New/used purchase

jljbtm · Dec 12, 2016

So the time has come to get rid of my 99 Chevrolet K 2500 w/223, 000 miles and I am deciding on 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 because that price seems to fit my budget. Is a 2011 a good year? I own a 2005 Dodge Magnum which is a really sweet car 5.7 liter engine is great and I just supercharged it last winter so I'm not too concerned about the drivetrain with these trucks it's what I don't know that I'm asking about . One of the trucks has storage compartments in the bed which makes my actual bed size a little smaller any problems with those , it's also a Laramie. Thx. Jack

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Devin1349 · Dec 12, 2016

i have a 2011 with 5.7 6'4 bed and it runs great my towing capacity is 8,600 and payload is 1,464. what trim are you looking at and what packages does it have. i assume you've seen what it might have since you've seen the price tag. a little more info on it and i should be able to give you some more info.

Numnutz · Dec 12, 2016

jljbtm said:
So the time has come to get rid of my 99 Chevrolet K 2500 w/223, 000 miles and I am deciding on 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 because that price seems to fit my budget. Is a 2011 a good year? I own a 2005 Dodge Magnum which is a really sweet car 5.7 liter engine is great and I just supercharged it last winter so I'm not too concerned about the drivetrain with these trucks it's what I don't know that I'm asking about . One of the trucks has storage compartments in the bed which makes my actual bed size a little smaller any problems with those , it's also a Laramie. Thx. Jack

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If I were you, I'd try to get into a 2013 with the ZF 8spd trans. These transmissions have been used in the BMW for awhile and they are basically bullet proof. The 6spd trans is not so dependable.

jljbtm · Dec 12, 2016

Well I think the Laramie has all of the options I'm not sure how long the bed is but it does have the tool boxes in the sidewall which makes the bed narrow. It does have 4 doors which I'm not used to because my old one only had two doors and an 8-foot bed. I'm not going to be snow plowing anymore so a 2500 I don't need but I think my Polaris Sportsman 800 will fit in this bed if it does then that should be good.

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jljbtm · Dec 12, 2016

Im not seeing any 2013 for sale

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jljbtm · Dec 12, 2016

I'm also unaware of ANY tranny problems with that 6spd. The 8 spd benefits are really only on the highway mpg

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Burla · Dec 12, 2016

I have a 6 speed, worst part of my truck, real crappy stock shift points, I drive in tow haul 24/7 problem solved. All of the 4 gens are fawking awesome, great trucks. I would however wait until I could find the 3.92 gears, my 3.55 are **** seriously. I love it when I drive my friends truck, he has a 6 speed but with 3.92's. Power right off the line without even trying. There should be enough out there with the 3.92's. You can swap, but that can be a PITA, I would just try and find one with the gears.

If you have one with the ram box, u r a lucky fker.

Devin1349 · Dec 12, 2016

I have the 5 speed tranny with 3.55 gears in my 2011 and if its the laramie your looking at around 8,000 max towing or high 7's i have the ST quad cab there are a bunch of factors and like you said as long as it can haul your polaris. is your polaris by chance a 2014 or around that year because what I read the length of a that year is 6.91 in feet (83" to be exact) and the Ram has 5'7 a 6'4 and a 8' bed options

roadshow · Dec 12, 2016

jljbtm said:
I'm also unaware of ANY tranny problems with that 6spd. The 8 spd benefits are really only on the highway mpg

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That's because numnum doesn't know what he's talking about. It doesn't have issues, it's well known to have a solid rep. And if that's not enough power off the line for you then you should go see the doctor about some gender bending because your lady calves are too dainty to press a gas pedal. See my sig

vizsladog · Dec 12, 2016

Try cargurus.com it will give you a zillion options up to nationwide looking for a truck.

Firebird · Dec 13, 2016

The 8 speed is one of the best reasons to own a newer one

Csanders1992 · Dec 13, 2016

jljbtm said:
I'm also unaware of ANY tranny problems with that 6spd. The 8 spd benefits are really only on the highway mpg

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The 8 spd benefits from better performance in every aspect. Better mpg on highway and also more power off the line. An 8 spd 3.21 truck is probably faster than a 6 spd 3.92 truck, at least comparable, and get better fuel economy.

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clh1220 · Dec 13, 2016

Csanders1992 said:
The 8 spd benefits from better performance in every aspect. Better mpg on highway and also more power off the line. An 8 spd 3.21 truck is probably faster than a 6 spd 3.92 truck, at least comparable, and get better fuel economy.

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Yup and it's for sure not just better at the top end. It's the low end and up. The 6 speed I drove didn't impress me at all. Most of the people going on about how good the 6 speed is, didn't have a option for the 8 speed. Anybody that picked a 6 speed over the 8 because of the dial shifter. That will end up being the norm.

jljbtm · Dec 13, 2016

How do you know by looking at it if it has 3.92 gearing? Would this be good only if your pulling alot of weight?

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clh1220 · Dec 13, 2016

jljbtm said:
How do you know by looking at it if it has 3.92 gearing? Would this be good only if your pulling alot of weight?

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Ram Trucks - Contact Us go there equipment listing then put vin in and get build sheet.

yillbs · Dec 13, 2016

Many of the trucks come with 3.21 gears, from a MPG standpoint, those 3.21, and 8 speed are a perfect fit. Even more so, if you ever decide to put a lift, you'll be thankful if you get the 8 speed. The 3.21 rear end + the 8 speed make the lift bearable. Those big tires will destroy your soul otherwise.

roadshow · Dec 14, 2016

Honestly, a few of you guys really over-dramatize this issue. Unless you're a frequent tower or frequent drag strips, in normal daily driving with the occasional load in the back this 6 vs 8 speed is such a non-issue. Cutting a second or two off of 0-60 doesn't mean **** all to the vast majority of people who don't think they're starring in the next Fast and Furious. Even worse, a lot of them don't actually even tow or haul anything and live on a postage stamp sized property with a pickup truck.

There was another member recently who ignored all the gotta-have-it replies in his thread and grabbed a 6 speed that he's only paying $160/month for. He's the brilliant one if you ask me because he's not wearing a huge magnet on his forehead for salesmen and will have tens of thousands of $ in his pocket over them during the course of his lifetime if he keeps thinking that way.

freefallin · Dec 14, 2016

I haven't driven a 65rfe, but if it's anything like the 68rfe, my suggestion would be to test drive an 8 speed equipped truck also, if possible, and compare the two.

As others posted, I had to turn on tow/haul mode every time I drove the truck. I hated the shift up/down points, the lugging. Tow/Haul mode helped, somewhat.

huntergreen · Dec 17, 2016

seems a few folk are forgetting the ers with the six speed. i with in the last month traded my 11 sport 4x4 rcsb with 5 speed 3:55 rear. never thought about needing a regear, and if i felt a need to be in a lower gear, a tap on the shifter and all was fine. OP, if you found a truck you are happy with, do not let the 6 speed keep you away. it is a proven reliable long lived trans. btw, i only traded my sport be cause i need the quad cab and i got a deal i couldnt pass up.

quietpeen · Dec 18, 2016

I'm pretty sure the 2011's did not come with the 6 speed. I think in 2012 the 1500's were the first

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