Thinking of upgrading to a 2500 should I get Gas or Diesel?"

[VernB]

Help Please, I bought a 2022 1500 BH with the 3.6 eTorque and am hauling a fiberglass boat and trailer (approx weight 3000lbs). I fear I should have bought a HD truck and am considering doing so. I'll be taking 1 or 2, 1000 mile trips per year hauling the boat/trailer. The remainder of the time I'll be using the truck as my primary vehicle and usually do 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year running here and there. If I do buy the 2500 what kind of fuel mileage can I realistically expect with the 6.4 Hemi or the 6.7 diesel? Any input or lessons learned will be greatly appreciated.

 

[1979PowerWagon360]

I don't know the average mpg's of either because I have 6.2 hellcat but I would be concerned with the cost of diesel fuel, at around $.50/gallon more than gasoline. Your tow weight is pretty low so I don't believe a diesel is necessary and your truck will be primarily a daily driver. If it were me I'd get a 6.4 or even a 5.7. I think you're making the right choice getting out of the problematic e-torque.

 

[Jane S]

Help Please, I bought a 2022 1500 BH with the 3.6 eTorque and am hauling a fiberglass boat and trailer (approx weight 3000lbs). I fear I should have bought a HD truck and am considering doing so. I'll be taking 1 or 2, 1000 mile trips per year hauling the boat/trailer. The remainder of the time I'll be using the truck as my primary vehicle and usually do 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year running here and there. If I do buy the 2500 what kind of fuel mileage can I realistically expect with the 6.4 Hemi or the 6.7 diesel? Any input or lessons learned will be greatly appreciated.

Why do you think you should have bought a HD truck?

 

[crash68]

@VernB for towing a 3K lbs boat/trailer the 1500 is your best bet, even if it just has the 3.6L V6. Better ride and fuel economy than any HD truck.
If your concerned about the "high" rpms while towing, that's normal with a gasser, the engine needs to get up into the torque band of the engine. For the 3.6 the torque peak is 4400 rpms, for the Hemi it's 4K rpms.
If your looking for 2K rpms while towing your boat, find an EcoDiesel. A Cummins is a great engine if your actually going to work them, pulling a lite trailer and driving 12K miles year doesn't really qualify as work for a CTD.

 

[VernB]

@VernB for towing a 3K lbs boat/trailer the 1500 is your best bet, even if it just has the 3.6L V6. Better ride and fuel economy than any HD truck.
If your concerned about the "high" rpms while towing, that's normal with a gasser, the engine needs to get up into the torque band of the engine. For the 3.6 the torque peak is 4400 rpms, for the Hemi it's 4K rpms.
If your looking for 2K rpms while towing your boat, find an EcoDiesel. A Cummins is a great engine if your actually going to work them, pulling a lite trailer and driving 12K miles year doesn't really qualify as work for a CTD.

Very well written, any ideas on how to improve the ride? heavier duty shocks maybe?

 

[VernB]

I don't know the average mpg's of either because I have 6.2 hellcat but I would be concerned with the cost of diesel fuel, at around $.50/gallon more than gasoline. Your tow weight is pretty low so I don't believe a diesel is necessary and your truck will be primarily a daily driver. If it were me I'd get a 6.4 or even a 5.7. I think you're making the right choice getting out of the problematic e-torque.

All the advice thus far is excellent. I've been driving diesels for 25 years, which is why I decided to try the eTorque, maybe if I would have done this prior to getting the 3.6 I'd be happier. As they say hindsight is 20/20. Thx

 

[VernB]

Why do you think you should have bought a HD truck?

I've been driving Ford F350's for over 20 years, just used to HD ride and torque out the *****. Maybe I need to stay the course and see how things shake out.

 

[BadHemi2014]

I don't have direct experience since I have a 1500 with the 5.7 hemi, but towing a mere 3K, especially a boat (decent aerodynamics), doesn't sound like too much for the V6.
It definitely isn't enough work for an HD truck that also needs to daily drive.
But my opinion is worth what ya paid for it

 

[Choupique]

If you're set on an HD truck and don't NEED a diesel, don't get one. And don't get an HD ram gasser. The Ford and Chevy offerings are better in that particular segment IMO.

The 6.4's really do not like long idle times at all.

 

[dhay13]

A 1500 with a 5.7 will be plenty for a 3000lb boat. The V6 may also be plenty but I have no experience with them. A 2500 is overkill unless you plan to get a bigger boat later

 

[crash68]

Very well written, any ideas on how to improve the ride? heavier duty shocks maybe?

More like new suspension components and lowering the tire air pressure might get you a better ride but your still dealing with a solid front axle and stiffer frame. I drive both a 1500 and HD trucks and will take the 1500 ride any day if I don't need the capacity of an HD truck.

I've been driving Ford F350's for over 20 years, just used to HD ride and torque out the *****.

Sounds more like your going through diesel torque withdrawal...lol
It's a different animal towing with a gasser compared to a diesel. Lots of people new to towing think something is wrong with the higher rpms of a gasser but it just boils down to the engine torque band.

 

[JerryETX]

I average around 13-14 mpg in my 2016 2500 6.4 Hemi and that’s a mix of city and highway. That’s also hand calculated not using the false readings shown on the dash. Best I’ve ever gotten was 16 highway.

For me if that’s all you pull a 5.7 is plenty. I have a good friend who has a 2500 with the 5.7 and pulls 8-10k several times a week with it. Yeah it’s going to rev to 4-5k rpm’s when you need to climb a hill but that’s what gas engines do. It doesn’t hurt them. There is no comparison to cost of driving and maintaining a 5.7 half ton compared to a 2509 diesel.

 

[gofishn]

Help Please, I bought a 2022 1500 BH with the 3.6 eTorque and am hauling a fiberglass boat and trailer (approx weight 3000lbs). I fear I should have bought a HD truck and am considering doing so. I'll be taking 1 or 2, 1000 mile trips per year hauling the boat/trailer. The remainder of the time I'll be using the truck as my primary vehicle and usually do 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year running here and there. If I do buy the 2500 what kind of fuel mileage can I realistically expect with the 6.4 Hemi or the 6.7 diesel? Any input or lessons learned will be greatly appreciated.

OP,
I have felt, your Pain.

I too drove heavy Duty 3/4 tons, for decades.
My 'Other Vehicle' was a consist of multiple, 6K H.P. Locomotives.

Your Needs are not much, at all.
3K lbs ain't squat and there is absolutely Zero Excuse to buy a 3/4 ton.
A Freaking Minivan will do the job of pulling that boat, down the road.
My 06 Grand Caravan was rated for that much.
Wife would pull my 20ft Lund, all day and all night, while my truck pulled the Camper.
Getting in and out of Boat Ramps might be another matter but towing it? Not an issue.

IMHO< you got torque issues & ride issues.
As etioned os well by others, yoru RPM;s will run higher.
Your ride is goign to be tons squishier.
Get yoruself a set of tuftruck springs or air bags ot firm things up.
Make sure y ou hitch setupis rock tight with zero insert movment
and soudn proof the truck, if the RPM NOise bothers you.

I've put tuftruck springs on every one of my 1/2 tons and could not be happier.
just got the 22 done last month.
They are simply awesome springs.
Truck rides like it should when empty and loaded.

 

[1979PowerWagon360]

I agree the 3.6 is enough to tow his 3000 lbs. BUT I think with that heavy truck it's going to work fairly hard. While I think the Pentastar is a nice engine despite the head/lifter issues I think it's better suited in LX platforms if ANY towing is going to be done. It moves the big trucks okay but once towing is started I wouldn't be satisfied. The mpg's aren't significant enough difference for ME and once he mentioned he's used to HD trucks I think he should be in a 5.7. Work that 3.6 and fuel mileage may be pretty close to a 5.7. I'd go for a 5.7 and have no wants for more power ever.

 

[06 Dodge]

I've been driving Ford F350's for over 20 years, just used to HD ride and torque out the *****. Maybe I need to stay the course and see how things shake out.

I will not tell you what truck to buy but if you do go to a 2500 buy the diesel, read about all about cam, lifter & exhaust manifold problems in the Hemi, right now with just over 1/2 ton weight in the bed an 90% city/10% Hwy I'm averaging 14.5-15 mpg and see 19-21 mpg on Hwy empty depending on my right foot..

 

[tron67j]

Also agree your truck is more than adequate for what you plan to do.

Will say I have a 2500 6.4 Hemi and love it. Can't tell you MPG, I don't buy a HD and then worry about mileage. Can't say Hemi tick doesn't happen but no one I know has the problem and I am on my third Ram, 2nd Hemi. I highly recommend 6.4 and 5.7 engines and Rams to anyone looking at a HD or 1500.

For me, payload is key and why I would never buy a diesel 2500, it sucks too much payload capacity. If I have enough of a trailer that a diesel torque was needed, the answer would be a 3500 or 4500 to ensure payload is available.

 

[18Aries]

I’ve towed the same rv trailer I have now with. 1/2T 5.7 and now with a 2500 Cummins. My rv is heavy at 9k lbs for a 1/2T that’s the only reason I bought a 2500. I would suggest a 1500 Hemi

 

[dhay13]

Like said, payload on a 2500 Cummins is horrible. A loaded up 2500 Cummins often has less payload than a 1500. Wouldn't be an issue with a 3000lb boat but again, waaaay overkill for a 3000lb trailer

 

[jws123]

Like others have said 3k is nothing I use to pull my 28ft 7000 pound boat with a tripple axle trailer with my 2011 ram 5.7 no problem had to install airbags in rear springs tho helped alot.

 

[Riccochet]

When I don't feel like driving my 2500 I'll use my Gladiator to tow my 3500# bass boat all over. Same engine and trans as the 1500, it has no problem pulling that boat. Yeah the engine screams a little, but that's where those engine make their power and torque.