Looking to buy my first Cummins Diesel, need some advice

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Kroni

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Posts
35
Reaction score
5
Location
New York
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.7
Hey all,

I've never owner a diesel truck and I could use any help you guys are willing to give.

I currently have a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500, quad cab, 5.7 hemi, tow package with 3:55 gears, 92K, original owner. She's been a great truck but she's struggling to pull my camper, which lightly loaded is 7100 pounds. She doing it, but its tough on the hills.

I've been looking and have found a 2014 2500 6.7 Laramie mega cab with 49K for $45,000. It looks to be in very good condition. Only things I don't like is the plastic bed liner and no clearance lights (I'm a sucker for those lights haha!). Does that seem appropriately priced?

Anyway, I'm looking for any advice or even opinions. I've been thinking about getting a 2500 with the 6.4 hemi but I don't want to be in the same place again if I get a heavier camper or load more into mine. I also want to be able to climb hills without having to be in the right lane with my hazards flashing.

How are the new diesels with the DPF and DEF? Does the engine try to re-generate at inopportune times? Is the DEF a PITA? I will be buying from a dealer and will want an extended warranty so I won't be deleting anything anytime soon. Also, I will only be putting about 5000 miles a year on the truck. How bad is it for a diesel to sit for a month or so without driving? It will be kept in a garage. How much maintenance besides oil changes should I expect? Are they maintenance nightmares or relatively maintenance free? What kind of fuel mileage should I expect towing and not towing?

I know these are a bunch of rookie questions... I apologize in advance. I'm just trying to be sure I'm making a good decision.

Thanks
 

mtnrider

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2014
Posts
3,163
Reaction score
3,406
Location
Georgia
Ram Year
2016
Engine
6.7 Cummins
That seems really high for a 2014 to me but prices are crazy right now.

As far as DPF regens etc. it's transparent to the user so it's not like it interrupts anything. DEF usage is minimal so not a big deal.
Oil and fuel filters are 15K mile intervals (or 6 months) but I go by the mileage myself. With the low miles you will be driving I would say just do it once a year.
Don't let the anti-diesel people fill your head with paranoia, while any vehicle can have issues honestly they are few and far between.

Mileage towing (depending on load) will be ~11-12? Not towing will depend on type of driving. Anywhere from 15-18 average would be a good estimate.


.
 

Fuel35 67

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Aug 18, 2019
Posts
311
Reaction score
194
Location
Hanford
Ram Year
2011
Engine
6.7 Cummins
Diesels are for longevity, they just run forever provided fluids are changed according to your driving habits, such towing, in town driving and freeway.

I bought my Grandfather’s 99’ from him about 7 years ago. It had 117k on it, I changed all the fluids and did have a vp44 take a dump at 135k. That was my first diesel, I then sold it to my cousin (keeping it in the family) so I could get my 11’ due to my son being uncomfortable in the back in the 99’.

Bottom line, once you go diesel, it’ll be really hard to go back to gas.
 

Sandevino

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2020
Posts
1,146
Reaction score
1,506
Location
North Texas
Ram Year
2023
Engine
HEMI 5.7 eTorque
Diesel is a fantastic fuel so long as you will use it as intended. The issues crop up when people buy HD Diesel trucks and commute 30 miles a day and infrequently haul anything. Diesel is meant to work hard, run long and maintenance is key.

There are additional costs (up-front and routine) with diesel - $9-10k more expensive than gas, DEF, fuel filters, fuel cost, 10-15 quart oil changes, etc... but you know this going into it. Again, this is a rounding error if you keep the truck 10+ years, but in the spirit of transparency we have to give you the honest truth.

Resale - you will get on average $5 - 7k more for a diesel truck when you sell it, but that has everything to do with the higher purchase cost than the truck itself. All things considered, I wouldn't buy a used diesel as I know someone likely beat it to death then decided to sell it. Now, if it has a 6" lift, skinny dumb-**** tires and a set of truck nuts, I'd buy it, but not for what Keith Urban wanted.

Be careful, as once you go Diesel, you never go back. I have a couple Peterbilt diesels and love them. For my personal travel, I went gas, but I have
 
OP
OP
Kroni

Kroni

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Posts
35
Reaction score
5
Location
New York
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.7
Thank you for your input. I've had a couple of old VW diesels a number of years ago and really liked diesel but the larger trucks and emission systems are new to me.

I've feel confident that I will go with a diesel, I just might have to go to a lower trim level to get what I MUST have at a price I can afford. As much as I'd like to have leather seats and a sunroof, the diesel engine is far more important to me.

As far as driving and maintenance, I agree, I'll probably do once a year oil changes. I do a bit of hauling each spring getting full pallets of mulch for my neighbors and myself but I'm thinking maybe I should drive it a bit more than my current truck to keep it "happy".

Any other input will certainly be appreciated.

Thanks
 

Travelin Ram

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2020
Posts
1,840
Reaction score
2,982
Location
Somewhere in NA. Probably. We travel a lot.
Ram Year
2022
Engine
6.4
Diesels don’t mind being parked. What will get you in trouble is repeated short drives. For instance I used to have a 7 mile commute; that’s barely far enough to warm the engine, and certainly not enough driving time to do a regen on a DPF.

As long as you get some regular intervals of sustained high speed -even better high load- it’s fine.
 
OP
OP
Kroni

Kroni

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Posts
35
Reaction score
5
Location
New York
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.7
Is there anything particular I should look out for when buying one? Any tell-tale signs I should be aware of?

I assume at this point as long as the check engine light is not not I should probably be good to go, right?
 

mtnrider

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2014
Posts
3,163
Reaction score
3,406
Location
Georgia
Ram Year
2016
Engine
6.7 Cummins
Is there anything particular I should look out for when buying one? Any tell-tale signs I should be aware of?

I assume at this point as long as the check engine light is not not I should probably be good to go, right?

Yes, Stay away from any truck that has been deleted/tuned. 9 times out of 10 you will end up with someone else's problem truck that they dumped.

Stick with 2014 or newer trucks, the older pre-DEF trucks got horrible mpg and require a little more maintenance with the EGR.

Other then that just give it a good drive and make sure you don't have any vibrations or loose feeling in the steering.


.
 

Walter Conrad

Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2020
Posts
65
Reaction score
87
Location
Andover, Ohio
Ram Year
2020, 2013, 2003, 1997
Engine
6.7CTD, 5.7Hemi x 2, 5.2 Magnum
Just my 2 cents, i think the seller price at 45k is way to high. So let me try to give you some background. Both the DW and myself hate leather seating surfaces in our vehicles, so we would not consider a RAM over an SLT or Bighorn. We do however like them fairly well optioned, plus we do haul a large 5th wheel, around 18000lb loaded.
We just purchased a new 2020 Bighorn, CC, LB, DRW, 6.7 nicely equipped. MSRP was 63770, with all the current incentives in our region and wheeling and dealing we were able to get it down to 53000, which included spiffy RAM running boards and an Extang trifold tonneau cover plus we got an additional 17000 for our trade bringing it down to 36000.

My story is that the deals on new are out there.

As far as the DEF use ours came with 3/4 tank and we only have about 700 miles on it right and still showing 1/2 tank. According to the onboard computer we are getting 18mpg. We haven't had a chance to tow with it yet.

DSCN0046.JPG

https://www.ramforum.com/attachment...9/?temp_hash=74ab5737b4ffcc801dc05605d503b19e
 

Attachments

  • WindowStickerPDF 2.pdf
    113.6 KB · Views: 7
OP
OP
Kroni

Kroni

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Posts
35
Reaction score
5
Location
New York
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.7
Walter,
Thank you very much for your post, it helped a lot. However after looking for a used 2500 diesel and going to a few dealers, there just aren't any used diesel trucks that make sense for me. My camper can be loaded to a max weight of 9600, it usually around 7300. I am now leaning towards a new or possibly very lightly used 2019 2500 with the 6.4 hemi. I really didn't want to compromise and go to the gas engine, but its rated at 14,200 pounds towing. I'm thinking I don't need the 18,000 pounds of towing capacity that the diesel brings...
 
Last edited:

jejb

Military
Joined
Apr 7, 2020
Posts
1,568
Reaction score
1,438
Location
NW Arkansas
Ram Year
2022
Engine
6.7 Cummins
This thread sounds like me earlier this year. Bigger trailer was just too much for my 6.0 gasser 3/4 ton here in the Ozark Mts. Loved that truck, but I was just pushing it way too hard, and not coming close to being able to pull the hills at the speed limit. Truck was rated for much more than I was pulling, but for hilly terrain, no bueno.

I found a certified pre-owned 18 LOADED Laramie (sunroof, mega, air bags, leather, ram boxes, rhino liner, etc, etc) with 14K miles that we got for upper $40K's. So the price they're asking for that 14 is outrageous, IMO. There were several similar trucks in my area in that price range.

The truck has transformed my towing experience. Just lopes along up every hill. Cruise set to 80? No problem. Might occasionally kick down a gear on a long, steep grade, but still a low rpm, low stress tow that can maintain any speed I want.

It's not my first diesel. I had a first year duramax (great truck) and a first year Ford 6.0 PoSD (awful, lemon lawed). And we also own a diesel pusher RV with a large Cummins motor. There are more filters to change and more oil to deal with, but it's worth it. The RV will sometimes sit for a couple of months, and there has been no issue with that. We are careful to use diesel conditioner on each fill for that, though, knowing it's going to likely sit a while between uses.

My advice would be to get by with what you have until the market settles down. Then go out and find a good deal on a diesel. Sounds like you need it. The bigger gas motor is likely not going to get you where you want to be. I know, it's tough when you have new truck fever, but you'll regret compromising more than you will waiting, I'd bet.
 

Walter Conrad

Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2020
Posts
65
Reaction score
87
Location
Andover, Ohio
Ram Year
2020, 2013, 2003, 1997
Engine
6.7CTD, 5.7Hemi x 2, 5.2 Magnum
Walter,
Thank you very much for your post, it helped a lot. However after looking for a used 2500 diesel and going to a few dealers, there just aren't any used diesel trucks that make sense for me. My camper can be loaded to a max weight of 9600, it usually around 7300. I am now leaning towards a new or possibly very lightly used 2019 2500 with the 6.4 hemi. I really didn't want to compromise and go to the gas engine, but its rated at 14,200 pounds towing. I'm thinking I don't need the 18,000 pounds of towing capacity that the diesel brings...

A couple of things you may want to consider, buying incentives are at their high at the end of the month and at the end of the model year which we are approaching. With the covid-19 scare vehicles are sitting on dealers lots. That costs dealers money. My truck was on the lot for 7 months and the wanted it gone and were in a dealing mood. They actually had 4 identical trucks with the exception of color. Most but not all major corporations have employee buying programs., like utility companies, lowes, even cracker barrel (although not with FCA). Most employees and dealers don't even know about these, you must inquire. About 30 years and many vehicles ago a salesman friend told me about them, so I am passing it on. That is one of the incentives I used on our new truck purchase and they come off the top before any other regional incentives are subtracted. My wife is a retired Verizon employee we use her retired status an 10% comes off the top. So this is something that if you do the work can be rewarding to help you get what you actually want. I you live anywhere near Ohio look at Columbiana CDJR. Ohio has reciprocal agreements with a lot of states to handle taxes and title transfer. Same deal in Florida area look at Lakeland CDJR. (I have no ties with either dealer).
 
Last edited:

WY-Dave

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Jan 22, 2019
Posts
4,226
Reaction score
18,217
Location
Cheyenne, WY
Ram Year
2018 2500
Engine
6.7 CTD
Just to let you know, at the year end of '18, I got my NEW tradesman for $47k, 3 miles on it.

DEF is not a problem, $8 Wallyworld version every 2-2.5k miles. 3 gal of oil for the change (dealer comes within $20 of doing it myself and I go 10k miles ) Fuel filters every 15k, those I do myself (dealer is +$125 or so), fuel is about +$0.15 over gas around here. I haul a 9k# trailer once or twice a year. MPG is around 17 on total 50 mile commutes to work. Is it overkill for what I do, yup. What I am not looking forward to is the way down the road of injector replacement.
 
OP
OP
Kroni

Kroni

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Posts
35
Reaction score
5
Location
New York
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.7
Thank you all, you're very helpful.

As of last night I was thinking this just isn't going to happen, then I found a brand new 2019 with everything I want but its the 6.4 and its 50K. Don't really want to compromise on the 6.7 still.... This afternoon I found a 2019 with 17,500 miles on it. Its a Big Horn but very scarcely optioned, but it does have the 6.7 and its $48,000. Only big things it doesn't have that I want is the sprayed in bed liner and the clearance lights. Its silver but I can live with that. I could get the bed sprayed a couple months later if I buy it and just live with out the lights.

I did find a page with all of the different careers that will get a discount. The only one I have is military so I'll probably get the $500 off for that. The dealership I was at yesterday said they would give me $9000 for my truck without even looking at it, so hopefully this other dealer will do the same.

It seems out here in NY the prices are just higher than everywhere else and I may just wait until the end of this month to see if the deals get better. I'm really not in a rush, but like you said, truck fever is tough!!

Pulling hills the way you guys explain is very desirerable so I am really hoping I eventually do get the diesel.

Please keep the comments coming, its been a huge help!

Thanks
 

Gr8bawana

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Posts
1,274
Reaction score
1,059
Ram Year
2017
Engine
6.7 CTD
After towing our TT with my Dodge gas 1500 for 20 years and then getting a 2017 2500 CTD last summer, I will NEVER again tow with a gas engine again. Yeah the truck did it but not well. Got maybe 6-8 mpg when towing. Now I get 14-16 towing the same trailer.
There is simply no comparison.
Yes the 6.4 will do until you decide to get a bigger trailer but it will be screaming up those hills. The CTD will do it just loafing along with ease.
As far as DEF, it is a non-issue. I've driven just over 11,000 miles, only a couple thousand while towing and have used less than 7 gallons so far.
Good luck on the search for your new truck.
 

Sandevino

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2020
Posts
1,146
Reaction score
1,506
Location
North Texas
Ram Year
2023
Engine
HEMI 5.7 eTorque
What’s the pin weight of the trailer and the payload of the truck you’re looking at? I’d bet you’re over your payload fully loaded with the trailer, gear, family and the dog.
 
OP
OP
Kroni

Kroni

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Posts
35
Reaction score
5
Location
New York
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.7
What’s the pin weight of the trailer and the payload of the truck you’re looking at? I’d bet you’re over your payload fully loaded with the trailer, gear, family and the dog.

The tongue weight is about 800-850, the camper is usually loaded to about 7400 and I'm sure with me, my 2 girls and all the beer, ice, 3 bikes, full size corn hole boards, etc... she's heavy! My 2006 1500 is rated to pull 8400 so jumping to a 2500 CRD is going to be a night and day difference I'm sure!
 

WY-Dave

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Jan 22, 2019
Posts
4,226
Reaction score
18,217
Location
Cheyenne, WY
Ram Year
2018 2500
Engine
6.7 CTD
The tongue weight is about 800-850, the camper is usually loaded to about 7400 and I'm sure with me, my 2 girls and all the beer, ice, 3 bikes, full size corn hole boards, etc... she's heavy! My 2006 1500 is rated to pull 8400 so jumping to a 2500 CRD is going to be a night and day difference I'm sure!

I mini 5th wheel (26ft) comes in just over 8k + 8k of the truck itself. Doesn't even know the trailer is there even on the 5% Laramie summit, I did drop a couple of mpg from 17 though.
 

BossHogg

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2014
Posts
1,932
Reaction score
2,443
Location
Oakland Township, Michigan
Ram Year
2015
Engine
6.7L Cummins
As of last night I was thinking this just isn't going to happen, then I found a brand new ...

Expand your searches, use online tools like cars.com, and look all over. Don't be afraid to fly out and drive home, a lot of guys do it that way. Find what you want and settle for no less, if you don't, you are going to spend a lot of time wishing you would have.
 

Gr8bawana

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Posts
1,274
Reaction score
1,059
Ram Year
2017
Engine
6.7 CTD
Before I bought my truck last summer I used several online car and truck sales sites. I looked over a lot of trucks for probably 6 mos. or so before I saw one close to me that was worth taking a look at. This lets you weed out all those super high mile trucks or trucks that have been deleted and tuned.
I would personally NEVER buy a tuned and deleted truck.
 
Top