Gas vs. Diesel, 3.73 vs. 4.10, 2500 vs. 3500

[dhay13]

too much camper for a 2500 Cummins so a 3500 for sure and as mentioned, that will be real close to dually territory there if not over

 

[NH RAM]

Definitely a 3500 Cummins truck with a 50 gallon fuel tank. I'm not sure that there are any lease deals out there; good luck shopping.

 

[Tom Halligan]

Currently live in Colorado (near Wolf Creek Pass) and pull my 14,000 GVW with a Ram 2500 short bed with a Cummins. After 3 years of towing it across the country for 2-3 months at a time I have decided it was time to upgrade to a 3500. Wish I had avoided the 2500. Tagged the tailgate twice and unfortunately took out the back window once at a gas station. As for fuel tank, I found the 31 gal forced us to stop more often and once coming back from Big Bend almost ran out of gas (Zero gas stations on route). No issues towing with the 68RFE Tranny But the Aisin Is unsurpassed. So in my opinion, if you plan on keeping the truck for some time getting one that allows you to move up in trailer size makes sense

 

[man n black]

too much camper for a 2500 Cummins so a 3500 for sure and as mentioned, that will be real close to dually territory there if not over

Did RAM derate the towing capacity?

I thought for sure my 2013 non dually 2500 Cummins with 68RFE and 3.24 gears was good for 18K pounds.

I also live in Colorado (Steamboat Springs) and regularly tow Rockies and Sierra Nevada passes. I too have towed all over the country and Canada. The first and only problem we have ever had in 7 years towing was last fall where we seized the front pinion bearing 100 yds from our front door after a 3500 mile trip. I would not hesitate to buy a 2500 Cummins again, though for some peace of mind I'd go with the Aisin transmission to be 100% bulletproof.

@OP (or anyone else looking) we have upgraded to a diffrent mobile setup and our TT is currently for sale. PM for more details if interested.

 

[swest]

I have a 2020 Ram 2500 with a 6.7. and have a Pullrite Superglide 2900 auto-slider and can turn over 90 degrees with no issues. My fifthwheel weighs 10,000 pounds and truck pulls through mountains great with no issues,

 

[Nickx86]

late to the comments and totally not practical but would fit the bill in between the 6.4 hemi and 6.7 Cummins...get the 6.4 hemi, once warranty expires, put a blower on it or turbocharge the engine…gas mileage will be pretty bad but it will tow better since your producing more torque lower, better daily driver and no emissions to deal

 

[NH RAM]

Did RAM derate the towing capacity?

I thought for sure my 2013 non dually 2500 Cummins with 68RFE and 3.24 gears was good for 18K pounds.

I also live in Colorado (Steamboat Springs) and regularly tow Rockies and Sierra Nevada passes. I too have towed all over the country and Canada. The first and only problem we have ever had in 7 years towing was last fall where we seized the front pinion bearing 100 yds from our front door after a 3500 mile trip. I would not hesitate to buy a 2500 Cummins again, though for some peace of mind I'd go with the Aisin transmission to be 100% bulletproof.

@OP (or anyone else looking) we have upgraded to a diffrent mobile setup and our TT is currently for sale. PM for more details if interested.

According to rambodybuilder.com the 2013 2500 6.7 (which they called a Cummings...go figure) auto trans can tow 17,430# and has a payload of 2600# in SLT trim. By 2014 the payload dropped to 2230#; In 2014 they changed the 2500's from rear leaf springs to coil springs.

 

[ggrimm01]

Hello all. I own both the 2

 

[Blklabfan]

2021 3500 Dually, HO with Max Tow Package, 8' Bed, 30K 5w Hitch, Air Assist, 50 gal tank. Pulled a 16.5K 5th wheel to Daytona 500 a couple of weeks ago from WV, and son had to check each hour to insure it was still back there. Averaged about 9.7 mpg @ 65mph. Empty (15.7 mpg) it rides very nice, not Caddy nice, but better than any truck I've had in the past.

 

[sandawilliams]

Not to mention even MOAR when tuned!

I don't get it. Why have 1000ftlb when torque management keeps you from using it?

 

[2018 Hemi]

I traded in a 2007 3500 6.7 4.10 gear Cummins for a 2018 2500 with 6.4 Hemi with 373 gears. It get the job done. Pulling #12,000. But should have stayed with Cummins. GET a long bed!

 

[Bearcatrp]

With fuel prices going nuts, and seeing diesel almost a buck more vs gas, am glad I went gas route. I may not climb hills loaded like the diesel trucks but my fuel costs are allot less.

 

[Whiskey13]

I have had both a 2500 with Diesel and Gas I have also had two 3500 Diesels.
With a 2500 I would stay with gas and 4.10 gears are great. Loss of payload because of diesel weight and price of diesel would be my reason.
3500, diesel is the only thing I would want.
If you truly don't pull the big load or any load on a regular basis 2500 6.4 and 4.10s are great combo.
I currently have 2019 Power Wagon with those features and I love the set up.

 

[Whiskey13]

I towed a 35 foot fifth wheel for several years with short beds both with a 2500 and 3500. I had a slider hitch for tight maneuvers and backing. Never came close to hitting the camper on the truck body.

 

[dhay13]

My son has a 2021 2500 Cummins and paid $116 to fill up the other day from 1/4 tank. Diesel here is $5.39 while regular is $4.39

 

[Bigdaddy]

2021 3500 Dually, HO with Max Tow Package, 8' Bed, 30K 5w Hitch, Air Assist, 50 gal tank. Pulled a 16.5K 5th wheel to Daytona 500 a couple of weeks ago from WV, and son had to check each hour to insure it was still back there. Averaged about 9.7 mpg @ 65mph. Empty (15.7 mpg) it rides very nice, not Caddy nice, but better than any truck I've had in the past.

So how was the weather I will be towing our 5th wheel cross country at the end of this month, I pray for good weather all the way?

 

[BossHogg]

With fuel prices going nuts, and seeing diesel almost a buck more vs gas, am glad I went gas route. I may not climb hills loaded like the diesel trucks but my fuel costs are allot less.

Not only will you not be climbing hills as well but you may want to take another look at the fuel costs even though gas is a buck less than diesel. Comparing the cost of fuel on the surface is shocking, in this example, a dollar more per gallon, what has to be compared is the cost per mile to drive a gas-powered vehicle to a diesel-powered vehicle of the same type.

From what I read, most are claiming around 15 MPG empty on a RAM Hemi HD. I have a RAM 3500 Cummins, SRW, 3:42 axle ratio and I average 24 MPG empty.

If gas is $4.39 per gallon and the vehicle is getting 15 MPG, the cost to drive 1 mile is $0.293
If diesel is $1 more than gas and the vehicle gets 24 MPG, the cost to drive 1 mile is $0.225

If the vehicle has a 32-gallon tank, the range of the diesel is 288 miles greater than the gas HD at a fuel savings of $18.30 based on the fuel pricing above.

Politicians know this and in most states diesel is more heavily taxed than gas causing the higher cost of diesel at the pump. Also, fewer vehicles use diesel and the objections from the masses are not there making it easier for politicians to place higher fuel taxes on diesel.

The need for a diesel-powered vehicle falls to the choice of need and want. I needed a diesel 3500 to pull 16,000 pounds of RV around our beautiful country. I recently purchase a new 2022 ECOdiesel, I wanted it. The 2022 replaced my 2013 Hemi which yielded a pitiful 17 MPG average. The ECOdiesel is coming in at 26 MPG average and the ECOdiesel was an upcharge of $2,200. At current fuel pricing, the ECOdiesel will break even at 41,000 miles.

 

[BossHogg]

With a 2500 I would stay with gas and 4.10 gears are great. Loss of payload because of diesel weight and price of diesel would be my reason.

If memory serves, the Cummins driveline adds about 800 pounds of weight to the HD over the Heni's driveline. My thought is if your payload needs are that close, then a 3500 would be a better choice regardless of the powertrain.

 

[sandawilliams]

Not only will you not be climbing hills as well but you may want to take another look at the fuel costs even though gas is a buck less than diesel. Comparing the cost of fuel on the surface is shocking, in this example, a dollar more per gallon, what has to be compared is the cost per mile to drive a gas-powered vehicle to a diesel-powered vehicle of the same type.

From what I read, most are claiming around 15 MPG empty on a RAM Hemi HD. I have a RAM 3500 Cummins, SRW, 3:42 axle ratio and I average 24 MPG empty.

If gas is $4.39 per gallon and the vehicle is getting 15 MPG, the cost to drive 1 mile is $0.293
If diesel is $1 more than gas and the vehicle gets 24 MPG, the cost to drive 1 mile is $0.225

If the vehicle has a 32-gallon tank, the range of the diesel is 288 miles greater than the gas HD at a fuel savings of $18.30 based on the fuel pricing above.

Politicians know this and in most states diesel is more heavily taxed than gas causing the higher cost of diesel at the pump. Also, fewer vehicles use diesel and the objections from the masses are not there making it easier for politicians to place higher fuel taxes on diesel.

The need for a diesel-powered vehicle falls to the choice of need and want. I needed a diesel 3500 to pull 16,000 pounds of RV around our beautiful country. I recently purchase a new 2022 ECOdiesel, I wanted it. The 2022 replaced my 2013 Hemi which yielded a pitiful 17 MPG average. The ECOdiesel is coming in at 26 MPG average and the ECOdiesel was an upcharge of $2,200. At current fuel pricing, the ECOdiesel will break even at 41,000 miles.

Your 24 mpg must be an evic reading. Others I know do more like 21 mpg hand calculating.

 

[dhay13]

My 2018 2500 6.4 4.10's averages 12.2 hand calculated since I bought it (about 18,000 miles). My son has a 2021 2500 Cummins with 3.73's and drives about 15 miles 1 way to work and has not towed anything with it yet and his EVIC reads about 15.5. He has never hand calculated but likely to be around 15.0 or so. He has about 7000-8000 miles on it