I typically hate to bump old threads, but I think my question/observation is appropriate for this thread.
Dropped the trans pan in a new-to-me 2012 1500 5.7L (2WD), 120K miles. I'm familiar with the 65RFE, I've done 5 pan drops/filter changes in the lifetime of my other 2012 1500 4.7L (4x4, 265K mi.).
Much to my surprise, the "new" 2012 2WD 5.7L has the same trans pan as my 4WD 2012. And...the sump filter I removed from the 2WD was the 4x4 version with the longer pickup, not the shorter version. There's a 1/2" difference in the length of the pickup, in case anyone is interested.
The pan on the "new" 2012 had never been opened. Factory RTV application was quite apparent. The date stamp on the spin-on was from 2011. Fluid and magnet were surprisingly clean, but I have maintenance records indicating the previous owner did regular transmission service, obviously machined flushed. Machine flush is better than no service.
As one may surmise, I purchased the wrong replacement filter kit, which as luck would have it, I encountered another issue with the (new) spin-on filter. The plastic threads on the spin-on were all gnawed up, right out of the box. (Hastings/Baldwin). Lovely. First time in 25 years I've had a bad part delivered from Rockauto.
I covered up the bottom of the transmission with a clean trash bag and called it day. Will proceed with this next weekend when the new (and hopefully) correct parts arrive.
The "new" to me 2012 is a high-end Laramie Longhorn package. I've been unable to procure a window sticker through the usual sources due to the age of the vehicle, but I did get a build sheet on it, which was somewhat helpful.
Long story short...I don't think all 2WD trucks from that era were delivered with the 2WD transmission pan/filter. The one I'm currently working on certainly wasn't.