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

[Karstensdad]

Well, I may be in the same boat. I have had my truck for two years though. I just bout a 26 ft tt. It is almost 7000 lbs. I have the 1500 6 speed 3.55 gears. I did buy a 4 point weight distribution hitch and will most likely get the air bags. Crossing my fingers because I love my truck.

 

[Andy578]

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.

nope i've yet to run out of power and i've pulled somewhere in the area of 50k a few times. the problem is the weight of the truck itself and the rear suspension causing a heavy tow or something that catches a lot of wind to kinda overpower the truck and push/throw it around

 

[Jackfate]

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...

Yep 2 months in considering same as you but I'm thinking 350 diesel now .10,000 # tow real world is more like 5000.
My last tow vehicle was a ford club wagon E-350 v 10 tow rated 8900# towed 8000+ with van loaded .Drive as fast as you want. 11-14 mpg towing. I'd have bought another but they are no longer made .

Wish you luck on your new 2500

 

[RAMYOU]

2500 even looks better too imo good move

 

[opie]

We bought a solaire 317bhsk and I wasn't going to even try to pull it without good sway control. Bit the bullet and picked up a Hensley arrow hitch.

Sent from a field

 

[wsutard1]

Seems like 1500 owners are evenly distributed between, it can tow that much vs. your taking your life in you hands trying to tow that much.

What is the difference? Who is right? I would guess that on a truck rated at 10k tow load that 8k would be a picnic. Obviously you need the right setup to tow 10k. Maybe that explains why some people have it easier than others.

 

[zflat]

Seems like 1500 owners are evenly distributed between, it can tow that much vs. your taking your life in you hands trying to tow that much.

What is the difference? Who is right? I would guess that on a truck rated at 10k tow load that 8k would be a picnic. Obviously you need the right setup to tow 10k. Maybe that explains why some people have it easier than others.

The truck can PULL 10k all day long, no problem. Now that I've had both, the 1500 FEELS much more powerful (haven't towed with the 2500 just yet, but it's heavier, and geared higher, so it isn't near as responsive as my 1500). I think the guys that are saying it can tow that much are probably towing that much in a small package. As it has been mentioned here before, the biggest issue with my 31 foot TT was the wind, whether it be from the actual wind, my driving, or a passing semi, I am essentially pulling a sail behind me at 65 MPH.

No right or wrong, just different applications really. The set up helps, but I had an EAZ-lift 10,000# WD hitch and sway bar, and at well under 8k and 31 ft I was getting my ass kicked by wind.

 

[DarthMegaHD]

2500 even looks better too imo good move

2500 do look tougher in general, that was another selling point for me

 

[Rzrman328]

Pulling isn't the issue.

Stopping and control are the main factors.

 

[Andy578]

Seems like 1500 owners are evenly distributed between, it can tow that much vs. your taking your life in you hands trying to tow that much.

What is the difference? Who is right? I would guess that on a truck rated at 10k tow load that 8k would be a picnic. Obviously you need the right setup to tow 10k. Maybe that explains why some people have it easier than others.

both are right and both are wrong. a lot of it really just comes down to the load. 18ft car trailer with 10k lb tractor not catching a lot of wind tows like a dream. same 18ft car trailer with a 1000lb grain wagon bin catching wind = pain in the ass. really anything square that's gonna catch wind is gonna be a headache even if it's light. being heavy and square just makes it that much worse since it has the weight to really pull the truck around

a 2500 or 3500 will handle it better due to the extra weight and beefed up suspension but you'll still feel the wind it just won't be able to throw you around quite as much. ever see a semi getting blown around the road on a windy day? it's the same thing and you'll see another semi with say a flatbed just cruising along no problem

 

[Jerry1984]

Also where you are towing can make a huge difference. I'm pulling my camper out tomorrow and will hook up my camping setup. It could be in the worst loads you've seen thread for some but for me it tows fine. 55 and under on 2 lane mountain roads majority of the time with one stretch at 65 that's still a 2 lane highway. If I were towing on the freeway with semis on the regular it may not be near as comfortable. I also have air ride and e rated tires to help stiffen things up.
Usually rides level but didn't hook up the weight distribution hitch. Or tie things down well.

And yes this is legal in Idaho

 

[Mopar_Magic_Man]

Congratulations! We have twins!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

 

[CMil527]

glad it worked out for you...nice rig!

 

[Jackfate]

We bought a solaire 317bhsk and I wasn't going to even try to pull it without good sway control. Bit the bullet and picked up a Hensley arrow hitch.

Sent from a field

So how's that Hensley working out for you?

When they say you can tow a large trailer with a small tow vehicle. Well I'm out

 

[opie]

We pick up the trailer this Saturday. I've been pleased with the way my truck handles tongue weight using my dump trailer so I was more interested in good sway control than distribution. All the reading I've done from folks that went from normal weight distribution/sway control to a Hensley say it's night and day difference. So I didn't want to mess around with one system and then wonder, so I just got the hensley. I picked it up at their office and they gave me a discount for taking a display unit.

Sent from a field

 

[TRCM]

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.

Shoot, that 'buy more than you think you need' adevice goes for trucks, garages, welders, horsepower, guns, boats, jacks, shop presses, computers, lawnmowers, plasma cutters, winches, tow straps....pretty much any guy type thing.