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NAILED IT! 2025 RAM/CUMMINS REVEALED (Sifting Through - Part IV)

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff
NAILED IT! 2025 RAM/CUMMINS REVEALED

Nope, in this reference “nailed it” isn’t a reference to a Home Depot commercial tag line or a Netflix television baking show.

“Nailed it” is the successful preview that was written-up in our December 5 article titled “2025 Ram/Cummins: Sifting Through the Rumor Mill and the ‘Truck Show’ podcast.” Truthfully, the TDR didn’t nail it. Rather, speculation by “Mr. X” (yep, that’s a little bit hokey) was right on the money when he previewed the 2025 Ram/Cummins.

IT’S OFFICIAL

This morning at 12:01 AM, the folks at www.moparinsiders.com posted a video, “2025 Ram Heavy-Duty Lineup Revealed: Cummins Diesel Power, Towing, and New Features.”
Here is a link to the 6:39 minute YouTube video from their website:




NAILED IT – QUICK READ

2025-RED-2500.jpg

Key Items:
  • Yep, 430/1075 engine rating from Cummins
  • Yep, new ZF 8-speed transmission
  • Yep, cabin and chassis are essentially the same as the Fourth Generation truck (4.0) introduced in 2010 and the 2019, 4.5 generation with the updated Cummins 6.7 CGI engine.
What should we call this 2025 truck? A 4.75 truck?

Regardless of the semantics, here are the highlights (to save you from looking) from the December 5 “Mr. X” interview:
  • No difference in cab structure (still a 2010 design).
  • Still 6.7 liters.
  • Faster DPF heat (cold start emissions).
  • No grid heater, glow plugs instead. This is for cold start emissions and less intake restriction.
  • Cylinder Head is revised – External injectors easier to service.
  • Bosch high pressure fuel pump (not CP3 or CP4).
  • Back to a cast iron block (NVH improvements).
  • Power: 430/1075.
  • Power: Are they playing it safe for future increases?
  • Top loaded fuel filters(s).
  • “Mister X” talks about the Ram/Cummins being the “enthusiast truck.” Hear, hear!
  • Emissions are still a big topic.
  • Cummins is under the microscope.
  • Cautious product launch. Will this carry the “brand” (i.e. Ram/Cummins partnership). Forward? There is always a concern that the mothership Stellantis could develop a diesel engine. (Didn’t we live through this before with Mercedes?).
  • It is the same cabin.
  • Is this a 4.75 Generation truck or do we call it a 5.0 Generation.
  • An entirely new driveline would necessitate too much change at one time.
  • 7.2-liter coming for 2027 CARB and EPA emissions (four times mentioned).
  • Additional displacement needed for lower cylinder pressures.
2025-GREY-3500-REAR-VIEW.jpg


CONCLUSION
Got it, the 2025 Ram Heavy Duty truck has been formally introduced. The marketing and relationship with the public guys (wait, Public Relations, that’s the title) at Ram and Cummins have made their marketing splash. I am highly disappointed that the TDR membership wasn’t closely involved. I’ll have to strive and do a better job. Regardless, you’ve got our December 5 communication and a 6:39 minute video to review. And, saving the best for last, your comments that can be added to this new article.

What’s your opinion?
Regards,
TDR Staff


2025-RAM-IT'S-OFFICIAL.jpg
 
Glow plugs are a HUGE step BACKWARDS in my opinion. Everyone else has a 10 speed automatic transmission.........why come out with and already obsolete 8 speed automatic??? Has the camshaft and lifter problem been properly addressed and fixed??? I believe Cummins is STILL using flat tappet lifters in their commerical 6.7 engines. Has the CP3/CP4 realiability & fuel system protection issue been properly addressed in the event that the high pressure common rail pump grenades itself like more than a few do??? This is not just a Cummins problem. I have no idea as to whether the Bosch pump will be any better and have NO desire to be the guinea pig. STILL NO Mega Cab Long Bed??? I could go on and I suspect many will think my opinion is not fair or expecting too much. Maybe so...........but for a $100,000+ truck, I think many potential truck buyers/owners may have very similar or even greater expectations. It's still a VERY nice truck and probably better than the competition but that is not saying all that much for the value in this day and age. Just my highly bias'd 2 cents worth. Thanks for posting the story and video!
 
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On a side note, GM and Ford HD diesels use the same 10 speed transmission developed by the two.... and they want to call it an Allison but it's only Allison "certified"... whatever that means. My neighbor bought a brand new 2024 GMC HD Duramax. Trans took a dump at 780 miles. Having A/C issues.
 
I will be test driving one this summer to get an idea.

Certainly not going to buy the first model year, unless of course used/left over after at least a year and a half...

TDR will be in invaluable resource for my next truck purchase.

Keep postin' folks. :)
 
Wish they would bring back a manual transmission.
An Eaton Fuller 8LL ten speed manual or a slimmed down version would be nice, although I suspect a very poor seller due to the ignorance & inability of most drivers to operate and drive a manual transmission. It would probably be considered to big & beefy overkill by the engineers for this pickup at 690 lbs. but I believe it would be a very nicely matched option especially when and if Cummins comes out with the 7.2 liter engine. The NV5600 weighs in at 360 lbs. but is way underrated for the torque of these newer diesel engines. I far and away prefer a manual transmission but as I get older I occasionally find myself eyeing the automatic transmissions. The mediocre reliability & longevity of the current automatic transmission STILL has not convinced me to consider one. It is almost impossible to find any manual shift vehicles anymore.
 
The mediocre reliability & longevity of the current automatic transmission STILL has not convinced me to consider one.
Not sure what you are referring to as far as failures. In stock trucks there have been very few failures on 68RFE, and virtually no failures on Aisin. There was a snap ring failure a couple years back, but even that was pretty isolated.
 
Service information has been published. Looks like we now have 7th injector before the DPF. Also no dipstick in the transmission, but easier than the 8 speed in the 1500. Special dipstick tool required.
 
Service information has been published. Looks like we now have 7th injector before the DPF. Also no dipstick in the transmission, but easier than the 8 speed in the 1500. Special dipstick tool required.

MOPAR? Or who has it? I looked in all mine, and none of them have it yet.
 
Wish they would bring back a manual transmission.

Manual transmissions are going away in almost everything, even in class 7-8 trucks, I would say the manual transmission take rate is below 25%, maybe even lower. At the Freightliner/Western Star dealer that I work at, we are having to push the Eaton endurant and Detroit DT12 automated transmissions in vocational applications where the Allison 3000 and 4000 series used to dominate because the Allison factory is running at Maximum capacity. We really only seem to sell manual transmissions to customers that order them that way, any stock trucks are auto.

I keep hoping to see EGR go away in the pickup truck market. I am fine with DEF and aftertreatment, getting rid of EGR would make the engines substantially more reliable. The B and L engines in industrial form now have only aftertreatment, they do not have a VGT or EGR. Hoping in the next 5-10 years, on highway engines can be the same way, it may take an electric/hybrid type system to make that a reality.

I'm not sold on the grille on the Rebel, looks like they started designing it and did not know when to stop? Seems that way with alot of the new trucks these days.
 
I still have two manual transmission vehicles... a 2000 Dodge Dakota with a NV3500 and a 2007 F150 with a M5OD-R2.... I don't drive them much, but when I do, that long throw of the shifter and the clutch just makes driving a truck, like driving a truck. Love it.

If I lived way down south, I would hunt high and low for a stick shift Dodge Cummins, even if it needed work. Drive it as a daily driver.

When I had my 2002 2500 Cummins, the NY salt belt got to it within 5 years. Rust perforations all over the place and other issues with rust. Something about that model year just doesn't cope well with salt. Not sure if it was the materials Chrysler used for the metals or lack of basic rust coatings. Can't win up here with anything nice.

Heck, two weeks ago I somehow got a nice rock scratch on the top of my hood on my EcoD. Was not happy, but I was able to carefully polish it out with my 6" DA and some Scratch-X.
 
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