Looking hard at a new 2500

[RandomRam]

I am looking hard at replacing our 4Runner with a 2500 crew cab short bed. The 4Runner is too small for the family activities. We’ve test driven a few trucks and compared the Cummins to the Hemi and I think we’ve settled on the Hemi for it’s low cost of ownership and convenience.

We found a fresh off the train Tradesman in Black Forest Green Pearlcoat that checks a lot of boxes for us. Off Road Package, Spray in Bed Liner, Anti Spin Diff, basic radio 3.0, trailer brake controller, back up camera in the rear view mirror and chrome package. The only negative for us is the 3.73 gears and the non towing mirrors, both of which are minor. We really like how basic the truck is compared to our 4Runner.

My question is has anyone used one of the Scosche dash kits to install an aftermarket radio? Not having blue tooth is a minor inconvenience for us as plugging the phone in for tunes isn’t a big deal.

 

[OMW2SKI]

4Runner to 2500 is a huge upgrade! I recently upgraded from a Nissan Frontier to a 1500 ('18 5.7L 4X4 3.92 gears CC SB Big Horn). The 1500 feels like a lot of truck coming from a mid-size truck and, previously, SUV's and cars.

Why are you eyeballing the 2500? Will you be towing a lot? If not, I wonder if the 1500 would be sufficient.

 

[RandomRam]

4Runner to 2500 is a huge upgrade! I recently upgraded from a Nissan Frontier to a 1500 ('18 5.7L 4X4 3.92 gears CC SB Big Horn). The 1500 feels like a lot of truck coming from a mid-size truck and, previously, SUV's and cars.

Why are you eyeballing the 2500? Will you be towing a lot? If not, I wonder if the 1500 would be sufficient.

Payload and solid front axle. Anything I want to tow could be handled with a 1500 until I start adding gear to the bed. We also go to a lot of remote places with rough roads and ground clearance is a concern.

 

[BlkZrx]

I tow an 8500+ camper with 3.73 and it does a fine job, using tow/haul mode and manually shifting in the hills. 4.10 is not that much different then 3.73. If you have the choice, go 4.10, but don't let it kill the deal..

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[sandawilliams]

I tow an 8500+ camper with 3.73 and it does a fine job, using tow/haul mode and manually shifting in the hills. 4.10 is not that much different then 3.73. If you have the choice, go 4.10, but don't let it kill the deal..

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I agree- 3.73's work great towing up to 9000 and another 1500 in the bed. (45000 towing miles through all terrain)

 

[SixFOURhemiHD]

There seems to be a lot of 4.10 trucks available, at least in my area. Your dealer could probably find a 4.10 truck in the area. I went 4.10 and I’m glad I did, but it was available. If 3.73 was all I could find, I’d have gone that route. If your not towing over 12,000, then the 4.10s would be purely for drivability. I personally like how the 4.10s feel compared to the 3.73. Highway mileage takes a hit but seems to do better around town. I will say, I doubt you here many if any guys say they regret 4.10s, but I know there’s 3.73 owners wishing they had 4.10s. That being said, coming from a 4Runner, both the 3.73 and 4.10 options will do more than you need.


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[RandomRam]

Thanks all for the comments on the 3.73’s, very good info. I’m hopeful we can make a deal on this truck. I really like how the Hemi drives and handles. The short bed handles awesome.

I’m going into this eyes wide open. My work truck is a ‘17 F250 crew cab long bed with the 6.2 gas engine. Ride empty is horrible compared to the Ram 2500. While the Torqshift G transmission is easily the best HD gas transmission I’ve ever driven the Ram seems to be an overall nicer driving truck. Smoother and better MPG.

 

[jaflowers]

Unless you have to have it now I'd be inclined to wait a touch. Supposedly Ram is testing out the new transmission for the HD trucks right now. Not sure when release date is but if soon I'd probably wait on the purchase since the #1 complaint on the truck is the mismatched gearing the current transmission has.

 

[SixFOURhemiHD]

Unless you have to have it now I'd be inclined to wait a touch. Supposedly Ram is testing out the new transmission for the HD trucks right now. Not sure when release date is but if soon I'd probably wait on the purchase since the #1 complaint on the truck is the mismatched gearing the current transmission has.

My dealer told me MY2020 will see a new transmission, and hinted at an 8 speed... I would assume this will be an all new truck, like the new 1500.


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[22hemi13]

My dealer told me MY2020 will see a new transmission, and hinted at an 8 speed... I would assume this will be an all new truck, like the new 1500.


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That’s the popular answer. Nothing has been put out yet. Bet man I’m waiting to see the new HD’s. Hoping for new improved tranny as well, however I hope it looks tough like a truck

 

[Firebird]

That’s the popular answer. Nothing has been put out yet. Bet man I’m waiting to see the new HD’s. Hoping for new improved tranny as well, however I hope it looks tough like a truck

It will have to look a whole lot better than the 1500 to get me to make the jump. However, that new interior is so tempting!

 

[SixFOURhemiHD]

It will have to look a whole lot better than the 1500 to get me to make the jump. However, that new interior is so tempting!

Yea I hope they do a better job on the HD than the new 1500. It’s not terrible but I think it looks like a Toyota Tundra. Definitely not like a Ram. Plus I think the current HD is the best looking HD on the road...


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[GsRAM]

Yea I hope they do a better job on the HD than the new 1500. It’s not terrible but I think it looks like a Toyota Tundra. Definitely not like a Ram. Plus I think the current HD is the best looking HD on the road...


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Agreed...i think they look like a Tacoma from the front. I dont care for them. I love the looks of My 2500. My truck has plenty of juice with the 73s, but if you have an otherwise identical truck/ identical deal with the 10s, yeah get the 10s. But my 73s are more than i need. Once your up over 10k trailer weight I think it becomes more necessary to have the 10s. Good luck. I love my 2500!

 

[boxofrokx]

If this truck has most of what you want, get it. IDK about your radio question. Try over on Crutchfield or see what the dealer will charge to upgrade. The 3.73 should work fine.

 

[mohemipar]

FCA has stated they will be revealing some kind of updated HD truck in January 2019 (most likely the Detroit auto show). If it’s a full complete redesign based on the new 1500 or not we don’t know for sure yet. I’m thinking it will be the full redesign.

But if OP likes the truck he test drove and it is well optioned for his needs then no harm in going for it. Will be way more truck in every way than a 4Runner.

 

[SixFOURhemiHD]

If this truck has most of what you want, get it. IDK about your radio question. Try over on Crutchfield or see what the dealer will charge to upgrade. The 3.73 should work fine.

You can swap the radio out for a better OEM one with uconnect, you can also swap all the way up to the 8.4 nag unit. It can be done by piecing the parts together and getting some m2mods harnesses or by going through a company like infotainment (more expensive)


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[RandomRam]

Thanks all, appreciate the input. I figured Ram would be introducing an updated pickup soon, my only thought is for the most part the current trucks seem well sorted.

I answered my own radio question; looks pretty simple with an aftermarket head unit and dash kit. My experience with OEM infotainment hasn’t been very good. The unit in my Toyota is slow to connect to phones and while nav is a neat gimmick my iPad Mini with Google Maps or Gaia GPS outperforms it.

 

[SixFOURhemiHD]

Thanks all, appreciate the input. I figured Ram would be introducing an updated pickup soon, my only thought is for the most part the current trucks seem well sorted.

I answered my own radio question; looks pretty simple with an aftermarket head unit and dash kit. My experience with OEM infotainment hasn’t been very good. The unit in my Toyota is slow to connect to phones and while nav is a neat gimmick my iPad Mini with Google Maps or Gaia GPS outperforms it.

That is usually my opinion too, but I do have to say, my Uconnect 3.0 with 5” screen has been great. I used to have all kinds of issues with my Ford sync system, but this Uconnect unit addressed all my connection issues I used to have. Only complaint is it is not the 8.4 nav unit. The cool thing about the 8.4 is that it has apple CarPlay so you can pull the apps from your phone onto the display. I don’t think google maps works with it but supposedly with the release of IOS 12 Waze navigation will be available, which is my go to nav now since it has gotten me around some traffic that even google maps couldn’t figure out, plus it tells you where the cops are, ha.


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[mtnrider]

FCA has stated they will be revealing some kind of updated HD truck in January 2019 (most likely the Detroit auto show). If it’s a full complete redesign based on the new 1500 or not we don’t know for sure yet. I’m thinking it will be the full redesign.

This was from a pretty reliable source on another forum (a high volume dealer that had a meeting with corporate). Looks like the 19 will just be a refresh and the 2020 complete redesign is still on hold.

"In January the "reveal" will be a 19 with a "refresh". It will not be a 20 model. There were exactly zero details on the new sheet metal past that. There are other internal communications that say the same thing. A "complete" redesign looks like it's on hold. "


If that info is true (and I believe it is) you are about 2 years out from the "New" HD model I would think.


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[crazy jerry]

Payload and solid front axle. Anything I want to tow could be handled with a 1500 until I start adding gear to the bed. We also go to a lot of remote places with rough roads and ground clearance is a concern.

from the sounds of your situation, it would almost be a crime not to go with a powerwagon instead. and if your not in a big rush you can wait 3months for the unveiling of the 2020 and see what it has to offer. if you dont like what you see you could still snag a ,19 from the lot or even order one most likely