Hemi or Cummins?

[BigAH]

Help me out, I currently have a 14 Ram 2500 with the 5.7 Hemi, we upgraded our camper to a 37’ 10,000lb 5th wheel and normally only pull it locally but twice a year I will pull it about 1,500 miles round trip. Will the Hemi be ok or should I look at switching to a Cummins?
Right now my truck is stock but if I keep it I’m planning on adding exhaust, cold air intake, and programmer and possibly a transmission cooler.

 

[lpennock]

Cummins will go up the 6% grades better and probably get better mileage but the gasser will be fine. No use trading for 1-2 trips per year.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

 

[mtnrider]

The Hemi will pull it.... The Cummins will do it a lot easier. But you already have a truck and don't pull that often so it doesn't really make sense to swap it at this point.
With that said I would be leery of dumping a lot of money in mods if you think you are going to make big gains in power of mpg towing, not going to happen. Save your money for fuel or just buy the diesel


.

 

[U&A]

Hemi will pull it, cummins will pull it better.

How much money are you willing to give up for “better”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hootbro]

Unless you got new truck fever, stick with what you got. New vehicle cost and the $9K premium for a Cummins buys a lot of gas.

 

[NewBlackDak]

The Hemi will pull it.... The Cummins will do it a lot easier. But you already have a truck and don't pull that often so it doesn't really make sense to swap it at this point.
With that said I would be leery of dumping a lot of money in mods if you think you are going to make big gains in power of mpg towing, not going to happen. Save your money for fuel or just buy the diesel


.

Gears would be the only mod I’d seriously think about, as they would make a noticeable difference. Bags maybe too. You’re probably well over your capacity since the 5.7 is only 9k instead of the 10K on the Cummins and 6.4s. I don’t know if they use different springs, but the 6.4 springs could be an option if they do.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[theviking]

IMO, your money would be much better spent on re-gearing over a CAI or tune.

 

[mtofell]

These guys pretty much have it covered - I think it just depends how much $$ you have burning a hole in your pocket. Lots? Go Cummins. Some? Re-gear. Little or none? Stick with what you have it will get the job done. Air bags would be good if you keep the current truck. I wouldn't be without them on my 2500 hauling a big 5th wheel.

 

[wespentecost]

I've had both....if money wasnt an issue, Cummins hands down for pulling. However, money is money...I added air bags to my 6.4 hemi 2500 and it pulled my heavy stuff fine. I miss that truck now.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[RAM_Designs]

What gears do you currently have? What size tires do you have? Re-gearing may be a good idea and will make your daily driving a lot easier too.

 

[Firebird]

I wouldn't drop Cummins coin for that few pulls a year

 

[22hemi13]

I have a 2014 with the 5.7 also. It will for sure pull it. It won’t be the most pleasurable. Cummins sure are nice.......and nice costs haha.

 

[SouthTexan]

Help me out, I currently have a 14 Ram 2500 with the 5.7 Hemi, we upgraded our camper to a 37’ 10,000lb 5th wheel and normally only pull it locally but twice a year I will pull it about 1,500 miles round trip. Will the Hemi be ok or should I look at switching to a Cummins?
Right now my truck is stock but if I keep it I’m planning on adding exhaust, cold air intake, and programmer and possibly a transmission cooler.

1) What will the terrain be like on these 1,500 miles round trips.

2) What elevation?

3) Does where you are towing have enough fuel stations that range between fill ups is not an issue?

4) What are your towing expectations? i.e. Are you fine with your engine revving higher pulling a load and dropping some speed up hills?

I would get a diesel whether I need it for towing or not because I love how diesels drive(especially tuned an deleted ), but that is just me. Everyone has different uses for their trucks, different terrain they drive in, and different expectations.

 

[U&A]

Re-gear it. I went from 3.73 to 4:88 and my truck pulls like a beast now for a gas truck.

Gears are the absolute BEST mod any truck owner could ever do.

if you look at the towing capacity of the same truck with 3.73’s and 4.10’s on FCA’s sheets you will see there is a reasonable amount of towing capacity increase. Now imagine jumping to 4.88’s.

Here is a screen shot and a link for you. My truck, 4X4 CC Long Bed 6.4 gains 3,000lbs towing capacity going from 3.73 to 4.10

The same truck with a 5.7 gains 2,000lbs

https://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towing_guide/pdf/2016_ram_3500_towing_charts.pdf




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ratket]

Texan ask”s a lot of valid questions.

1) you aren’t going to be passing any gas stations..
2) that factory exhaust brake on the Cummins is going to help night and day with controlling that load.
3) I would recommend towing that weight around and see how comfortable you are. If you are comfortable and have a understanding of what you have and know what to expect and are good with it then you are all set. If on the other hand you arnt, then looks like you will be shopping for a diesel

 

[SouthTexan]

Texan ask”s a lot of valid questions.

1) you aren’t going to be passing any gas stations..
2) that factory exhaust brake on the Cummins is going to help night and day with controlling that load.
3) I would recommend towing that weight around and see how comfortable you are. If you are comfortable and have a understanding of what you have and know what to expect and are good with it then you are all set. If on the other hand you arnt, then looks like you will be shopping for a diesel

Exactly, I learned a long time ago when giving customers product advice that the reason why most people get mad about a something is because their expectations are not being met. If they know what to expect before hand(good or bad) and are fine with it then I generally had happier customers.

 

[tjfdesmo]

Texan ask”s a lot of valid questions.

1) you aren’t going to be passing any gas stations..
2) that factory exhaust brake on the Cummins is going to help night and day with controlling that load.
3) I would recommend towing that weight around and see how comfortable you are. If you are comfortable and have a understanding of what you have and know what to expect and are good with it then you are all set. If on the other hand you arnt, then looks like you will be shopping for a diesel

I am pulling heavier(around 15K), but this and ST's posts are on the money.

1. Averaging 7.5-8.5 mpg with cruise set to 65 mph. I have not been in any truly mountainous areas, so I expect under 7 then. On Edit: The low fuel light is generally on around 180 miles, so range is just terrible.

2. Long downgrades definitely take some forethought, and the discipline to slow down and gear down at the top, BEFORE things get out of hand. Don't be fooled by the downgrade braking feature. With a heavy trailer it will wind the engine to the moon, but there is very little actual slowing of the load, mostly noise. You MUST preserve your service brakes

3. The chassis is amazingly up to the task. I did install Airlift 7500 bags. There is zero drama.

If I had it to do over, I'd go Cummins.

 

[BigAH]

Ok, my truck has 3.73 gears. I pull from Missouri to Alabama, Florida, Louisiana. We stay on 55 as long as possible and will be on 65 for a little, south of Birmingham.
I have stock wheels and tires, but I've been thinking about going with a little bigger tire.

 

[22hemi13]

Rinsed ole girl off after two trips to the farm. The new flares are doing a MUCH MUCH better job of keeping the mud and rocks from clinging down the truck.

 

[spoon059]

You already have the 5.7, I wouldn't spend the money to get a Cummins at this point. The frame, engine, transmission and brakes are plenty to handle a 10,000 lbs trailer. Yes, you will burn more gas, but the cost difference of going to a new Cummins wouldn't break even for a very long time. Seeing as to how most trips are short, I just couldn't justify the price.

The exhaust brake on the Cummins is amazing when descending mountains, but again... for the cost difference you can simply pay a little more attention and drive a gas truck and use your service brakes.