6.4 Hemi or Cummins

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DeltaFlyer

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Currently have a 2018 1500 with the 5.7 Hemi and want to move up to a 2500. I pull a travel trailer a few times a year and would like to venture out on some out of state trips and know the 2500 is the better way to go. My concern is the Hemi lifter/cam issue and I'm trying to decide if the diesel is worth it for a few times a year of towing. I had a 2012 5.7 that had the lifter/cam fail at 60,000 miles and don't want to go through that again. Pros and Con???
 

sandawilliams

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Towing under 10K- gas
Towing <10 K miles a year- gas
Got a spare 10K laying around- diesel

I tow 8800# tt and another 1500# in the bed. Tow about 5 months a year, 10,000 miles. A diesel still doesn't make economic sense for my use. Of course if you just want a diesel go for it. On my 4th Ram since 2004 and never had the lifter/cam problem.
 

retired

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go to a dealership lot and tell them you want to hear 10 different 6.4 hemi's start up before you buy one..if you can stand the noise that they all make, then get the hemi.
 

dhay13

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I had a 2013 1500 5.7 Hemi (67,000 miles) and currently a 2018 2500 6.4 Hemi (22,000 miles). My son has a 2018 2500 6.4 with 78,000 miles. Step-son had a 2010 with about 30,000 miles, then a 2015 that he put about 25,000 on, then a 2019 that he put about 15,000 on. Step-father had a 2008, 2011, 2014, and currently a 2017 (all 1500's) and put about 50,000 on each of them and none have ever had any engine issues. My son has towed his 8000lb TT about 8000 miles with his 2500 and I towed my step-sons new 9300lb TT a few weeks ago and they tow fine. Can barely tell they are there.

Not sure what noise the poster above is referring to? No noise from any of mine. But those Cummins sound horrible and stink bad. lol. Ok, off topic there but you get my point.

But I agree with other posts. If you are towing over about 11,000-12,000lbs then go with a 3500 Cummins. With a 2500 you risk running out of payload. A typical 12,000lb TT will have about 1500-1800lbs tongue weight and will only have about 2100lbs of payload so with nobody in the truck you are already down to only about 300-500lbs of payload left. Less than 12,000lbs and I think the 6.4 will be fine unless you are towing in hilly terrain or towing often. The only way I would recommend a 2500 Cummins is if you are staying under about 8000-9000lb trailer and at that point unless you WANT the diesel I think the 6.4 is more than enough. If you think you may ever consider a 5th wheel then definitely avoid the 2500 Cummins and go straight to the 3500
 
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DeltaFlyer

DeltaFlyer

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Thanks for the replies. My travel trailer dry weight is about 6000 lbs. Starting to lean towards the 6.4.
 

theviking

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The lifter issue is real, and it's not just something you can predict but listening to a new truck. But minimizing idle time and running the right oil brand/weight will certainly help to alleviate the issue.
 

crash68

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Not sure what noise the poster above is referring to? No noise from any of mine. But those Cummins sound horrible and stink bad. lol. Ok, off topic there but you get my point.
Starting with the '19 and newer Cummins, they're quieter than your Hemi. Shocked me the first time I could hear my EcoDiesel idle over a Cummins idling. Maybe your just being funny but the exhaust out of a Cummins is just as clean if not more so than the Hemi.
 
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DeltaFlyer

DeltaFlyer

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The lifter issue is real, and it's not just something you can predict but listening to a new truck. But minimizing idle time and running the right oil brand/weight will certainly help to alleviate the issue.

Explain the right oil brand/weight. I always use the weight called out in the manual.
 

Sandevino

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Having owned a 2020 Hemi they’re great engines and run great. The mileage is awful but the extra $10k for the Cummins you’re saving will pay for that.

This topic has been kicked around for as long as I can remember but it all comes down to use case. If you tow heavy and want a Cummins, get a 3500. End of story. If you tow light (6-8k) now and again you’ll be fine with either.

Pick a horse and ride it.
 

retired

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I have a 6.4 with 4.10's running 35" Toyo RT's and while I just turned 7000 miles I am pleasantly surprised at my MPG. speed limits here are as high as 80mph and you are either going up a hill or down a hill as nothing is flat for long in Western Montana and I still 14-16mpg.
 

dhay13

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Starting with the '19 and newer Cummins, they're quieter than your Hemi. Shocked me the first time I could hear my EcoDiesel idle over a Cummins idling. Maybe your just being funny but the exhaust out of a Cummins is just as clean if not more so than the Hemi.
i just know that i hate the smell of the diesels. maybe it isn't all of them but the ones i have smelled made me nauseous
 

mtnrider

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i just know that i hate the smell of the diesels. maybe it isn't all of them but the ones i have smelled made me nauseous

There is no smell in diesels any more, the emission systems take care of that. If you smell a diesel truck now days it's either a really old one or has been deleted.

.
 

Firebird

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I've owned 5 Cummins trucks, and I enjoyed owning them. Currently driving a 2500 with 6.4 and 4.10 gears, and I absolutely love this truck!
 

retired

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I have not figured out why when some people fill up their diesels they feel the need to slop diesel all over the place. Are some people just that stupid or are they doing it on purpose?
 

1500ram12

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I have not figured out why when some people fill up their diesels they feel the need to slop diesel all over the place. Are some people just that stupid or are they doing it on purpose?

It's more "truckers" then the average diesel truck owner. Plus gasoline will evaporate not leaving much of a trace whereas diesel is less refined, doesn’t evaporate completely and leaves a greasy residue behind


2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman
1990 5.9L 12v Cummins W250
 

TestPilot57

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I have a 6.4 with 4.10's running 35" Toyo RT's and while I just turned 7000 miles I am pleasantly surprised at my MPG. speed limits here are as high as 80mph and you are either going up a hill or down a hill as nothing is flat for long in Western Montana and I still 14-16mpg.

I rarely get above 15 mpg (EVIC, not calculated) with my (currently completely stock other than exhaust) 1500 5.7 and 95% of my driving is 35-55 mph.
 

TestPilot57

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i just know that i hate the smell of the diesels. maybe it isn't all of them but the ones i have smelled made me nauseous

Funny story, and I may be opening myself up to a negative position in potential litigation, but hopefully we're past the statue of limitations by now...

"Several" years ago we took a vacation in Switzerland and reserved a rental of a (don't remember the class) car. But when we got to the counter they "didn't have" what we reserved*. But they could upgrade us to a Mercedes S-Class for just X per day. It wasn't that much more, because we had selected a higher value vehicle. So we went with the MB.

I assumed it was gas, because:
  • It was quieter than my wife's Honda,
  • Accelerated like my GM V8 pickup,
  • The gas pump nozzle fit, and
  • There was no warning on the fuel flap like "USE ONLY *** FUEL OR YOUR CAR WILL EXPLODE AND YOU WILL PAY FOR A NEW ONE"
I think we filled the tank 3 or 4 times.

After we got home I decided to research the car, as I really liked it and wondered if I could get one in the USA and what the specs were. I put the make and model number in The Google and was told it was only available as a diesel in Europe.

I kept waiting for a notification from the rental company that I was responsible for a $10k transplant, but so far knocking on wood has kept them at bay. Thankfully I have LOTS of wood available to knock on so I will keep pressing my luck.

*we have been at the short end of the stick a few times regarding this "situation" but I believe that it was true here.
 

dhay13

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My truck is 100% stock, although it is a 2018 with the 6 speed, and I have 4.10's. As you can see below my hand calculated MPG is about 12.2. This is over about 13,000 miles. Some of this is towing heavy (over 9000lbs) but only about 500-1000 miles of it.
 
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