Should I Stay (with my 1996) Or Should I Go (buy a 2018)?

[Matt42]

Here's my dilemma. I have a paid-for 1996 Ram 2500 4x4 club cab Cummins with 5 speed manual. It has 77,000 miles. (You read that right, 77K miles.) It needs paint, headliner, visors, air conditioner work, belts, hoses and a general once-over. It's equipped with a Transfer-Flow aft-axle 38 gallon auxiliary fuel tank that fits where the spare tire was. There are two spare tires in the bed, bolted to the left rail. The upholstery is good, having been covered with seat covers from Geno's since about 1997. The power driver seat could use some attention. I've owned it since new. I've seldom used it in 5th gear and never lugged it. I tabbed the KDP back when it was first identified as a possibility. It has an exhaust brake and a three-piece replacement exhaust manifold. I've replaced the track bar with the you-gotta-be-kidding strong retrofit kit from (I think) BD.

I'm getting older and I'm not sure how much longer my hip will let me use the clutch. This sucks. Also, it won't handle the sort of cabover camper we *might* want to consider once I actually retire.

My wife and I drove a new 2018 Tradesman 3500 crew cab 4x4 with a long bed and an Aisin transmission today. It was OK. The backup cam was at a bad angle and I didn't like the side mirrors. The seats seemed comfortable but aren't power. But it's a Tradesman trim level, so I'm not expecting a lot. It's something around $57K out the door.

Any thoughts from anybody? Experience with the transmission?

 

[nukegm]

i upgraded from 2001 2500 cummins to a 2018 cummins tradesman cc long bed. i love the truck 1000 percent. only complaint is the torque management with my g56. other than that, truck is miles ahead of 01. its a pleasure to drive...good luck with your choice comade! cheers.

 

[Cummins12V98]

2019 ZERO TQ management. Step up the trim level and thew seats will hug you nicely! Run TH and EB, set the rear tires to 40psi and take a ride.

 

[lpennock]

At 77k you don't really drive it. Its value is going to change much. While the new trucks are nice I would wait unless you are going to get serious about looking at campers. Even then you may want to look at campers for awhile first. Nothing worse than finding your new truck is too small for the camper you like.

When you are looking at campers remember the actual weight is around 1k over the data tag. Some camper manufacturers give a real weight but most don't. Some of the bigger multi slide models will overload all but the most stripped 3500 DRW payload.

 

[Boaring1961]

Matt,

I bought a 2018 Bighorn edition last October and it had a sticker of $63,185, but I walked out the door paying $58k (includes all taxes, etc). My truck also has the offroad package and auxiliary switches, and a lot of other stuff, FWIW.

 

[Flinty]

I really can't help you with your decision but I will tell you I bought my 2018 tradesman with a 6spd manual for $45060 out the door at Dave Smith. Frankly, you're getting hosed. (note that I live in MT so no sales tax)
Currently, the mpg is absolute crap but I've read that it will improve as the truck accrues more miles on it. Overall, I like the truck and am glad I bought one before the 2019 changes came on board.

 

[y2k17ram]

I bought a '17 Ram then sold my 2000. There are times I think it might have been a better idea to keep it. I could have put a fraction of the money into my old truck to spruce it up.

Are you retired? Close to it? In my case, I am getting close ... I wanted to start my retirement with an "almost" new truck that is paid off. The alternative was a 25+ year old truck pushing 300K miles (it was pushing 230K miles when sold) I didn't want my retirement filled with the maint drama that comes with a vehicle that old.

With such low mileage, about all you need is to have the interior done - and paint if you wanted a pretty truck. Completely understand that your hip may force you out of your current truck....

 

[Cummins12V98]

"Some of the bigger multi slide models will overload all but the most stripped 3500 DRW payload."

True "IF" you stick to the 14k GVWR that is simply there to keep the truck in Class 3 to keep licensing and Insurance rates lower.

Simply look at the RAWR and FAWR's. I load my truck to it's RAWR of 9,750# and if I don't add a single pound to my factory 5,250# + - front axle weight I am at 15k. What is one to do??? Simply get the proper tonnage to cover the truck's actual weight.

 

[NIsaacs]

I know you can probably get a good price on an '18, however, with all the upgrades the '19's have, you just can't ignore them. I would not buy an 18, now.

 

[AH64ID]

I just went thru this with my 05.

I wasn't all that excited about some of the changes for '19, and it's the first year of a big motor redesign which I like to stay away from. So it was either an '18 or wait for a '21 or '22, and the price increase that will go with that along with reduced value for the '05.

I haven't towed with the '18 yet, and I am sure I will miss many things about the '05 but the '18 is pretty darn nice.

 

[JPM]

my 2017 CC SRW 3500 did not come with upper over loads , the 2003 had them. I had to go with aftermarket Supersprings a compromise for sure. The 2017 3500 DRW's have the upper overload springs. Also the Crew Cab is a longer cab than the Quad Cab of the older truck. That sets the camper back more. Not to mention the Mega cab. So if I had to order a truck, I would get a long bed CC dually,( maybe two wheel drive) More camper choices, with a long bed.

 

[JPM]

2019 ZERO TQ management. Step up the trim level and thew seats will hug you nicely! Run TH and EB, set the rear tires to 40psi and take a ride.

Is that right , 2019's have no torque management?

 

[AH64ID]

my 2017 CC SRW 3500 did not come with upper over loads , the 2003 had them. I had to go with aftermarket Supersprings a compromise for sure. The 2017 3500 DRW's have the upper overload springs. Also the Crew Cab is a longer cab than the Quad Cab of the older truck. That sets the camper back more. Not to mention the Mega cab. So if I had to order a truck, I would get a long bed CC dually,( maybe two wheel drive) More camper choices, with a long bed.

The 03 had upper overloads, but the main leaves of the 03 were softer than the main leaves of the 17. Realistically the upper overloads were overkill on 3rd gen SRW's as the OE tire rating was exceeded before they were engaged.

Funny on the long bed camper choices. When my dad bought his lance in '12 it was the opposite, and was much harder to find a long bed camper.

If I were buying a truck with a camper in mind it would have the auto-level suspension on it.

Is that right , 2019's have no torque management?

That's the claim, but I'll believe it when I see it. My guess is that it's a reduced torque management, but still not the full 1000 lb/ft in 1st.

 

[JPM]

I had Torquelift upper overload bumper stops on the 03 , they engaged right where I needed them to with the camper, I used air bags to get it just right. I did not install air bags on the 2017, trying to get by without them. I did not know enough about the factory air bags on the late model 3500's to take a chance with it. I find it hard to believe the new trucks don't have any TM, wow, that's gotta be a fun ride!

 

[TCDiesel]

JPM just add the Bags, the 6102 Spring in 2013+ 3 Graduated leaves that are .06 thicker than the 6101 Spring 2003-13 2500 / 2003-12 3500. the 6102 is much stronger than the 6101 so Ram did away with the Overloads on the 3500 SWR. Just add the Air bags run at 8 PSI Problem solved. JPM why did you get a short Bed SRW?

 

[JPM]

JPM just add the Bags, the 6102 Spring in 2013+ 3 Graduated leaves that are .06 thicker than the 6101 Spring 2003-13 2500 / 2003-12 3500. the 6102 is much stronger than the 6101 so Ram did away with the Overloads on the 3500 SWR. Just add the Air bags run at 8 PSI Problem solved. JPM why did you get a short Bed SRW?
View attachment 111934

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We already had a Lance 855 short bed Camper. Heres a photo of the helper springs

 

[TCDiesel]

JPM,Good reason to buy SB

 

[lpennock]

"Some of the bigger multi slide models will overload all but the most stripped 3500 DRW payload."

True "IF" you stick to the 14k GVWR that is simply there to keep the truck in Class 3 to keep licensing and Insurance rates lower.

Simply look at the RAWR and FAWR's. I load my truck to it's RAWR of 9,750# and if I don't add a single pound to my factory 5,250# + - front axle weight I am at 15k. What is one to do??? Simply get the proper tonnage to cover the truck's actual weight.

I agree unless you plan to travel in Canada. Their laws say you have to be under GAWR and GVW rating. They probably won't stop you unless you're tail dragging but ......

 

[Cummins12V98]

I agree unless you plan to travel in Canada. Their laws say you have to be under GAWR and GVW rating. They probably won't stop you unless you're tail dragging but ......

I would not worry about that since those laws apply to their Citizens. I have tonnage to cover what i carry that is recognized everywhere. YUP sucks to be a Canadian on some of this BS!!!

 

[Cummins12V98]

As far as TQ management goes simply watch the videos where the top RAM DOG clearly says no TQ management and also mentions burning rubber into 3rd on a DRW.

GM announced they also have no TQ management.