallon. At the current price of gasoline of about $2.25 you would need to see an improvement of nearly 30% just to break even. I cannot claim to know if a Hemi towing will get a worse percentage of fuel economy than a Diesel towing to somewhat offset the spread, but given the Warranty disparities alone I would go with the Hemi. When diesel fuel was as cheap or cheaper than regular then it would be a no brainer, but with the cleaner fuels now I see the diesel as a dying entity, at least in anything smaller than a tractor trailer. Yes there have been some amazing diesel powered vehicles on race tracks but with all the emissions limitations AND what appears to be a worldwide BS system devised to override emissions testing, I see the design as going the way of the steam engine in trains.

kltk1 said:

Just pulled this from the summary page of a Build & Price on the RAM website. 3.55 is an option...


Powertrain
5.7-Liter V8 HEMI® MDS VVT Engine $1,450
8-Speed Automatic 8HP70 Transmission $500
3.55 Rear Axle Ratio $95
Anti-Spin Differential Rear Axle $435
GVW Rating - 6,900 Pounds $0

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i guess it is possible i was wrong. lol either way, i don't think you will see much of a mpg difference between 3:55 and :392.

Damn where do yall live that diesel is so expensive right here in Fallon, NV gas is $2.60 per gallon and diesel is $2.50 per gallon

Here in NJ diesel is pretty close in price to gasoline too. Having just crossed the country by car, there are still places where diesel is way over gasoline.

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Can only get the 3.55 with the Hemi with the 6 speed. Get the Hemi, 8 speed, 3.92's barely a difference in fuel economy between the 3.21's and 3.92's with the 8 speed and the 3.92's give you an extra couple thousand pound towing capacity and make the truck a lot more fun to drive.

The Eco will most likely spin it's cam gears probably between 150-175k miles, will cost more in maintenance than the Hemi and won't tow as well.

Jared26 said:

Can only get the 3.55 with the Hemi with the 6 speed. Get the Hemi, 8 speed, 3.92's barely a difference in fuel economy between the 3.21's and 3.92's with the 8 speed and the 3.92's give you an extra couple thousand pound towing capacity and make the truck a lot more fun to drive.

The Eco will most likely spin it's cam gears probably between 150-175k miles, will cost more in maintenance than the Hemi and won't tow as well.

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the oil spec was changed to save the cams.

Jared26 said:

The Eco will most likely spin it's cam gears probably between 150-175k miles, will cost more in maintenance than the Hemi and won't tow as well.

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And you know this how? From Shawn rantings? Who was suspected of injecting water/methanol when he had his timing issue? Not to mention countless other tinkerings he did to his truck?
The same type of cam gear set up is used in many motor designs and there are a lot of EcoDiesels that that are pushing that kind of mileage(some even more) and timing issue of any sorts is very rare. You forgot to include about how the turbo needs to be replaced at 100K miles also...not.

The EcoDiesel was intended for more fuel economy than brut towing force like the Cummins.
With only 26 gallons of fuel would you like to race? The finish line is at the next gas station 700 miles away.

huntergreen said:

the oil spec was changed to save the cams.

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First I heard of this. You know some engineers at FCA that told you this? or was it from a dealer.
It was speculated the oil spec change from 5W-30 to 5W-40 was probably due to supply issues, and a confusion of the gasoline version of Pennzoil. There was an industry wide ACEA oil spec change in 2016(when the change occurred), the Pennzoil 5W-30 didn't meet the new E-7 spec.

I disagree with the hemi being able to "tow" better than the eco. The eco is a better towing engine, may not be able to tow as much, but it will do the job better and with way more mpgs to boot. Ive got a few thousand towing miles with each, only a 3k boat, but its still slightly better with the eco.

Thank you for the responses, everyone. Just to add some more information, I'm trying to get to the sweet spot most travel trailer pullers prefer of 20% of GCWR. For two reasons, 1) I'll be towing on the multi week trips with kids 2) Shorter trips will be with a motorcycle in the bed. 3) I want to leave enough cushion for pulling loaded up when we traveling out west through mountain passes.

We're not completely against a 3/4 ton, that said, from what I'm finding they're so capable they actually wind up being so far over the top for what we need. Like 30-35% of available GCWR leftover after loading up. Not that that's a bad thing, it just becomes too much tool for our needs. Were we towing something in the 7000lb range the 3/4 ton would be the go to tool, for sure.

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