Four Months with a Ram 1500 and I had to trade it in!

[zflat]

So I took delivery of my 2016 1500 Express CC in early December after building and ordering her... Two weeks ago I bought a 31 foot TT, thinking "hell my truck can tow 10,000 and this trailer only weighs 7,000, I'm good to go!" Boy was I wrong. Anything over 55-60 was white knuckle and scary. Did some research and I could try airbags and what not, but at the end of the day I really just needed a bigger truck... Next time do your research BEFORE you make such a big purchase!

Called up the dealership down the road and told them what I was looking for: a new or used 6.4L Hemi 2500, with the only must have option being 4wd, and boy did I luck out. I picked up a 2016 2500 Tradesman CCSB 4wd and the only real option I lost was my spray in bed liner.

I think I caught the dealership at a good time, as they were opened for the last Sunday of the month (before Easter) because they needed to meet their sales number. I only ended up losing $2700 on a 4 month old trade that I had put 0 down on, and after it was all said and done I financed for one year longer at .5% higher and much truck payment is only $20 a month more. I couldn't be happier.

The options on my 2016 Express CC 1500 were: 5.7 Hemi, 8 speed trans, Granite Crystal Clearcoat, 3.92 gears, LSD, Uconnect 5.0, back-up camera, 20-inch chrome wheels, trailer break, class IV hitch, and spray in bed liner.

The options on my 2016 Tradesman CCSB 2500 are: 6.4 Hemi, 6 speed trans, Silver Clearcoat, Chrome Package, 3.73 gears, Uconnect 5.0, back-up camera, back- up sensors, tow mirrors, trailer break, class V hitch, and chrome running boards.

I think the only thing I might miss is the LSD. I think the 6.4 will make up for any differences in the gear ratios.

I've only driven her home from the dealership, but she definitely drives like a truck compared to the 1500. Any advice from the 2500 crowd? This is my first HD truck.

And as not to leave you hanging...

 

[Andy578]

weight wasn't your problem, pulling a 31ft tt will catch A LOT of wind. hell you could gut the thing down to just a square box and it'll still pull like ****. a 1500 also doesn't have much rear end weight so once that trailer gets some side wind it'll just pull the truck all over the road. it should be much better with a 2500, that trailer will still catch a lot of wind but should be more stable on the 2500

 

[cyclepuck]

Congrats and I went through the exact situating but my truck was a a little over a year old. After having a 2500 as a daily driver and towing the tt with it I don't think I'll ever own a 1500 again.

Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk

 

[DarthMegaHD]

Good move. Congrats on the deal too! I read in another thread someone giving the great advice of always buy more truck than you need. Just because the 1500 CAN tow 10,000 doesn't mean they SHOULD.

 

[Rzrman328]

This'll be my last 1/2. I probably wouldn't pull anything over 26ft with it.

Kinda like fat chicks and yoga pants....just cause you can doesn't mean you should.

 

[Jerry1984]

That's not too bad of a deal at all. Glad the 3/4 ton will work better for you!!

 

[TruckNut]

Good trade.........congrats on the safer ride.

 

[RamblinRod]

I almost made the same mistake. I really wanted a 1500 Ecodiesel for the mpg and better ride. I have a 27' 7000# TT and also wanted to carry my 650# motorcycle in the bed. Realized I would be way over on the payload. Kept trying to think how to make it work. Finally test drove a 2500 and was pleasantly surprised at the ride. Have one on order and should have it early April. Wise people on this and other forums have advised, don't buy too little truck. I finally listened.

 

[reek]

don't be a wimp. theres someone on here trying to do the same with a pentastar....

JK, I did the same thing, went to a 2500. the 1500 was definitely a white knuckler

 

[JaredRAM2015]

I read these towing horror stories often. I guess I never really need to pull anything larger than a 16ft bass boat or a 16 foot utility trailer. Some of you guys take your 1500's to the limit!

 

[RamblinRod]

I almost made the same mistake, I really wanted a 1500 EcoDiesel for the MPG and ride. I have a 27' 7000# TT and want to carry my 650# motorcycle in the bed. Realized I would be several hundred pounds over on the payload. Still tried to figure how I could make it work for awhile. Finally test drove a 2500 and was pleasantly surprised with the ride quality. Have a 2500 on order should get it early April. Wise people on this and other forums advised don't buy too little truck. I finally listened.

 

[PippinAin'tEasy]

I pulled #8500 @ 34 ft. long for almost 18 months before upgrading. Zero complaints. That 1500 gave me everything it had as long as I respected it's limitations. Now, #10k+ according to the "official" specs? Not only no but hell no. Congrats on the trade. They could've burned you but timing and fortune put you into what sounds like a great ride.

"Oh, sweet debt. Thy name is Truck."

 

[chris1965]

Congratulations.
My 27ft tt has 6500# loaded and I would not go over 7000#. I never fill the freshwater tank either. We looking now around for a new tt and the limit of total weight is also 7000# new lightweight tt are amazing low weight. We probably also go shorter, cause we found out, for me and my wife, bunk beds are wasted space. I thought about a 2500 but for my situation it would be too much of a truck with 75 miles dd.
Still wish, I would had bought 2500 anyway. Maybe next time.
Have fun with it!

 

[zogg]

I did the same thing a few years ago....tried to tow 8000 pounds with a 1500....ouch.
Bought a 2500 hemi and it was ssoooooo much nicer.
Got old, parked the rv in a permanent campground and am back to the 1500. Glad you made the right decision for safety and also got a good deal....enjoy

 

[2015HD]

Did the same thing, bought a 2014 Silverado 1/2 ton and a 30' TT a month later. The big problem is that lots of RV dealers (and even private sale used sellers) will tell you 'it will haul fine with 1/2 ton' BUT they don't tell you that your knuckles may be a shade of white more often than you want. Camping is supposed to be fun, dreading the tow takes some of that away.

My only advice, if you plan to use as a daily commuter and run empty, drop your .psi all around. I run 60 on all 4 and the ride is MUCH nicer. Just don't forget to pump them back up when hauling the camper. You just need dealer to reset TPMS for you.
http://www.ramforum.com/f158/hd_tire_pressure_monitoring_system_reset-70913/

Congrats and welcome to the HD club

 

[xrsman]

Congrats man!

 

[arod412]

Congrats on the deal. Only $20 extra a month for a 2500 is a steal man.

Haven't towed anything yet on my truck but it sure has come n handy on some heavy loads I had.


**Truck name: Rampage**

 

[Padre675]

Eh I pulled a 23' TT from San Antonio to Houston (3 hrs.), with the bed of my 1500 loaded pretty good. Not a bad ride, just got horrible MPG and definitely wasn't in the left lane.

Glad you got a good deal though, and I hope you enjoy your new ride.

 

[Jerry1984]

Eh I pulled a 23' TT from San Antonio to Houston (3 hrs.), with the bed of my 1500 loaded pretty good. Not a bad ride, just got horrible MPG and definitely wasn't in the left lane.

Glad you got a good deal though, and I hope you enjoy your new ride.

Power generally isn't an issue with the new hemi 8 speeds. I'd venture to say they have more power than the 6.4s with the spacing of the 6 speeds transmissions in them. Obviously they are rated for 15 more hp or whatever it is, but the transmissions gearing makes a huge difference. The 2500s ability to handle the load is much greater which is why people are seeing issues with the 1500s, I highly doubt it's due to lack of power.

 

[roadshow]

A friend of mine said the same thing after I asked him why he wanted such a beast for towing his camper because he bought a 3500 Cummins dualie. Man that thing is the size of a bus!! I can see his point though, he tows a big camper frequently with that monster. I still make him ride in my truck when we mess around though because his is a 3rd gen with manual shift and I feel like my fillings are going to rattle out in it lol. I'm jealous of his interior though, it's all vinyl no carpet and practically abuse-proof when we climb in covered in mud from the ATV trails