2500 Gas vs Diesel 4.10 vs 3.73 gear ratio

[MSbari]

Did all this same research when I ordered mine back in October. I live up in Laramie, WY with similar use on the TT (bumper pull) and then the toy trailers for SxS & Atvs on other weekends, don't have the new truck yet Supposed to be in rail yard on the 16th in Denver and a special pickup by my dealer for me to have on the 19th ish. I went with 2500 Laramie Mega Cab HEMI. Decided that if I wasn't going to a 3500 I didn't gain that much out of the diesel for the extra cost.

 

[myersd1]

I have the 6.4 with 3.73's and only pull 8000# or less right now. All summer I loved this truck, pulled my 7500# boat no issue but only did it a few times. Now we get to winter and I am pulling a 29'x8.5' aluminum enclosed v-nose sled trailer and I hate the truck. The trailer is lighter but the wind drag is 2x my boat. The thing is constantly shifting and the engine noise above 2500 RPM is unbearable. Had buddies ride with me last weekend and commented how annoying it was to ride in this loud ass truck. Wish I had 4.10's as it might not hunt for a gear so much. I previously pulled this trailer with an F150 Ecoboost and it was too light IMHO. But the power was similar to this 6.4 and the 6 speed tranny shifted 1/2 as much. I guess the torque of the 3.5L turbo was in a better spot than this high revving POS. In tow haul it runs in 7th and will downshift to 6th over an ant hill, 5th on any slope at all. Looking at trading for a like truck as I love the ride and cab but with a Cummins. Will likely order as the summer is fine with this one but I will not go through another winter with this thing.

 

[Nick]

I keep reading about high maintenance costs for a diesel . I have owned diesel pick ups since 94 . outside of filters that these days can go 15000 I personally have never spent a cent beyond oil and filters . My 2 cents you live in the mountains get a Diesel and you have the ability to slow down your truck and trailer without having to depend on less than stellar trailer electric brakes . Use it empty and you should be able to go 5 yrs before needing pads . Old truckers saying . You can go down the mountain too slow many times but you can go too fast just once !

 

[r440]

Getting ready to pull the trigger on a 2021 2500 with 6.4 and 373 with this in mind for hauling my 30' 5th wheel . F
rom Allpar site
On Ram chassis cabs with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds, the 6.4 was rated at 367 hp at 4,600 rpm at launch, a lower rating than the 5.7 in light-duty trucks. In lighter-duty vehicles, the 6.4 Hemi was rated at 410 hp at 5,600 rpm, with 429 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm

 

[Jimmer]

This is an excellent thread because I am stuck in this same dilemma. I had a ‘15 HO Cummins 3500 and we trailered for 10 months straight went slowly from Florida to Alaska and back to Florida. Absolutely loved that truck!! Had to sell it all since where we moved I had no space for the truck and trailer. Fast forward only two years and we have space now so I’m back to purchasing. So here’s my current situation. We’re going to buy a TT with a bunk house, and start doing trips to the beach, and smokies for now probably 5-10 times a year. I’ll be doing a 3” suspension lift with 37’s on this truck. I work from home and drive very little. I’m leaning towards the gasser with the 4.10 axle due to the bigger tires, and since it’s only 5-10 TT trips a year BUT I absolutely do not want any gear hunting when traveling long trips. I’m thinking bigger tires would increase gear hunting but I’m not sure. Any input?

something that myersd1 points out is the wind drag factor that these trailers have has me worried about the hemi.

 

[HD5280]

This is an excellent thread because I am stuck in this same dilemma. I had a ‘15 HO Cummins 3500 and we trailered for 10 months straight went slowly from Florida to Alaska and back to Florida. Absolutely loved that truck!! Had to sell it all since where we moved I had no space for the truck and trailer. Fast forward only two years and we have space now so I’m back to purchasing. So here’s my current situation. We’re going to buy a TT with a bunk house, and start doing trips to the beach, and smokies for now probably 5-10 times a year. I’ll be doing a 3” suspension lift with 37’s on this truck. I work from home and drive very little. I’m leaning towards the gasser with the 4.10 axle due to the bigger tires, and since it’s only 5-10 TT trips a year BUT I absolutely do not want any gear hunting when traveling long trips. I’m thinking bigger tires would increase gear hunting but I’m not sure. Any input?

something that myersd1 points out is the wind drag factor that these trailers have has me worried about the hemi.

If you plan on towing at all, especially in steep terrain/mountainous areas I simply do not see the debate for a Hemi. I understand the logistics around payload and towing capacity but the fact of the matter is, some people want the ride of a 2500 with the torque of a Cummins. Unless you plan on towing heavy and need a 3500, and/or if the price difference of a diesel is within your budget, then there is simply no debate to me. Entirely too much overthinking on forums regarding drive times/idle times, maintenance, cold weather vs warm climates. Yes they all matter, but to me not as much as my earlier points. They are the small details to the bigger decision.
Last point - I know significantly more guys who regret not getting the diesel then those wishing they would have gotten the Hemi. They are both great and serve their purposes, but again, pull money out of the equation and there is simply no debate in my humble opinion.
Just my two cents.

 

[myersd1]

I'd love to hear about Cummins engine noise levels vs. the Hemi. As I said when towing the Hemi is obnoxious due to the fan noise at any RPM above 2500.

 

[elephantrider]

my guess is the cummins would be decibels quieter than a high revving gas engine. I've towed fairly heavy, with only a resonator, and it's still crazy quiet. part of the difference is the cummins won't downshift nearly as much as the hemi.

 

[Brutal_HO]

Might check out the TFL vids, they ran both the 3500 Cummins dually and the hemi up the IKE and they always do sound levels.

My gut feel says the Cummins is going to be quieter in the cab pulling a hill or bucking a headwind. Do the hemi trucks have ANC?

 

[MAF]

I owned a 6.4 liter for towing my 30' 5ther. It towed it fine, very strong, no problems. But, getting 8MPG and having to stop at every gas station was very annoying. Thats my annoyance with gas. Good luck

 

[Boltripper]

If you plan on towing at all, especially in steep terrain/mountainous areas I simply do not see the debate for a Hemi. I understand the logistics around payload and towing capacity but the fact of the matter is, some people want the ride of a 2500 with the torque of a Cummins. Unless you plan on towing heavy and need a 3500, and/or if the price difference of a diesel is within your budget, then there is simply no debate to me. Entirely too much overthinking on forums regarding drive times/idle times, maintenance, cold weather vs warm climates. Yes they all matter, but to me not as much as my earlier points. They are the small details to the bigger decision.
Last point - I know significantly more guys who regret not getting the diesel then those wishing they would have gotten the Hemi. They are both great and serve their purposes, but again, pull money out of the equation and there is simply no debate in my humble opinion.
Just my two cents.

I appreciate this response as I've been having analysis paralysis over this..

What I'm wanting to do is not tow, but have a full size rig for a slide in camper, bumpers, winch, skid plates, 37's etc.....

I don't mind the maintenance as I'll do all of it myself and I've removed the $$$ out of the equation.. I've always seemed to wish I had more power then my current situations when I add all the off road parts and weight.. I just see many on the interwebs talking that unless you tow, Cummins is not the truck for you..

I just want a rig that I can put 2,500 pounds of gear in with the above setup and travel the country without HP or Torque stress. I will however be doing a great deal of off road with the truck and want to be sure that slower speeds for extended time will not be detrimental to the Diesel..

I'm leaning towards the 3500 with the Cummins and 4.10's - Am I off base on this?

Thanks in advance,


John~

 

[HD5280]

I appreciate this response as I've been having analysis paralysis over this..

What I'm wanting to do is not tow, but have a full size rig for a slide in camper, bumpers, winch, skid plates, 37's etc.....

I don't mind the maintenance as I'll do all of it myself and I've removed the $$$ out of the equation.. I've always seemed to wish I had more power then my current situations when I add all the off road parts and weight.. I just see many on the interwebs talking that unless you tow, Cummins is not the truck for you..

I just want a rig that I can put 2,500 pounds of gear in with the above setup and travel the country without HP or Torque stress. I will however be doing a great deal of off road with the truck and want to be sure that slower speeds for extended time will not be detrimental to the Diesel..

I'm leaning towards the 3500 with the Cummins and 4.10's - Am I off base on this?

Thanks in advance,


John~

If no plan to tow and high payload is your goal, I’d say a 3500 Hemi with the 4.10 is your route. If you only need a payload of 2500-3000lbs you can even stick with a 2500 Hemi with the 4.10 (most have a payload of 3k-4K). No need for the Cummins if you aren’t planning to tow....except for the badass factor and how cool they sound, but that’s typically not worth $9k-$12k for most folks.

Everything you need to know is right here:

Ram Towing | Find the Best Truck for Your Towing Needs

Find everything you need to know about Ram towing capacity, payload & more here. Discover the best Ram truck or van that fits your towing needs today.

www.ramtrucks.com

 

[Boltripper]

If no plan to tow and high payload is your goal, I’d say a 3500 Hemi with the 4.10 is your route. If you only need a payload of 2500-3000lbs you can even stick with a 2500 Hemi with the 4.10 (most have a payload of 3k-4K). No need for the Cummins if you aren’t planning to tow....except for the badass factor and how cool they sound, but that’s typically not worth $9k-$12k for most folks.

Everything you need to know is right here:

Ram Towing | Find the Best Truck for Your Towing Needs

Find everything you need to know about Ram towing capacity, payload & more here. Discover the best Ram truck or van that fits your towing needs today.

www.ramtrucks.com

Thanks for the reply and the link !! I’ll read up!!

best,

John

 

[DevilDodge]

I appreciate this response as I've been having analysis paralysis over this..

What I'm wanting to do is not tow, but have a full size rig for a slide in camper, bumpers, winch, skid plates, 37's etc.....

I don't mind the maintenance as I'll do all of it myself and I've removed the $$$ out of the equation.. I've always seemed to wish I had more power then my current situations when I add all the off road parts and weight.. I just see many on the interwebs talking that unless you tow, Cummins is not the truck for you..

I just want a rig that I can put 2,500 pounds of gear in with the above setup and travel the country without HP or Torque stress. I will however be doing a great deal of off road with the truck and want to be sure that slower speeds for extended time will not be detrimental to the Diesel..

I'm leaning towards the 3500 with the Cummins and 4.10's - Am I off base on this?

Thanks in advance,


John~

4.10s are only available as a dually with the Cummins. SRW only gets the 3.73

 

[GeneralClortho]

I am in the same inner war, as I hope to pick up another Ram next month or so. My previous 3500 DRW diesel wasn't the most fun to drive around in city traffic. However, I towed a car trailer with about 8klbs plus the trailer weight and a bed full of parts across Texas with the cruise control on at 75mph...it was effortless and drama free. Running empty, 20mpg on the highway wasn't abnormal.

My 1500 had the 5.7L Hemi and it was a joy to drive in the city. It towed an 8k trailer acceptably good, but felt like it was straining the truck, and you had to have your wits about you. Granted it was a 1500, but it sure didn't highway tow like the diesel...not even close.

The new truck will be my daily and my commute is short to work, so I makes no sense to pay the premium for the diesel other than it would be cool. I would also have to deal with the regen issue for such short drives by taking it on longer ones on occasion, which could be a pain. Like others have already said: For frequent towing at or above 8k lbs, diesel...no question. For a commuter with an occasional weekend tow of a lighter trailer, Hemi for sure and use the difference in cost for aftermarket goodies.

Dang, I guess I just figured out the way I am going.

 

[Chandne]

Here in Colorado, even the big gassers will struggle past 5000 lbs going up the passes. Not as bad an issue with less but either way, a diesel is the way to go, in my opinion. The mountains have a way of humbling the gassers when towing. Some don't care but I do even though all my campers will be relatively light. For me, it is also a safety issue in many scenarios. The diesel can pass and move over more quickly and safely if needed, though I am a conservative driver. I just got a 3500 for this reason. My last truck was a GMC Duramax 2500 which was also fantastic for towing my travel trailer.

 

[HD5280]

Here in Colorado, even the big gassers will struggle past 5000 lbs going up the passes. Not as bad an issue with less but either way, a diesel is the way to go, in my opinion. The mountains have a way of humbling the gassers when towing. Some don't care but I do even though all my campers will be relatively light. For me, it is also a safety issue in many scenarios. The diesel can pass and move over more quickly and safely if needed, though I am a conservative driver. I just got a 3500 for this reason. My last truck was a GMC Duramax 2500 which was also fantastic for towing my travel trailer.

Yeup. See my previous response. Towing + Mountains = Cummins (period)

 

[Highcountry]

I appreciate this response as I've been having analysis paralysis over this..

What I'm wanting to do is not tow, but have a full size rig for a slide in camper, bumpers, winch, skid plates, 37's etc.....

I don't mind the maintenance as I'll do all of it myself and I've removed the $$$ out of the equation.. I've always seemed to wish I had more power then my current situations when I add all the off road parts and weight.. I just see many on the interwebs talking that unless you tow, Cummins is not the truck for you..

I just want a rig that I can put 2,500 pounds of gear in with the above setup and travel the country without HP or Torque stress. I will however be doing a great deal of off road with the truck and want to be sure that slower speeds for extended time will not be detrimental to the Diesel..

I'm leaning towards the 3500 with the Cummins and 4.10's - Am I off base on this?

Thanks in advance,


John~

I had a similar debate when I started looking at trucks. The 6.4 would do whatever I need now, but I ultimately decided that I keep my trucks a long time and the Cummins will let me do anything I want to do with it.

 

[GeneralClortho]

I had a similar debate when I started looking at trucks. The 6.4 would do whatever I need now, but I ultimately decided that I keep my trucks a long time and the Cummins will let me do anything I want to do with it.

I hear you. I also went over the longevity issue. The Cummins is going to outlast the Hemi, no question. However, a fuel system replacement in the diesel will cost what a Hemi replacement does, and figure that will happen every 150k - 200k or so. My 3500 made it to 200k and then had to be done again at 350k miles. That is $8k - $10k a pop unless you know someone or you do it yourself.

 

[SMK Shoe]

Last week and half ran 3600 miles with 9250 lbs ( empty) to 22,500 lbs ( 2 hummers) in a 2020 3500 DRW with the 6.7 HO and Aisin trans (also 4.10 reared). Quiet in the cab, no searching for gears, and pretty decent fuel milage (8.3 MPG heavy load and mountains). Moved from a gasser Tundra which was a great truck, but the diesel is a beast towing. I have talked to people that wish they had purchased the diesel, haven't had anyone wish they hadn't