New here, looking to re-join Ram Ownership club again.

Hey all, stumbled on the forum while doing some research. Former 2008 2500CTD MegaCab owner. Had to send her down the road a few years back due to finances. Wish I would have kept it, I loved that truck... Replaced it with a higher mileage 2500 Duramax because I still needed a diesel to pull a 5th wheel. Well, 5th wheel is long gone and all I pull now is a 16' enclosed trailer and a boat around town from time to time... Most use truck to run errands. That brings me here.

I'm set to go and find a gasser. Who here has any advice for me? My trailer and boat are around 5k pounds. I'm thinking I can get away with a 1500 5.7 but that 6.4 is calling my name! I'd be considered a city driver, (running kids all over town to hockey) and MPG is a big thing. I just don't like how low the 1500 sits but the older I get I kinda want a truck that rides like my wife's Denali!

Questions:
Can you do an easy/slight lift on the 1500?
How do the 2500's ride compared to 1500?
Pulling issues with 5.7??
Looking to buy used - 2012-2014 range, any big issues to know of?

Thanks in advance. Not sure i posted in the right place, sorry about that if I did. Any advice I can get will be great. Waiting on Tax Refund and will be heading to the dealership in a week or two and drive a few for the day!

Why not a 6.4 Rebel?
Best of all worlds

At 5K I'd be looking at the 6.4L powered trucks. My 5.7L MegaCan struggled quite a bit with a similar hitch load. Then I stepped up to a larger trailer and the 5.7L just didn't cut it. I wish I had had more power even with the smaller trailer.

I purchased a 2014 6.4L Big Horn 2500 CC and it was quite the improvement over the 5.7L truck. It rode very well too, much nicer than I expected it to and it was much more pleasant than the 1500 I had before it.

I wanted to step up a bit more in towing capability so when the 2014 was totaled I ended up with a Cummins on a 2500 platform. The ride is just as good in the 2017 2500 as it was in the 2014.

Also, I vote on the 6.4L as the MPG difference between it and the 5.7L is not huge and it can be improved with some simple mods such as a cold air intake, freer flowing exhaust, a programmer and a custom tune.

Good luck with your decision and your truck search.

Graygoose said:

Why not a 6.4 Rebel?
Best of all worlds

Click to expand...

As far as I know the Rebel only comes in the 1500 and is the 5.7.

The 2500 version is the Power Wagon with the 6.4L.

Good luck with your choice OP. I'm sure you'll find something. I don't tow with my 5.7 Rebel...but I haven't heard anything negative about towing with them.

About 10 years ago I used my fathers 5.7 Hemi Ram to tow a 4400 pound car on a 22 foot trailer. Pulled it like it wasn't even there. 1500 mile round trips too...several of them.