Thinking of upgrading to a 2500 should I get Gas or Diesel?"

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HEMIMANN

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Really simple -

If you need an HD for loads you're towing, either 2500 with 6.4 Hemi or 3500+ with Cummins diesel.

If you're putting on lots of miles or have very heavy 5th wheels, go 3500 diesel.

I tow moderate sporadically, so have 2500 and 6.4 Hemi. I had a 1500 and 5.7, was too close too load limit and squatted terribly. I wanted to tow heavier anyway. Absolutely no regrets.
 

Bamaprof

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2021 2500 with 6.7 and I get 20-22 mpg, obviously goes down depending on what I’m towing. Truck is stock (for now),
 

Riccochet

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Really simple -

If you need an HD for loads you're towing, either 2500 with 6.4 Hemi or 3500+ with Cummins diesel.

If you're putting on lots of miles or have very heavy 5th wheels, go 3500 diesel.

I tow moderate sporadically, so have 2500 and 6.4 Hemi. I had a 1500 and 5.7, was too close too load limit and squatted terribly. I wanted to tow heavier anyway. Absolutely no regrets.

That's was my exact reasoning for getting a 2500 6.4. I mostly tow my bass boat, but I also have a 31' 8000# travel trailer. The two 1500's I had before it towed the travel trailer, but it wasn't pretty when the weather was bad or it got windy. The 2500 6.4 handles it like a dream, no regrets on that upgrade. And I can upgrade to a 12k 5th wheel if I so choose.

I haven't quite found the ideal need for a 2500 6.7. Payload loss defeats it's purpose, in my opinion.
 

Ratman6161

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Help Please, I bought a 2022 1500 BH with the 3.6 eTorque and am hauling a fiberglass boat and trailer (approx weight 3000lbs). I fear I should have bought a HD truck and am considering doing so. I'll be taking 1 or 2, 1000 mile trips per year hauling the boat/trailer. The remainder of the time I'll be using the truck as my primary vehicle and usually do 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year running here and there. If I do buy the 2500 what kind of fuel mileage can I realistically expect with the 6.4 Hemi or the 6.7 diesel? Any input or lessons learned will be greatly appreciated.
As others have said you definitely don't need an HD truck. I have a 16 foot enclosed snowmobile trailer. With two sleds in it it's about 2700# so just a bit lighter than your boat. I used to tow this with mid-size trucks - first a 2013 Nissan Frontier 4.0 L and later 2019 GMC Canyon with 3.6L. Those trucks were really good mathes for this trailer. I only went with a Sierra 1500 when we got a travel trailer that was 6K# loaded and went with a Ram 2500 Hemi wh3nnwe moved up to a bigger trailer that's 7600# loaded and 8736 GVWR. For your boats weight a 1500 can do it easily.

The 6.4L in the 2500 isn't that much more powerful than the 5.7 in the 1500. It's main selling point is that it's billed as a Heavy Duty engine .. i.e. it's designed to be able to work nearer to its maximums over long distances and time compared to the 5.7. My truck will spend 2/3 to 3/4 of its time tow8ngnsomthis is good. But you say you will do 2000 miles towing and 12000 not towing a year so that would point you to the 3.6 or 5.7 in the 1500. A Cummins would be gross overkill other than the cool factor.

You mention fuel economy. The 2500 is a lot heavier than the 1500. My 2500 is almost as heavy unloaded as the GVWR for a typical 1500. So it takes more gas just to haul itself around. Once again since you plan to do 90% or more of your miles not towing, the 2500 makes no sense on this front either.

You mention ride quality. The 1500 2ins here too. The 2500 is much stiffer and to me, only starts to ride nicely when I have to 1000# trailer tongue weight and 200 # of gear in the bed when loaded up fro a trip.

I love big trucks. They are cool. They are also much more difficult to manuver in parking lots and in and out of the garage.

It's all worth it for my usage but not for a 3000# boat. My opinion.mmfe3l free to ignore. It's OK to just want one.




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jejb

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You mention ride quality. The 1500 2ins here too. The 2500 is much stiffer and to me, only starts to ride nicely when I have to 1000# trailer tongue weight and 200 # of gear in the bed when loaded up fro a trip.
If ride quality is important to you in a Ram 2500, opt for the factory air suspension. Makes a huge difference in non-towing ride.
 

Dean2

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Help Please, I bought a 2022 1500 BH with the 3.6 eTorque and am hauling a fiberglass boat and trailer (approx weight 3000lbs). I fear I should have bought a HD truck and am considering doing so. I'll be taking 1 or 2, 1000 mile trips per year hauling the boat/trailer. The remainder of the time I'll be using the truck as my primary vehicle and usually do 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year running here and there. If I do buy the 2500 what kind of fuel mileage can I realistically expect with the 6.4 Hemi or the 6.7 diesel? Any input or lessons learned will be greatly appreciated.
I did not read the other responses, so probably already been said: You can tow that weight with a VW, unless you want a 2500 for some other reason, your tow requirements are not a reason to buy one.

I do however really like my 2500 and I got it because I wanted a Crew Cab with a long box. No good reason beyond that as I rarely tow much. This one rides way better than my 96 2500 but still not near as good as the 1500. It also burns quite a lot more fuel than a 1500, I average 15 overall, hand calculated, my brothers 1500 is much closer to 20. Since I only drive the truck about 5000 miles a year, gas mileage is completely irrelevant, but if you drive a lot, that 5 MPG difference adds up pretty darn fast.
 
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Scndthief

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Something I have not seen mentioned is the cost of maintenance, I had a powerwagon with the 6.4 and now have a 2500 with the cummins, the maintenance costs of the diesel need to be worth it for how you are working it.
The mileage is better and I tow alot but if I had it to do over again I might just get a 6.4 for the reduced cost of maintenance over the long haul.
 

IdahoDen

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Help Please, I bought a 2022 1500 BH with the 3.6 eTorque and am hauling a fiberglass boat and trailer (approx weight 3000lbs). I fear I should have bought a HD truck and am considering doing so. I'll be taking 1 or 2, 1000 mile trips per year hauling the boat/trailer. The remainder of the time I'll be using the truck as my primary vehicle and usually do 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year running here and there. If I do buy the 2500 what kind of fuel mileage can I realistically expect with the 6.4 Hemi or the 6.7 diesel? Any input or lessons learned will be greatly appreciated.
Don't do it! First of all the amount of weight that you are towing is a small percentage of the towing capacity of your 1500 hemi. Secondly there are major differences going to a 2500. I did it and was so shocked at the difference in the ride and mileage, my dealership took it back and put me into an eco-diesel which I love. The 2500 is 2 - 3 inches higher to accommodate the heavy duty suspension, I hated that, and the ride was totally different than the Smooth 1500, it really is heavy duty. Next, my mileage driving around town and on the freeway was about 9 miles per gallon. Horrible!. With the eco-diesel, my overall average is 22 miles per gallon and up to 27 miles per gallon at 55 to 60 mph.
 

IdahoDen

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Don't do it! First of all the amount of weight that you are towing is a small percentage of the towing capacity of your 1500 hemi. Secondly there are major differences going to a 2500. I did it and was so shocked at the difference in the ride and mileage, my dealership took it back and put me into an eco-diesel which I love. The 2500 is 2 - 3 inches higher to accommodate the heavy duty suspension, I hated that, and the ride was totally different than the Smooth 1500, it really is heavy duty. Next, my mileage driving around town and on the freeway was about 9 miles per gallon. Horrible!. With the eco-diesel, my overall average is 22 miles per gallon and up to 27 miles per gallon at 55 to 60 mph. I swear, at 75 mph, I could see the gas gauge moving.
 

LivingRdream

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I have a 3500 Dually 6.7 Cummins and i6 gets between 10-12 regardless what I am pulling. Same in the mountains with a 16,000 lb. 5th wheel. If I am running without a trailer it can get as high as 15. I love the exhaust break, especially in the mountains. It will hold my speed without riding the breaks. Some areas Diesel is less than gas so that evens out. Love my truck.
 

Greg1780

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I have a 2021 6.7 Ram 2500 that I absolutely love to pull our RV with, I’m about to sell the truck and purchase a 2023 Ram 3500 6.7 Diesel.
My fuel mileage is 12MPG pulling a 41’ trailer, which I feel is pretty good.
Would a purchase a Diesel to pull 3000 pounds, absolutely not. I would stay with a gas vehicle.
Look up Banks Power Products out of California they have the Monster Pedal that you can add to your accelerator that will BOOST Power & Torque to your truck for about 400.00. The Monster Pedal does not charge any settings in your truck and it’s acceptable on all Vehicle Warranties.
Bankspower.com

You will be surprised by the Power & Torque this product gives you and it’s easy to install in about 15-20 minutes.
 

jvbuttex

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just to give you another data point. I was similar to you. I have a 6k TT we recently got. Found out it was within the weight tow limits of my 2015 1500 5.7. For 2 seasons we used it. Yup winds up pretty good on the hills, mpgs w/o trailer 14 +/-. Great as daily driver. we only use the camper 4-6 time a year. cheap to drive, gas and oil. Wanted to get a CTD for the tow capacity and weigh of the trailer when in tow. We did, 2018 2500 CTD. Much harsher as daily driver, much more expensive to drive. Gas is $0.50 more, add in the fuel filter changes out ($100 if i do it, $300 dealer) Then add in the Oil changes cost double ( 3g oil in a CTD vs 1.5g in gasser) much more expensive, and rougher (stiff suspension) drive as daily driver. Now on a trip, I feel much more comfortable driving the 2500 with the big sail behind me. Even the wife commented on it while back. I'm much more relaxed when in tow. For me, its worth the cost.

p.s. the fuel mileage is up about 2-4mph in the 2500 vs 1500 when in tow.
 

mtnrider

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Then add in the Oil changes cost double ( 3g oil in a CTD vs 1.5g in gasser) much more expensive,

Actually, the cost of oil changes is higher in the 6.4 gas engine. While the diesel takes more, it has roughly twice the interval so in reality for every 12 quarts of oil used in the diesel you are using 14 in the gas.


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Natesasr

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2500 diesel all day for a boat or camper. Even a smaller fifth wheel. I get 17 pulling my 4K boat and 11 pulling my 10k fifth wheel with my 22 mc 4x4 2500 Cummins oil
I do my own pm’s at 10k with all filters and oil. Cost about 225
 

Clement

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I have all 3 trucks in are fleet. Towing 3000lbs isn’t enough for a Cummins. Todays emission you should work those trucks, plus they are ruff. We also have the Powerwagon, softer ride but a pig on fuel when towing. Your best bet would be the 1500 with a 5.7. They are pretty good on gas, nice soft ride with the coils. We installed air bags in the rear for heavier loads,
 

Scrounger

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I have a 2019 Ram 2500 diesel, 14 to 16 city and 21- 24 on hwy empty, love it, my primary driver and wouldn't own another gas truck. Just my opinion nothing wrong with gas, so (gasers calm down lol ) Im a member of TSD Logistics RV program and pay 20 to 50 cents cheaper for fuel at truck stops than the regular pumps at gas stations. Its a great company and you to can join, https://myopenroads.com/ Love my 6.7 Cummins Ram!
 

David James

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Help Please, I bought a 2022 1500 BH with the 3.6 eTorque and am hauling a fiberglass boat and trailer (approx weight 3000lbs). I fear I should have bought a HD truck and am considering doing so. I'll be taking 1 or 2, 1000 mile trips per year hauling the boat/trailer. The remainder of the time I'll be using the truck as my primary vehicle and usually do 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year running here and there. If I do buy the 2500 what kind of fuel mileage can I realistically expect with the 6.4 Hemi or the 6.7 diesel? Any input or lessons learned will be greatly appreciated.
That sounds like you made a good choice as it stands. You don’t need a HD truck to pull a 3k pound trailer plus your passengers. I would’ve gotten a V8 rather than the 6, because you give up little in economy and have a whole lot more grunt. However, if you don’t need but simply “want” a 2500, the gasser saves you almost $10k up front plus burns regular gas and uses less maintenance. That’s presuming you don’t amp up your towing to HD needs and start driving long hauls. My suggestion would be to consider, however, the Ford 7.3 or 6.8 gas 250 over the 6.4 Dodge. Simply more capable. I’d say the same about the new GM gasser in their 2500. More torque and quite reliable. One last thing: you’ll get murdered on a trade on your 22 Ram.
 

Tony Stark

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I’ve had 5.7s in 1500 and 2500. Both had plenty of power to pull my 27’ TT. The 1500 rode better and used less gas, but cross wind was a problem with the TT. Now I have a 2500 with 6.4. 12.5 mpg but great for towing. It sounds like you have all you need. If you are worried about it, you may consider engine and transmission coolers.
 
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