Which RAM should I get. Will be my first

[Arjay]

Hi there!

hope you guy are doing great and are safe. I am really liking this truck and I have been looking for one. Doing some research and i have seen a lot of people complaining about the 2019 ones? And around my area I am seeing a lot of cheaper 2019’s with under 12k mileage. Which kinda scares me as to why folks are selling a lot of them with just 1 year of owning them. Which year would be more reliable? I am wanting to lift the truck mainly for cosmetics and for my kids to love it as well. Thanks!

 

[Addicted2fishing]

Hi there!

hope you guy are doing great and are safe. I am really liking this truck and I have been looking for one. Doing some research and i have seen a lot of people complaining about the 2019 ones? And around my area I am seeing a lot of cheaper 2019’s with under 12k mileage. Which kinda scares me as to why folks are selling a lot of them with just 1 year of owning them. Which year would be more reliable? I am wanting to lift the truck mainly for cosmetics and for my kids to love it as well. Thanks!

Well, it’s a matter of personal choice. I think the new style is hideous yet some love it. Makes the world go round....

The 2019 classic or 4th Gen style is a safe bet. Been around since 2009 and I think it’s about as good as it’ll get.

Ram has its share of issues and if you want to look into them they include hemi tick, manifold bolts and lifter issues (although rare I believe). Other issues people seem to have is with the air ride. As for the new style (5th gen) I cant speak Of as I couldn’t care less to use the finger energy typing to look into it lol. I’m sure they’re having issues as most new models seem to have in the first couple years of being out.

The reason I think you’re seeing one year old trucks for sale is due to people wanting the new style and trading them in. That’s my theory [emoji2369]


60% of the time it works every time....

 

[RamNY19]

If you do some reading you will see the 5th gen has some issues as any new gen auto would. I personally like the look of the 4th gen so I just got a 2019 classic. I love it it had 9500 miles on it and I spent 27,000 for the bighorn crew cab. About 3-4K less than if I bought the 2019 new style. I know it tows a bit more, payload is slightly higher and the backseat is bigger. I didn’t need more than the classic offered and I think the new style is ugly so I went with the old style. For the prices I’ve seen lately you can’t beat it. Best of luck and if you have any questions I’ve done a lot of research as I was buying be happy to help.

 

[Neil E]

Some of the 5th Gen's are having reliability issues. But, there are plenty that are not. I would just do a great look at it and make sure it has a warranty. But realize, a lot of owners will get rid of their vehicle if there is a lot of issues, though they could have had them fixed already. Also, it could be a lot of rentals hitting the market, I know Hertz is selling off most of their inventory.

I just realized this is in the 4th Gen forum. If you are looking at 19 Classics, I believe that they are pretty reliable trucks. They've been around to work out all the issues. Good luck and Welcome!

 

[chri5k]

Any year with a Cummins diesel. Kids just love the sound of a big diesel engine in a lifted truck. Think about the children as you decide.

 

[tron67j]

I agree with the 4th generation, which includes the 2019 Classic. Bugs are worked out and there is a lot more history in this forum for you to refer back to as you customize your truck. Much of it may apply to 2019 non-classic and all 2020 models too, not sure what is different. Good luck and enjoy.

 

[RLJ10X]

RJ, if you get a 1500, make damn sure you get one with 3.92 limited slip rear end.

Don't drive both the 3.21 and the 3.92 and declare the 3.21 "just fine". I guarentee after a while you're going to kick yourself for settling for one with 3.21s just because "fill in the blank". Everything else is a detail.

The 2500...... I can't help you there.

 

[crash68]

And around my area I am seeing a lot of cheaper 2019’s with under 12k mileage. Which kinda scares me as to why folks are selling a lot of them with just 1 year of owning them.

Keep in mind not all the one year low mileage vehicles are customers turning them back in, all the OEMs have fleets of vehicles for employees to drive. Also if there are special events that the auto company is sponsoring, the vehicles are put up for at dealers.
The Super Bowl commercial with Bill Murry driving the Jeep Gladiator, that exact jeep was on sale at a dealer about 100 miles from me. https://www.motor1.com/news/400183/bill-murray-jeep-gladiator-sale/

 

[Docwagon1776]

..I am seeing a lot of cheaper 2019’s with under 12k mileage. Which kinda scares me as to why folks are selling a lot of them with just 1 year of owning them.

It's probably not individuals who bought them. Dealerships sometimes buy their own cars to up their numbers to meet certain goals and use them as fleet vehicles. The manufacturer uses it's own vehicles as fleet vehicles, etc. They then sell them as used cars when they are done with them. Both have a vested interest in getting the new body style out rolling around for people to see and be interested in so as to up sales.

My Camaro SS was dealer owned the first two years of it's life.

 

[Hanover Fiste]

I, too, see a lot of used 2019s for sale. 2019 was the first year of the new body style, so I'm guessing they are having more issues.

 

[condor767]

View attachment 209225 View attachment 209221 5th gen 2019 Bighorn here. Previously had a 4th gen 2017 Sport. Both are awesome trucks, for different reasons. The 2017 had that classic look that I loved, probably one of the best looking Rams ever. Just beautiful. But comparing the interiors of the two, there is no question that the 5th gen outdoes it on so many levels. Ram really got the interior just right with the 5th gen.

As far as reliability... both trucks have been great. Just a couple of minor nuisances on the 5th gen that were quickly fixed under warranty. (Brake booster and a transmission code.) Other than that, zero issues and I am absolutely loving my 5th gen. The looks rapidly grew on me too.

Pics below of my 2017 and 2019.
Good luck with whatever you decide, you can’t go wrong with either choice!

View attachment 209221
View attachment 209222

 

[Addicted2fishing]

Any year with a Cummins diesel. Kids just love the sound of a big diesel engine in a lifted truck. Think about the children as you decide.

Lmao. Yes think of the
Children lol. I’ll try that one next truck... lol. Wife might fall for it ?


60% of the time it works every time....

 

[Arjay]

Oh man! Thanks for the time responding to my questions. Yeah the kids excuse kinda helps with convincing the wife. I am thinking on sticking on the 4th gen also because of the reason that most have figured out most of the issues with it but the more i do my research and see more of the 5th gen the more im starting to like it‍. I am also seeing a lot of 2wd drives with a more tempting price. I dont do any off roading and i am so tempted to get one thats not 4x4 but i feel like i will regret it later‍

 

[Addicted2fishing]

Oh man! Thanks for the time responding to my questions. Yeah the kids excuse kinda helps with convincing the wife. I am thinking on sticking on the 4th gen also because of the reason that most have figured out most of the issues with it but the more i do my research and see more of the 5th gen the more im starting to like it‍[emoji3603]. I am also seeing a lot of 2wd drives with a more tempting price. I dont do any off roading and i am so tempted to get one thats not 4x4 but i feel like i will regret it later‍[emoji3603]

If you don’t wheel or have snow maybe 2wd would be an option [emoji2369]


60% of the time it works every time....

 

[Ibsledge]

I’ve had both. Presently I have 2019 5th gen and have been blessed to only have a wind noise which was a door seal replacement. Outside of that it’s been the best of all the rams I owned. In the past I Keith 2-3 and got another until I got my 2013 kept it as it was the best one yet. Then someone hit and caused 15 k in damage while parked at airport. Now I have the 5th gen and am very happy with it all around.

 

[Cwils80]

So I got lucky with mine. I had a 2011 Dakota with the 4.7. No kids at the time and it was a good little truck to work with. For months and months I wanted to upgrade to the 1500. Im a bit of a performance person and would research performance parts and how to install them literally non stop. When I bought my truck I didn't think of the gear ratio and things that were built with it. I was strictly thinking 5.7 8 spd crew cab 4x4 lol

So IMHO I like the 4th Gen better. As others have stated issues have been figured out and documented here for years and years. There's fca techs on here that give advice / help. But my tip is get the Vin number of either ram you want to look at and go to dodges site and grab a build sheet and see what it has. That's where I got lucky. Figured out mine has a 1" factory lift and 3.92 gears. Heater block and many other thing.

 

[tidefan1967]

As the owner of two different 4th gens over the last 5 years and one who has rode a significant number of miles in a 5th gen I don't think you could go wrong with either choice although if you want a truck with certain options like leather, cooled seats, etc you might be forced into going with the 5th gen. I have the lifetime warranty on mine so moving up is not an option. The ride and interior on the 5th gen is miles ahead of the 4th gen. The edge in exterior looks goes to the 4th gen as well as the factory exhaust even sounds better as the cabin is not as quiet in the 4th gen. having compared my 3.92 4th gen to my friends 3.92 geared 5th gen mine feels faster too for what that's worth. He also is averaging close to 20 MPG over 30K plus miles which is a fer cry from my maybe 17 MPG.

 

[Sportznut]

I have owned both the 4th & 5th gen 1500. Both no problems ( knocking on wood).

The main issue is to decide which configuration you want or need. On the 4th Gen I regretted not getting leather.

On the fifth generation I regretted not getting the 3.21 ( I prefer the lower RPM'S on the highway) and the package with adaptive cruise control.

Good luck!

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[RLJ10X]

^That is one of the very rare times I've ever heard someone wishing they had gotten 3.21s. By far the vast majority wish they had gotten 3.92s.

I'd rather let my engine spin than lug. But everybody's different.

 

[NH RAM]

One of the most underrated improvements on the 5th gen trucks is the headlights. I have a 2500 and my last truck was a 1500- the lights were just plain bad on my 2016 1500. I did the "headlight upgrade" where my low beams were 65w and got much better lighting than stock, but the beam pattern was just poor with 55w whether it was Silverstar Ultra, stock, or LL bulbs. I always kept the fog lights on. My 2500 has the standard halogen lighting and it has a great beam pattern and I can see quite well; I'll probably just upgrade the bulbs for a bit whiter light.

I would opt for 4x4, it's better to have and not need in that regard. We never know where life will lead us and what things we'll grow into. Even when I lived in CA, I opted for 4x4 and found that there wasn't really much of a premium for 4x4 out there because it wasn't a "necessity".

As far as the interiors go, the interior on my 2019 is very nice, especially for a Tradesman. My last truck was a Big Horn and I liked the amenities it had, but the price jump and availability of Big Horn's in a 2500 wasn't in my favor. I drove a 2019 Rebel (1500) and the ride was certainly nicer than my 2016- but to be fair I had E-rated 34" tires and a 2.1" level that took away from the ride quality. I feel that my 2500 is on par with that 1500.

You didn't specify whether you were looking for a 1500 or 2500. If it's a 2500, I wouldn't hesitate to go for a 2019- the 6.4 and 8-speed is a fantastic combo that tows well and cruises well with the standard 3.73 gears. If it's a 1500- consider the age of your children- the added leg room in the 5G 1500 trucks is substantial when compared to the 4G. With that said, my daughter is 5'7 at 15 years old and she doesn't complain about the rear leg room, but she would appreciate the extra space to stretch or cross her legs.

Good luck!