Considering purchasing a gas 3500 Crew Cab long bed dually and my friends think I'm nuts

[RKCRLR]

I'm brand agnostic but I'm posting this on a Ram forum because Ram is number one on my list. My priority is hauling not towing. I have a large cab over truck camper and a small aluminum fishing boat. I may occasionally tow a ~5000 lb boat. I'm tired of carefully monitoring what I load in the camper and truck and leaving stuff behind so I'm going to move from a SRW to a DRW.

The normal output diesel takes about 800 lbs from the payload capacity, the HO output takes away about 1100 lbs. I looked at a loaded Limited on the dealer's lot with a HO engine and the payload was 4700 lbs, that's only 700 lbs more than my current SRW truck.

Another thing is that I'll only be putting about 2K to 3K miles a year on this truck so I'll never break even in gas mileage by paying the additional $10K for a diesel engine. And that isn't even taking the higher annual diesel maintenance costs into account.

Trying to find a gas powered truck in this configuration is like looking for a unicorn. I may wind up having to order it. And the gas engines aren't even available in the Laramie, Longhorn, and Limited.

Am I missing something? I realize the diesel will have more grunt when going up hills but it seems a gas engine would be sufficient since I'll never exceed 20K GCWR.

 

[AH64ID]

GVWR is 14K on all the DRW’s, not 20K.

The payload may only be 700lbs higher but the RAWR is 2,750lbs more and that’s what really matters.

The Aisin is ~230lbs heavier than the 68RFE.

The gas engine will probably be just fine, but like you noticed the availability in a DRW is limited. So what matters most?

 

[RKCRLR]

GVWR is 14K on all the DRW’s, not 20K.

The payload may only be 700lbs higher but the RAWR is 2,750lbs more and that’s what really matters.

The Aisin is ~230lbs heavier than the 68RFE.

The gas engine will probably be just fine, but like you noticed the availability in a DRW is limited. So what matters most?

I meant to say GCWR, I edited my post.

I agree that rear GAWR is important, it was a limiting factor in my SRW truck but I have a hitch with a carrier on the front so I can bump up against both GVWR and rear GAWR. In a DRW I'd probably never bump up against rear GAWR without exceeding GVWR but I could easily exceed the GVWR it it only had a 5K lb payload.

I should have said the combination of the HO diesel and the Aisin transmission is what drives the 1100 lb increase over the gas engine. Every HO diesel I saw also had the Aisin transmission.

What matters most to me is taking everything I want to without worrying about exceeding the GVWR.

 

[Brutal_HO]

I meant to say GCWR, I edited my post.

I agree that rear GAWR is important, it was a limiting factor in my SRW truck but I have a hitch with a carrier on the front so I can bump up against both GVWR and rear GAWR. In a DRW I'd probably never bump up against rear GAWR without exceeding GVWR but I could easily exceed the GVWR it it only had a 5K lb payload.

I should have said the combination of the HO diesel and the Aisin transmission is what drives the 1100 lb increase over the gas engine. Every HO diesel I saw also had the Aisin transmission.

What matters most to me is taking everything I want to without worrying about exceeding the GVWR.

HO/Aisin are married and cannot be gotten one without the other unless you go to a CC truck. The CC Hemi has an AS66RC available.

Have you considered looking for a CC truck?

 

[RKCRLR]

HO/Aisin are married and cannot be gotten one without the other unless you go to a CC truck. The CC Hemi has an AS66RC available.

Have you considered looking for a CC truck?

What is a CC truck (Cab and Chassis?)? I'm fine with the automatic that comes with the Hemi. If I were going to go with a diesel I'd stick with the normal output engine and 68RFE.

 

[Brutal_HO]

Yes, Cab & Chassis.

Main point was HO/Aisin are always paired in the pickup. Can't have one without the other.

"Every HO diesel I saw also had the Aisin transmission."

You can get a Hemi in any trim of the C&C, though with a 3500 dually C&C you're not really getting much more RAWR (+100lbs).

 

[Dave01]

I really like diesels, had a string of diesel trucks and 2 suv's. But I bought a gas 2500 because I didn't want/need to spend the extra $12,000 or so on the diesel, plus just really liked the 6.4 trucks I test drove. I couldn't be happier with my '21 CCSB 2500.

So I don't think there's anything wrong with your idea of a gas engine 3500 dually. In fact, when someone tells me they are going to run 3000 miles/year or less I'd probably steer them away from the diesel, just not a great application for it. The 6.4 will have plenty of power for what you are describing, and as long as you don't change your mind and start towing 10,000 lbs or more you'll be happy with it I think. I agree finding one is the challenge.

 

[Nick]

You can sometimes make better deals just ordering it thru a dealer . Then you get it set up the way you want it and the dealer has no money out and no lot time. I ordered my truck as did many others on this site . I would say 99% of them are happier with what they ordered as to just buying what was available .

 

[RKCRLR]

You can sometimes make better deals just ordering it thru a dealer . Then you get it set up the way you want it and the dealer has no money out and no lot time. I ordered my truck as did many others on this site . I would say 99% of them are happier with what they ordered as to just buying what was available .

I have special ordered two vehicles before and am considering it for this truck but I was hoping to get some end of the year clearance discounts. I have talked to my local Ram dealer about ordering one. He said he has done it before for people in my same situation. Most dealers don't order trucks for inventory targeting people with truck campers. Another annoyance I'm running up against is you can't option leather trim in a Big Horn (the highest trim level with a gas engine) but I can get most everything else I want.

I'm also looking at Chevy/GMC and Ford, they have more of a selection of trucks with gas engines and the option of a double/super cab (preferred) but they have other downsides. One of the challenges I have is my camper is older and designed for trucks with lower cabs so I'll have to build a platform to clear the cab. Chevy/GMC has the lowest distance from the bed to the top of the cab and it looks like I'd only need to raise the camper a couple of inches (I think I'd need to raise it 3"- 4" to clear the cab on the Ram) but it also has a longer bed and the bumper may interfere with the generator exhaust. I'd need to raise it 5" - 6" to clear the Ford cab and I just don't want to go there.

Another problem I'm encountering is dealers like to option for the fancy multi function tailgates. I can remove my current tailgate by myself without any tools. Chevy/GMC requires some tools and they placed the electrical connector between the spare and the bed. And that tailgate looks heavy, I don't know i I'd be able to lift it by myself. I will also be using this truck as a normal truck so the camper will have to go on and off.

 

[Brutal_HO]

If you order, look to Granger (IA) or Mark Dodge (LA), unless your local dealer is willing to closely match pricing. They're generally 4-5% under invoice or more before any incentives.

 

[RKCRLR]

If you order, look to Granger (IA) or Mark Dodge (LA), unless your local dealer is willing to closely match pricing. They're generally 4-5% under invoice or more before any incentives.

My local dealer said they can order at about 5% off MSRP but they can only lock in whatever manufacturer incentives are available when the vehicle arrives.

 

[Brutal_HO]

My local dealer said they can order at about 5% off MSRP but they can only lock in whatever manufacturer incentives are available when the vehicle arrives.

Order from Granger.

5% off MSRP is an insult. They don't carry the inventory costs on a sold order. Granger and MD also do price protection though in the current market they're unlikely going to hike prices again.

 

[RKCRLR]

Order from Granger.

5% off MSRP is an insult. They don't carry the inventory costs on a sold order. Granger and MD also do price protection though in the current market they're unlikely going to hike prices again.

I'll check them out.

 

[gimmie11s]

Before I made this decision, I'd be sure to test drive a 6.4 gas truck with 7 or 8k lbs hooked to it to simulate the heavier Long Bed DRW and a 5k lb trailer. If the performance is acceptable, I say go for it.

I can tell you... my DRW truck weighs almost 9k lbs empty. She's a heavy bitch that takes a ton of TQ just to get moving.

 

[RKCRLR]

Order from Granger.

5% off MSRP is an insult. They don't carry the inventory costs on a sold order. Granger and MD also do price protection though in the current market they're unlikely going to hike prices again.

How does the delivery work? When I purchased before they had courtesy delivery where the vehicle was shipped from the manufacturer to a local dealer for a small charge.

 

[Brutal_HO]

How does the delivery work? When I purchased before they had courtesy delivery where the vehicle was shipped from the manufacturer to a local dealer for a small charge.

Ram delivers to the selling dealer. You'd have to fly/drive to the selling dealer, or arrange transport from selling dealer.

 

[DrTron]

How does the delivery work? When I purchased before they had courtesy delivery where the vehicle was shipped from the manufacturer to a local dealer for a small charge.

It'll arrive at their dealership. They can ship it to you, but depending on distance that may be 1-x k$.
It was only 300 miles to Mark Dodge, so I picked mine up myself.

 

[RKCRLR]

Ram delivers to the selling dealer. You'd have to fly/drive to the selling dealer, or arrange transport from selling dealer.

I'm in California so that would eat into the savings. But I'll see if the savings is substantial enough to justify it.

 

[RKCRLR]

Before I made this decision, I'd be sure to test drive a 6.4 gas truck with 7 or 8k lbs hooked to it to simulate the heavier Long Bed DRW and a 5k lb trailer. If the performance is acceptable, I say go for it.

That is easier said than done...

 

[DrTron]

I'm in California

Depends a bit on where in CA.
But I think there's also a high-volume dealer in western Idaho, Dillon or something.
Might be worth a shot, although I don't know if they offer the same rebates as Granger/Mark do.