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

Don Hileman said:

I have a Ram 1500 LongHorn and it is 4 wheel drive with the tow kit! I can and do pull a Travel Trailer, 33Ft. and around 10,000 lbs! It dose a great job! If I go any larger on my towing then I'll go for the @500! The Big Horn is loaded with everything Ram has to offer! No more then what your doing stay with the 1500 and save your money!

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Just out of curiosity, what is your payload limit? At 33 feet and 10k lbs your in 3/4 ton truck territory. I would think you are over your payload limit? Have you ever had it weighed?

My limit with the way my truck is equipped is at 11,000 for towing! any heaver and I would go larger!

Hey Don,
2 posts, 8 exclamation points and no periods. Time to switch to decaf, brother. I guess if I was pulling 10k lbs, 33 ft long, I'd be amped up too. Like, on the verge of paranoia.

KingTuna said:

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.

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I hust bought my 1st 2500 last August. CC, 6.4, 4x4, 8' bed & 4.10 gears. I added a K&N CAI, MagnaFlow 4" cat back w/ dual 5" outlets, Westin headache rack, N-Fab steps. This is a truck!
I had an 09 1500 5.7 w/ 3.92s, that I drove like I stole it about every day for 7 yrs.
I'm a little older now and plan on towing a TT soon, so 2500 was my choice. It tows like there's nothing behind it. Gets 11-12 mpg normally, 9-11 towing. My 1500 only got 13 or so.(my fault). Once you go to a 2500, a 1500 feels like a car. I could never go back. My 2 cents worth.

I have owned 5 rams in 18 years...The first was a 2500 with the 360 in just before the Hemi's came back. My max tow capacity currently with a 14 Ram 1500 Laramie cc is 9800 Lbs. My max on the 2500 years ago was 10500! The trucks have come a long way in last 18 to 20 years for sure. I have thought of trading my 14 Ram in for another new 19 Ram but stuck on rather I should get another 1500 or 2500. If I decide 2500 I may just wait until the 2020 new generation 2500 comes out made in USA rather than Mexico.

Currently I tow a travel trailer weighing dry weight of 8200 Lbs. I pull maybe three to 4 times year with travel trailer short runs of less than 100 Miles round trips. It pull just fine but it feels maxed out even though under the max pull load. I always pull the TT with all tanks empty except two 40 Lb. LP Tanks. I really enjoy the 4 corner suspension on the truck now with coils and air shocks for the 4 corner. It made a difference much better than 2011 I had with the Air Suspension and coil.
I have a 6.4 Charger Scat Pack bought last fall new and I love the car especially the 6.4 Hemi. Not to say the 5.7 is not a great motor and powerful because it it,but the 6.4 is nice.

Never Have measured or cared about MPH towing or not but I do average about 18 to 19 Combo driving with no tow. I do not what the 6.4 would be but if like the cars not much difference as I traded 2014 5.7 Charger R/T for the 2018 6.4 Scat pack and they are 2 miles per gallon difference combo driving. I suspect the 2500 would be about 16 to 17 MPG Combo with no tow. Not sure about Insurance difference if there would be any. The new 19 Ram Laramie indicated a higher tow load of 11500 rather than my current at 9800. They had to make frame changes and rear changes in the 1500 to up the weight capacity by 1900 lbs. Maybe for what I'm towing now and them I should save a few bucks and do the 1500 but then again there is not much difference from 1500 to 2500 both being gas and Laramie's in price.

Then another urge inside says just run what I have for two more years then take a look?

Hope you're patient, HD refresh was pushed back to 2021.

The BGE 6.4 is nice but it's definitely hampered by the 6 speed trans vs the 8 speed in your Charger.

When I get daydreaming about how a nice HD 8 or 9 speed could help actually put the 6.4's potential power down...

So now I have my eyes on an '18 PW...thing is that mine is paid off and I'm not sure I want to jump into another truck payment. ..decisions decisions

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Just do what you want.

I came from a 2500 to a 1500, others have done the opposite. There is no perfect do-it-all solution. Bed size, camper shell, truck rack, cab size, gear ratio, everything truck related, it all changes based on what you're doing that day.

Sooner or later, you'll be pissed that your rig is not perfectly set up for any given application.

Pick what works for the lion's share of the time.

RoadRamblerNJ said:

I hust bought my 1st 2500 last August. CC, 6.4, 4x4, 8' bed & 4.10 gears. I added a K&N CAI, MagnaFlow 4" cat back w/ dual 5" outlets, Westin headache rack, N-Fab steps. This is a truck!
I had an 09 1500 5.7 w/ 3.92s, that I drove like I stole it about every day for 7 yrs.
I'm a little older now and plan on towing a TT soon, so 2500 was my choice. It tows like there's nothing behind it. Gets 11-12 mpg normally, 9-11 towing. My 1500 only got 13 or so.(my fault). Once you go to a 2500, a 1500 feels like a car. I could never go back. My 2 cents worth.

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This is pretty much exactly how I felt after I had my first 2500 years ago. I've had s few 1500 series trucks since then,and they were good trucks also. The 1500 series chassis is more like cars from the 70s, but still plenty strong for what they are rated to do.

They both have their purpose that's for sure. As said, but the one you want or need. You only live once.

GsRAM said:

This is pretty much exactly how I felt after I had my first 2500 years ago. I've had s few 1500 series trucks since then,and they were good trucks also. The 1500 series chassis is more like cars from the 70s, but still plenty strong for what they are rated to do.

They both have their purpose that's for sure. As said, but the one you want or need. You only live once.

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Correct. We think alike. "Ya only go around once" has been coming out of my mouth all my life. I'm chasin' down 60 now. I did not "need" a 2500. In fact, I don't plan on pulling a TT for 3 or 4 yrs yet. I didn't need a 392 hemi either. Or 4.10 gears. Or a K&N CAI, a cat back exh. or a $900. Grille Guard. All these things are gonna cost a lot of money as I drive 88 mi round trip for work. I bought what I wanted and promised myself I wouldn't beat on it too hard. Now the Pedal Commander is commanding me to whomp on it. Oh, that sweet rumble makes it hard to stay out of it. See. I wouldn't feel like this driving a lame ass car or underpowered truck. Ya only go around once. Make it count before you just can't anymore. Adult diapers are com....BANG!............................Beeeeeeeeeeeeep.

Hahahaha good stuff man. So very true. My dad got sick with Lou behind disease at 48 and was gone at 55. I was 25. Seeing your dad go through that changes your perspective on things a lot. No question.

JJP71584 said:

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.

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I went from a 2014 Ram 3500 lone star 6.7 Cummins that I bought brand new back then and now I have 2017 5.7 hemi longhorn. I love the new interior but oh man I miss the diesel especially cause I had it fully deleted the power was just insane........ I regret not getting a 2500 6.7 but oh well you live and learn.

Chief_6.7 said:

I went from a 2014 Ram 3500 lone star 6.7 Cummins that I bought brand new back then and now I have 2017 5.7 hemi longhorn. I love the new interior but oh man I miss the diesel especially cause I had it fully deleted the power was just insane........ I regret not getting a 2500 6.7 but oh well you live and learn.

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6.4 hp numbers are not much more than the 5.7 hemi. Ram dropped the ball on that one.

2010 Infantry Vet said:

6.4 hp numbers are not much more than the 5.7 hemi. Ram dropped the ball on that one.

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Not sure how the 6.4 feels but I was talking about the 6.7 diesel the power was just incredible

It’s not really about the peak advertised numbers when comparing an HD 6.4 and the 1500 5.7. They have different power delivery and the 6.4 was built for longevity. It has a broader torque curve, has an active intake manifold, sodium filled valves, better oil cooling, the block is different and was the basis for the Hellcat, etc. I’m sure they could have put down more numbers on paper but they understand HD customers aren’t buying trucks to race. I actually enjoy driving the 6.4 more than I did the 5.7, even with the lack of ZF trans and an extra 2000 pounds of truck under my ass.

JJP71584 said:

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.

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Get the 6.4 gas 2500 4x4 off road package. You’ll never want anything else.


I Love My 2018 RAM 2500HD 4x4 6.4L
Mod list: Pedal Commander, AVS Vent shades, Solo Delete kit, molar side step rails

Well dressed 2500 4x4 in Sherman Texas at Hoyte dodge will run about the same as a 1500. Maybe 5K more. Msrp on mine was $46.500 I got it out the door financing and all with $1600 down I give $35000.
Google Hoyte dodge.


I Love My 2018 RAM 2500HD 4x4 6.4L
Mod list: Pedal Commander, AVS Vent shades, Solo Delete kit, molar side step rails