Ram Cummins 2500 4x4 or new Ram Power wagon?

[Flash1034]

Help me decide? I tow my Jeep on a trailer to some of the distant runs, and will use the truck as a daily driver. Any opinions welcomed...? Ive owned several diesel trucks and loved them but I'm a little concerned about the new trucks and their cost of ownership.

Thanks,

Flash

 

[kthaxton]

One important fact.....you can't get a PowerWagon with a Cummins.....only a Hemi.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

One important fact.....you can't get a PowerWagon with a Cummins.....only a Hemi.

I think OP knows that. He's just wanting an opinion whether to go gas or with another diesel engine. All I can say that if a person really loves diesel engines, that person will never be truly happy with a gasser, and will ultimately find their way into a diesel sooner or later, spending and losing money all the way. I suggest you buy once, not twice OP.

 

[Tuesdak]

Towing with the Hemi will have you buying a in bed or other larger fuel tank just to pass a gas station compared to the long legs of diesel economy towing. You need the Power Wagon why exactly with the off road fun Jeep toy? Towing with a gas engine just isn't the same as with a turbocharged diesel. Wound up on a grade the gas engine is more likely to blow something up. Diesel's Turbo screaming or gas engine screaming? Easy answer here...

Resale value who wants a Hemi with 100K on it?

Add a bumper, winch, some Power Wagon Stickers, different tires and have it your way: Diesel Power Wagon.

 

[Flash1034]

All good points. Thanks. I'm leaning towards the Cummins again. I only wish it didn't come bogged down with all that expensive to replace emissions crap. I can't delete it because I live in Commiefornia.

Flash

 

[Mingoglia]

Since you have an offroad toy, get the Cummins. Filters/oil cost more, but the extended service of them make it a wash. Fuel mileage will be greater, and depending on where you are in the country diesel will be just under or just over the cost of regular unleaded. My wife's '14 Durango with the 5.7L Hemi and 8sp auto gets 1.5 mpg less than my 9,200lb Mega Cab dually Long bed conversion around town. Her Durango is approximately half the weight of my truck, so the Power Wagon will get even less. Granted on the highway unloaded she gets better economy. With a trailer though, fuel mileage goes down drastically with the gasser. When we moved to GA from AZ, the Durango and my Cummins got identical mileage on the road trip. She was pulling a uhaul trailer, and at about 8,000 lbs combined. I was at 20k combined. None of this takes into account that most of that trip I was chugging away at a fraction of her RPM, particularly going up the (few) hills.

 

[TFucili]

To me the big downside of the PW is to get the flexi suspension you lose most of your payload. I went with a 6.4 gasser this time around because I don't tow that much anymore, and my daily commute is only a couple miles. Does the 6.4 tow like a Cummins? Not even in the same universe, but it suits my current needs.

 

[Flash1034]

Thanks for the opinions guys. With my Jeep JK Rubicon all duded out, I think a Cummins would serve my needs best.

Thanks again,

Flash

 

[RollTide1126]

S. Bowersocks, I would definitely go with a Cummins for power and mpg. I just went last week to see Kevin and ordered a 3500 SRW Mega Cab 4x4. I'm planning on towing my Jeep on a gooseneck trailer. Like my daddy always said, "It's better to have and not need than to need and not have!"
Skidog

 

[Flash1034]

Hey Ski. Congrats....can I borrow your trailer?

Stu. Aka Flash

 

[Jim W]

I think that the 2013.5 and up trucks are more reliable as far as the emission system compared to the 2007.5 and up to 2009 truck. You will now be using DEF and this should improve the life of the emission components and provide improve fuel mileage over the earlier emission compliant trucks. There where a few sensor issues but for the most part I think those too have been resolved. If I was in the market for a new truck I would not hesitate to buy a new 2016/2017 Ram truck with the Cummins engine.

 

[RollTide1126]

Hey Ski. Congrats....can I borrow your trailer?

Stu. Aka Flash

Absolutely!

 

[Flash1034]

Arent you guys concerned about the replacement costs on some of this emission crap? DPF at over 1000 dollars? That's crazy.

Flash

 

[Jim W]

Arent you guys concerned about the replacement costs on some of this emission crap? DPF at over 1000 dollars? That's crazy.

Flash

No, I am not. To me this is cost of ownership and the cost is broken down by the miles on the OD, so far my cost for my 2008 have been .11 per driven mile. Which is cheaper than my 2001 Chevy gas truck that I was driving before my 2008 Ram.

 

[Grizzly]

If you tow a Jeep on a trailer to some of your distant runs, why would you want a Power Wagon, which is the best off road vehicle you can get IMO. You're going to use the Jeep for your off roading. Get the Cummins.

 

[kthaxton]

Arent you guys concerned about the replacement costs on some of this emission crap? DPF at over 1000 dollars? That's crazy.

Flash

The slight chance of some possible future expense is not enough to keep me from buying a truck with a Cummins engine.

I look at it this way, you either want, or need a Cummins, or you don't.