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3500 Limited Dually with a Hemi...thoughts?
- Thread starter RamGuy84
- Start date
I have the 3500 SRW with 6.4. It came with 3.73 axle ratio. The diesel had 4.11 axle ratio. Of course for a fee you can choose from a couple of different ones. My thoughts at the time I bought my truck was that I do not tow over 30% of the time. Unloaded duelly’s have traction difficulty in bad weather. The 2019 6.4L was only 16HP less that the diesel. I don’t pay for DEF or higher per gallon fuel costs. More room in parking spots.
For me the 6.4L SRW was the ticket. The only things I tow are a 30’ Arctic Fox bumper pull and an 18’ boat.
For me the 6.4L SRW was the ticket. The only things I tow are a 30’ Arctic Fox bumper pull and an 18’ boat.
D
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My 2015 6.4 pulled pretty good for a gasser, especially since I was at GCWR. The downside is if you pull at high elevation it will get noticeably wheezy, and if you pull heavy not having the exhaust brake means planning your descent a necessity. You can downshift the gasser until it's winding to the moon, and it won't hold back a truly heavy trailer very well. I would be sure to get 4.10s with the 6.4. With the 8 speed it should do quite well. My '19 Cummins dually is only about 2 mpg better than my 6.4 was when pulling, and is about the same, maybe a bit worse on the highway, with some of that being the duals, I'm sure. The Cummins will do much better at resale time.
CurtJ
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The exhaust brake and the additional torque are game changers with the CTD!! Just food for thought! And yes resale is much better with the CTD even though I know your spending $9100 up front. It really boils down to what you want and /or need and what your budget is. I say you can’t have too much truck. I love my Cummins! Maintenance is really no big deal, oil change and fuel filters cost $300-400 every 15k miles but worth it to me and the 20mpg average is not bad either. Average 15-16mpg pulling an 8.5 x16 tandem axle enclosed with a Harley Ultra and my wife’s Street Glide.
D
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My dually can't seem to get over 15 mpg empty highway, and it got 10.2 on an easy pull of my empty/dry toy hauler to Oklahoma with no hard pulls. My 6.4 averaged 7.5-8.5 pulling the same toy hauler fully loaded. I tow at 65, and run generally 70-72 empty. My '19 wouldn't get 20 unless it was pushed out of an aircraft.
Kimo7
HDRams' Official Greeter
I think you bought a great truck that is very capable. I can only speak to a 2500 but I think it aligns what you’re asking about. The reasons you’ve stated are all valid. I’m not convinced the difference in the gear ratios makes a lot of difference based on what you’ve mentioned is your tow needs.
I’ve had a 2017 Limited with the 6.7 Cummins and just bought a 2019 Laramie with the 6.4 Hemi. Your situation sounds like mine, I tow a heavy bumper pull TT around 10k lbs, 1130lbs tongue weight, 10-12 times a year, less than 400 miles on East cost moderate terrain. The differences of the initial upfront cost of the Cumins and it’s weight eating into the cargo cap. Then there’s the maintenance costs of frequent, expensive oil and fuel filter changes. Combined with higher fuel costs and DEF considered. Winner - Hemi.
My 2500 Hemi actually has about 1k lb more cargo cap than the diesel due to the engine and tranny weight difference and can tow almost as much. My Cummins was rated at 17,300 lbs towing, the Hemi is rated for 14,400. For someone who doesn’t tow frequently, for extended ranges and isn’t in mountainous terrain the Hemi saves money.
Towing - I don‘t know if you have experience operating a diesel but turbo lag is an issue. The 2017 Cummins was a beast but took forever to spool the turbo and get it moving BUT when it did spool it was unstoppable. Both trucks are/were daily drivers so that’s important when merging in traffic in Northern VA. The torque of the diesel is amazing, it would idle itself towing/backing our old 6500 lb trailer. The Hemi does rev a little higher than normal when towing but still gets the job done with ease. Mash the accelerator, the Hemi responds and it moves quick!!. The engine doesn’t sound like it’s overly strained while towing and the temps stay within normal operating range.
MPG - the diesel got 15+ city, approx 20 on the highway and a solid 9 MPG when towing. Dependent on terrain and tow load it would burn DEF commensurately. My experience so far with the Hemi in stop and go driving, same conditions I can’t get above 13.3 city and 16 at best on highway. Towing it’s also 9 mpg. It’s seems like the Hemi loses but when I look at the 2 mpg difference it’s not that bad. Since you own one you know the downside to the Hemi is the gas tank is too small given the consumption rate of fuel, especially when towing.
I am of the same mindset as you - for now I think the Hemi is the best for my current situation, for most of the reasons you’ve stated, costs, fuel, maintenance etc. Retirement isn’t too far away and I may decide to go with another diesel if decide to go full time Rving or do extended cross country trips.
As for the DRW - I prefer SRW for usability, ease of parking and operation. Unless you have a real need for it I think the SRW is the way to fly.
Congrats on your new truck.
I’ve had a 2017 Limited with the 6.7 Cummins and just bought a 2019 Laramie with the 6.4 Hemi. Your situation sounds like mine, I tow a heavy bumper pull TT around 10k lbs, 1130lbs tongue weight, 10-12 times a year, less than 400 miles on East cost moderate terrain. The differences of the initial upfront cost of the Cumins and it’s weight eating into the cargo cap. Then there’s the maintenance costs of frequent, expensive oil and fuel filter changes. Combined with higher fuel costs and DEF considered. Winner - Hemi.
My 2500 Hemi actually has about 1k lb more cargo cap than the diesel due to the engine and tranny weight difference and can tow almost as much. My Cummins was rated at 17,300 lbs towing, the Hemi is rated for 14,400. For someone who doesn’t tow frequently, for extended ranges and isn’t in mountainous terrain the Hemi saves money.
Towing - I don‘t know if you have experience operating a diesel but turbo lag is an issue. The 2017 Cummins was a beast but took forever to spool the turbo and get it moving BUT when it did spool it was unstoppable. Both trucks are/were daily drivers so that’s important when merging in traffic in Northern VA. The torque of the diesel is amazing, it would idle itself towing/backing our old 6500 lb trailer. The Hemi does rev a little higher than normal when towing but still gets the job done with ease. Mash the accelerator, the Hemi responds and it moves quick!!. The engine doesn’t sound like it’s overly strained while towing and the temps stay within normal operating range.
MPG - the diesel got 15+ city, approx 20 on the highway and a solid 9 MPG when towing. Dependent on terrain and tow load it would burn DEF commensurately. My experience so far with the Hemi in stop and go driving, same conditions I can’t get above 13.3 city and 16 at best on highway. Towing it’s also 9 mpg. It’s seems like the Hemi loses but when I look at the 2 mpg difference it’s not that bad. Since you own one you know the downside to the Hemi is the gas tank is too small given the consumption rate of fuel, especially when towing.
I am of the same mindset as you - for now I think the Hemi is the best for my current situation, for most of the reasons you’ve stated, costs, fuel, maintenance etc. Retirement isn’t too far away and I may decide to go with another diesel if decide to go full time Rving or do extended cross country trips.
As for the DRW - I prefer SRW for usability, ease of parking and operation. Unless you have a real need for it I think the SRW is the way to fly.
Congrats on your new truck.
Speedracer93CobraR
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If what you need requires a 3500 with DRW; it would be a diesel or nothing for me. Just my two cents.
MikeXM
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If your need of a dually is for payload ONLY, it could make sense to go for the HEMI. A big bed camper comes to mind. After that, is how much mileage over the ownership time you will do to figure out if a diesel is a better economic choice or not.
But if need a dually to TOW, I feel like a diesel is mandatory.
But if need a dually to TOW, I feel like a diesel is mandatory.
I had a CTD duely I carried a big truck camper (10.5 feet basement model, winter package) before that truck I carried it in a CTD single wheel . The difference in driving was night and day, the deuly cornered much better and was more stable in high cross winds (smoother riding too).
Of course the CTD was great when driving in the mountains and hills but I only tow a TT now occasionally so it is gas for me. I cannot justify the cost of maintenance and more expensive feul.
I’m getting 11 - 14 mpg with the gas towing. The CTD got 12 - 16 mpg towing. Not much of a difference but fuel costs the same on trips even if thou burn more gas then the diesel did.
Note: imperial mpg not US mpg I’m in Canada.
Imperial gallon is approximately 18% more then US gallon.