My take from reading on the EcoDiesel vs the V8 in the 1500 is the ED is rated to tow LESS than the Hemi, meaning it is meant for MPG, not for towing.
I have had several CTD's: 2004, 2006, 2001, 2015 (DEF, not DPF) and a 2000.
The DPF trucks are really what you are talking about being problematic, that EPA system is junk,
The DEF trucks seem to be doing really well.
So you do not want a DPF truck, no matter what (if it has been deleted, it has no warranty whatsoever)
A friend just had FCA warranty the turbo on their 2015 CTD 2500 @ 97k miles, to the tune of $3500, and it was not deleted, mod'ded or really hot rodded (was lady driven as a DD)
To the OP's point:
My last 2000 was a good running truck, but the brakes were shot, and I needed to move a few states over, so I sold the 2nd Gen (they are like little gold mines, all the high school kids are paying top dollar for them)
I bought a 2018 2500 with the 6.4 and the 4:10's
-here's the rub: the old 2500 tranny was made for the low RPM range of the CTD, so the low rear gears (3 somethings were stock for few years) made the Hemi use more RPM, since it was not in its efficiency HP/TQ/RPM range.
So if someone posts "my 2500 6.4 did _____" ask what year/rear gears it had in it. The 4:10 are a MUST HAVE for a 6.4 (and they were only stock starting in______?)
Someone may clarify, but I think the new 8 speed trannies are geared for gas engines, but I have not read if the Hemi/CTD get a diff tranny gearing.
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MPG with a 2500 6.4 & 4:10's: dismal. The problem is not the motor, the problem is the aerodynamics (the same reason the EcoDiesel is not put in the 2500s for MPG)
Without the tonneau cover, and pulling a 24 foot V-nose (everyone says the flat nose is the cause of the bad MPG, so I made sure to get the V-nose) my MPG was still bad,
I think 9~10 empty, but if I could draft something (a Semi with a light load would match the Dodge's cruise well, or an Auto Hauler) I could pick up a few MPG. I ran super unleaded sometimes, but never could tell a diff.
Without the tonneau cover, I would see 8mpg steady with a load. I scaled at 16K on the biggest load.
The 6.4 ****** the snot out of it, I never felt the need for a Cummins, and it did very well
I put on a HARD tonneau cover, and I could draft almost anything (dually pickups) to break the head wind, and get 18~22mpg empty, without the trailer.
With the tonneau cover, I picked up 2~4mpg over all, my city (DD about 35 miles each way) went from 12mpg to 16mpg (18mpg if I really babied it and used the cruise in town, instead of jack-rabbiting in traffic)
With the cover, and empty 24ft trailer, I could get 12 steady, if I drafted a semi.
With a light load in the trailer, it did 8~10mpg
(the “tow haul” mode does somethings different,
Arrowing down the shifter shows what gear the tranny is in, and it also disables the “ECO” mode where it goes into 4cyl mode downhills, and that was a big deal, when the trailer is pushing you down the hill, and the motor is coasting in 4cyl mode, it gains a few MPG)
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Trade in:
I bought the 2500 6.4 4:10 truck to move us, and then I was going to sell it.
You CANNOT sell a Gas Truck.
Nobody wants one; it is not an "ego boost" to have a gas truck.
The trade in value was almost $20k off the sticker price (I got the truck at invoice minus hold back, about 5k under sticker, so I was in it right)
They are worth NOTHING on trade/resell, esp. if you have a low end trim level.
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In summary:
You can get a 6.4 MUCH cheaper new than a CTD, because they are less desirable.
The 6.4 4:10 will do anything you want to do.
You are stuck in a gas heavy duty truck; you can't get rid of it.
There’s no reason to get rid of it, they are great, and you don’t have DPF/DEF/Deletes to worry about.
The Cummins will get better MPG in some situations.
However, a Cold Air intake/Off road Y-pipe/exhaust/dyno tune may get better MPG out of the 6.4 (not according to my research)
Buy a trim level, cab size, and configuration you can LIVE WITH, and that will "grow" with you.
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I would not put 10K behind a 1500, because there is no "margin for error" and when the "tail wags the dog" the 1500 can't do anything about it.
A 7k pound 2500 can keep itself steady.
And think about it, if you are white knuckling it 24/7, is it really relaxing to travel? Or are you dreading it & having to rest up for a day after to unwind?
And your wife can't help you drive, because she KNOWS you are afraid.
I had my teenage sons drive my 2500 6.4 with the trailer all the time, nothing to it.
