Looking at buying new/used what is best year now

[Bob4x4]

What's the difference?

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[DonFitzwater]

Odinjunior edited all the fun out of this thread. Dang

 

[Deleted member 995608]

How many quarts of blinker fluid do you guys use? If i'm on the highway with only a few lane changes, fluid use is low. However, when I go to town, I use a lot.*

 

[2013megacab]

I looked at a 2012 RAM 2500 Longhorn. It had a DEF tank. Fill point was under the right rear seat.

Al

 

[Bob4x4]

I looked at a 2012 RAM 2500 Longhorn. It had a DEF tank. Fill point was under the right rear seat.

Al

I believe gm is the only one that has the def fill under the hood.
Our c/c is behind the cab,the p=ups are behind the fuel fill door

 

[p-Bar]

I am wondering too on the muffler bearing oil if it has to be API certified

How many quarts of blinker fluid do you guys use? If i'm on the highway with only a few lane changes, fluid use is low. However, when I go to town, I use a lot.*

 

[p-Bar]

Seems like 2016 and up offered 4:10's in the 3500 along with the aisan trans

 

[p-Bar]

So I see a difference between the 2012 and 13 scr on the 13 is this a better way to go?

 

[spoon059]

Wow, that was an interesting couple of pages... p-Bar, I would recommend the 2013 and up in the 3500 (or if you decide to consider 2500's, look at 2014 and up) for several reasons.

#1 is the addition of DEF to help run cleaner. DEF trucks get better fuel economy. I have a 2500, but I average 18 in mixed driving, get 21 to 22 highway driving and about 12.5 towing a 9500 lbs travel trailer.
#2 is the EGR system on the 2013/2014 up trucks is less "involved", therefore your truck oil runs cleaner and your maintenance intervals are longer on oil, EGR and crankcase filters.
#3 you get the redesigned frame, which is stronger and more rigid. The front end problems that plagued Dodge/Ram in years past aren't nearly as widespread with the new frame design.
#4 I **THINK** that 2013/2014 is when Ram incorporated two fuel filters into their trucks, which makes them even that much less susceptible to fuel issues

 

[p-Bar]

Wow, that was an interesting couple of pages... p-Bar, I would recommend the 2013 and up in the 3500 (or if you decide to consider 2500's, look at 2014 and up) for several reasons.

#1 is the addition of DEF to help run cleaner. DEF trucks get better fuel economy. I have a 2500, but I average 18 in mixed driving, get 21 to 22 highway driving and about 12.5 towing a 9500 lbs travel trailer.
#2 is the EGR system on the 2013/2014 up trucks is less "involved", therefore your truck oil runs cleaner and your maintenance intervals are longer on oil, EGR and crankcase filters.
#3 you get the redesigned frame, which is stronger and more rigid. The front end problems that plagued Dodge/Ram in years past aren't nearly as widespread with the new frame design.
#4 I **THINK** that 2013/2014 is when Ram incorporated two fuel filters into their trucks, which makes them even that much less susceptible to fuel issues

Yes we did get off on a rabbit trail. This is great info seems that these trucks have less smog issues when run on the open road. All this smog stuff scares me especially after the warranty runs out on it, since I am looking at a used truck i definetely want something with lower miles . The fuel filtration is big as I have an 04.5 now and it lacked in that dept. Thanks Spoon

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Wait until the redesigned 2019 Ram is out. I'm sure they'll be $90k + ..... get your money's worth

 

[p-Bar]

Ya I'm having a hard time spending 38k on a used one

 

[spoon059]

. All this smog stuff scares me especially after the warranty runs out on it, since I am looking at a used truck i definetely want something with lower miles

My thoughts are that if you use the truck like it was designed to be used, all the emissions systems will work just fine. Get your truck up to temp, work it and let the regen do its thing and it should last a long time. I think a lot of people having issues are using the truck as a grocery getter, which isn't what Ram designed this truck to do. I bought mine used and haven't had a problem. We tow a 9500 lbs travel trailer at least 10-15 times a year and haven't had any issues and don't anticipate any either.

 

[p-Bar]

Spoon thanks for the encouragement. The idea I am getting is the grocery getters are having the problems. I'll do a calc on the miles vs: hours and make sure of that. I'll use my 04.5 for the grocery getter.

 

[Redemption]

Well this thread certainly went in a ifferent direction! I ended up buying a new 2017 Laramie Longhorn with the 3.73's, DRW for towing my 5th wheel. Since we are planning on full timing for the next few years, wanted as trouble free as possible....anxious to hit the road!

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Ya I'm having a hard time spending 38k on a used one

Precisely why I bought new. At one point, I even looked for another 3rd gen with low mileage, but apparently those are made of pure gold nowadays.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The Third Gens are getting high dollars because some buyers want to avoid the emissions equipment they remember from 2007-12. However, the 13-up system is far better, mileage is good, more like the old 12-valves got. Also, the poor fuel filtration of the Third Gens, not matching Bosch requirement of 4 microns, has resulted in a lot of injector and overflow valve, etc. failures. When you consider the probable high miles of older Rams, you come back to looking at 2013-up for your purchase.

 

[p-Bar]

Joe do you feel a difference towing from the 3rd gen to the 4th gen? I've come to the conclusion that short trips with these new one's are hard on the emissions.

 

[Bob4x4]

Joe do you feel a difference towing from the 3rd gen to the 4th gen? I've come to the conclusion that short trips with these new one's are hard on the emissions.

The 13 and up have way less issue with the short trips like the 07-12's. 35 mph seemed to be the safe avg from my experience,30 and below was bad

 

[zb39]

The Third Gens are getting high dollars because some buyers want to avoid the emissions equipment they remember from 2007-12. However, the 13-up system is far better, mileage is good, more like the old 12-valves got. Also, the poor fuel filtration of the Third Gens, not matching Bosch requirement of 4 microns, has resulted in a lot of injector and overflow valve, etc. failures. When you consider the probable high miles of older Rams, you come back to looking at 2013-up for your purchase.

It's funny. I never had a single issue or anything on my 2011 in 46k miles. I also have not had any issues with my 2016 in 13k miles. I have never seen any emissions lights on either one. Never a problem, I guess I was lucky or the so called problems were over blown....I have no idea which.