Going from 3500 Diesel to Hemi

[ronheater70]

yea I traded my 2016 2500 with the 6.4 hemi in on my 2018 cummins 3500 CCLB 4x4 with the G56 6 speed manual. I love this truck, but the truth is we no longer pull a 40' fifth wheel. our camper is now about 27 feet and 6K pounds, well within the range of most 1/2 tons. I would occasionally need to pull my mother in laws which is a tad over 10K so id at least like to stay with a 2500. Now, My reasons from ditching my 2016 6.4 hemi 2500 was an awful gap between 1st and second, as well as occasional smoke on startup etc.. not confidence inspiring in a new off the floor truck. How is the new 8 speed in these newer ones in terms of strength, reliability, and performance towing.
As I say I love my current truck, and it just ticked over 53K miles, not bad for a 2018 diesel I bought new. It has the snow chief package, a few other goodies so I feel I should be able to come out fairly decent if I sell. Especially with the G56, they seem to have a cult following. Main reason, My wife wants to pull the camper on her own now. Id like to drop down to a 6' bed for maneuverability. She drives the 6 speed manual fine, but it's geared high in reverse and I always use low range backing uphill with the camper for that reason. I'd just feel better with her in something a lil less fussy with the driving style.

So in short looking to see if issues I had with my 2016 6.4 had been resolved. Mainly transmission. Are the 6.4 now days still susceptible to lifter tick/ manifold leaks etc..

 

[olyelr]

The 6.4’s are still a ticky sounding motor. Its not a problem, just what they are. I have 125k on mine and the manifolds dont leak yet.

My biggest gripe (only gripe really) with my power wagon is the trans. Its just geared wrong for the hemi in my opinion. The new 8 speeds are night and day better. If that was your main complaint, you should be tickled pink with the 8 speed.

Go test drive one !

 

[ronheater70]

The 6.4’s are still a ticky sounding motor. Its not a problem, just what they are. I have 125k on mine and the manifolds dont leak yet.

My biggest gripe (only gripe really) with my power wagon is the trans. Its just geared wrong for the hemi in my opinion. The new 8 speeds are night and day better. If that was your main complaint, you should be tickled pink with the 8 speed.

Go test drive one !

I'm afraid to test drive one..L.. Im looking at you tube videos as I type this.. seems very few complaints about the 8 speed.

 

[Slick61]

I think the transmission issues were fixed when they switched to the 8 speed Aisin in 2018? I have a 2016 6.4L with the 6 speed tranny as well, which admittedly, can be a bit clunky at times. Luckily, I have the 4.10s in back & my Ram tows my 28' Lance beautifully- especially in tow/haul mode.

 

[MADDOG]

Don't be afraid. Take risks and, hopefully, it will all work out.

I bought a new 2014 2500 Big Horn with the 6.4L HEMI in it. From the first day of ownership that engine clattered at cold start even when it wasn't that cold! It would eventually quiet down. Four months into owning the truck the clackety clack never stopped. I took it to the dealer just as a new TSB was issued regarding noise. It turned out the problem was piston slap due to undersized piston wrist pins! They replaced the engine, and everything was fine after that ... mostly. More on that later...

But the transmission never really wowed me with how it shifted or how it worked with differing loads, when towing or when running with no load.

Back to the 2014 and the "mostly" part noted above... That 2014 was a great truck but I was never given the chance to really put miles on it. It died thanks to a red-light runner who took its life with less than 20K miles on it and only 23 months of ownership.



Ughhh...

I quickly acquired a 2500 Cummins, and I noticed similar shifting issues, but it was a good truck as well. It was leveled, deleted, tuned, got lots of other mods and I found out why the transmissions in the modded out Cummins trucks were failing. Cases were cracking under the stress of the increased power and just needed some additional bracing to keep them from flopping around too much. It was a great truck, and it ran awesome after the engine & transmission mods were done. @G-Ride990 can attest to its performance.



When I moved to Arizona, I found out that my mods rendered my truck illegal here. So, away it went in favor of a different vehicle. That didn't work out and that's all I'm gonna say about that.

Fast forward 11 years... after the 2014 was rendered hors de combat. Now I own a 2024 Big Horn with the 6.4L and the ZF 8-speed automatic. There's a HUGE difference in how this new transmission shifts and does work, especially when towing. I can't be happier with how this thing works. The new transmission is a great improvement over the earlier unit and my 2024 6.4L HEMI has not ticked at me once! I'm really happy with this truck and how it performs.

 

[nlambert182]

I think the transmission issues were fixed when they switched to the 8 speed Aisin in 2018? I have a 2016 6.4L with the 6 speed tranny as well, which admittedly, can be a bit clunky at times. Luckily, I have the 4.10s in back & my Ram tows my 28' Lance beautifully- especially in tow/haul mode.

There is no 8-speed Aisin. It's an 8 speed ZF transmission.

 

[ronheater70]

Don't be afraid. Take risks and, hopefully, it will all work out.

I bought a new 2014 2500 Big Horn with the 6.4L HEMI in it. From the first day of ownership that engine clattered at cold start even when it wasn't that cold! It would eventually quiet down. Four months into owning the truck the clackety clack never stopped. I took it to the dealer just as a new TSB was issued regarding noise. It turned out the problem was piston slap due to undersized piston wrist pins! They replaced the engine, and everything was fine after that ... mostly. More on that later...

But the transmission never really wowed me with how it shifted or how it worked with differing loads, when towing or when running with no load.

Back to the 2014 and the "mostly" part noted above... That 2014 was a great truck but I was never given the chance to really put miles on it. It died thanks to a red-light runner who took its life with less than 20K miles on it and only 23 months of ownership.

View attachment 576513View attachment 576514

Ughhh...

I quickly acquired a 2500 Cummins, and I noticed similar shifting issues, but it was a good truck as well. It was leveled, deleted, tuned, got lots of other mods and I found out why the transmissions in the modded out Cummins trucks were failing. Cases were cracking under the stress of the increased power and just needed some additional bracing to keep them from flopping around too much. It was a great truck, and it ran awesome after the engine & transmission mods were done. @G-Ride990 can attest to its performance.

View attachment 576518

When I moved to Arizona, I found out that my mods rendered my truck illegal here. So, away it went in favor of a different vehicle. That didn't work out and that's all I'm gonna say about that.

Fast forward 11 years... after the 2014 was rendered hors de combat. Now I own a 2024 Big Horn with the 6.4L and the ZF 8-speed automatic. There's a HUGE difference in how this new transmission shifts and does work, especially when towing. I can't be happier with how this thing works. The new transmission is a great improvement over the earlier unit and my 2024 6.4L HEMI has not ticked at me once! I'm really happy with this truck and how it performs.

View attachment 576519

Both the first and last are sharp trucks! I went to the Cummins because the tranny in my 2016 6.4 2500 could not make up its mind. Getting onto the highway with a decent uphill ramp and 10K pounds was quite the crap show. scream its guts out in first then fall on its face in second. We took one trip with it and that camper and bought the cummins a month later. I recall that being my biggest complaint was the transmission. (Then bought a bigger camper because we had the diesel, it never ends!) Ironically i'm looking at a 24 Bighorn as well which is what got me to thinking. I personally love my current truck and the 6 speed manual. the only down side is a slightly high geared reverse, but now that i'm not towing a 40' fifth wheel its not that big of a deal. I'm really torn, but I certainly do not need the diesel for what I am towing now and it would make it easier for my wife to tow with it.. And its paid for, I dont like looking at payments again. Think I may go look at the Bighorn Saturday if its still on thier lot.

 

[KenR 955]

FWIW, I went from a 98.5 QCLB 2500 5.9 Cummins, 2wd, 3:54 gears, truck to a 2014 4 door, 6.5' bed, 5.7 Hemi 4wd truck.
The gasser, according to the spec sheet, should pull my trailer, (8x14, dual axle, 8' tall) without issue, but the tail will wag the dog if I'm not careful, and, for sure, will bottom the rear suspension, even using a weight distributing hitch.
For work I drive an 09 2500, single cab, long bed, 5.7 Hemi, 2wd, with 4:10 gears and it does not struggle with the same trailer.
Take from this what you will.
KR

 

[Bearcatrp]

I had a 2014 2500 with a 6.4 and 6 speed transmission. Did ok pulling my 11000 lb 5th wheel but the gaps between gears sucked. When I took it to Colorado into the mountains, it was a disaster. Because of the gaps, couldn’t get out of 3rd gear. Moved up to a 2021 3500 6.4 with the 8 speed. Just plain awesome. Took the same trip with my 5th wheel. Was in 5th and 6th gear going up the hill. The 8 speed is a dream come true for the 6.4. You won’t regret it. I went long box so I could get a 50 gallon tank. Even got better fuel mileage with the 8 speed.

 

[ronheater70]

I have found a few with the features I like, gonna go check them out tonight after work. I'm kinda excited! I checked the value of my truck and Wow Diesels really hold their value, especially with low miles. I have the potential to do fairly whell but not gonna count my chickens before they hatch.

 

[ronheater70]

Bought it Friday Night, Felt like i got a good deal. After a few dealer Add ons I requested and taxes and registration, this truck cost me 10K out of Pocket. But geesh i felt like I left my old farm dog at the shelter when I drove past my old truck sitting on the Lot.. Man I loved that truck. Oh welp.. this will be easier for My wife to learn to tow with and at our location, gas is now 1 dollar cheaper a gallon than diesel so that will be a savings also. I will say the 8 speed was a game changer in this truck. It felt like a much happier truck than what i remember my 2016 hemi to be. Gotta figure out the technology in this thing.. I'm not a big tech guy and this has got that what looks like 12-14" screen down the middle of the dash. We shall see how it goes! Now I need to figure out oil viscosity and type for this 6.4 all over again.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Nice looking truck. What year and model?

 

[ronheater70]

Nice looking truck. What year and model?

Its a 24 2500 Bighorn. I always wanted a red truck, i cant recall how often I had told my wife I wanted a red truck some day. Its kinda rare you see a plain red truck anymore. Lots of nice bright variations and tones of red, but a plain red one seems a lil less popular for some reason. (I think this one is something called a Night Edition?) The grill and everything is all blacked out.

 

[olyelr]

Its a 24 2500 Bighorn. I always wanted a red truck, i cant recall how often I had told my wife I wanted a red truck some day. Its kinda rare you see a plain red truck anymore. Lots of nice bright variations and tones of red, but a plain red one seems a lil less popular for some reason. (I think this one is something called a Night Edition?) The grill and everything is all blacked out.

Yea the night edition gives it black grill, wheels, mirrors and badges.

Nice truck man! Does it have the center council or no?

 

[Undrta2d]

Congrats on the new truck, she’s a beaut! It’s always a good day when you can check off something from your bucket list

 

[ronheater70]

Yea the night edition gives it black grill, wheels, mirrors and badges.

Nice truck man! Does it have the center council or no?

It is the bench seat in front! But the flip down center consol is big and useful!

 

[Slick61]

"Now I need to figure out oil viscosity and type for this 6.4 all over again." That's easy... Pennzoil UltraPlatinum 0W-40... it can be difficult to find in most auto parts stores, so just order it off of Amazon... unless you're gonna have the dealer do your servicing. I have never used anything else on my '16 6.4, and have had no issues... in the last 10 years, all I've done is alternator & battery (and several sets of tires).

 

[ronheater70]

"Now I need to figure out oil viscosity and type for this 6.4 all over again." That's easy... Pennzoil UltraPlatinum 0W-40... it can be difficult to find in most auto parts stores, so just order it off of Amazon... unless you're gonna have the dealer do your servicing. I have never used anything else on my '16 6.4, and have had no issues... in the last 10 years, all I've done is alternator & battery (and several sets of tires).

yea Im reading that now. I know when I had my '16 the oil talk was all over the place and now that penzoil seems to have settled as the dominate choice. Thats what Ill go with.