Years to avoid/buy - 2500 for towing

[dhay13]

Towed this 9300lb (CAT scale verified) 2021 Grand Design Imagine 3250BH 100 miles home and barely knew it was there with my 6 speed. Granted didn't have to pull any hills but if you are looking for hills? Pulled our 8900lb boat up a hill her ewe call mile hill. About a 6% grade. Was pretty much stopped at the bottom and had no problem maintaining the 45 MPH limit the whole way up and was only maybe 1/2 throttle. I have the 4.10's

 

[Elkman]

One source for model year isuues:

Ram 2500 Problems

Compare Ram 2500 complaints, problems, & worst model years. There are 273 complaints on file for the Ram 2500.

www.carcomplaints.com

With a truck used for towing the final gear ratio is important in terms of allowing the gas engine to stay within it peak power band while accellerating onto a highway.

With a gas engine the only way to increase the fuel capacity is with a separate gravity tank in the bed of the truck as you cannot change out the factory fuel tank for a larger one. The 2500 fuel tank size is something to verify.

Tow mirrors are also not standard and the cost is not trivial so a used truck with the tow package and the mirrors is a plus. There are also years where the rear camera(s) have been upgraded and controls for trailers including electronic brake controls are standard and do not need to be added at your expense. Often the aftermarket brake controllers are better than the factory ones.

 

[jfspry58]

I can’t help you on the gas but my 2012 Laramie Longhorn CTD has every gadget available then and pulls like a locomotive! I regularly pull a 39’ fifth wheel and it has no issues. I am a little over my payload rating but well under my GAWR and GCVWR. At 114k I plan to keep it for a long time.

 

[gsfitzsr]

I own a 2018 year model 2500 with a CTD. Everything is stock except I added air bag suspension to the rear. My reflection 5th wheel weighs 11.5K LBS. empty and the pin weight puts me over the payload limit of the truck. I'm still within the load rating of the rear axle and tires. I added an aux fuel tank in the bed which adds another few hundred lbs. to the payload but it's been a blessing to have plenty of fuel on board, especially when truck stops are charging so much.

The 68RFE transmission has been great for me. The rear axle started making a lot of noise around 17K miles and the ring and pinion were replaced. I've had no issues with the engine or transmission. The exhaust brake on the engine works great especially coming down steep mountain grades.

2019 or 2020 CTD models started using new design fuel pump which I believe a campaign is having them replaced but someone else should comment on that.

The fact that Mopar fuel filter sets now cost about $140 is making me look hard at changing out the assemblies to CAT filters which are about 1/3 the cost to replace.

Towing is a pleasure and the 5th wheel/truck combo is not affected by cross winds or passing trucks unlike tow behind trailers. Others may want to comment on that also.

 

[mtofell]

My 2014 6.4 w/6spd is close to maxed out on payload and towing with my 5th wheel and it sucks at times but is manageable. Mainly, the mile gap between first and second gear stinks when trying to climb a steep/winding grade. You need to be able to maintain +/- 45mph to hold second a lot of the time. Again, this is under max load. Your 23' Airstream would do MUCH better I'm sure. As others have said, try for the 8spd but if you find a 6 I think it would do just fine.

 

[dhay13]

Yeah like said above, tow mirrors aren't a standard option so if you need/want them make sure it has them. Not hard to swap them out but just be aware of that. My 2018 is a 2500 Outdoorsman Off-Road package with 4.10's and tow package but did not come with factory tow mirrors. I bought the Trail Ridge from 1A Auto for about $400 and they look and function like factory. In fact my step-father has a 2017 with factory tow mirrors and my son has a 2021 2500 Cummins with factory tow mirrors and you can't tell the difference. My son had a 2018 like mine before with the Trail Ridge also so he is comparing apples to apples

 

[Willie Mosher]

2017 or newer, 6.4 gas are good,
W / 6 speed you need look for 4.10
W / 8 speed 3.73 are okay,
I have a 5000lbs TT pull 26000 miles
Out 37000 miles on truck.
(2018 2500 6.4 gas 6sp.4.10, 4x4,)
I live Sierra Nevada’s so all road are all up hill Botn way,

 

[GsRAM]

To add: my 2017 6.4/3.73 geared truck pulls my old, heavy 1989 Layton like a freight train. Easily the. most powerful, best pulling truck I've ever owned.

No major issues since I took her home in 12/2016.

I'm sure the 8 speed is great, but I'm not a fan of the dial shifter, personally. My 6 speed works well for me. This is easily my favorite truck I've ever owned.

For a 23 foot trailer which is what mine is, you would be well pleased with my truck, I'm confident of that. I could easily go another 2-3k in loaded trailer weight no problem.

Good luck