I'm now an observer.

[rashwor]

With great sadness, me and my 2005 Ram 3500 have parted company. We ended our relationship with 439,696 wonderful miles. Our kids grew up in this truck. It was time to move up to a 4th Gen.

The new(er) rig is a 2014 Ram 2500 ST Crew Cab LB 4x2 with the 6.4L Hemi and (gasp)... a six speed slush box (66RFE). This will be the first slush box I have ever owned in a truck. I am confident she will tow everything I need her to as I tow slightly less than the legal ratings of the 2500. I would have liked to have had a 3500, but the 2500 is what I can afford now. She gets a B&W Turnover ball hitch on Friday and will be towing this weekend.

I will get my signature updated soon.

 

[Wiredawg]

With great sadness, me and my 2005 Ram 3500 have parted company. We ended our relationship with 439,696 wonderful miles. Our kids grew up in this truck. It was time to move up to a 4th Gen.

The new(er) rig is a 2014 Ram 2500 ST Crew Cab LB 4x2 with the 6.4L Hemi and (gasp)... a six speed slush box (66RFE). This will be the first slush box I have ever owned in a truck. I am confident she will tow everything I need her to as I tow slightly less than the legal ratings of the 2500. I would have liked to have had a 3500, but the 2500 is what I can afford now. She gets a B&W Turnover ball hitch on Friday and will be towing this weekend.

I will get my signature updated soon.

Congrats on the new too you truck. My wifes cousin bought a new 2018 Ram Laramie 2500 4x4 with a 6.4L Hemi. He likes it and says he gets 19mpg... I think he drives lik 52mph and takes out of gear on the downhills. Joking.

Good luck and have fun.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Wayne M.]

Good luck on the new rig, and smart staying away from that 1500 IFS malarkey.

 

[rashwor]

Ron, I got 17.2 coming home on the interstate running 75 last night. That's about 3 mpg better than my '05 did. Couldn't believe that. I think it will do as well or slightly better than my '05 did... until I hook up one of my trailers.

Wayne, never considered a 1500. They won't do what I need them to do. Sure, I don't tow 30k, but I tow more than is legal for a 1500.

If money was not so hard to come by, I would have gotten another Cummins. They are holding their value well as indicated by my shopping.

 

[Wiredawg]

I wouldn't be surprised if you get 19 too. Claude is conservative but gasser technology is amazing. My wife has a 1500, but that's our Kountry Kadillac which gets 18 on the highway. My wife kinda drives it like she stole it... she does like Hemi HP/TQ.

Enjoy,

Ron

 

[Wayne M.]

I know it’s apples and oranges, but I saw this on pool table flat I95 just weeks ago. 4 of us and our luggage in Midnite. Hemi/ 8HP70.

 

[TFucili]

Welcome to the 6.4 heavy-haul club. When that 66RFE is in second gear @5K RPMs, you'll wonder what happened to the Cummins
Get ready for 7.5-8.5 mpg. Once you get used to a small block gasser screaming, they do a pretty fair job.

 

[Wayne M.]

That is true. The Hemi will scream. In cruise control, coming down a huge grade, the cruise strategy will downshift the trans to where the engine will be spinning 3500 trying to get enough engine braking to maintain speed. It’s in times like this where it’ll use a bit of oil.

 

[TFucili]

That is true. The Hemi will scream. In cruise control, coming down a huge grade, the cruise strategy will downshift the trans to where the engine will be spinning 3500 trying to get enough engine braking to maintain speed. It’s in times like this where it’ll use a bit of oil.

The grade braking is even more aggressive in the trucks. She'll wind to the moon.

 

[Ozymandias]

The HEMI is built to scream, i love to turn mine to the Red Line at an onramp. Awesome Sound!

 

[TFucili]

The HEMI is built to scream, i love to turn mine to the Red Line at an onramp. Awesome Sound!

I agree it's fun when empty, but when pulling heavy, and it's turning 5K RPM for miles it makes you wonder how long she can take it. I have not pulled heavy in Summer weather, but in 60-70s the fan will spool up @ 217(?)degrees and knocks the coolant temps down, but what bugs me is engine oil temps, which can get into the 250 range pretty quickly. I know it's the piston cooling jets keeping the engine from burning down, but it sure makes you wonder.

 

[Wiredawg]

I love the sound of my wife's truck...idle nice and quiet, step into it and nice and throaty. I read on a ram 1500 website folks who install aftermarket exhaust systems and complain about the loudness. IMHO, FCA got the tuned exhaust system perfect on this truck. The ride is amazing too and love the auto steps. Easy for an old crip like me to get in and out. Feels like I'm getting on a horse getting in my 5500.

Ram has cool/ hot trucks!

Cheers, Ron

 

[rashwor]

The B&W is being installed today. I want to try my hand at towing with a 6.4 auto this weekend, but it is so wet on the ranch and more rain coming tonight and tomorrow I may just wait. I need to be working, but all I can do is watch it rain. Crazy.

Yep. I'm going to miss my Cummins every time I hook up one of my trailers. Gone are the days of going to San Antonio on 1 tank of fuel. Oh well, built in excuse to trade later!

 

[TFucili]

Feels like I'm getting on a horse getting in my 5500.

Kelderman offers a 3" lower ride height option for their air ride system. Just sayin'

 

[Wiredawg]

Kelderman offers a 3" lower ride height option for their air ride system. Just sayin'

yes sir, my wife had the discussion about ride improvement and height difference. We decided it wasn't worth $15K. I actually get in and out of the 5500 fine. And in stock form, it rides level with 21KLb Mobile Suites. I actually this week read the full installation instructions for Kelderman all the way around, and put final nail in the coffin to not do it.

Thanks for the thought though.

Cheers,

Ron

 

[Prairie Dog]

Great post and info. I have considered this move as well and would really like to hear how it compares with the Cummins when towing.

 

[RVTRKN]

You'll miss the torque, no doubt. I can tow my boat with my Tacoma, with a 1000 pounds to spare staying within the tow ratings. I quickly learned only when necessary.

 

[AnonEd]

FWIW I got 17 running empty on highway (generally 65-70 and only half flat) in a Power Wagon with 6.4/6-sp auto and mid 9s' towing 9000-pound vehicle/trailer. In a 2500 4x4 6.4 and the 8-sp auto I got 18+ hwy, but not sure what axle ratio it was and tires weren't aggressive as the Power Wagon's.

 

[RVTRKN]

The Power Wagon has the 4:10 differential as standard, more than likely the other was 3:73.

 

[BSmart]

Best wishes with your new truck. Your previous truck's total miles makes me feel good, as my '05 Laramie SLT 4x4 auto has 123,000 on it. I must admit I have eyed newer trucks, but feel mine, as yours did, has plenty of life left.