buying a new Ram

[Herman8r]

thinking of buying a new Ram. Haven't really started looking. Thinking of a 2019 or 2020.
My 2006 runs great. No problems. New trans a few months ago (to be expected) but that's it.

I just retired and sold my business. Only draw back is my "shop" is gone and no place to tinker around on my '06....which I enjoyed doing my own maintenance, accessory add on's etc.

I am fortunate to be able to purchase with the Employee Purchase thru my in-law's. I live part time in CA and in Michigan so I really don't want a truck with CA emissions....if that even comes in to play anymore.

Was thinking of checking in with Dillon Dodge in Idaho, as recommended by a friend.

Any thoughts of 2019 or 2020 builds? Pros or cons?

Any other Dealer or broker suggestions?

 

[Randomrunner12]

I only have a 2012 but I wanted to just chime in and follow the thread so i can get info on a new truck if it comes time to find something.

 

[EZeis]

I went from an 07 2500 regular cab to a 18 3500 crew cab long bed srw. Talk about a beast. My 07 was an slt. The 18 is a tradesman and way more features.

Earl

 

[AH64ID]

I went from a well modified 05 SLT, suspension, engine, etc, to the ‘18 in my sig. The bone stock 18 outperforms the 05 in nearly every way. Nothing bad to say about the 05, the 18 just does it better.

So I think you’d be happy with an upgrade. They have come a long way.

 

[AEdelheit]

The emissions are all the same now, there is no CA specific trucks.

 

[jhenderson]

I have no regrets going from my 04.5 to my 15. A lot of folks swear by Ken at indytruckchampion.com.

 

[Wiredawg]

Even me going from a non-DEF 2009 Ram 4500 4x4 to my current 2017 Ram 5500 4x4 is way better... programming on the Aisin transmission is way better. My 2017 is the best Ram I've owned out of the 6 I've owned. Its a beast!

 

[Cummins12V98]

2020 3500 SRW or DRW LB Quad Cab AISIN Factory Rear Air Ride. Select trim level of your choice. Enjoy!!!

 

[Herman8r]

Saw a 2019 parked next to me yesterday. 3500 SRW, 3500, Big Horn. Long bed,QC. Looked great! Really don't need the 3500.
Thanks for the great info!

 

[SSchang]

Trading in my 2015 3500 shortbed SRW for a 2020 3500 longbed SRW in an hour or so. Ordered it Dec 2nd, arrived at the dealer yesterday, about 6 weeks. Feel like a kid at Christmas! Wife and I wanted a bigger truck camper, will pick the new camper up in a couple weeks. The 2015 was a great truck, several recalls but no other issues since I bought it new, it now has 74,000 miles on it. 12,000 of those miles were accumulated on a trip to Alaska in August and September from our home near Buffalo, NY.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Saw a 2019 parked next to me yesterday. 3500 SRW, 3500, Big Horn. Long bed,QC. Looked great! Really don't need the 3500.
Thanks for the great info!

cant tell you how many say “don’t need the 3500”

 

[Herman8r]

I had a '99 Dually. Was loaded. It was a great riding truck.
I have to ask...on the newer trucks, what is the ride difference between the 2500 & the 3500?

 

[Herman8r]

SSchang, did you order direct from the dealer?
6 weeks doesn't sound too bad for a special order.
What reason for the special order vs a Big Horn or Laramie, or Long Horn package?
Sorry, I don't mean to sound nosy----just curious if the options of special ordering were worth the price.

 

[SSchang]

Yes, I ordered it at my local dealer. The dealer and I searched for what I wanted, but couldn't find anything within 500 miles, didn't look further than that. One of the things that made it a bit hard to find was the color - Delmonico red pearlcoat. Not that it's an unusual color, but dealers tend to order stock trucks in silver or white, I didn't want that. My new truck is a Laramie, and the options I added are: Laramie level 1 package, safety group, Cummins, 12" screen, leather buckets, towing technology group, bed utility group. Not sure I saw an advantage to buying a truck off a lot, other then there are great deals on 2019's. As a retiree of Cummins, I get the supplier discount on the truck. I wasn't really in a hurry for the truck, got exactly what I wanted, and still got the supplier discount. I could have bought a truck off a lot, which would have probably saved me some money with the discounts on the '19s, but I would have had to compromise on what I wanted, and my truck is a model year newer.
The next package up, the Laramie Longhorn, would have been about $5500 more than the Laramie with the options I bought. For that $5500, I would have got nicer leather interior, 17 speaker audio, power running boards, and a wireless phone charging pad. Not worth $5500 to me.

 

[Cummins12V98]

No idea on ride between the two. Air tires based on load and they both will ride good. 2500 better I am sure but a 1500 is even better!

 

[AEdelheit]

The 2500s do ride a little smoother but they are both sprung pretty stiff and you will feel it on larger bumps. I personally would go with a 3500 simply for the leaf spring design over the 4 link which has some quirks and very bad axle wrap issues on soft surfaces along with how far inboard the coils springs are mounted create some side to side stability issues.

 

[Tuesdak]

You should drive one HO Aisin 3500 so you can compare its get up and go over the other 2500’s. Stomp it on the freeway and you will miss the 06 as the new ones go when it damn well feels like it. The HO setup was tolerable enough otherwise sluggish throttle response is a deal breaker for me. More power is “so what” if you can’t use it. There are worse rides out there including too touchy. I will single out a loaner Renegade that would break the tires loose as it didn’t do anything till the throttle was halfway to the floor. For example you are pressing down taking the slack out of the throttle cable, no cable, just a computer tune that’s not ready to move: no feedback that the throttle moved some...

With my love of the Aisin the 18 of mine and some others 19’s are not the most refined giving a random harsh shift and an inability to find first gear to tackle a extreme grade. It’s no worse than waiting for a spinning NV5600 to drop into 1st. The extreme grade happens to be my driveway...

The 3500’s let you run any tire pressure without the federally mandated light coming on. Reporting system vs. monitoring system. You can thank Firestone tires and Ford for the bodies piled up making this regulation happen. If I had given tires a second thought on a new truck I would have made the dealership replace the Low Bidder garbage Firestone Transforce with a better set of tires. They wear fast and had one replacement for radial pull under the short krap Firestone warranty. They are not going to even make it 20k miles on mine.

Don’t be afraid of the Tradesman Trim as noted they are better than the 06 era SLT for comfort.

 

[Cummins2014]

2020 3500 SRW or DRW LB Quad Cab AISIN Factory Rear Air Ride. Select trim level of your choice. Enjoy!!!

And whatever he does NEVER consider the Megacab 3500

 

[R.Taylor]

The 2500s do ride a little smoother but they are both sprung pretty stiff and you will feel it on larger bumps. I personally would go with a 3500 simply for the leaf spring design over the 4 link which has some quirks and very bad axle wrap issues on soft surfaces along with how far inboard the coils springs are mounted create some side to side stability issues.

This is the exact reason I sold my 5 month old 2018 2500 MegaCab with only 3600 miles on it.... The rear suspension was "weird feeling" if I must give it a description. When steering it felt like it had 4 wheel steering.... Like the truck turned on a central pivot point. Felt like it would roll if you did any evasive maneuver at freeway speeds. Airing down the tires made it feel worse as then you get more sidewall play. I ended up selling it to a friend for $1000 less than I paid for it... Ordered a 2019 3500 MC Laramie with everything BUT rear air... It's pretty much a Limited minus a few interior trim pieces and some badging. After having 2 3rd gen 2500's with leaf springs I'll never go back to a coil spring rear truck again.

 

[Herman8r]

This is really good info. I am confused (my wife will always agree with that!) about the throttle sluggish response and the AISIN trans. Is this two separate issues?
Not sure I have heard of a " MC Laramie".
Looks like I will be headed towards the 3500 due to the leaf springs. My wife will like it as she has been bugging me for three years to get a cab over camper. Had them many years ago but I have resisted as of late due to the off road treks I travel on to go hunting & fishing. I know---happy wife happy life!!
Is the rear air suspension an add on or is this stock?