Gas or diesel

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WY-Dave

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I had two jeeps that had 2000/3000# towing. They were both good for what we thought at the time was what would work for camping, a popup. Now enter 2 German Shepherds, 1 that would eat everything and 1 that would bolt through the canvas like nothing was there. Now I can tow most anything. Better to have and not need than to need and not have. So far I haven't towed the 5thw, been sealing it. But sure is nice to be able to tow a skidsteer, tractor, roll of hay, friends car etc. I was between 10 & 12mpg on those tows.

Maintenance is more, $295 @ dealer ($105 oil/ $190 fuel filters) and $165 self. With the oil change being in about $20 from what it will cost, I will be going to the dealer. The fuel filters changes I will be doing it myself. Fuel is more, +$0.30/gal. $8 DEF every ~3000 miles. But being able to tow both jeeps and both their tows (both jeeps were <5000# ea and the combines 5000# towing) is priceless.

Mpg: after the 10k oil change the mpg went up (was perfect conditions and mostly highway)
View media item 28085

This is what it is now when I went to the truck for my break. No so good conditions, 40+mph winds and over half city driving.
19-3.jpg
 

KSH

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In SoCal, have a ram 2500 diesel. I think it's about cost. The diesel pulls harder costs more and has less payload. I wouldn't trade it for gas. If cost was an issue, I would probably have shopped harder to find a diesel.
 
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quietpeen

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thread cleaned up....keep it on topic
 

TSR6

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My brother got the 2500 with the 6.4L Hemi - and his reasoning was that he needs to haul a pretty heavy enclosed trailer on some of the weekends during the summer., but didnt need much more to need a Cummins. That trailer is a bit much for a 1500 (I've towed it before with a 1500 - and I agree! I said never again...)

So he went with a gasser. It's a VERY nice truck. I took it for a spin around the block and took some video.

 

TXCOMT

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After reading this thread (plus a few others here), I must say the best decision for me and mine is a ‘19 2500 with that 6.4/8-speed combo. I’m test driving one tomorrow morning and unless we’re too far apart on numbers, I do believe it’ll come home with me.

With an impending move to the country, I see myself needing something bigger (payload and towing wise) than my Reb. While a CTD would be great, I honestly don’t tow heavy and often enough to justify the expense. I’m thinking the 2500 will suit me perfectly.

TXCOMT
 

McBroom

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After reading this thread (plus a few others here), I must say the best decision for me and mine is a ‘19 2500 with that 6.4/8-speed combo. I’m test driving one tomorrow morning and unless we’re too far apart on numbers, I do believe it’ll come home with me.

With an impending move to the country, I see myself needing something bigger (payload and towing wise) than my Reb. While a CTD would be great, I honestly don’t tow heavy and often enough to justify the expense. I’m thinking the 2500 will suit me perfectly.

TXCOMT

You will love it and find reasons to go drive it. I still do.
Like a late night run to get my bride a burger after she has a migraine. Yeah corny I know right. But she has frequent migraines and when they start to ease up that’s what she wants. Been that way for 18 years now.


The Blue Mule
 

Motoman501

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I sold my 2015 2500 Cummins and bought a 2019 2500 6.4 Hemi. Overall I'm happy with the change. In town mileage is similar with the diesel slightly better on the highway. As a daily driver, I much prefer the 6.4 though. Does it pull my 8000lb travel trailer up the mountain as well? Nope, but I can maintain the speed limit comfortably and it's great the 99% of the year I'm not towing.
 

TXCOMT

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I sold my 2015 2500 Cummins and bought a 2019 2500 6.4 Hemi. Overall I'm happy with the change. In town mileage is similar with the diesel slightly better on the highway. As a daily driver, I much prefer the 6.4 though. Does it pull my 8000lb travel trailer up the mountain as well? Nope, but I can maintain the speed limit comfortably and it's great the 99% of the year I'm not towing.

Test drove that exact combo today (for the same reasons)...the rig also had the off road package. Salesman routed me over some bumpy roads and the Ram took it pretty well; I think a Road & Track magazine writer might call it busy, but it ain’t no Ferrari! With some weight in the bed, it would’ve been nice.

Anyway, I did the ol’ “be back” routine after the drive then made a TrueCar query. That allowed me to play the first dealer off another. The latter had the same truck but with the 5er prep group too, so he met the other rigs price after I told him he couldn’t!

To be honest, I can live with my Reb’s payload and towing shortcomings for awhile longer, but these new HD gassers would meet my needs for sure.

TXCOMT
 

Big Terry

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I drive a 2500 with the 6.7 and love the **** out of it. Work has kept me busier than I like so I haven't been towing my trailer much this year, but the better highway mileage alone is something I look at as a plus.

The diesel is going to cost more to service when those necessary trips to the dealer pop up, but they will definitely balance out over time when you account for fuel costs over time.

Could I have gone Hemi, and towed my trailer? Sure. But that Hemi will be working a lot harder when it is towing, and I'd rather have a truck that pulls that 8-10k# and not even feel like it's working.

Was it worth the 10 grand to get the Cummins? For me, yes. For you, maybe not.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
 

Motoman501

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That’s what makes these truck options fun, something for everyone. The ten grand can be tough up front but you do make it up later if you sell. I sold my Cummins for only two thousand less than I paid for it four years ago. It’s hard to wipe the smile off your face towing with the Cummins, it’s effortless.

My biggest complaint with my Cummins was the 68rfe. I hated that transmission. The shifting was not the best and it always wanted to be in a high gear making the truck feel like it was lugging. The shifts weren’t real smooth either unless it was working, then it was fine.

I had two emissions related issues with mine before 30,000 miles and a couple of diesel repair shops in town basically told me to expect emission problems if you don’t work the truck. Probably 99% of my use is as a daily driver for short trips and I only tow 4-5 times per year. Diesel repairs can be insanely expensive so I sold it. Time will tell if I made the right decision but so far I like the Hemi and the 8 speed transmission is awesome.
 

Rammler7

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I have a '14 2500 with a 6.4 hemi which is tasked to haul a close to 4,000 lbs cab over camper (Arctic Fox 811) and sometimes tow a boat as well. Couldn't be happier with the performance only after I added air bags.

Looking for a 3500 with the 6.4 hemi for that reason since I know I'm pushing the payload limits.

Is it worth getting the 8 speed tranny over the 6 speed tranny?
 

Motoman501

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I can’t speak about the 6 speed with the Hemi but probably every forum I’ve read people complain about it, usually about gaps in the gears. I can say that I love the 8 speed. On one of the streets to my house it runs 6th gear at 45mph. Unlike the 68rfe, at this speed, if I touch the throttle it instantly responds with a downshift so smooth you usually can’t feel it and has instant power.

I’ve only towed once, from Reno to Truckee so the distance was short but had a lot of hills. My travel trailer is about 8000lbs loaded and it handled it great with butter smooth shifts and it felt like it always had the right gear. I was running about 3300 rpm’s in 5th to hold 60 mph. Payload is why I went with another 2500, I don’t want to stress about weight because my wife packs the whole house on camping trips.
 

twoodinc

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Why not a '19 or '20 1500? They are rated up to 11,500 and much better on gas.

tw
 

Motoman501

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Why not a '19 or '20 1500? They are rated up to 11,500 and much better on gas.

tw

Payload is probably the major reason. It's nearly impossible to get anywhere near the max towing capacity of a 1500 and stay within payload limits. My brother's 2019 Bighorn payload is 1560lbs while my 2019 Tradesman 2500 is 3200lbs. I wanted a 1500 but didn't want to worry about weight on every trip.
 
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392DevilDog

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Why not a '19 or '20 1500? They are rated up to 11,500 and much better on gas.

tw
To get the max tow rate on a 1500, you are allowed 300 pounds for driver and passenger and 70 lbs for hitch. I weigh 295...

And I got 18.4 MPG on my trip to the beach and get about 10.5 to 11 towing...ask someone with a 19 if they get that often.

392 hemi 2500 crew longbed
 
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star_deceiver

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Put a 600# quad and gear in the back then hook up a 1000+# tongue weight sail and you will have one unhappy 1/2ton!

And remember with the diesel: Your only one turbo actuator, injector, cp4, 68rfe problem away from a very hefty bill... budget accordingly.

1E0E828B-D165-43E3-88EC-078E0255E42A.jpeg
 

runamuck

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To get the max tow rate on a 1500, you are allowed 300 pounds for driver and passenger and 70 lbs for hitch. I weigh 295...

And I got 18.4 MPG on my trip to the beach and get about 10.5 to 11 towing...ask someone with a 19 if they get that often.

392 hemi 2500 crew longbed

I dont know about that. door jamb on mine says max 1324# including passengers and cargo. that's the only knock I have against the truck. would like a couple hundred more # of cargo capacity.
 

392DevilDog

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To get the max tow rating (the published one) they put 300 lbs for driver and passenger and 70 lbs for hitching equipment. And it is for a very specific configuration.

As soon as you and 1 more pound or a thousand more pounds the tow rating goes down that much.

MAX Payload and MAX towing are mutually exlusive.

If you got a payload sticker of 1324# and you load to 1324# you can not tow anything. (You need the tongue weight atleast.)

If a driver is in the truck by himself and weighs say 150...your max towing actually goes up.

Not sure if that is what was meant with your opening sentance.

But to my point, in a 1500, if I was to try to have max towing, I would first have to buy a completely base model 2wd quad cab and then could only haul 6 more pounds with me.

Now I can load the truck up with other stuff, but no longer have max towing.

Why I have a HD, I haul more often than I tow and I haul while towing.
 

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