Going from a 5.7 1500 to a 6.4/6.7 2500.

[JJP71584]

I'm on my 2nd 1500 and while I'm very happy with my current truck, I've been considering making the jump to a 2500 for my next vehicle.
Has anyone made the jump ...are you glad you did or do you wish you stayed in a 1500?
I rarely tow anything, I have a utility trailer that will haul 3K lbs or so.
I do like to spend some time off road/hunting and I have a 30 min highway commute to work everyday.

 

[Ratket]

How much time off road?
Power wagon?
If gas mileage isn’t a concern and registration doesn’t jump to much- then having more truck is never a bad thing.

 

[KingTuna]

I've never owned a 2500, so I'm not sure how much my opinion counts here, but I am having the same thoughts now. I have talked myself out of the 2500 for several reason: no 8 speed trans, which means I'll be getting much worse gas mileage, cost of the 2500, and I don't tow enough to really justify.

If it were me, I would just probably get a 1500( Tradesman or Express) with 4x4, 8 speed, 3.92 gears. I would then add a 3 inch lift, some better tires, and maybe a new bumper/winch.

 

[Sooners89]

I've never owned a 2500, so I'm not sure how much my opinion counts here, but I am having the same thoughts now. I have talked myself out of the 2500 for several reason: no 8 speed trans, which means I'll be getting much worse gas mileage, cost of the 2500, and I don't tow enough to really justify.

If it were me, I would just probably get a 1500( Tradesman or Express) with 4x4, 8 speed, 3.92 gears. I would then add a 3 inch lift, some better tires, and maybe a new bumper/winch.

I agree. What you just described is hard to beat.

 

[JJP71584]

How much time off road?
Power wagon?
If gas mileage isn’t a concern and registration doesn’t jump to much- then having more truck is never a bad thing.

I really don't off road enough where I need a PW...but they are awesome.
Truth be told, I've only had 2 instances in 9 years where I didn't have enough truck for the task at hand....but I hated it, lol.

 

[mohemipar]

Depends on how important some things are to you. For what you are describing a 1500 would be enough.


I will say that price wise, there is not too much of a premium on the 2500 when comparing gas to gas. It’s only the Cummins where you will see the real big price increase. MSRP on my Laramie was just north of $54k. 4.10s, anti spin diff, Offroad Package, Push Button with Remote Start, Snow Plow Prep Group and a few other options. Not much more than the equivalent 1500 model would be. 6.4 Hemi was free on Laramie and up when I ordered, and I believe for 2018 it is now standard in the lower trims as well.


I came out of the 8 speed 1500, and while it is a great transmission for sure, I don’t really find myself missing it. I don’t really have any complaints about the 66RFE. I would just say look for a 4.10 geared truck to help with 1st and 2nd being tall. But you get used to that quick. The transmission shifts like butter for me. And never seems to get confused. Even in the city. A bit off topic but I think the Pedal Commander helped the truck dial itself in…

For off road use, no question or second thought I would take the 2500 over the 1500. Not even close. Off road use is actually one of the major reasons I went to 2500. That and payload are the two biggest reasons.

Want to know anything specific about 1500 vs 2500 comparison let me know.

 

[Ratket]

Only cost difference between the 1500 and the 2500 gas is the 2500 drinks more. The cost on like a 1500 big horn is almost the same as a 2500 big horn. Now msrp is different but they can be had for almost the same price

 

[JJP71584]

Depends on how important some things are to you. For what you are describing a 1500 would be enough.


I will say that price wise, there is not too much of a premium on the 2500 when comparing gas to gas. It’s only the Cummins where you will see the real big price increase. MSRP on my Laramie was just north of $54k. 4.10s, anti spin diff, Offroad Package, Push Button with Remote Start, Snow Plow Prep Group and a few other options. Not much more than the equivalent 1500 model would be. 6.4 Hemi was free on Laramie and up when I ordered, and I believe for 2018 it is now standard in the lower trims as well.


I came out of the 8 speed 1500, and while it is a great transmission for sure, I don’t really find myself missing it. I don’t really have any complaints about the 66RFE. I would just say look for a 4.10 geared truck to help with 1st and 2nd being tall. But you get used to that quick. The transmission shifts like butter for me. And never seems to get confused. Even in the city. A bit off topic but I think the Pedal Commander helped the truck dial itself in…

For off road use, no question or second thought I would take the 2500 over the 1500. Not even close. Off road use is actually one of the major reasons I went to 2500. That and payload are the two biggest reasons.

Want to know anything specific about 1500 vs 2500 comparison let me know.

Two things I'm really curious about...first is the ride. I really like how comfortable of a ride my truck has...do you lose that going to a 2500?
Second, I have my truck tuned and I have to say that it's pretty fast for a full size 4x4 CC. Seeing how the 2500's are more work oriented, I wonder if I'll ultimately end up with a slower truck? I can handle losing MPG's on a faster truck....would be harder to deal with if the new truck is slower and it drinks more.

 

[BTD07]

I know what you mean, I also feel that I would want a 2500 in the future. I even joke with my lady that I am going to get a dually! But the reality is I don't need more truck at this moment, but it would be nice to have. If I had a truck for the purpose of just needing it when I need it and I had a DD and play vehicle, I would look at having the most capable, 2500 or 3500, but at this moment it just doesn't make sense to have that much truck. PWs are sweet though..

 

[mohemipar]

Two things I'm really curious about...first is the ride. I really like how comfortable of a ride my truck has...do you lose that going to a 2500?

Second, I have my truck tuned and I have to say that it's pretty fast for a full size 4x4 CC. Seeing how the 2500's are more work oriented, I wonder if I'll ultimately end up with a slower truck? I can handle losing MPG's on a faster truck....would be harder to deal with if the new truck is slower and it drinks more.

Ride quality seems to be subjective. Personally I think its pretty darn good for an HD truck. The Offroad package comes with Bilsteins and it does help. Lowering the tire pressure or putting bigger sidewall/smaller wheel helps a lot too. But any way you slice it the 1500 will ride smoother. IFS vs solid axle with big stiff coils. You get more bounce and harshness over bigger bumps in the 2500. I would say the only way to tell for sure is to give a 2500 a test drive. Cus for what I think isn’t a bad ride you might think sucks. Everyone’s kind of different.


As for fuel you are going to have worse MPG with the HD 6.4, it’s not even up for debate lol. You're adding about 1500 pounds on top of the bigger displacement engine. The question is how much worse is acceptable to you. With cruise control set around 70 MPH I can pull in 16 MPG on long trips which is 2-4 less than the best my 1500 did. Same deal city, this time of year I would typically be doing about 11/12 MPG with my 1500 over the course of a 5 day work week commute. 2500 is about 9. Mine does also have 35’s. These are the hand calc’d numbers rounded. I don’t really put effort into driving too easy day to day. However I am always conservative on long trips.


Performance wise, stock for stock the 1500 will be faster just because of weight and 8 speed. But I think people would be surprised at how well the 6.4 HD moves. Once the power kicks on at about 3500-4000 RPM it feels like it has a turbo. Other night I was cruising on the highway. Punch it at 65 MPH and it has long legs. It will get up to 90 without breaking a sweat. I will say again, the Pedal Commander is a big help with tightening up this truck and pulling any lag out of it.. If I don’t ease into the throttle before a hard acceleration the tires break loose for a couple of rotations. Only “performance mod” I have is the PC. Close to putting on an intake though.


Just as an FYI, the 6.4 trucks stock do not sound that good. You will barely hear the Hemi with that massive muffler behind it. I swapped for a Mufflex and all is well.


If you want to compare a tuned/modded 6.4 to a tuned/modded 1500, ask Viking. He has bolt ons and a tune. His truck is a beast. He has some acceleration vids. If it wasn’t for the added weight I wouldn’t be surprised at all if it walked away from a tuned 1500. The 6.4 is a very powerful engine.


As said, everyone is different and has different opinions/needs. Only way to tell for sure is to take one for a good thorough test drive.

 

[ColdCase]

I had a 2500 and jumped to the 1500. When I moved on they still were not emissions testing 2500s in this area but the registration premium was significant, especially if I wanted to register it to carry a lot of weight. Other little things like not every inspection station can inspect trucks and you have to putt multiple ply tires and high pressure wheels on it. Operating a 2500 is enough more money in most areas that it can be something to think about.

My 2500 was a long wheelbase megacab which rode much better than the short wheelbase 1500, very nice cruising the highway, not so nice maneuvering a walmart parking lot It seemed like you could load a house full of furniture into the cab.

That being said, it is subjective. Test drive, buy what you want and like. We can come up with a rationalization to support any decision you want to make

 

[JJP71584]

Well I think this weekend if I get a chance I'm going to set my truck back to the stock tune, then I'm going to drive a 6.4 Hemi 2500, 6.7 Cummins 2500 (I know I have no reason to get a diesel, but I've always kind of wanted one) and see where they are ride, acceleration wise.

Side note: can you tag people in a post? I would love to get Viking's input on this subject based on mohemipar's description.

 

[cyclepuck]

Went from a 1500 to the 2500 mainly for the payload to pull the camper but after having it for awhile I think I'll never go back to a half ton. I can go load up with lumber, rocks or just about anything I want and it barely squats. As far as ride goes it's good for a HD but going by my wife's boob bounce it definitely rides stiffer than the 1500 which I'm good with.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Sandbox]

I traded in my 2015 1500 CC Express for a 2017 2500 Laramie CC 6.4. I did it because every time I turned around I was hauling something heavy and had to figure out of the truck could handle it. Arguing with Uhaul every time I had to rent a car hauler was getting old. However I still argue with them even with the 2500. Also, a 5er or a travel trailer is in our near future.

The other thing is, we chose the Express based on limited finances. Once we got into the Ram we fell in love with it and wanted a nicer trim level. So, all of those things combined, we decided to jump. I miss the sound of the 5.7! The 2500 is a big truck, not as nimble and is a bit cumbersome to drive everyday. The ride is not as soft but, I prefer the ride. At the end of the day, I love it and don't regret trading!! It fits my current needs and my near future needs well. I don't have to worry about having enough truck. However, if my needs changed, I would seriously reconsider the truck and how it fit them.

 

[zogg]

I owned a 2015 Ram 2500 6.4 Hemi for two years and 45,000 miles. We towed a 10,000 pound 5th wheel and it did a good job...not great, but good. Unloaded the 2500 got 16 mpg hiway and 12-14 in town. Power was set up different than a 1500, as it is often used for towing. It certainly is not faster off the line than a 1500 hemi, but it's designed to build torque for work, and it does a good job of that. The six speed tranny was very adequate for all around driving and towing. I would recommend it if someone was looking for a heavy duty truck.

While it did ride better that my previous f250 due to the coil springs, I absolutely HATED the ride. It is rough even on smooth roads, and jars you around on bad roads. Little ripples (tar strips) in the road constantly jars your spine. I made a left turn onto a bumpy road one day and my wife's head hit the passenger door window....boy, was she pissed. I could hardly ever drink coffee and drive it on anything but a super smooth hiway.

We permanently parked our 5th wheel in a private campground last June. By July 1st, I owned a 2017 Ram 1500. I couldn't wait to get ride of that battle wagon as a daily driver. For a daily driver the 2500 was terrible in my opinion. Others will disagree, but we couldn't believe the ride quality difference between the two trucks. When pulling the 5th wheel, it was really a nice truck to drive, but unloaded it was awful, as is any HD truck.

I could never recommend a 2500 to anyone as a daily driver. However, if you have a true need for a heavy duty truck, I would certainly recommend the Ram 2500 over the F250 or GM 2500.

 

[SHOOT2KILL]

1500's are for soccer moms...My 2500 is the WORST riding H.D. truck ive owned...

 

[MADDOG]

I'll add my .02 worth here. I went from a 5.7L 1/2 to a 6.4L gas 2500 to a 6.7L CTD 2500.

You've asked a lot of questions about the similarities and differences between them, is one faster than the other, which one rides the best, you provided a brief mention of how you'd use the truck, etc...

1. Based on your use of a truck you don't "need" a 2500 nor a diesel. In my case, I tow heavy now and then so I want the capability. But there are some definite advantages to a 2500 with a larger engine.

2. The 6.4L was definitely faster than my 5.7L even before it was tuned. The 6.7L CTD has a lot more grunt (torque) than my 6.4L HEMI ever did. It's also sneaky fast. What I mean by that is the 6.4L sound and feel definitely let you know you were winding up that engine and moving with torque and HP feeling a bit peaky as it shifted. The CTD in comparison is quieter (stock) and smoother as it work through the gears. When I first got the truck I didn't feel as if I was going that fast but when I looked down at the speedo I realized I was going a lot faster than I expected, much faster than the 6.4L would do in the same circumstances and I was being pushed back in the seat much more firmly. It still surprises me just how sneaky fast the CTD is. Now it's deleted and tuned, with a louder exhaust note, which gave me even more torque to play with. That's the allure of the "Damned Diesel"...

3. While the 2500 truck of today's generation rides pretty darn smoothly for a 3/4T truck, the 1/2T has a softer spring rate so it will feel smoother to some folks. I don't mind the ride of my 2500 at all, even with the spacer level up front. Every once in a while I get jolted while unloaded on a particularly uneven expansion joint or bridge approach deck transition but all in all it's a pretty smooth ride.

 

[Ratket]

Like stated above- as far as performance - a deleted/tuned 6.7 will damn near anything with or with out a load in haul. Big reason is the turbo. You get the best of all worlds with it and could even go as far as to change out the springs for softer ones, but now we are getting into $$ figures.
My dream truck-
Carli suspension, 37”s on a white mega 6.7.

 

[GsRAM]

I went from a 2015, 1500 Silverado to my 17 ram 2500 and I'd never go back unless I couldn't afford it.

I like my trucks to ride like a truck, not like a Cadillac like that 1500 did. however, for an hd truck, my ram rides very well.

the 2500 is just so much more truck all the way around, frame, axles, steering components, you name it are massive on my 2500.

over Christmas, I hauled two huge loads of firewood, the second load also had about 10 concrete block in it too and it hardly squated it.

it is a beast, no doubt, but I love it. favorite of all the trucks I've ever owned, right in front of the 1997 ram 2500 I had I also loved.

I average about 12mpg, city driving, on the highway, unloaded I've been up over 19mpg. it pulls my 6k tt great, even loaded heavy for a week camping trip where the 1500 was maxed out.

I love how tall she sits up. semi trucks don't seem so big when I pass em.

the big 6.4 has A LOT of juice and at 4k miles mine is not even broken in yet. maybe not faster overall, but I'd bet she'd run with a 5.7, 1500 if I really got after it. LOL.

great truck, but so are the 1500s, its all in what you like or need. I just can't say enough good things about my ram, and this is coming from a Ford man. good luck.

 

[mohemipar]

Side note: can you tag people in a post? I would love to get Viking's input on this subject based on mohemipar's description.

I would just send him a PM, he is usually around.