Eco diesel versus 2500 6.4

[miles01]

Is the eco diesel or 2500 6.4 a better truck for my use?
Daily driver empty.
Tow RV trailer about 4 times year (1000 - 2,000 Kms each time)
Maybe look at a small slidein camper one day in the future (small for 1500 weight limit)

 

[retired]

eco diesel probably depending on the size of your trailer. If you however enjoy driving just for the heck of it then the 6.4 hemi is a better choice....

 

[ramffml]

If your trailer is under 8000 pounds, 1500/ED all the way.

 

[miles01]

Little over 8,000 lbs.
Appox 8,200 - 8,500 lbs depending how must stuff is in it.
If whole family on trip heavier, if by myself lighter

 

[miles01]

I traded my 2011 1500 with 5.7 and 3.92 gears trailer package for a 2018 2500 6.4 (I’m thinking the Eco diesel would have been a better choice).
I did not like the way the trailer tossed the truck around in the wind, I did put helper air bags on it.
But I came from a 3500 diesel DRW 4X4 that was deleted in 2012.

the 2011 was so rusted out I was told $10,000 the repair and decided it was time to get rid of it as it had over 200,000 on it

 

[Firebird]

If your trailer is under 8000 pounds, 1500/ED all the way.

My buddy tried to pull his camper with his 2020 ecodiesel, and it whipped him like a dog! He has a proper WDH hitch and the camper weighs in at 7000 pounds. Engine has plenty of power, but the chassis isn't up to the task

 

[ripping r]

even tho the eco and 6.4 are close on power a 1500 will never tow better than a 2500.

 

[mtofell]

Likely too much trailer for a 1500. You're are likely to be well over your payload rating with your whole family in the truck (and stuff in the bed?) and the trailer on the hitch.

I think it got slightly better but the first Eco-diesels had laughingly low payload numbers.... like about what 4 adults weigh. Meaning, once the truck has 4 people in it you're at the max.

8,000# trailer is going to put +/- 1000# on the tongue + people in the truck + stuff in the bed. I can't imagine trying to pull this off with less than 1600-1800# payload (and even that is pushing it). Check out some door stickers on prospective Eco-diesels and see where you're at.

 

[ramffml]

My buddy tried to pull his camper with his 2020 ecodiesel, and it whipped him like a dog! He has a proper WDH hitch and the camper weighs in at 7000 pounds. Engine has plenty of power, but the chassis isn't up to the task

Something may have been wrong with his setup, I pull that weight with no problem. The 1500's with coils are definitely finicky to setup, I'm sure the 2500 is far more forgiving when it comes to a not-quite-perfect weight balance, but these trucks should handle at least 8000 pounds without too much drama.

I believe there are a few long distance haulers who use ED's at 8000+ pounds all day long every day. Vern Diesel?? Forget his name, but it's all in the setup of the weight, you get that wrong and the 1500 isn't happy.

 

[crash68]

My buddy tried to pull his camper with his 2020 ecodiesel, and it whipped him like a dog! He has a proper WDH hitch and the camper weighs in at 7000 pounds. Engine has plenty of power, but the chassis isn't up to the task

Your buddy doesn't have the trailer loading and/or WDH set up correctly or there's something wrong with the trailer. I have no issues with a trailer in the 8K lbs weight range, I know a few others that tow above the 7K weight range with a 1500 without problems.
You put the same crap set up behind a 2500 and you'll be fighting the trailer also.

 

[HEMIMANN]

2500 with an 8,000 pound trailer. Definitely. That leaves you with 6.4 Hemi or the big dog for another $9k. 6.4 Hemi is plenty, which is why I bought one. My usage profile is very similar to yours.

 

[Firebird]

Something may have been wrong with his setup, I pull that weight with no problem. The 1500's with coils are definitely finicky to setup, I'm sure the 2500 is far more forgiving when it comes to a not-quite-perfect weight balance, but these trucks should handle at least 8000 pounds without too much drama.

I believe there are a few long distance haulers who use ED's at 8000+ pounds all day long every day. Vern Diesel?? Forget his name, but it's all in the setup of the weight, you get that wrong and the 1500 isn't happy.

He does have the air suspension, I wonder if that might effect it?

 

[Sandevino]

Having owned both, the 2500 all the way. It’s much more forgiving with weight behind it and has plenty of payload.

 

[dhay13]

The eco-diesel will likely be over payload with an 8000lb TT. You will likely be about 1000lb tongue weight. Sure it will pull it and likely be fine but may not be legal due to payload and definitely won't be as comfortable as a 2500 would be.

Here is a CAT scale slip from my son's 8100lb TT with his 2500. You can see he had 1100lbs tongue weight. Definitely wouldn't have been legal with my old 2013 1500. The truck empty with me, him and all of his stuff in it was 8100lbs too. The 9200lbs shown on the slip (steer axle + drive axle) is with the tongue weight added in. His TT is a 2018 Grand Design Imagine 2670MK with an advertised dry weight of 6600lbs and advertised tongue weight of 690lbs

 

[sandawilliams]

I've towed 7000-8000 lb. TT with different 1500's for many years. Crosswinds will kill you if your not careful. The final straw for me is when I purchased an ATV that weighed 800 lbs. and started hauling it and pulling the TT. I installed air bags which accomplished nothing. IMHO I would go 2500 all the way with the added suspension, weight of truck, and larger brakes. It also will give you added capacities for future decisions of what you want to do with it. (like an 800 lb. ATV)

 

[Tach_tech]

Is your daily use just short trip city driving? If so, I wouldn’t recommend the eco diesel. Short trips at city speeds will plug up the DPF and EGR systems.

 

[turkeybird56]

Is your daily use just short trip city driving? If so, I wouldn’t recommend the eco diesel. Short trips at city speeds will plug up the DPF and EGR systems.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ DITTO ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The main reason I got rid of my ED. Friggin DPF hit 80% before regen and I would always have to take a 60-70 mph road trip ref regen. Not good as a DD. ALL IMHO...

Towing: 8,000 plus, I would lean towards a 2500. I pulled 6,600 with my ED, and pulled OK, but that was strictly local towing.

 

[Firebird]

Is your daily use just short trip city driving? If so, I wouldn’t recommend the eco diesel. Short trips at city speeds will plug up the DPF and EGR systems.

This^^^^
I got rid of my ecodiesel because of this. Always pizzed me off to have to go run 30 needless miles on the interstate to burn out all of the BS in the exhaust.

 

[2003F350]

As the guys have noted, for a daily driver just around town, short trips of 10 minutes or less, or at speeds less than 35 mph, I wouldn't buy a diesel at all. Get a 5.7 if you want to stay 1500, or a 6.4 if you want to go with a 2500. The 1500 chassis is going to get better mileage regardless of what engine is in it.

Weight-wise, your camper is in 1500 territory if you've got everything set up right. You'd be fine with a 1500, but a 2500 will do it BETTER.

 

[GsRAM]

Trailer in excess of 8k, not counting the stuff in the truck bed and your family? Your in 2500 territory my friend..in my opinion.

There are those that can do it safely at those weights like crash and verndiesel, but those guys really know what they are doing, are very experienced and vern is hot shotting his delivering new RVs, not fully loaded with a family and the bed packed for a camping trip.

Everyone is different and 2500s are not for everyone. (Tall entry height, weigh 7k plus, hard on fuel) but so long as I can afford and manage it, I will have a 2500 (or 3500) truck going forward. I love mine now as much as the day I drove it off the lot.

To me, a 1500 series truck is a car with a bed on it, similar in chassis component sizing to a 1970s full size sedan. A 2500 is a piece of equipment. For anyone who has never looked, go crawl around under both and you'll quickly see.what I mean.

Properly set up, you can tow heavy safely with a half ton, no question. I did it for many years. I simply prefer more margin than most.

Good luck in your decision.