Hi,
I've been doing a lot of research on the 2019 or newer Ram 1500 Big Horn. I took a 2019 with a v6 Pentastar / 3.21 differential for a test drive and really liked it. The problem I have is a lot of discussion about the v6 includes opinions from people who have had the v6 in trucks from 20 years ago. The new v6 seems to put out more HP than a lot of v8's from 20 years ago.
Here's my current situation: I currently drive a 2008 Honda Ridgeline (5,000 lb towing capacity) (I know...not a real truck, but it's been an outstanding vehicle). I commute round trip to work about 40 miles a day. This is the primary use of my vehicle. However, I also have a small travel trailer (17' R-Pod, about 3,000 lbs). Once a year, we pull the travel trailer from WI and go somewhere in the mountains out west (Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, etc.). I've pulled this trailer thousands of miles with my Ridgeline (including through the mountains. The Ridgeline handled it well, although there were a lot of 4,000 RPM slow climbs. The vast majority of the time, my vehicle is used on the highway as a commuter vehicle.
I need to replace my Ridgeline. I always said that I'd like my next truck to have a bit more towing capability than my Ridgeline. We have no intention of ever pulling a big camper. However, we may get something slightly larger than our R-Pod. Maybe something like 500 lbs. heavier.
Everybody says "buy the v8". I'm just trying to figure out if it's truly necessary in my situation? Yeah, the power is fun, but I'm kind of past needing to drive a rocket. Is it worth a higher purchase price / lower fuel economy for the 1 trip each year that we take? Would the v6 with the 3.21 be an upgrade over pulling with my Honda Ridgeline?
I've been doing a lot of research on the 2019 or newer Ram 1500 Big Horn. I took a 2019 with a v6 Pentastar / 3.21 differential for a test drive and really liked it. The problem I have is a lot of discussion about the v6 includes opinions from people who have had the v6 in trucks from 20 years ago. The new v6 seems to put out more HP than a lot of v8's from 20 years ago.
Here's my current situation: I currently drive a 2008 Honda Ridgeline (5,000 lb towing capacity) (I know...not a real truck, but it's been an outstanding vehicle). I commute round trip to work about 40 miles a day. This is the primary use of my vehicle. However, I also have a small travel trailer (17' R-Pod, about 3,000 lbs). Once a year, we pull the travel trailer from WI and go somewhere in the mountains out west (Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, etc.). I've pulled this trailer thousands of miles with my Ridgeline (including through the mountains. The Ridgeline handled it well, although there were a lot of 4,000 RPM slow climbs. The vast majority of the time, my vehicle is used on the highway as a commuter vehicle.
I need to replace my Ridgeline. I always said that I'd like my next truck to have a bit more towing capability than my Ridgeline. We have no intention of ever pulling a big camper. However, we may get something slightly larger than our R-Pod. Maybe something like 500 lbs. heavier.
Everybody says "buy the v8". I'm just trying to figure out if it's truly necessary in my situation? Yeah, the power is fun, but I'm kind of past needing to drive a rocket. Is it worth a higher purchase price / lower fuel economy for the 1 trip each year that we take? Would the v6 with the 3.21 be an upgrade over pulling with my Honda Ridgeline?
Last edited: