2500 Shopping

[haleme]

I have decided to sell my 2017 1500 and move to a 2500. I am specifically looking for a 2018 2500 6.4 4X4 LB Longhorn or Limited with a 4.10 rear end.

The two things I know to be aware of are the Uconnect screen delamination and the 6 spd transmission shifting harshly.

Anything else to look for or be aware of with this year model combo?

 

[crash68]

I'm guessing your moving up for towing capabilities, do yourself a favor and go a year newer to get the ZF 8 spd transmission behind the 6.4L. The gear stager in the RFE transmission leaves much to be desired along with the lower first gear in the ZF makes having 4:10 gearing a moot point unless your going with larger wheels.

 

[haleme]

Yeah, I hear you on the transmission and have read that as well. Moving up a model year prices me out of the trim level I am looking to purchase.

 

[turkeybird56]

Yeah, I hear you on the transmission and have read that as well. Moving up a model year prices me out of the trim level I am looking to purchase.

Save yer pennies, mortgage the wife, sumthin, but wat CRASH told U is sooooooo true, and U will be a lot happier in the end. Maybe rent out a kid for the winter, LOL. The moral is, if possible, find a way. The ZF is just so much better and a lot less issues. Just IMHO.

 

[GsRAM]

I have decided to sell my 2017 1500 and move to a 2500. I am specifically looking for a 2018 2500 6.4 4X4 LB Longhorn or Limited with a 4.10 rear end.

The two things I know to be aware of are the Uconnect screen delamination and the 6 spd transmission shifting harshly.

Anything else to look for or be aware of with this year model combo?

How much weight are you towing? I'm happy with my 6 speed. The 8 is better, but the 6 is not the junk some folks on here say it is, who dont even own an HD truck. Even with my truck with the supposed bad for towing 3.73 gears. If you can afford it, go for the 8 speed, but I would not automatically disqualify an otherwise nice, clean 6 speed with a good maintenance history.

This truck has tons of power in reserve, even with my 6,000lb tt in tow. It's the best pulling truck I've ever owned, by a long shot. The next best was a 1999 Ford superduty, but that 5.4 didn't have near the power this 6.4 does.

Just my .02.

 

[haleme]

How much weight are you towing? I'm happy with my 6 speed. The 8 is better, but the 6 is not the junk some folks on here say it is, who dont even own an HD truck.

Ah, this is the feedback I am looking for. Thanks!

I have a Wildwood X-lite that is 6k empty and 7.5k gross. My 1500 actually pulls just fine with the 5.7 and 3.21, but there are two things I want to upgrade. First, the payload of the 1500 is too small and limits what we can throw in the bed when towing. Second, the trailer is 33.5' long and I would like some more stability when cruising on the highway.

 

[GsRAM]

Ah, this is the feedback I am looking for. Thanks!

I have a Wildwood X-lite that is 6k empty and 7.5k gross. My 1500 actually pulls just fine with the 5.7 and 3.21, but there are two things I want to upgrade. First, the payload of the 1500 is too small and limits what we can throw in the bed when towing. Second, the trailer is 33.5' long and I would like some more stability when cruising on the highway.

Your thought proccess and wanted improvements are exactly why I moved up to my 2500 from a 1500 Chevy. One of the best decisions I've ever made. I have no plans or desire to go back to a half ton truck, unless I get to the point that I can't maintain it.

You'll get both of your wanted improvements with a 2500 HD and towing performance will be good at that weight with the 6 speed. I'm confident I could go another 2k lbs in loaded trailer weight with my truck with no problem at all.

As I mentioned above, the advice to get the 8 speed if you can is sound, but if you cannot, I think the 6 speed would be fine for what you'd be asking of it.

My truck has tons of power, even in the mountains. If I was up over 10k loaded trailer weight, I'd consider going to a 3500/Cummins, but don't need that now.

Good luck with your decision. If you go for the 2018, ensure the steering drag link has been replaced by FCA (not just welded under recall)

 

[runamuck]

lots of miles were towed by folks with a 6 speed but having had a gmc with a six speed, I cant say enough about the night and day driving and towing improvement going to my ram with the 8 speed. when towing, it just smoothly clicks off the shifts and makes a huge difference getting up to speed with my trailer in tow. the gears are closer together and so there are more options when you need a downshift. I dont know about the earlier model 6 speed but the 8 speed comes with 5.0 first gear, so good for towing but not so good for stop and go traffic.

 

[dhay13]

i have a 2018 with the 6 speed and 4.10's and tow our 9000lb boat and towed a 9300 TT and had no issues or complaints. My son had the same truck and towed his 8100lb TT over 9000 miles in 2 years and had no issues or complaints. Not saying the 8 spd isn't better but the 6 spd will work fine

 

[haleme]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. GsRam, the info on the drag link is what I was looking for from this conversation.

 

[KKBB]

I had a 2015 with the 6 speed. I now have a 2019 with the 8 speed. A cummins in between the 2. 8 speed is much better than the 6. Cummins excluded because it is much more enjoyable towing with the cummins.

 

[GsRAM]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. GsRam, the info on the drag link is what I was looking for from this conversation.

No worries.

 

[GsRAM]

lots of miles were towed by folks with a 6 speed but having had a gmc with a six speed, I cant say enough about the night and day driving and towing improvement going to my ram with the 8 speed. when towing, it just smoothly clicks off the shifts and makes a huge difference getting up to speed with my trailer in tow. the gears are closer together and so there are more options when you need a downshift. I dont know about the earlier model 6 speed but the 8 speed comes with 5.0 first gear, so good for towing but not so good for stop and go traffic.

The GM 6 speed is total garbage. That's what my 15 Silverado had in it and it was the most clunky, refused to downshift unless you mashed it junk I've ever owned. The 66rfe is worlds better. The ram is so much better overall. GM has so much torque management built into the programming, you had to give it half throttle to get it to even move.

Just wanted to clarify after owning both. No comparison between junk GM 6 speed and 66rfe in my opinion

 

[HEMIMANN]

The GM 6 speed is total garbage. That's what my 15 Silverado had in it and it was the most clunky, refused to downshift unless you mashed it junk I've ever owned. The 66rfe is worlds better. The ram is so much better overall. GM has so much torque management built into the programming, you had to give it half throttle to get it to even move.

Just wanted to clarify after owning both. No comparison between junk GM 6 speed and 66rfe in my opinion

Better than their cheapo 5.3L V8 that stuck 4 sets of piston rings after 30k miles (mineral oil) or 50k miles (synthetic oil). There's reams of user problems on the interweb. That's how I found out about it - GM tried to hide it, just like Ram with cam wiping.

We can mitigate Hemi cam wiping with lubrication strategies, but there was nothing to be done about the ring sticking except flush the motor every so often. GM through band aid guesses at it like deflecting piston spray nozzles on only the AFM cylinders (didn't work), and replacing piston packs (didn't work). Last I left it, it was a fundamental design flaw in the the tightness of the power cylilnders - they had cheapened the package over time, relying on more ring seal than tolerances. OOOPS!!

 

[haleme]

I finally moved to a 2500 and have used it to tow my 33.5' TT fully loaded to Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta this past month. The difference was night and day from the 1500.

It is a 2018 6.4 with the 6 spd and 3.73. Power was never a problem and it cruises comfortably at 68-70 mph and I see mpg about 1-2 better than the 1500 with the same load. And the best part is ZERO sway now.

 

[GsRAM]

I finally moved to a 2500 and have used it to tow my 33.5' TT fully loaded to Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta this past month. The difference was night and day from the 1500.

It is a 2018 6.4 with the 6 spd and 3.73. Power was never a problem and it cruises comfortably at 68-70 mph and I see mpg about 1-2 better than the 1500 with the same load. And the best part is ZERO sway now.

View attachment 506794

Awesome! Beautiful looking truck too. Glad you are happy with the towing performance and end result.

As said in this thread, the 8 speed in the newer HDs and the 4.10 gear is preferable, but the older 6speed\3.73 combo is pretty good too. Best of luck with the new truck!

 

[dhay13]

Nice. Yeah I got about 1.5-2 MPG better towing the same 8000lb TT with my 2500 6.4 than I did with my 1500 5.7 (8.5 vs 7.0 ish)