New to all things Ram - considering my first purchase

[greywolf2112]

Greetings from Florida. 58 years old, not a gearhead but like tinker, do things myself, and am almost **** about researching things I'm looking to buy, gathering opinions, etc. before pulling the trigger.

In my life I've owned and operated various cars and trucks (Olds, Toyota, Ford, Chevy, Suzuki, Honda) but never a Dodge product.

I've had two 2004 2500 series Suburbans, a v6 Ford F150, an F250 (2008 with v10), and currently a 2015 Expedition with the EcoBoost.

Recently on a trip while towing my travel trailer (5500 pounds) for the first time, we got stranded 4 hours from home when the transmission took a dump. I've put a bit of money recently into the Expedition (brakes, tune up, ironically the transmission service (drain, filter, fill - this MIGHT have caused this issue if done improperly but I'll never be able to prove it)) and the wife likes it a lot so we're going to get a new transmission and keep chugging along.

My other vehicle is a 2014 Prius that I use around town, commuting to work (5 miles one way). 3 days after our little experience with the Expy I got rear-ended on my way to work by an uninsured driver. Due to age I didn't have collision on my Prius so I'm stuck with the repair bill. I got damn lucky it wasn't totalled and I wasn't seriously injured.

We've decided we are going to replace it with a full sized truck for safety, utility, and as another tow vehicle for our trailer and boat (which would allow us to bring both with us on vacation).

Since I've owned Ford and GM trucks/large SUVs, I decided to perhaps give the other guys a try. I'm not interested in Nissans, and Toyota Tundras seem . . . . overpriced and the seats and interior comforts seem sub-par. I know they are "reliable" but they just aren't singing to me. GMs are . . . . sort of pathetic in my humble opinion. I'm a little leery now of Fords after my side-of-the-road experience with the Expy, though that may not have been Ford's fault if the people who did my transmission service screwed something up.

This leads me to this forum. Obviously you guys own Rams and are biased, but I'd love to hear some opinions.

My needs:

I only commute to work 10 miles a day (5 each way). When we take long trips, we are using our 2015 Expedition (73,000 miles). I have a 5000 pound travel trailer (empty, so maybe add another 500-1000 if weighted down with items) that is about 23 feet total in length. I also have a 20 foot Tritoon with a 90hp Suzuki, probably about 4000-4500 pounds total. My other car is a 2014 Prius with 100k on it. I use it primarily for driving to work and occasional errands, but most of the long trips I'm using the Expedition for comfort and safety, or I'm towing.

I've been wanting to get a truck to replace the Prius. 10 miles a day commuting is nothing, and even though I get 45 mpg in the Prius, and get about 18 in the Expedition, in the grand scheme of things it isn't a huge deal overall given how few miles it is. I've been thinking about a truck for backup towing, and also to allow me AND the wife to tow both the travel trailer and the boat when we go on trips.

I've since decided against the Tundra for many reasons (cost, difficulty finding what I want, and seat comfort). Given my usage of perhaps less than 5k a year of driving, I just can't justify the extra $$ for one. What do I care if I'll get another 100k out of it if I am realistically only going to put 50k on it in the next 10 years?

I've owned a 2008 F250, a 2011 F150 v6, a few 2500 Suburbans (2004), and now a 2015 Expedition with Ecoboost.

Never owned a Ram. I read good things about them from 2020 and on (not sure I want to dip my toe into the EcoDiesel, especially given how little I drive, short commutes, etc.) but the Hemi is solid, I believe. The one thing a lot of people mention is COMFORT of the Rams, and I know that is important to my wife (and me, honestly, as I am 58 and not getting younger, and my job involves a lot of heavy lifting, I'm tall, and I like the idea of a comfortable road experience).

I know either the F150 (either 5.0 or Eco) is popular and has a lot of good things going for it, but my recent experience with losing a transmission at 73k miles, not to mention the "cheap" feel of the interior and components and niggling little things over the years with the various Fords I have had has me thinking of giving the Ram a try.

Always appreciate your opinions, guys - thank you.

 

[Papa Red]

Welcome to the forum.

Red

 

[greywolf2112]

Welcome to the forum.

Red

Thank you.

 

[aces-n-eights]

Welcome greywolf. I recently sold a '16 Ram 1500, 5.7L Hemi - best vehicle I've ever owned. It was comfortable, powerful, quiet and reliable. I would recommend you continue to read in this forum, get smart on the options and features you want, visit car lots and dealerships and drive a few. You'll start to narrow down the model years you want and make a decision if you want fancier trim levels or more basic trims. Good luck on the hunt and keep us informed!

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Welcome from Ontario, Canada.
Lots of great info here in this Community.

 

[Harley Harrold]

 

[mboymopar]

Welcome from west Michigan,

 

[RedDevil00]

Greetings from Florida. 58 years old, not a gearhead but like tinker, do things myself, and am almost **** about researching things I'm looking to buy, gathering opinions, etc. before pulling the trigger.

In my life I've owned and operated various cars and trucks (Olds, Toyota, Ford, Chevy, Suzuki, Honda) but never a Dodge product.

I've had two 2004 2500 series Suburbans, a v6 Ford F150, an F250 (2008 with v10), and currently a 2015 Expedition with the EcoBoost.

Recently on a trip while towing my travel trailer (5500 pounds) for the first time, we got stranded 4 hours from home when the transmission took a dump. I've put a bit of money recently into the Expedition (brakes, tune up, ironically the transmission service (drain, filter, fill - this MIGHT have caused this issue if done improperly but I'll never be able to prove it)) and the wife likes it a lot so we're going to get a new transmission and keep chugging along.

My other vehicle is a 2014 Prius that I use around town, commuting to work (5 miles one way). 3 days after our little experience with the Expy I got rear-ended on my way to work by an uninsured driver. Due to age I didn't have collision on my Prius so I'm stuck with the repair bill. I got damn lucky it wasn't totalled and I wasn't seriously injured.

We've decided we are going to replace it with a full sized truck for safety, utility, and as another tow vehicle for our trailer and boat (which would allow us to bring both with us on vacation).

Since I've owned Ford and GM trucks/large SUVs, I decided to perhaps give the other guys a try. I'm not interested in Nissans, and Toyota Tundras seem . . . . overpriced and the seats and interior comforts seem sub-par. I know they are "reliable" but they just aren't singing to me. GMs are . . . . sort of pathetic in my humble opinion. I'm a little leery now of Fords after my side-of-the-road experience with the Expy, though that may not have been Ford's fault if the people who did my transmission service screwed something up.

This leads me to this forum. Obviously you guys own Rams and are biased, but I'd love to hear some opinions.

My needs:

I only commute to work 10 miles a day (5 each way). When we take long trips, we are using our 2015 Expedition (73,000 miles). I have a 5000 pound travel trailer (empty, so maybe add another 500-1000 if weighted down with items) that is about 23 feet total in length. I also have a 20 foot Tritoon with a 90hp Suzuki, probably about 4000-4500 pounds total. My other car is a 2014 Prius with 100k on it. I use it primarily for driving to work and occasional errands, but most of the long trips I'm using the Expedition for comfort and safety, or I'm towing.

I've been wanting to get a truck to replace the Prius. 10 miles a day commuting is nothing, and even though I get 45 mpg in the Prius, and get about 18 in the Expedition, in the grand scheme of things it isn't a huge deal overall given how few miles it is. I've been thinking about a truck for backup towing, and also to allow me AND the wife to tow both the travel trailer and the boat when we go on trips.

I've since decided against the Tundra for many reasons (cost, difficulty finding what I want, and seat comfort). Given my usage of perhaps less than 5k a year of driving, I just can't justify the extra $$ for one. What do I care if I'll get another 100k out of it if I am realistically only going to put 50k on it in the next 10 years?

I've owned a 2008 F250, a 2011 F150 v6, a few 2500 Suburbans (2004), and now a 2015 Expedition with Ecoboost.

Never owned a Ram. I read good things about them from 2020 and on (not sure I want to dip my toe into the EcoDiesel, especially given how little I drive, short commutes, etc.) but the Hemi is solid, I believe. The one thing a lot of people mention is COMFORT of the Rams, and I know that is important to my wife (and me, honestly, as I am 58 and not getting younger, and my job involves a lot of heavy lifting, I'm tall, and I like the idea of a comfortable road experience).

I know either the F150 (either 5.0 or Eco) is popular and has a lot of good things going for it, but my recent experience with losing a transmission at 73k miles, not to mention the "cheap" feel of the interior and components and niggling little things over the years with the various Fords I have had has me thinking of giving the Ram a try.

Always appreciate your opinions, guys - thank you.

 

[RedDevil00]

Well sir, like you I was on the horns of a dilemma about which truck to buy. I always have a V8 engine, Chevy, Ford, Titan. I can tell you that the current F150's with the 5.0 V8 should be AVOIDED. My 2013 was bulletproof, when I was considering a new F150 5.0 a tech at Ford told me the '13 was a better truck. I didn't listen and bought the 2020 F150 XLT SuperCrew 4x4 10spd (at a great price). Right away I noticed that the new 10spd shifts like my old '62 Chevy Powerglide. It slipped when cold and the shifts were not always smooth - I was told a the dealer "that's how they work"?? I had an intermittent "clunk" noise from the engine soon after I bought it - they could never find the problem. At 35K I started the engine one morning and the thing sounded like steel marbles in the crankcase. Shut it off, restarted with no noise. Drove it straight to the dealer, the service writer said he knew the issue, they have a service bulletin on it, CAM PHASER issue. The truck, still under warranty, was repaired but it took 2 weeks to get the parts. The body has to be lifted off the frame to get to the (front) timing case to do the repair. No noise for 17K miles, then the dreaded "clunk" reappeared. With that I knew they wouldn't repair it until it goes again, and by that time I would be out of warranty. $15,000 for a new 5.0 installed. Ain't happening. I was told to run "heavier" oil instead of the 0-20wt. Oh, new F150's if you can find a V8 are now around $62 - 67K and up, up, up.

I researched Chevy & GMC 5.3 V8 all have cylinder deactivation - and with that the great potential for valve train issues...it's a known problem for years, just like my Ford, but they just run the trucks out hoping it doesn't break until the warranty is up. Didn't want to take the chance on that engine either. I considered 3/4 ton trucks, Ford, Chevy/GMC, with the heavy duty diesel ( for an additional $12 -15K). Since I'm not pulling with the truck it didn't make much sense - plus those 2500's start at $70K+++. Considered another Nissan Titan, my '05 was a great truck, but it had issues which were all repaired under warranty (brakes, differential, rear axles & bearings). Plus, the fuel mileage in that Titan is now horrible.

I now arrive at the only other real option. 2026 Ram 1500 5.7L V8 Hemi (unfortunately you get the e-Torque with that configuration) That was a deal breaker for me, or so I thought. The reviews of the "new" Hemi were pretty good, but I still wasn't sold. A friend of mine bought a Ram 1500 hemi several years ago to tow a 5th Wheel trailer. It pulled great, but they have replaced TWO ZF transmissions in that rig, under warranty. He suggested not to buy the 1500 if you are pulling over 9500lbs - which I'm not.

So, I considered the Ram 2500, but the price was high if I wasn't towing. Then I found a great price on a 2026 Ram 1500 Hemi (again e-Torque). The engine has been getting good reviews, although some issues reported in years past about the e-Torque setup. Otherwise the engine (which has cylinder deactivation) sounded OK for my use. I was told that you can put the engine in "Tow Mode" and it shuts down cylinder deactivation - although some people have said that is not a good idea, which sounds right. Plus, if you do that it changes the fuel efficiency. The price was so good with about $14K in discounts and rebates that I decided to take the plunge. It's a 2026 1500 Big Horn and I have to tell you that I'm impressed with the "punch" from that engine. It's not the HOT Hurricane engines, but it's a utility vehicle not a race car -- that's my advanced age talking here. It's not a "plush" truck. I prefer the cloth bench front seat, no console (for the dog to sit up front). It has the sliding back window, parking sensors all the way around and the 27Z package came with the 3.92 differential, 33 gallon gas tank and I prefer the "chrome" package -- again I'm an old guy, old school. I didn't come with the stock chrome wheels, these are aluminum painted with does not compliment the rest of the chrome. So, I'll buy the chromies for it. And, it comes with the old GT exhaust that gives it that hemi growl...LOL...if you need that.

I drove it back from Arizona about 350 Mile and out of the box it got 16.5 mpg on a new engine. This weekend we took another trip and keeping it between 70-80 with the cruise I got 19mpg. I wonder why Detroit can't manufacture a QUALITY engine today. The old small block Fords & GM's were excellent engines -- what has happened to them??? I will tell you that the ride in the Ram is not as plush as my Fords or Chevys, but the overall mechanicals seem much tighter. The trans shifts are clean and the engine runs like a winner.

That's the benefit of my recent research...good luck with your search.

 

[Grams]

Welcome Greywolf!

Are you buying NEW..?? or USED..??

And what is your budget…??

Pulling a 5-6K camper…you’ll want a Hemi if used…stay away from EcoTorque.
2013-2016 used. Ram 1500 will be adequate…. a 2500 only if you Ever intend to pull something much heavier.


Buying New..? the 6.4 Hemi …stay away from Ecotorque.
Avoid diesel completely.

 

[greywolf2112]

Update - bought a 2020 Laramie 1500 Etorque with 60k miles on it. It was a salvage title (it got sideswiped on passenger side and insurance totaled it, but had no frame damage and the shop that bought it specializes in buying salvage title vehicles and has its own body shop and you could never tell it has been in an accident. I got it for $12k less than a comparable one that wasn't titled this way. I've had it for almost a year now and it has been flawless. I've only put 5000 miles on it (a bit of towing) and not a thing has gone wrong so far. I did' replace the diff fluid myself, did an oil change with 5W30 Penn Platinum and WIX filter, changed air filter and cabin filter, and sealed the rear window and antenna as well as pulled the rear seats and sealed off and bagged the RF module, just as a precaution.

Very impressed with the MPG, comfort, ride, towing, etc.

I'm in the habit of turning off the Start/Stop as well - can't stand that thing.

Very happy so far and hope to get many more years/miles out of it.