Thinking about a Ram 2500 diesel...

[Bruce Beard]

It is "more truck" than I need but I can make the case if I try. I'm wondering what advice is to be had here...

My current pickup is a 2010 F-150 Platinum with the 5.4. I've owned it for the past 6 1/2 years now and for the most part I have loved the experience. It drives well, it is great on long trips and it pulls our tiny 16' 4300 pound Airstream easily. The downside to this truck is its meager payload capacity. At just 1120 pounds we are always overloaded when we hit the road. Ocean kayaks and racks, BigGreen Egg MiniMax, cast iron cook wear, fire pit, generators, tools, 475 pounds of tongue weight and the rest of the gear we schlep along push us up well over the max. I've never noticed the truck to be particularly bothered by the weight but...I know we are overloaded!

I could simply replace the truck with another better spec'd F-150 except for he fact that the truck has been a bit of a mixed bag in terms of reliability, enough so that I do not want another Ford.

I purchased a Ford ESP warranty before the truck hit 36,000 miles and I'm glad I did! Electrically this thing has been something of a nightmare! 3 heater blend door modules, three power running board motor failures, 4 seat modules among a few other repairs added to well over $10,000 in ESP warranty repairs! Brakes every year since new (never worn out, just pulsing badly!), lots of shock absorbers, exhaust manifolds and a few other issues and I've had enough.

Before anyone suggests that the shocks or brakes are a result of using the truck in an overloaded condition, I should point out that I was on my third set of rotors and I'd been through 2 rear shocks before I ever towed with he truck. I don't believe I am abusive either...

Anyway, although we don't need all of the capacity of a 2500, I'd kind of like one anyway. Someday we may move to a larger Airstream, I'm not going to lighten the load of "stuff" we haul along and I just want a Cummins! The coil spring suspension will ride well and not beat up the Airstream too.
We tow about 7,000 to 10,000 miles a year and that will just increase.

What do you think, is a 2500 Ram overkill or the right thing to do?

 

[Newsa]

Get the diesel and your brakes will last forever because it comes stock with an exhaust brake that works well to slow down any load on any incline. Fuel economy will also be much improved with the diesel. My base model tradesman is as comfy as any platinum ford. Just without the bells and whistles. I paid 40k for mine.

 

[KenHwy61]

I went from a Chevy gasser to a Ram with the Cummins. The pulling power difference is huge. It pulls my 10,000 lb Aviator with ease. Also a 2500 platform is more stable and less likely to have trailer sway cause the tail wagging the dog effect.

 

[kthaxton]

Coming from using a half ton (2000 Dodge 1500) almost to it's max, then buying a 2500 and having more than enough.....was amazing. I say if you have the means, you will not regret it.

Things last longer and perform better when they aren't constantly used at their design limits.

 

[Grizzly]

I don't believe that a 2500 with a Cummins is overkill. Actually it's just right. That way if you should decide to get a larger heavier trailer you'll have the right truck to haul it with.

 

[Bruce Beard]

Sounds like my reasoning might be ok then! My wife actually likes the idea so now it is time to test drive!
I'm thinking the Laramie in red but who knows?
Many thanks,
Bruce

 

[TJJEEPER]

Bruce, I think you'll find your story from many of us on the board. I had 3 F150s before I bit the bullet and bought an 06 2500 quad cab short box. Of course I then over bought a 5th wheel toy hauler that the 06 pulled just fine but the 4 speed auto trans was getting beat up and at the upper limit temp wise too often. No failures but I was constantly nervous about it. I then stepped up to my signature truck. A HUGE difference in towing with the dual rear wheels and the major increase in torque made pulling the 38' 5er a breeze.

As with any new vehicle you'll find the internet full of horror stories. Except for the stream of recalls my truck has been trouble free.

 

[watersupply189]

I think it will be a wise choice to get the Cummins....

 

[RVTRKN]

You also have the new Nissan Titan with the Cummins/Aisin drive train, its payload is bigger than 1/2 ton, but not as much as the 2500 Ram/CTD. The down side to a 2500/CTD is the meager 3:42 rear diff and the inferior rfe68 auto. You would have to jump up to a 3500 to get the bullet proof Aisin auto. Last time I talked to the fleet manager at Nissan, the payload would give you room to spare with your light weight trailer, but give you a Cummins/Aisin package. Its the new V8 Cummins that was supposed to go into the Ram before Fiat got their hands on Dodge.

 

[Bruce Beard]

You also have the new Nissan Titan with the Cummins/Aisin drive train, its payload is bigger than 1/2 ton, but not as much as the 2500 Ram/CTD. The down side to a 2500/CTD is the meager 3:42 rear diff and the inferior rfe68 auto. You would have to jump up to a 3500 to get the bullet proof Aisin auto. Last time I talked to the fleet manager at Nissan, the payload would give you room to spare with your light weight trailer, but give you a Cummins/Aisin package. Its the new V8 Cummins that was supposed to go into the Ram before Fiat got their hands on Dodge.

I'm not that interested in a Titan...
I like the idea of the coil spring suspension in the Ram and the turning diameter of the 2500 Crew Cab Ram is 2 feet less than my F-150!
Having spent my life in the business of auto repair (mostly European) I'm aware of the issues in the RFE68 but I've read enough to believe that all have their issues...
I'm not planning on towing a 5th wheel and no matter what Airstream we might move to, it will be nowhere near the towing limit of the truck.
Just to be sure I will purchase an extended warranty

 

[kthaxton]

Don't worry about 3.42 gears, they work perfectly fine with stock tires and within rated loads....further, it sounds like you won't even come close to the max load.

 

[RVTRKN]

I'm not that interested in a Titan...
I like the idea of the coil spring suspension in the Ram and the turning diameter of the 2500 Crew Cab Ram is 2 feet less than my F-150!
Having spent my life in the business of auto repair (mostly European) I'm aware of the issues in the RFE68 but I've read enough to believe that all have their issues...
I'm not planning on towing a 5th wheel and no matter what Airstream we might move to, it will be nowhere near the towing limit of the truck.
Just to be sure I will purchase an extended warranty

Sounds like you've picked the right truck then. kthaxton, 3:42 68rfe in my 2014 truck at the GVWR (BED, TOOLS, LADDERS) has issues putting my CTD @ 1000rpm in 5th&6th making me manually shift the truck, what good is an auto if you have to manually shift it.

 

[GCroyle]

Bruce,

Off to a good start. Bigger Airstream in the works, nice gotta keep Dorsey happy.

Gary

 

[kthaxton]

kthaxton, 3:42 68rfe in my 2014 truck at the GVWR (BED, TOOLS, LADDERS) has issues putting my CTD @ 1000rpm in 5th&6th making me manually shift the truck, what good is an auto if you have to manually shift it.

LOL! Why is manual control of a transmission once in a while such a big deal? I think you (and others) are spoiled and expect too much. Hell, I'm giddy that I can tow in OD, I'm still amazed at the capability of these trucks. I'm sure the 3.73 and the 4.10 guys have to, on occasion, manually push the wretched button. Perhaps going back and towing with a gas engine for a while will help you appreciate you current truck more?

I've always done some kind of manual control of every auto I've owned, especially when towing. I have a hard time understanding why to some, pushing a button once in a while is no better than having to push a clutch and shift manually EVERY TIME!

 

[Bruce Beard]

Sounds like you've picked the right truck then. kthaxton, 3:42 68rfe in my 2014 truck at the GVWR (BED, TOOLS, LADDERS) has issues putting my CTD @ 1000rpm in 5th&6th making me manually shift the truck, what good is an auto if you have to manually shift it.

Are you sure there is no answer to your issue? Sometimes it just takes a knowledgeable tech to straighten out a simple issue... I know it isn't the same thing exactly but for the first 2 years of driving my F-150 (again, before I towed with it) the truck had some pretty severe shift behavior at times. I took it to the dealer I purchased the truck from a couple of times for software updates and a couple of fruitless attempts to correct the condition. Finally, I found a good tech at a big dealer who fixed it forever with a simple, post update, drive cycle/ relearn. He said that most techs where not interested in performing the Ford mandated relearn drive and that if not performed the transmission didn't stand a chance of shifting properly. Never missed a beat again after that...

 

[RVTRKN]

I dont have the time for the dealer to play around with my truck. see this thread (https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/254484-2016-trans-issue-s) know at 10K GVW, my 2500 pings and bucks when 5th or 6th when it puts my RPM's too low. Read post #16 and beyond.

 

[Newsa]

I'm not that interested in a Titan...

I wouldn't either. Those japanese companies don't make comfy seats for long drives (from my experience). If i tow anything..... i don't want the pain in my butt to be taking my attention away from managing my towing load.

Driving or towing in a comfy ram for 5-7 hours at a time is different than doing the same in a Toyota or Nissan.

 

[Bruce Beard]

I wouldn't either. Those japanese companies don't make comfy seats for long drives (from my experience). If i tow anything..... i don't want the pain in my butt to be taking my attention away from managing my towing load.

Driving or towing in a comfy ram for 5-7 hours at a time is different than doing the same in a Toyota or Nissan.

I owned a Toyota Tacoma once it was an 07 maybe...? We used it as a shop truck and although it was a decent vehicle mechanically, I hate driving it!
It was so uncomfortable that I avoided all trucks for a few years!
The thing felt like you were sitting on the floor...hated it

 

[Bruce Beard]

I dont have the time for the dealer to play around with my truck. see this thread (https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/254484-2016-trans-issue-s) know at 10K GVW, my 2500 pings and bucks when 5th or 6th when it puts my RPM's too low. Read post #16 and beyond.

I actually posted in that thread. Aside from the original issue (his problem sounds remarkably like the one I had with my Ford btw) the amazing thing is the awful behavior of the dealer. There is some talk on that thread of warranty repair not being profitable and that is simply not the issue! I spent some years as the owner of a "franchised dealership" (motorcycle and scooter, not automobile) and I'm familiar with the issues. There is simply no excuse for a dealer to act that way. A good service department understands that the first shot may be the only shot at a customers business and often that means warranty, it often means the person purchased it somewhere else too.
Auto repair is a tough business. The numbers are not what they once were, customers are tougher and the problems much more challenging. Every customer matters! I spent my working life in the business and these are my observations anyway...

 

[RVTRKN]

I test drove a Nissan Titan XD 2X2 today, it is nice and comfortable and the engine is very responsive and shifted perfect. I just might own it by the end of the week.