Diesel or Gas 1-ton?

[Bramic71]

Someone said it if you still want the diesel it needs to be deleted, if that is not going to happen you don't want the diesel. personally I love my diesel for lots of reasons even though it isn't practical for me any longer.

I love mine as well, as we tow our camper all over the country for work. Ours has done good so far with only one "see dealer" message for the DEF system, but a bottle of Rislone fixed that and turned off the check engine light.

 

[Bramic71]

My oil changes at the dealer is $165. Still cheaper. From what I have read, there is one fuel filter thats a ***** to get to. The other one is

My oil changes at the dealer is $165. Still cheaper. From what I have read, there is one fuel filter thats a ***** to get to. The other one is easy.

That $200 was for oil change and both fuel filters.

 

[06 Dodge]

That $200 was for oil change and both fuel filters.

I don't use standard 5w40 like T-6 so my oil 3 gallons of cost me $111.87. Add in my 2 Fleetguard fuel filters and my 7349 oil filter come to $227.00 not including the shipping on fuel filters then another $75 to have it installed. What brand of fuel filters and oil filter are you using?

 

[Tulecreeper]

When I bought my 2500 in 2023 I purposely went with gas. As little as I drive, I would have killed it in the first year.

 

[2003F350]

I don't use standard 5w40 like T-6 so my oil 3 gallons of cost me $111.87. My 2 Fleetguard fuel filters and my 7349 oil filter come to $227.00 not including the shipping on fuel filters then another $75 to have it installed. What brand of fuel filters and oil filter are you using?

Yeah I don't know where guys are getting $200 oil and fuel filter changes on a diesel. On both my old CTD and this new truck, it's about $250 just for an oil change (T6) if I take it in (considerably cheaper if I do it myself but 1. I don't have time and 2. I don't have a garage to do it in anymore, and I hate crawling around on gravel). When fuel filters get involved it's $500 or so, again because I don't have time to do it myself. So someone saying they got an oil change and fuel filters done for $200...they're either using econo oil and cheap filters and doing themselves, or not being entirely truthful.

 

[Bramic71]

I do it myself. In fact I do all the services myself. I use T6 or VPB, and look for sales. Usually a Mopar oil filter because it is still under warranty. I've used Fleetguard, Mopar, and Balwin fuel filters with zero issues. Also look for sales on them to stock up. Its possible, just have to find the sales and do it yourself. Personally no way I am paying someone over double for an oil change when I can do the work.

 

[06 Dodge]

I do it myself. In fact I do all the services myself. I use T6 or VPB, and look for sales. Usually a Mopar oil filter because it is still under warranty. I've used Fleetguard, Mopar, and Balwin fuel filters with zero issues. Also look for sales on them to stock up. Its possible, just have to find the sales and do it yourself. Personally no way I am paying someone over double for an oil change when I can do the work.

Wish I could still do my own service work but with a messed up lower spine can not longer do so, what's sad is my cost is 50% cheaper to have the dealership do oil change then having an independent shop do it... Myself I refuse to use Mopar oil filters being they have a micron rating around 30+, I prefer to keep more smaller particles out of my engines oil its why I use the Donaldson oil filters at $19.33 delivered price...

 

[Bramic71]

Wish I could still do my own service work but with a messed up lower spine can not longer do so, what's sad is my cost is 50% cheaper to have the dealership do oil change then having an independent shop do it... Myself I refuse to use Mopar oil filters being they have a micron rating around 30+, I prefer to keep more smaller particles out of my engines oil its why I use the Donaldson oil filters at $19.33 delivered price...

Donaldson makes great filters. Would love to use them year round myself. Working on the road most of the year while pulling our camper, sometimes I'm a little limited on choices and storage space. I like to at least keep a complete oil change on hand. If we can stay somewhere long enough, maybe I can have some Donaldsons delivered. Good day and weekend to you.

 

[2016 2500]

My truck I have the FASS titanium lift pump so my filters on the fuel are on that lift pump I don't have a filter on the engine block I have not used the fass filters since the first filters that come with them were expended. I have better rated baldwin filter and water separator. I use donaldson blue for my oil filters I buy all the filters in bulk on amazon so initial cost is high but it lasts 6 oil changes and about 9 fuel filter changes. so in the end its reasonably cheap. the thing though is I have to do the work myself which sometimes is a pain in the ass itself.

 

[06 Dodge]

My truck I have the FASS titanium lift pump so my filters on the fuel are on that lift pump I don't have a filter on the engine block I have not used the fass filters since the first filters that come with them were expended. I have better rated baldwin filter and water separator. I use donaldson blue for my oil filters I buy all the filters in bulk on amazon so initial cost is high but it lasts 6 oil changes and about 9 fuel filter changes. so in the end its reasonably cheap. the thing though is I have to do the work myself which sometimes is a pain in the ass itself.

Have learned the hard way to be careful who I buy from as most filters on Amazon are fake china knock off, found one who I buy from direct who also sells on Amazon, that is Cross Filters, the reason I buy direct from Cross filters is if Amazon is fulfilling the order you have no idea who the filter's really came as they mix them all together so I prefer to buy direct just to be safe....

 

[Jimbo22]

If you can afford it, go diesel. The new emissions are far better for regens but maintenance will cost you more. Short tripping will make oil changes more frequent than normal, but just be cognizant of the regens getting finished. A quick jaunt on the highway will help clean up that DPF nicely and use fuel treatments regularly. Diesels are awesome.

 

[stevenP]

One post said get the air suspension, well I have it and its great to hitch and un-hitch. But it still rides like a truck, loaded or unloaded. I had a 3500 , and traded it for this 2500 diesel when I downsized my RV. Honestly wished very much that I would have kept the 3500. This coil suspension when loaded feels like its floating from side to side at times? One of the best features besides the power of the diesel, is the exhaust brake. It makes towing so much easier, and its seamless to use. I only really use my truck to tow my RV. Its not a DD. So when I do use this truck it under heavy load, so the emissions issues hasnt been an problem yet.

I get consistently 12mpg, when towing the RV no matter the speed. My other Gen4 3500 diesel, got 10mpg, when towing.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Honestly wished very much that I would have kept the 3500. This coil suspension when loaded feels like its floating from side to side at times?

The rear end "waggle" is from track bar geometry. As the suspension flexes, it shifts the rear of the truck to the side. This is supposed to fix it: https://www.cjcoffroad.com/collecti...sion-2014-ram-2500-power-wagon-rear-track-bar or https://www.thurenfabrication.com/p...-kit-for-2014-2023-dodge-ram-2500-power-wagon

Meet the Carli Suspension 2014+ Ram 2500 Rear Track Bar

Meet the new Carli Suspension 2014+ Ram 2500 rear track bar. If you're tired of the rear end sway from your truck, this is the solution! https://www.cjcoffro...

www.youtube.com

 

[RichieW13]

One post said get the air suspension, well I have it and its great to hitch and un-hitch. But it still rides like a truck, loaded or unloaded. I had a 3500 , and traded it for this 2500 diesel when I downsized my RV. Honestly wished very much that I would have kept the 3500. This coil suspension when loaded feels like its floating from side to side at times? One of the best features besides the power of the diesel, is the exhaust brake. It makes towing so much easier, and its seamless to use. I only really use my truck to tow my RV. Its not a DD. So when I do use this truck it under heavy load, so the emissions issues hasnt been an problem yet.

I get consistently 12mpg, when towing the RV no matter the speed. My other Gen4 3500 diesel, got 10mpg, when towing.

I haven't noticed any floating sensation in my 2500 with air suspension. But then, my previous truck was a 1500 with rear coils. Maybe coming from a leaf spring 3500 the floating is more noticable?

The main reason I would want the diesel is the exhaust brake. I had some sketchy times towing my trailer down a mountain in my 1500, so that's always in the back of my mind.

 

[joesstripclub]

The rear end "waggle" is from track bar geometry. As the suspension flexes, it shifts the rear of the truck to the side. This is supposed to fix it: https://www.cjcoffroad.com/collecti...sion-2014-ram-2500-power-wagon-rear-track-bar or https://www.thurenfabrication.com/p...-kit-for-2014-2023-dodge-ram-2500-power-wagon

Meet the Carli Suspension 2014+ Ram 2500 Rear Track Bar

Meet the new Carli Suspension 2014+ Ram 2500 rear track bar. If you're tired of the rear end sway from your truck, this is the solution! https://www.cjcoffro...

www.youtube.com

I installed the thuren bar over the winter. Definitely makes a difference on dips or bumps at highway speed. Hoping it makes some difference towing as well. Not great fun to install though.

 

[Grams]

I found myself in another state 1200 miles from home when my gasser was wrecked.
I simply HAD to have Ramboxes….and the ONLY 2500 the dealer had that met that requirement was a Cummins diesel. I had recently had a “windfall” and had the money in the checking-account…. and I knee-jierked and bought this lovely Ram 2500 w/Diesel.
I even “sprang” for the extended warranty….something I ordinarily Never Do.

It is SO MUCH FUN to drive! Man! It PULLS! Did I mention FUN..?

But the “Fun” went away fairly quickly because of all the worry over Emissions and regular maintenance. (and I’m no stranger to diesel…I own 3 ranch equp’t that are diesel)

The “Fun” isn’t there when on a daily-driver routine.

So I went out and bought a ten-year-old 185K-mile used Ram 1500 w/5.7 Hemi for my Daily-Driver. THAT 1500 w/Hemi….is FUN. And almost zero worries.

My expensive diesel 2500 SITS. The Calendar will kill that extended warranty because of my decision to daily-drive the ten-year-old hemi in-preference to driving the diesel.

After a year and a half of ownership…that diesel has been thru 3 oil change$ …in only 20K miles. It sits.

Bottom Line: Buy a 6.4 Hemi Ram 2500.

You’ll be glad you did.

 

[Docwagon1776]

I haven't noticed any floating sensation in my 2500 with air suspension.

Load it heavy and hit some dips at a decent speed. It's just a characteristic of the suspension cycling as it shifts to the side to allow for the up and down motion. I only really notice it with a bed of firewood on the interstate and some of the big dips were the transition to overpasses is sunken, but the waggle is real noticeable when it happens.

 

[RichieW13]

Load it heavy and hit some dips at a decent speed. It's just a characteristic of the suspension cycling as it shifts to the side to allow for the up and down motion. I only really notice it with a bed of firewood on the interstate and some of the big dips were the transition to overpasses is sunken, but the waggle is real noticeable when it happens.

The heaviest I've ever had it loaded is a dirt bike in the back and my trailer on the hitch (700 pound tongue weight). So about 1,000 pounds total.

 

[18RAM3500]

Nothing tows better than a diesel (in my case my travel trailer). When I was still working at my retirement job I mostly drove my old car to work (~ 6 miles from home) but in the winter I had to drive my 4x4 Ram 3500’s (‘09 & ‘12). One day I got a CEL and I took it to the dealer. It turned out the CCV filter was caked with sludge (and it had well less than 50,000 miles on it) because it wasn’t fully warming up.

I only have one vehicle now, my ‘18 Ram 3500 but I’m retired so I don’t have to drive to work anymore and I try to limit my trips to town. The only reason I still run a diesel is because I still have my travel trailer and towing through the Rockies is much easier with a diesel.

 

[Docwagon1776]

The heaviest I've ever had it loaded is a dirt bike in the back and my trailer on the hitch (700 pound tongue weight). So about 1,000 pounds total.

It doesn't matter if you're not cycling the suspension, so smooth roads or little bumps you won't notice it. Cycle the suspension and it pushes the truck sideways.

Thuren Rear Track Bar Vs OEM. Is it Better?

Looking to eliminate rear end wag on your coil spring rear end Ram 2500? The Thuren track bar is a great option, with a longer overall length, a flatter angl...

www.youtube.com

demonstrates it on a lift.