2019 Classic 5.7 or 3.6?

[dhay13]

My step-son has a 2019 1500 with the 5.7 and 3.21s and tows his 7000lb camper and said it's fine. Complete different engines here. He kind of got suckered into the 3.21's and was upset (it was his fault ultimately) but he said it tows better than he thought it would.

 

[Quyonmob]

I am curious what the 3.6 gets for actual mileage?
My last truck was an 05 with the 3.7 and 3.92 rear and would get 15 mpg. Sometimes less.
My "new" hemi gets better.

3.7 is one of the worst motors I have ever driven. Underpowered for even the Dakota platform, and worse fuel economy that V8s of the time.

I avg 11L/100km with my pentastar, 21.4mpg USgal. It’s capable of much better, but I run AT tires, tow mirrors, and drive it hard. It idles a fair bit as it’s cold here too.

I have gotten as good as 26mpg, same setup.

 

[rule18]

3.7 is one of the worst motors I have ever driven. Underpowered for even the Dakota platform, and worse fuel economy that V8s of the time.

I avg 11L/100km with my pentastar .

Yeah, I once owned an early 2000's Jeep Liberty with the 3.7, hated it!

 

[dls56]

Bought a 2017 with the V6 and kept it for 2 years 40,000 miles. Took it in for some recalls and they had a 2019 Classic with the 5.7 Hemi, Ram boxes, blacked out, priced to sell. Had the wife with me and we went for a test drive. She liked the built in tool boxes, it frees up the back seat from my tools and paperwork.
Initially I thought I'd be ok with the 6 cylinder but after 2 years and a really good trade-in number from the dealer I was ecstatic to get a V8 under the hood of my truck.
For me the 2017 was a good truck but my 2019 is a great truck.
Best wishes, hope whatever you decide makes you happy.

 

[likes2build]

I did three 2,500 mile trips from the Lake Havasu area to Albany NY in August and September. Average mpg was high 26's with the truck moderately loaded 2 times and average speed in the mid 70's. I believe it works good for my purposes and really like it.

 

[Random_Walk]

Not sure about towing with the 3.21, never tried. Somebody here must have done it.

I do on occasion... Max tow is 4400 lbs for a 2017 w/ v6. But as I mentioned before, 3500 is the most I tow, and tow/haul mode works just fine for me.

 

[Markzrt11]

https://www.bloomingtonchryslerjeep...-v8-4x4-4wd-crew-cab-pickup-1c6rr7lt2ks601128

Here is one I found.

 

[boblonben]

Looking at buying a 2019 Classic. I keep going back and forth on which engine I want. I read all the stories about the Hemi exhaust stud issues along with the cam and lifter problems which makes me want to avoid the 5.7. The 3.6 would be less towing capacity, less fun but a little better mpg. From what I've seen people are happy with the 3.6. Help me decide.

5.7 hands down. 3.6 is good and generally most folks would find it perfectly acceptable o most all of their needs, but something about the 5.7 makes it better overall. And the exhaust issues, yep some folks have them, but MOST do NOT.

 

[Skyjockey]

I was hung up on "Hemi", more an ego or bragging point. I recently bought a Warlock and it was impossible to find one with a Hemi in it so I tried the 3.6. Yes you feel a difference but not a big deal. Not like I am drag racing a ****** truck, had the Corvette for that !

Think of it this way, back in the 80's you had to get the V8 and it only had 200 or so HP and was a heavier truck and they did fine. So why wouldn't 300hp work out just as well.

Plus added bonus of being over $2k less than the Hemi and required upgrades. Oh then there's the gas mileage but everyone here seems to get 30mpg in their Hemi's. Mine only got 13 at best lol

 

[mxer201]

Getting close to 44k miles on my Big Horn 2016 Ram 1500 4x4 v6 with 3.21. I made a 180 mile round trip once and just to see what I could get out of it, I filled up before and after the trip. Calculated 26 mpg. But I was on mostly 2 lane highways, 55 to 60 mph. I have the optional 32 gallon tank and was able to squeeze just over 700 miles out of it once before filling up. My BIL was asking me about the truck and asked would I buy it again? Hell yes I would, the exact same truck. All Ram needs to do now is come up with a Pentastar badge.

 

[turkeybird56]

Probably all a "mental" thing, but 5.7L for me. I came from a MY 15 ED, with the lil Diesel v6, and U cannot beat that fuel mileage minus MX costs and fuel. But if I needed to do ne heavy towing, I would just go up to a 2500 6.4 or Diesel. That lil V6 was cool, but, hopefully FCA got some of the bugs out from the earlier generation ED Motors.


NUMBER 1 ???? for OP: If U plan on doing ne big towing 5.7/6.4 or big Diesel. Not much towing, real low end, Pentastar prob work for U. All in what U need it for. DO Not listen to all of US'ns cause it is yer backside, not ours and yer wallet, just a saying, hee hee.

 

[stormyclouds]

I had a 2017 with hemi and have now had a 2019 with pentastar for one year.
I don’t tow much but I really miss the hemi and will get one again next time.
I never had one issue with my 5.7 and got 17-18 mpg.
I get 20 mpg with the 3.6 but for daily driving, I have a hard time with the slower/more delayed acceleration. It’s fine once it gets going, but I really miss the peppier 5.7.
I have driven several other vehicles with the pentastar and never noticed the slow start. Maybe the 1500 just weighs more?

 

[rule18]

I had a 2017 with hemi and have now had a 2019 with pentastar for one year.
I don’t tow much but I really miss the hemi and will get one again next time.
I never had one issue with my 5.7 and got 17-18 mpg.
I get 20 mpg with the 3.6 but for daily driving, I have a hard time with the slower/more delayed acceleration. It’s fine once it gets going, but I really miss the peppier 5.7.
I have driven several other vehicles with the pentastar and never noticed the slow start. Maybe the 1500 just weighs more?

That's just a computer thing, get a Pedal Commander, you can make all that delay go away. My PC is set at Sport 3, I have no lag between step down and go.

 

[Mohican69]

I am curious what the 3.6 gets for actual mileage?
My last truck was an 05 with the 3.7 and 3.92 rear and would get 15 mpg. Sometimes less.
My "new" hemi gets better.

I have the Pentastar 3.6 and my daily commute is 120miles round trip. I stick to mostly highways and my average speed would be 60mph. I average 22mpg. I just towed a small trailer up to Pittsburgh from Maryland and my mileage dropped to 17mpg. I haven't regretted buying the V6 at all. I bought a Ram after my Silverado with the awful AFM motor blew up with 70K miles on it. I wanted to stay away from AFM or Rams DOD which is why I bought the Pentastar. This truck has been every bit as good as my 5.3 V8 Silverado.

 

[papanogo]

I have a 18 express 3.6 with 138000 miles on it. I do courier work in Florida and Georgia. I have a 3500# travel trailer
To date I haven't had one problem except windshield washer nozzles clogging
Getting 21 to 24 mpg. Strict on maintance. No add-on aftermarket.

 

[Radar1]

Big difference between the performance of the 4.7 (what a dog that thing was) and the Pentastar.

I have one of each right now. I have the 4.7 in my Dakota, and the 3.6 in my Durango. I am really impressed with the 3.6 and 8 speed trans in the Durango. I alternate which vehicle I use when towing our 3,000 lb camping trailer and the 3.6 Durango just seems quicker, and also gets 17 MPG towing compared to about 13.5 in the 4.7 Dakota, towing the same camper.
I plan to eventually replace the 15 year old Dakota with a newer truck, maybe wait for the new Dakota that is rumored. I'll get the 3.6 since it is more than enough for my needs, and gets better MPG than the hemi.
I noticed on the Ram towing website that the Ram classic 3.6/3.21 combo can only tow about 4500 lbs, but the 3.6/3.21 with the etorque can tow 6500 lbs. Is that just due to the extra torque the electric boost provides at launch?

 

[kurek]

Hard to guess at exactly what nuances lead to the manufacturers tow rating. Maybe the etorque v6 comes with the v8's transmission to tolerate greater continuous loads or maybe some regenerative braking helps the service brakes stay cool while descending hills? Could be any combination of factors

 

[NOV87]

Oh then there's the gas mileage but everyone here seems to get 30mpg in their Hemi's. Mine only got 13 at best lol

My EVIC was showing 30mpg for a few seconds, right after I reset it while cruising downhill

 

[JS4024]

Don’t buy a truck for gas mileage if you can’t afford the 3 mpg difference between the hemi and the V-6. Regardless, I would always go with the hemi no matter what. If you are worrying about a few mpg difference, don’t buy a truck...

 

[GrumpyOleMan]

I have used my 3.6 w/ 3.55 gearing to pull 6,600 # for 600 miles one way. Did just fine. Would a 5.7 have been better? sure, but I don't tow often or any heavier. I have not regretted once getting the V6. The Pentastar is actually an excellent powerplant for what it is. Drive them both, taking into account your highest weight and frequency of towing. Then decide for yourself what you need and what will make you happy.
And remember this, cubic displacement is not a replacement for masculine vigor. Just sayin'.