Upgrade or not

[mtwoods]

Currently have a 2012 1500 Outdoorsman with the Hemi. Family plans on buying a 30 foot Travel Trailer in the spring weighing about 7500 pounds with an 800 pound tounge weight. Will be renting one in a couple of weeks to drive 1200km round trip down to Oregon. I have my eye on a 2012 3500 SLT that is brand new. Since its a 2012 the dealer wants to blow it out and I can get into it for $250 more a month than what I pay now. In the winter I will use it mainly for short trips with longer trips twice per month. In the summer/spring/fall months it will be used for towing the travel trailer both long and short trips with some trips over mountain passes. Lets say 8-10 towing trips per year.

Question. Do I keep the 1500 as it will suit my needs most of the time but be at the payload limit and feel strained when my family and toys are in the box while towing or do I jump on the deal I can get the 3500 for as it will be a better fit when I am towing. I will admit, the stories I have read about the DPF scare the crap out of me and I would not want to pay $2500 to delete it right away and void my warranty. Experiences and suggestions are much appreciated.

 

[jcat]

a left over 2012?!?!?! how in the world?

And 250 a month more than you pay now? I dunno. That seems like an awful lot of upside for the dealer unless you're paying like 100-150 a month on your current truck.

 

[Pull Ya]

IMHO as you explained the uses of the 3500 vs the 1500 I think you will be a lot happier in the long run with the 3500.
Jay

 

[mtwoods]

a left over 2012?!?!?! how in the world?

And 250 a month more than you pay now? I dunno. That seems like an awful lot of upside for the dealer unless you're paying like 100-150 a month on your current truck.

I have only had the 1500 for 20 months so I am still upside down on it. Keep in mind I am in Canada and **** generally costs more here. A 2014 3500 with a cummins costs you north of $60k

 

[Caldwell]

If I was in your shoes, the thought would be a pipe dream personally.

dont live to pay for a vehicle.

 

[lonewolf2873]

IMHO it's more a matter of will you see value in buying 3500?
All depends on your finances. Like Caldwell said, don't live for your payments.
I definitely would not keep 1500 unless you have money "lIke that", in which case I'd jump on 3500 and find good way to store each truck when not used.
Sounds to me as if you answered your own question. If you HAVE to have 3500 to tow, that's no brainer.

 

[JasonK94Z]

Your still upside down in your 1500, so keep it. Don't stack that debt on top of another truck that is also a depreciating asset mind you. Like someone already said, you don't live and work for a vehicle. You live and work for a chance at retiring one day.
Compromise and get a smaller trailer. It's not like you live in the trailer so much as you have to drive that truck.

 

[Ratket]

2500 6.4..

 

[Canyonero02]

You would be much better off with a 2500/3500 but I would be nervous about purchasing any vehicle that has been sitting on a lot for over 2 years.

 

[mtwoods]

You would be much better off with a 2500/3500 but I would be nervous about purchasing any vehicle that has been sitting on a lot for over 2 years.

Why is that?

 

[NYCruiser]

Keep the 1500. Put air bags in the rear coils if you haven't already and take your time. When you aren't upside down in it anymore, you can go truck shopping if you feel you need to. JMO

 

[loveracing1988]

Why is that?

It has been sitting on the lot for 2 years for a reason. The dealer won't tell you the real reason though. It could be just a weird set of options, or it could have issues that only they know about.

 

[cheeseball]

I have owned 6 different Rams. From my experience and what your describing a 2500 6.4 Hemi would be ideal. You can get a Tradesman 4x4 with a lot of options for the low $30's. A Diesel isn't really necessary unless you get up around 12K or higher. I just got rid of my Cummins for a 6.4 2500 Ram and I love this truck. It was half the price of my 2013 Laramie Cummins! The Cummins is a great engine but I personally would never own one outside of the 5/100k warranty. There's just to much to go wrong with the emissions systems and Diesel injectors and turbos aren't cheap! I wouldn't tow your size and weight trailer with a 1500! Your approaching it's max weight. Slam on the brakes and swerve around some hazards in a 1500 vs. a 2500 while towing and that'll convince you quickly that a 1500 is ok but not the best for towing. Good luck with your decision!

 

[loveracing1988]

I have owned 6 different Rams. From my experience and what your describing a 2500 6.4 Hemi would be ideal. You can get a Tradesman 4x4 with a lot of options for the low $30's. A Diesel isn't really necessary unless you get up around 12K or higher. I just got rid of my Cummins for a 6.4 2500 Ram and I love this truck. It was half the price of my 2013 Laramie Cummins! The Cummins is a great engine but I personally would never own one outside of the 5/100k warranty. There's just to much to go wrong with the emissions systems and Diesel injectors and turbos aren't cheap! I wouldn't tow your size and weight trailer with a 1500! Your approaching it's max weight. Slam on the brakes and swerve around some hazards in a 1500 vs. a 2500 while towing and that'll convince you quickly that a 1500 is ok but not the best for towing. Good luck with your decision!

The cheapest you can get into a crew cab 4x4 with the 6.4 is about 31k plus ttl. That is with pretty much zero options. That is with an employee discount.

 

[cheeseball]

The cheapest you can get into a crew cab 4x4 with the 6.4 is about 31k plus ttl. That is with pretty much zero options. That is with an employee discount.

You're right on......I got mine for 34k with nearly every option you can get on a Tradesman. I got the: chrome appearance group, transfer case skid plate, popular equip group, 220 amp alt, electronic 4x4 shift, 4.10, anti spin rear diff, power heated tow mirrors, trailer brake controller, 5.0 inch touch screen. These base model Rams are equipped so much better than the Ford XL and Chevy W/T trucks! !

 

[loveracing1988]

You're right on......I got mine for 34k with nearly every option you can get on a Tradesman. I got the: chrome appearance group, transfer case skid plate, popular equip group, 220 amp alt, electronic 4x4 shift, 4.10, anti spin rear diff, power heated tow mirrors, trailer brake controller, 5.0 inch touch screen. These base model Rams are equipped so much better than the Ford XL and Chevy W/T trucks! !

Right now for 34k otd you get the 6.4, popular equipment group, trailer tow mirrors, trailer brake controller, and snow on prep group.

 

[Eddie30]

It's all about what you can afford and what your going to use it for, these guys give good advice

 

[cheeseball]

Right now for 34k otd you get the 6.4, popular equipment group, trailer tow mirrors, trailer brake controller, and snow on prep group.

Mine was $34,434 OTD. I didn't pay any sales tax since my trade in was greater in value than the new truck. Actually this was the one time when trading actually is somewhat good! I got $8,500 off of sticker price OTD. I think that's a pretty good price!

 

[Canyonero02]

FWIW my big horn 6.4 stickered for $47k and I paid $38k before ttl. It's fairly loaded. Pretty much every option but navigation and 20" wheels.

 

[FlyinHaYn]

A 2012 brand new? Whoa. That's sketchy, being a diesel in a place like Canada. Just saying. But definitely see the Cummins making you a lot happier, and fortunately if you do get it and decide to do some work to it, good timing because they're starting to come out with locks basically to avoid tampering with programmers and what not... and please.. The 6.4 has bad resale value but apparently better mileage than the Cummins. I got better mileage pulling 7k with my 04 than an unloaded 6.7
8 LUGS, NO PLUGS.