Possible Truck Upgrade, questions on 4th Gen Reliability

[shorthorn]

Hey yall... I did quite a bit of searching and found mostly older posts on reliability of the 4th gen trucks... mainly interested in how the 68RFE tran's holds up, emissions equipment / ease of delete, turbo reliability... and so on.

I currently have an 05 2500 which I have had no problems with... I do however hate the 4 speed trans, otherwise its been a great truck. Wife and I are upgrading to a larger 5th wheel camper and need a dually to haul it. I am currently looking at a '12 3500 with 115k on it. Miles don't scare me as I only put 6-7k miles / year on my trucks, they are not daily drivers, but try to get them out once a week or so.

What can I expect with the 4th gens... Certainly much nicer interior, lot more power... How do these 6 speeds do pulling (looking at 12-14k lb 5er)? Do the turbo's on non-deleted trucks need regular cleaning to remove soot?

Thanks yall...

 

[wyosteve]

I had a '12 3500 SRW until last Sept. It had the 68RFE and towed up to 15k just fine. Haven't really heard of many problems with that transmission. Only regular 'cleaning' required is at every 67,500 miles. My '12 was part of the tie bar safety recall/buyback, so when FCA made me an offer I couldn't refuse, I got a '15 w/ Aisin. My only negative on the '12 was the fuel mileage was about 20% lower than my previous 04.5, but with the few miles you put on per year that would be no deal breaker.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Mine has given me no issues. The engine is stock, no deleting. The 13-up emissions recipe works well and can be left alone.

 

[shorthorn]

thanks fella's!

I am looking at two trucks... an '11 and a '12.... Are the emissions systems on them much worse than the '13+?

 

[zetatre]

I actually bought a 12 purposely because of the emission system. I didn't want an SCR truck because of the very simple idea that "what's not there doesn't break": there's pumps, injectors, NOx sensors... I currently own a BMW X5 diesel and the SCR system don't really have the best reputation out there. Mine has been fairly trouble free, but I had a choice I would have gone without SCR.

You may get told that mileage is worse, which may very well be the case. But based on my research is negligible: if you take a look on Fuelly (http://www.fuelly.com/car/ram/2500) at all 2500 (what I have) there is some difference between 2011-2012, but to me it was marginal when compared to the additional things to maintain.

The one thing I had to give up was the updated EVIC and infotainment system.

As far as long term reliability, don't trust everything you read on the Internet, particularly on the "other" forum... Apparently if you have a 2012 you MUST delete it, yet if you would calculate the limit of the ratio of threads about error codes or issues post-delete and threads of failed emission component it would tend to infinity.

Just another perspective to basically say they are all great trucks.

 

[RustyJC]

No complaints at all with ours, which spends 95% of its time towing a HEAVY 5th wheel (see signature). The 68RFE handles it just fine. One check engine light since new - a failed output speed sensor on the 68RFE replaced under warranty.

Rusty

 

[KenHwy61]

No problem with my 2012 either. My 68RFE has been great. Those actually having problems seem few and far in between. The truck tows awesome and stops great with the exhaust brake. Also, the front steering linkage has been upgraded quite a bit since 2005. My truck is pretty quiet on the inside and the seats are comfortable even during long trips. No touch screen radio in mine but it has Sirius/XM radio with CD and sounds pretty good. Mileage averages from 12 to 16 not towing and 10-12 towing 10K. Mine is still under warranty so no deleting.

 

[spoon059]

Everything that I have read about the 68RFE has been the sloppy feeling shifts. The best way to describe it is that the 3rd to 4th shift feels like its being controlled by rubber bands. You get a surge as the torque convertor unlocks. I 100% agree that you can get that condition unloaded, and it is acting as it was designed to do.

The transmission feels completely with some weight behind it though. The trans is completely rock solid and shifts GREAT when you are working it. I really think that Ram designed these trucks to be WORKED and they perform best when they are worked.

I have zero concerns about the transmission. Honestly I also feel that the power and reliability of this truck is top notch, again especially if you WORK the truck. You tow at highway speeds and keep your EGT's up and it cleans out the emissions systems passively. Tons of power, great mileage (22 unloaded on highway, got almost 12 towing an 8500 lbs trailer at 66-68mph) and fully stock!

 

[EDankievitch]

Had a 2012 standard cab, great truck emissions system sucked. I would have removed it it not for the mandatory state testing each year. Fuel Mpg's were worse than a gasser. It would fill the lube oil with fuel. It seemed to always be in the Re-gen cycle. after a year and 26,000 miles I threw inn the towel on it in Hind sight I should have done the lemon law as the dealer was never able to fix it. When I say fix it the making oil issue. Do an oil change put in 12 qts. drive it 1800 miles and the computer starts sayin it needs an oil change take 16 to 20 qts. of oil out of it each and every time. I'm not going to go into everything that was changed and re flashed but nothing worked. which really sucked as I had special ordered it. But the dealer was more than happy to get me into a 13 they had on the lot. while not everything that I wanted or had in the other truck aside from a couple of soft ware updates has been flawless. It gets great fuel econ. never makes oil. the 68RFE works but seems to have a mind of it's own. Hey I'm a manual transmission guy so it just seems strange to me why it shifts when it does. I drive the same way every day and it almost never does the same thing every day. Up shifts down shifts one day it'll stay in the low gear and allow the engine break to work all the way down the hill the next trip will up shift and no engine break down the same hill. As for that surge everyonne talks about the newist flash seems to help. I have never found it to be an issue The transmission does shift smooth. The tow haul feature works well. Though not as well as a guy that knows how to drive a stick.....
Ok, enough of my rambleing. Im my opinion even if the truck is free, has the 6.7 engine and does not have the DEF emissions system do not take it. The early 6.7 emissions sytem was a poor atempt to solve an emissions problem at best. I found it to be a huge headache.

 

[RustyJC]

Sorry that (as we've read umpteen times!) your experience was so unsatisfactory. Obviously, your experience is not universal as exemplified by the good experiences of other satisfied owners such as myself.

Rusty

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Overall, I much prefer the 2013-up system and that is why I finally sold my early-2004 and got a new truck. No maintenance of the new system, and it works without a hitch, yielding exhaust cleaner than urban air, to please the greenies.

 

[gsbrockman]

Do an oil change put in 12 qts. drive it 1800 miles and the computer starts sayin it needs an oil change take 16 to 20 qts. of oil out of it each and every time

Are you serious??? If your crankcase had upwards of 20 quarts total in it (12 oil & 8 fuel)......there would not have been a seal left in the block, not counting the rods & main bearings being junked. Was the 16 to 20 quarts actually measured----or estimated???

 

[shorthorn]

Thank you guys for all the great responses...

 

[rashwor]

I would go with a '13 or up as the emissions are working well with no need to delete and mileage seems a little better with the SCR. The 6.7s in the '13 and up seem pretty solid from what I see. I know when I decide to update, it will be a '13+.

 

[shorthorn]

Thanks Rash.. i did just find a nice looking '15 3500 Dually... its a plain jane model and almost at 100k, but falls in my budget... Seriously considering looking at it... It certainly was a hot shot or trailer hauler for the 10 months it was on the road. Only thing that worries me a little is the carfax shows it was in the dealer for a "driveability check" around 77k.... Hoping there wasn't some issue and now they are dumping it since the warranty is almost up.

 

[Newsa]

It's broken in. If the drivability issue was 22,000+ miles ago, Wouldn't worry too much. They would have dumped it sooner if it wasn't fixed.

 

[Eagle6.7L]

Hi,shorthorn any RAM dealer can pull that work order with the VIN to see what the driveability writeup was and what the fix was...If I might ask what is your budget.2015/2016 Tradesman are getting might I say quite low 4wd's around 38,000 on 2015....I also noticed for a 1000.00 dollars more a 3500 could be had with a 68RFE.

 

[SnoKing]

I would vote for a 2013+ also. Snoking

 

[Newsa]

Fuel economy on the 2013's + are better. And less fuel dilution