6.4 Hemi w/4.10s or Cummins?

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HEMIMANN

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^^^ The cummins definitely tows better than the gas. I have always had a cummins until this truck, eventhough I didn't really need it. Well, I did have a 6.4 hemi 2014 for a bit, but traded it for a cummins because I hated towing with it. We now have a smaller 5th wheel and the 8 speed hemi tows it decent, but not like a cummins. If you have never towed with a cummins you will think the hemi is great. If you have always towed with a cummins and go to a hemi, it is a huge difference. The reason I went with a hemi and overall enjoy it more than the cummins is I have a 1 mile drive to work, and live in Iowa where 6 months out of the year can be pretty darn cold...not great for the emissions on the new diesels. Love the quick warmup of the hemi compared to the cummins.

I worked for, and design power generation product for Cummins for 22 years. I also owned an early Ram with Cummins, and driven others. I know all about it. It's not worth $9,000 for moderate towing. Period.
 

sandawilliams

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I worked for, and design power generation product for Cummins for 22 years. I also owned an early Ram with Cummins, and driven others. I know all about it. It's not worth $9,000 for moderate towing. Period.
Yep- I put a pencil to the hemi vs. cummins debate. I pull 8800 lb. tt with another 1500 in the bed and the numbers would never work out to justify a cummins. Of course if you want the cummins go ahead but I try to justify my expenditures on wants vs. needs.
 

KKBB

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I agree if you are just going by a numbers thing it probably doesn't pencil out. I'm just saying I have towed with both and without question I would rather tow with a cummins.
 

retired

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I agree if you are just going by a numbers thing it probably doesn't pencil out. I'm just saying I have towed with both and without question I would rather tow with a cummins.
Kind of one of those if yo want it and can afford it then it really does pencil out :). Kind of like building a shed you can do it with a hand saw and hammer but sure nice having a table saw and air nailer....I just completed a long trip and every time I passed a pick up pulling a large trailer I thought if I were pulling that trailer I would be wishing for more engine than my 6.4L. Even in Minnesota and the Dakotas where it was flat the head winds could be stout..I swear the trucks that were pulling big trailers and going the fastest were Duramax's. It was crazy how fast some of those guys were pulling. I saw a couple that were doing 90+...figured I would see them down the road either with blown tires or tipped over in the ditch..never did tho. Nothing like having your cruise set at 80 and being passed like you were standing still by someone pulling a 5th wheel
 

Firebird

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Yep- I put a pencil to the hemi vs. cummins debate. I pull 8800 lb. tt with another 1500 in the bed and the numbers would never work out to justify a cummins. Of course if you want the cummins go ahead but I try to justify my expenditures on wants vs. needs.
Yep, I've had 6 diesels, and I had them because I wanted them. Did I really need them? No. Did I enjoy them? Definitely! Now that I'm approaching retirement real soon, I weighed need vs cost vs capability. I needed a heavy duty again since we bought a camper, and the cost of my 6.4 Bighorn at $50K was much easier to swallow than $63K or more for the equivalent Cummins. Besides, this 6.4 pulls my camper with ease! Will a Cummins pull easier? Of course, but my current truck does not struggle at all
 

HEMIMANN

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I agree if you are just going by a numbers thing it probably doesn't pencil out. I'm just saying I have towed with both and without question I would rather tow with a cummins.

Absolutely. Buy happy. But don't throw figures up to justify.
 

HEMIMANN

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Yep, I've had 6 diesels, and I had them because I wanted them. Did I really need them? No. Did I enjoy them? Definitely! Now that I'm approaching retirement real soon, I weighed need vs cost vs capability. I needed a heavy duty again since we bought a camper, and the cost of my 6.4 Bighorn at $50K was much easier to swallow than $63K or more for the equivalent Cummins. Besides, this 6.4 pulls my camper with ease! Will a Cummins pull easier? Of course, but my current truck does not struggle at all

You & I be twins.
 

RandomRam

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There’s an intrinsic value to just being able to drive it and not worry about emissions failures or bad fuel. I think I would have a diesel if it wasn’t for finicky emissions.
 
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I biggest killer for me is the size of the gas tank with the 6.4. Where I live in Northern Canada gas stations few few and far between. I hate pulling my 9000lb camper and having the low fuel light go on miles away from the next gas station. I always travel with two jerry cans of gas. With the 8 speed I only get to use 6 and 7th gear due to the highway being bad and rarely ever get into 8th. I wish the tank was another 10 gallons.
My diesel buds don't have this problem. They have prenty of fuel left over at the next stop.
 

KKBB

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We used to go fishing in northern Manitoba...gas stations are definitely few and far between. Luckily dad has just left his boat there for several years now, so not towing anything. Years ago when he first went and we had a cummins pulling a fifth wheel, with the boat behind that would get a little hairy. Especially when we didn't know exactly where we needed to stop to get fuel
 

sandawilliams

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I biggest killer for me is the size of the gas tank with the 6.4. Where I live in Northern Canada gas stations few few and far between. I hate pulling my 9000lb camper and having the low fuel light go on miles away from the next gas station. I always travel with two jerry cans of gas. With the 8 speed I only get to use 6 and 7th gear due to the highway being bad and rarely ever get into 8th. I wish the tank was another 10 gallons.
My diesel buds don't have this problem. They have prenty of fuel left over at the next stop.
I don't have that problem either. I ordered the 50 gallon tank and now have a 800 mile empty range and 400+ towing range with my 6.4 Need the eight foot bed to get this tank.
 

retired

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I don't have that problem either. I ordered the 50 gallon tank and now have a 800 mile empty range and 400+ towing range with my 6.4 Need the eight foot bed to get this tank.
that is one thing that totally suxs with the Power Wagon. light comes on at 26 gallons and it only holds like 31 gallons. If there was one thing I would change is the size of the tank.
 

Bearcatrp

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One of the reasons if I upgrade to a 2500 or 3500 6.4 is it has to have the 50 gal tank. Around 200 miles hauling my 10,000 lb 5th wheel and 31 gal tank sucked!
 

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I would love a 50 gallon tank
 

ian MacKinnon

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It wasn't only the power stroke, but the cab size, I found the lariat seats more comfortable than my Limited seats. I like the larger overall windshield where the adaptive cruise control unit doesn't block half the windshield and the power telescopic steering wheel was a big plus. Like I said, I hate saying it.

I think the Ram wins with the power spotter mirror, overall styling and design, touchscreen and tech and the gauge cluster has so much info compared to the other brands.
In Canada,, you can only get adaptive cruse in the ford if you got to platinum..read over 100k and you cannot get rear air bags..and Ferds are rougher..and my wife says "fugly". We really like our 3500 HO. . We downsized from a sport chassis .. so *any* pick up seat sucks. And the turning radius and tiny diesel tanks suck...but life is a compromise.
 

PCT

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I absolutely love my 6.4. The heaviest I tow with it is about 14,000 lbs or so. You feel it, but it works. i can maintain 70 mph over a 6% grade with 10-14,000#, and temps stay good.

The 6.4 with the 8spd is really the all around truck.
 

Firebird

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I absolutely love my 6.4. The heaviest I tow with it is about 14,000 lbs or so. You feel it, but it works. i can maintain 70 mph over a 6% grade with 10-14,000#, and temps stay good.

The 6.4 with the 8spd is really the all around truck.
I agree! The 6.4 is stupid drivable, and easily pulls everything I need to tow with ease. Also makes an excellent in town short trip rig, without worrying about all of the diesel emissions
 

Grand Mesa

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lol. yeah odd that you guys have lower octane and we don't. not sure i would run the lower stuff anyway but yeah your diesel prices are way cheaper than ours here
It's the altitude. Daily drive between 4,500 and 11,000 feet elevation with my 6.4L Power Wagon. Can't get below 4,500 feet anywhere around here with a full tank of gas, except if driving out of state to Moab, Utah @ 4,000 feet elevation. At 4,000 feet and above, 85 octane runs fine.
 
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