Is a 2012 CTD for me ?

[rrl989]

I'm waivering between a new Ram 3500 DRW, GMC 3500 DRW, and a GMC 3500 Gasser SRW. NY Metro area, No deletes, no mods possible, annual inspections, besides I prefer OEM with full warranty. What do the experts here say ?



I commute as a daily driver empty just under 80 miles per day, total about 75% hwy speeds, 25% traffic. Need a 3500 to occasionally haul my 4500+ lb truck camper in the 8 ft bed. About 20% of my usage will be loaded with the camper, empty 80%.



Nearly 14 years as a TDR member and driving my 12V under the same conditions as above, flawless, truck still 100%, 17-20 mpgs, 170,000 miles. I like and prefer Dodge based on my ownership experience.



I've seen and read about all the changes over the years since the 12V, frankly I'm concerned as I read about the many newest CTD complaints.





Please give it to me straight, all opinions welcome

 

[EricBu12]

Get the Dodge 3500. 4500 would be better for the weight carry to get the 19. 5" tires. . Those stiff tires will get better mileage on the freeway as well.

Since your commute is a lot of miles a day freeway, the emissions will be happy.

 

[rscurtis]

Just out of curiosity, why would you consider a gas powered truck in this range?

 

[MConyers]

I looked at the Dodge, Ford and Gm trucks before I bought a new one. I got the one that I liked the most... Ford was in second place for me. Too bad that the Hemi is not an option for Dodge DRW anymore. I would guess that you would be happier with a diesel engine with that much weight, but any of them unloaded.

 

[rrl989]

Just out of curiosity, why would you consider a gas powered truck in this range?

Because of the lower cost, high reliability, simple tested emission technology.

Truck empty, GM gasser is actually preferred by me after a test drive, but when loaded I'm sure I would have buyers remorse. Daily gas mpg I'd expect 13, I see about 15 is the max expected empty. I'm just considering the trade offs getting away from the CTD. I'm seeking reliabilty at this point in life. I want the CTD, but seems risky for me, but you guys own them. I only have 12V experience.

 

[rrl989]

I looked at the Dodge, Ford and Gm trucks before I bought a new one. I got the one that I liked the most... Ford was in second place for me. Too bad that the Hemi is not an option for Dodge DRW anymore. I would guess that you would be happier with a diesel engine with that much weight, but any of them unloaded.

Yes, if the Hemi was still an option, I'd consider it over the GM. The latest Rams have the best mechanicals and interior IMO. I don't see significant changes in the near future, but I suspect GM will have a new body/interior by 2013. I'd be 100% for the diesel, but I'm not sure they are problem free enough for me. I don't want to have to constanly visit with my dealer even if it's under warranty.

 

[rrl989]

Get the Dodge 3500. 4500 would be better for the weight carry to get the 19. 5" tires. . Those stiff tires will get better mileage on the freeway as well.



Since your commute is a lot of miles a day freeway, the emissions will be happy.

Thanks, but I would not consider the 19. 5 $$ option. Would not need for a dually, and I would not put my load on a SRW Ram 3500 because it has too low of a payload rating from Dodge.

 

[bombero]

After 3 CTD starting in 1992 I wont ever own a newer one!!! My 2004 is the last diesel that I will own because of the smog stuff. I run my truck about 80% around town and 20% pulling my 10000K trailer. These new trucks are not made for me. When I first bought my 92 I figured out the cost of fuel compared to a gas rig. The diesel was a no brainer. Now doing the same reasoning with the fact that you will spend thousands of $$$ fixing injectors, pumps, smog related crap and the whole POS being unreliable I am going to buy a gas rig a year from now. With a auto. I never wanted to have a auto because all of them were POS. Had to fix them before 100k. Now I will get a nice driving gasser. My original member # was 304 so I have been around awhile Jim

 

[HBarlow]

The new ISB6. 7s are essentially troublefree if driven as intended meaning if the truck is used mostly for highway travel and towing/hauling service.

The cab and chassis versions have been troublefree since they were introduced in 2007. 5 because they use simpler emission control equipment.

If you do some general reading in TDR forum of member opinions of new ISB6. 7 trucks you will find that those who own them generally love them unless they try to make grocery getter cars out of them in which case they may have soot issues.

Those that don't own them often preach about the fact that they don't want to own one but since they don't own one they are not likely to know much about them.

My guess is the original poster would enjoy a new Ram with the duty cycle he described.

 

[AH64ID]

I think you would be fine with your duty cycle. It's not the hardest working cycle, but plenty of highway miles for regens to operate.

On a side not the Hemi can be had in a 3500 DRW C&C truck.

 

[rscurtis]

Another thing to keep in mind is that gas engines are not trouble-free as they age either. How many Ford owners have found out about the $3000 tune-up- they go in for plugs and come out with two new heads. The fuel injections system will eventually need service. Manifolds running at red to orange heat will eventually crack and need replacement- a job confounded by stripped and corroded bolts. Don't forget the hit you'll take on resale too- down the road, when gas is $5-6-7/gallon, no one will want these big gas jobs any more. Look what happened in the MD truck market as the price of fuel went up- all the big gas burners are gone. No one who drives any amount at all can hope to stay in business with a vehicle that costs almost a dollar per mile in fuel alone.

 

[EGroeneveld]

My report:



2011 Ram 3500 Dually 4*4.

Ordered it around Thanksgiving time, it arrived 01/04/2011. Right now I'm at about 12,500 miles in just over 6 months. I have a 6 mile work commute but almost every weekend we are hauling trailers full of quads, and/or our camper or are getting out of town. You'll be just fine. I've run the truck to Las Vegas twice and to Southern UT plus camping all over Oregon. My commute is a small percentage of my miles. 15 fill ups in June

 

[HBarlow]

Another thing to keep in mind is that gas engines are not trouble-free as they age either. How many Ford owners have found out about the $3000 tune-up- they go in for plugs and come out with two new heads. The fuel injections system will eventually need service. Manifolds running at red to orange heat will eventually crack and need replacement- a job confounded by stripped and corroded bolts. Don't forget the hit you'll take on resale too- down the road, when gas is $5-6-7/gallon, no one will want these big gas jobs any more. Look what happened in the MD truck market as the price of fuel went up- all the big gas burners are gone. No one who drives any amount at all can hope to stay in business with a vehicle that costs almost a dollar per mile in fuel alone.

That is a fact!

I have an old friend who has been a mechanic since the mid '50s. He was telling me about reluctanctly agreeing to replace spark plugs on a Furd 1/2 ton gas pickup for a friend. He found two or three spark plugs welded in the threads by corrosion. Apparently it is a very common problem with that engine.

I can personally testify to the cracked exhaust manifolds experience. I had a '94 Furd F-250HD with 460 ci big block gas V8. It was used for towing a heavy Airstream. As it aged it suffered cracked exhaust manifolds repeatedly. All 460 Furds and 454 GMs did the same when used in motorhome chassis or towing.

The resale value of a big gas V8 with 100k miles is pocket change.

 

[CUMMINZ]

I have been watching my spark plugs on my CTD. Where the pipe goes into the head is always clean and neat. Wonder why it is a pipe and not a wire. ?:-laf

 

[RonD]

Just my 2 cents, if it was me, and I had 80 miles a day to drive, I would keep the truck you have, and but a 40-50 mpg work car, use the truck for you camper only

 

[rrl989]

Thanks for all the input, both pro & con. I have some thinking to do. At least we get a full 5yr/100K warranty. In 98, that was only on the engine. As far as the gasser, I realize they are not perfect, but compared to a diesel of today they are tried and tested, not too many issues. And for keeping my current truck, I'll do that anyway, but it's getting up in age and I'm ready for a new one. I'm not a Prius type of person, I like my 4x4 truck world. Not be the best idea for commuting, but I compromise in other areas.

 

[Wertles]

I agree with Ron. Unless you are blessed with some extra cash for diesel, find a beater car that gets great gas mileage for your commute. Still buy a CTD for your camper and work the snot out of it and it will last you a billion years. The newer trucks love to be worked and hate to be babied. You have a longer commute at highway speeds that is probably going to be ok with the new engine and never have a problem but 15 MPG is going to kill you after a while. Combine that with ~4000 mile oil changes, tire wear and other running costs, you might actually save money with a used Toyota Prius or such for your daily commute.

 

[AfterBurner]

Or get a Jetta TDI that gets the same mpg as a prius, costs less, and you still get use the green handled pump.



If you like your commute in a 98 3500, you'll love it in 11 or 12 3500. The trucks have improved by leaps and bounds.



As for reliablility- there's a reason you see so many commercial trucks with a cummins under the hood. They need low operating cost and high reliability to make money.

 

[rrl989]

Forget the higher mpg alternatives, I'm not spending nearly 2 hrs a day in anything other than a HD pickup. As for the reliability, that's what I've begun to question. The CTD has not been without faults over the years, for my generation its the KDP and 53 block. I feel the newest CTD's are reliable, but not the post exhaust treatment system which I believe is an all Chrysler event ?

 

[Wertles]

It's not all Chrysler, blame the EPA. Just guessing, but I don't think the added cost of the truck covers the amount of warranty work that has been done. I'm sure they'd love to go back to 2004 emmission requirements. I know what you mean about driving a gas saver. It sucks. I have to do it because my commute is only 12 miles and in the winter, the temp gauge never moves. Driving an hour each way you will be just fine. It's the short, stop and go these new trucks hate. Get a new truck, get it exactly how you want it and love it for the next ??????? years.