V6 vs V8

[FXDR]

Hi all, new to the forum.
I'll be in the market for a truck soon so decided on a newer " 12 up " ram 1500. I rented a 1500 for a weekend and man it could scoot pretty well. I didn't see any hemi badging so popped the hood and to my surprise it was a V6. So home I went to hook up my little 6x10 enclosed trailer and loaded my road glide " weighs a little less than 1000lbs and off we went. The little V6 done a outstanding job and the terrain was a bit hilly and there was very little down shifting with the tranny. I didn't even have it in trailer mode and I think we averaged close to 20mpg.

With all that being said my truck will be 4x4 if that matters. I'll be upgrading to a 7x14 enclosed trailer for up the 3 dressers which total weight counting trailer should be around 5000lbs. So I don't really know which way to go. I like the fuel mileage of the V6 and would maybe haul 3 dressers twice a year if that but I'm just not sure how the V6 would do with that kind of weight.

Opinions please.... I won't be buying new but looking for something under 75k miles.

 

[dearchristopher]

Hi all, new to the forum.
I'll be in the market for a truck soon so decided on a newer " 12 up " ram 1500. I rented a 1500 for a weekend and man it could scoot pretty well. I didn't see any hemi badging so popped the hood and to my surprise it was a V6. So home I went to hook up my little 6x10 enclosed trailer and loaded my road glide " weighs a little less than 1000lbs and off we went. The little V6 done a outstanding job and the terrain was a bit hilly and there was very little down shifting with the tranny. I didn't even have it in trailer mode and I think we averaged close to 20mpg.

With all that being said my truck will be 4x4 if that matters. I'll be upgrading to a 7x14 enclosed trailer for up the 3 dressers which total weight counting trailer should be around 5000lbs. So I don't really know which way to go. I like the fuel mileage of the V6 and would maybe haul 3 dressers twice a year if that but I'm just not sure how the V6 would do with that kind of weight.

Opinions please.... I won't be buying new but looking for something under 75k miles.

you'll find a better deal on a v6 with the 8 speed than you will on the hemi with the 8 speed. the pentastar (v6) will handle 5000lbs, so you're good there. If you don't plan to bulk up on the weight more than ~6500lbs, you're good for a 3.6. Get a pedal commander and call it good. The v6 is a stout engine making plenty of power. unloaded, you'll get better mileage than a hemi, but loaded you will see a decrease in MPG. the pentastar likes to rev.

 

[TXCOMT]

you'll find a better deal on a v6 with the 8 speed than you will on the hemi with the 8 speed. the pentastar (v6) will handle 5000lbs, so you're good there. If you don't plan to bulk up on the weight more than ~6500lbs, you're good for a 3.6. Get a pedal commander and call it good. The v6 is a stout engine making plenty of power. unloaded, you'll get better mileage than a hemi, but loaded you will see a decrease in MPG. the pentastar likes to rev.

Excellent comments for those considering one over the other!

TXCOMT

 

[PoMansRam]

Yep. Agree with the above. A Ram 4x4, quad cab with the Pentastar 3.6 and 8spd can be had pretty reasonably used. It's what I have and I love the truck.

Keep in mind, the recommended tow rating is mostly based on the axle ratio for the 1500's and the majority of late model Rams seem to have the 3.21 gears. I believe if you look up specs, it doesn't matter if it's the Hemi or the Pentastar with 3.21's and 8spd. The standard tow rating is the same at something like 4770lbs.

Like said, do I think you could safely tow 5000lbs with it? Yes.

 

[WilliamS]

Before I went Hemi, although Ive had 7 previous Hemi powered cars before I test drove the 4x4 3.21 geared Crew v6, and around town it had plenty of get out of the way pep. Where it lacked and where the Hemi shined was getting onto and being active on the highway. The V6 is in no way a bad motor for the truck, but it really rolls down to how you are going to use it.

Wanted to add this edit as well -- I do drive 90% highway so that power was something i really couldn't live with myself if i didnt go Hemi. If I lived in the city the v6 is a no brainer, cost savings alone make it worth it.

 

[mohemipar]

Where it lacked and where the Hemi shined was getting onto and being active on the highway.

Hemi’s love the highway. Sometimes I swear I hear it thanking me. “finally”.

 

[atom13]

I have a v6 rwd. I just installed the pedal commander after being off and on about spending the money. First impression was meh. But after a few days I think it's made the truck better. It gets me to 2.5k-3k rpm faster which is the sweet spot as far as torque. I rarely floor it before or post pc. I notice the gas pedal travel is pretty short. I have mine at city minus 2. If you like the v6 now, I think it may be a home run if you drive with the pedal commander.

 

[dearchristopher]

Yep. Agree with the above. A Ram 4x4, quad cab with the Pentastar 3.6 and 8spd can be had pretty reasonably used. It's what I have and I love the truck.

Keep in mind, the recommended tow rating is mostly based on the axle ratio for the 1500's and the majority of late model Rams seem to have the 3.21 gears. I believe if you look up specs, it doesn't matter if it's the Hemi or the Pentastar with 3.21's and 8spd. The standard tow rating is the same at something like 4770lbs.

Like said, do I think you could safely tow 5000lbs with it? Yes.

wow, did not realize the v6 dropped the tow rating so much with 3.21 but you're absolutely right. you don't get the ~7500lb rating unless you have 3.55.

OP, find 3.55 rear end lol

 

[OC455]

Hemi....

 

[PoMansRam]

wow, did not realize the v6 dropped the tow rating so much with 3.21 but you're absolutely right. you don't get the ~7500lb rating unless you have 3.55.

OP, find 3.55 rear end lol

The 5.7 Hemi and 3.21 gears also has the 4770lb standard tow rating as well.

 

[Neil E]

The v6 may tow it ok. I have towed with my V6 a couple times, no issues. But if you are going to tow more than "occasionally", I would go with the Hemi, hands down.

 

[crash68]

The 5.7 Hemi and 3.21 gears also has the 4770lb standard tow rating as well.

You must have looked at the wrong engine/gearing combo. Even back in '12 a Hemi with the 6 speed and 3.21 gearing was rated to tow 6200lbs but wasn't available in 4X4 if I'm not mistaken.


@FXDR look at truck with the 8spd either way you decide. The V6 will tow what you want with the 3.55 gearing but there may be some times the engine sounds like it wants to come out of the hood...lol (ok maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration). Some guys get nervous when the engine revs upwards of the torque peak for extended periods.

 

[PoMansRam]

You must have looked at the wrong engine/gearing combo. Even back in '12 a Hemi with the 6 speed and 3.21 gearing was rated to tow 6200lbs but wasn't available in 4X4 if I'm not mistaken.


@FXDR look at truck with the 8spd either way you decide. The V6 will tow what you want with the 3.55 gearing but there may be some times the engine sounds like it wants to come out of the hood...lol (ok maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration). Some guys get nervous when the engine revs upwards of the torque peak for extended periods.

You're right. Sorry!

Darn chart messed me up. It's even worse for a quad cab 4x4 3.6L with 3.21's at 4440lbs, where the same truck with the 5.7 is rated at 8180lbs. I know there's lots of posts on it here, but is's so odd the gap is so large there. Are the gears made of nylon on the darn 3.21's?? Here's the tow guide I'm referring to: https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing-guide.html

 

[cubmedic]

HEMI All the way!!!

 

[Marine Les]

I just bought a new v6 2wd and I made sure it had 3.55 gears. Power is really good towing a 3000# trailer and mpg is better than I expected with 19 in the flat lands and 25+ not towing. When towing use the tow mode to save on the tranny and unless you are towing heavy near the rated limit the v6 w/3.55 will do fine.

 

[csuder99]

FWIW I tow a single axle travel trailer with a V6/3.55 combo. The trailer is not 5000 lbs but at 8ft wide and 10ft high adds more wind drag than a 6x10 or 7x14 box trailer. Most times it's a 2000ft climb right out of town (starting at 3600ft) and on other occasions 7000+ft summits. The truck does just fine doing 60-70 mph but occasionally I back off a little to keep the revs in check. The V6 has a fairly flat torque curve but the engine doesn't have any real grunt. I was hoping for a turbo V6 (a la ecoboost) for the new gen but they did e-torque instead.

 

[dearchristopher]

You're right. Sorry!

Darn chart messed me up. It's even worse for a quad cab 4x4 3.6L with 3.21's at 4440lbs, where the same truck with the 5.7 is rated at 8180lbs. I know there's lots of posts on it here, but is's so odd the gap is so large there. Are the gears made of nylon on the darn 3.21's?? Here's the tow guide I'm referring to: https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing-guide.html

8100lbs sounds more correct for 3.21 8 speed hemi. I think it's due to the heat generation or something, but to be quite honest my truck never has a problem towing on stock tire size. Tow/Haul locks out 8th gear, but that's about it. 3.92s definitely feels better though, I'll tell you that. My dad has a rebel with 3.92s and it's much more confident in acceleration. Coming from a 6 speed ram with 3.55 to 8 speed ram with 3.21 is a pretty huge difference still

 

[crash68]

Tow/Haul locks out 8th gear, but that's about it. 3.92s definitely feels better though, I'll tell you that.

No..with the 8 speed transmission, the Tow/Haul does not lock out eight gear. T/H raises the shift point closer to the engine torque peak. Depending on how heavy the trailer is and 3.21 gearing, you would probably have to get moving around/above 75 mph(or be coasting down a hill) to see the transmission shift into 8th

 

[14hemiexpress]

3.55 gear v6 or a hemi

 

[stimpy433]

V6 with 3.55 gears for the win!!!