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Considering a Ram 2500 Hemi

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Desertwolf

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Hi everyone,
I have a 2018 Nissan Titan Pro-4X with the 5.6L and she only has 46k miles on her and best of all she's paid for, however, we just purchased a travel trailer thats 30.5 feet long and has a GVWR of 9400 lbs, not that we would pack anywhere near that, but an empty weight of 6880 lbs. So far my truck seems to tow it fine but we haven't taken it on a trip yet. I was considering getting a Ram 2500 6.4L to pull it easier but, 1. I'm not really wanting a truck payment. 2. I don't like the MDS and do have a little reservation about the lifter issues known to plague the Hemi's. I have a tune for my Titan that puts it close to the HP and TQ of the Ram but I do have to use premium to get it. I'm retired and the truck will be a "daily driver" although I don't drive it much as you can see by the mileage on my Titan. I considered the F250 and the Chevy 2500 but neither of them will fit in my garage. I have owned 2 Rams before, a 2000 1500 and a 2004 1500 and didn't have issues out of either. I haven't had any issues out of my Titan and I guess I'm concerned about these new trucks with all the nannies they have and possibilities of electrical gremlins, among other things. I know the gas mileage sucks on the Ram but in all honesty, my Titan isn't a lot better especially when you put your foot in it and I'm not necessarily buying a truck for gas mileage. My truck doesn't have a lot of miles on her but she is 8 years old and I'm not sure how it will be, long term, pulling my trailer. Can you fine folks give me your opinions/advice on what you might do if you were in my shoes and considering a 2026 Ram. The one I'm looking at is a Warlock and it does have the 3.73 rather than the 4.10's and they are asking $52k. I appreciate your time and any and all opinions.
 
I think that’s a lot of trailer for the titan, especially in the tongue weight department. It can probably handle it, but you’ll be at the top end of what it can manage comfortably. You kinda trailered yourself out of the Nissan, in my opinion.

I haven’t heard of any widespread MDS or lifter issues (or any real plaguing issues) in the 6.4L, especially the 19+
 
Rockcrawlindude said:
I think that’s a lot of trailer for the titan, especially in the tongue weight department. It can probably handle it, but you’ll be at the top end of what it can manage comfortably. You kinda trailered yourself out of the Nissan, in my opinion.

I haven’t heard of any widespread MDS or lifter issues (or any real plaguing issues) in the 6.4L, especially the 19+
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Thank you for your reply. That's kinda what I was afraid of. Like I said, I have had the truck since it was new and the wife wanted a TT so we started looking a couple years ago and finally found one that checked all the boxes. Ugh.....I HATE payments lol
 
I have a '21 Power Wagon. 106K miles on the hemi with no issues on the drive train
And I drive it like I stole it. :cool:
I pulled a 35 ft bumper pull at about 8K loaded. No issues, even when climbing steep hills.
Granted, the PW comes with 4.10 gears, but I swapped the 33's for 35's.
 
Crusty old shellback said:
I have a '21 Power Wagon. 106K miles on the hemi with no issues on the drive train
And I drive it like I stole it. :cool:
I pulled a 35 ft bumper pull at about 8K loaded. No issues, even when climbing steep hills.
Granted, the PW comes with 4.10 gears, but I swapped the 33's for 35's.
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Outstanding! Thank you for your reply good sir! Yea I LOVE the skinny pedal myself!
 
I bought a used 6.4 w/4.10’s nearly a year ago with 153K on it and it does fine towing my 10K 5th wheel. It’s not a diesel, so it’s slower up hills and burns more fuel but it does just fine. No real issues, the truck needs some 158K mile love but that’s not a big deal. Overall I’m impressed with the 6.4 and would probably be even more impressed with the ZF trans.

Personally I’d want the 4.10’s for any real towing.
 
I'll echo here saying you'd be just fine in the Ram. My PW pulls 10k in the dump trailer just fine. As @AH64ID says its just slower than the diesel but I don't really care. I've got bags to help level things out with the dump trailer but I'm assuming you'll probably have some sort of WDH setup on the TT. My truck also has the 4:10's which would be a must if I was ordering another one.

MDS is disabled when either tow mode or the gear limiter is enabled. The Hemi sounds like a noisy type writer when cold but honestly the lifter/MDS issues are waaaay overplayed IMO. Just change your oil and use a filter with a quality ADBV (I prefer the Fram Ultra) and you'll be just fine. Fill it up, hook up, and let her eat.
 
I appreciate you folks taking time to offer replies and opinions. I really like the looks of the Ram but I also love my Titan and somewhat sentimental lol. Here's a pic of us taking delivery of our TT.
 

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I really like my 2020 Ram 6.4 with 4.10 gears. It’s right at 95k miles and I’ve replaced the battery and the thermostat otherwise it’s just been basic maintenance.
 

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Rockcrawlindude said:
I think that’s a lot of trailer for the titan, especially in the tongue weight department. It can probably handle it, but you’ll be at the top end of what it can manage comfortably. You kinda trailered yourself out of the Nissan, in my opinion.

I haven’t heard of any widespread MDS or lifter issues (or any real plaguing issues) in the 6.4L, especially the 19+
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I agree. The weight is one thing, but a 30+’ trailer is going to be tough for the Titan to handle. I went from a Titan XD to the Ram. If you had an XD, it might be doable, but the1/2 ton Titan is too light IMO. Shorter wheelbase, as well, IIRC.
 
Thanks for all the replies, I really appreciate it. Once the snow is gone I'll see if I can get a workable deal on a Ram.
 
Desertwolf said:
Thanks for all the replies, I really appreciate it. Once the snow is gone I'll see if I can get a workable deal on a Ram.
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Desertwolf said:
Thanks for all the replies, I really appreciate it. Once the snow is gone I'll see if I can get a workable deal on a Ram.
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Anything that is specifically drawing you to a 2500 and not a 3500?
 
jetrinka said:
Anything that is specifically drawing you to a 2500 and not a 3500?
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Not sure about the thread starter, but I have always been a 3500 rather than 2500 person for the payload. That must not be the case with most people as dealers seem to mostly only have the 6.4 in the 2500. For example Mark Dodge has thirty 6.4 2500s and zero 3500s. Most, but not all will custom order for you though.
 
Will_T said:
Not sure about the thread starter, but I have always been a 3500 rather than 2500 person for the payload. That must not be the case with most people as dealers seem to mostly only have the 6.4 in the 2500. For example Mark Dodge has thirty 6.4 2500s and zero 3500s. Most, but not all will custom order for you though.
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To do it again I would go 3500 over my 2500. It’s a truck. Make it the most capable that you can. Beyond the current pricing…how long are builds taking these days? I’m out of touch there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
It all depends on what you need your truck to do. So far, my PW has done everything I've asked it to.
Pull a 35 ft TT.
Go off road in Baja.
Get me thru mud and snow.
 
Desertwolf said:
Thanks @Thisnthat, I will definitely check them out. I've had my eye on this one.

@jetrinka I don't really haul much and was really only considering it to pull my TT. I love my Titan and like I said, it's paid for. The prices on trucks, well any vehicle nowadays is outrageous. And like I said, too many nannies. Wouldn't the 3500 cost a lot more plus beat you to death when empty?
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When I bought my truck the price difference was not a whole lot. As to the ride comfort, I have been driving a 1 ton since I retired my F-150 30 years ago so don't know any different but have no complaints myself. My wife, grown kids, or anyone else riding with me has never complained about the ride either. By the time I attach a 900+lb tongue weight trailer, add people, dogs, firewood, and all the other gear... plus a cap with often a canoe on a roof rack, I think I use most of my 3500 payload.

Having said all that I have considered trading down to a 6.4 like @AH64ID did. I just don't put many miles on my truck, (less than 20K still), and if I did not have the diesel I think I would drive it more apart from towing. (And worry less about all the emissions stuff when doing that.) I have ridden in a couple of new gas trucks and they really do well towing TTs of our size. A big change from even 10 years ago it seems. I would miss the engine brake for sure but probably not much else. With the condition of my truck and such low miles, I could almost break even on a trade for a new 6.4. The only thing that gives me pause is the engine brake and the fact that none of our local dealers, (all the same corporate chain), will order a truck. They will only sell from their lot or from their chain inventory and never have access to a 6.4 3500 with the 4.10 or the other stuff I would want like the upfitter switches, etc. I could go out of town or even state to order like I did with the current truck, but with a trade in that is more problematic I think. I could also buy a 6.4 and then sell the 6.7 privately I guess as I think it would be in demand. Just a lot to consider and so I just keep driving the current truck.

Edit: I would also miss the added fuel capacity of my Titan 52 gallon fuel tank. I don't think you can get that with a gas truck, and Ram at least several years ago, only offered the 50 gallon upgrade on a long bed truck.

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Desertwolf said:
Thanks @Thisnthat, I will definitely check them out. I've had my eye on this one.

@jetrinka I don't really haul much and was really only considering it to pull my TT. I love my Titan and like I said, it's paid for. The prices on trucks, well any vehicle nowadays is outrageous. And like I said, too many nannies. Wouldn't the 3500 cost a lot more plus beat you to death when empty?
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I don’t think the 3500 costs much more but it would certainly give you a better ceiling for hauling seeing as it has regular leaf springs and not inboard coil springs like the 2500.

“Beat you to death” is subjective IMO. Personally I like a truck to feel like a truck and don’t mind a bit of a harsh ride. Others feel differently and that’s fine. Though a 3500 of today rides leaps and bounds better than one of 20 years ago.
 
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