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Considering going from gas to diesel truck

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morenar

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Hello Everyone,
I currently own a Sierra 1500 v6 gas truck and considering moving to a Ram 2500 Diesel. I have friends and family who have owned diesels for many years and never had any complaints about them. What are some things to consider when purchasing a diesel? What type of maintenance is necessary to keep things running smoothly? I have read that diesel engines do not like short commutes. Is that something else to consider? I know this question will be asked, what if anything will I be towing. The occasional 20+ foot boat or enclosed work trailer. My wife has grown up around diesel engines and is pretty dead set on us getting a diesel, saying how long those engines have lasted. Appreciate any feedback.
 
You can't go wrong. Maintenance is not much more, More oil capacity and occasional fuel filter changes.
 
If you’re going 2500 with a diesel make sure that whatever you’re towing won’t go over the payload capacity. The 2500 has a GVWR of only 10000 and the Diesel engine eats up 900# more than the gas.
 
GCWR is 27k so you should be good!!!! The 2500 4x4 Crew 6.4 bed will tow a 19k trailer and the payload capacity is 2500lbs. If your thinking a 5th wheel down the road you better consider a 3500 DRW? But a boat and enclosed trailer you will be just fine!!! Maintenance is a little more but oil changes every 15k along with both fuel filters, I hear it runs $300 or so if the dealership does it. The CTD is the best way to go! They tow like a beast and get decent mileage. I tow a 8x16 enclosed with two Harley dressers in it and it doesn’t even know it’s back there and get around 16mpg. I think you will be happy!
 
If you're dead set on a diesel I would go for a 3500, a full load 2500 with a diesel and one of the big cabs would eat up alot of the payload (if you go for the mega cab you're down to less then 2000#).
But diesel vs. gas if you're not towing 10k+ regularly I would stay with a gas, way less headache. Especially if you're thinking about driving it as a daily driver and/or in the winter. Also not sure how diesel prices are at the pump where you are, but around here diesel is 30% more then 87 octane, so the fuel economy difference is negligible once you pay that difference.
I use my '17 6.4L to tow a 26' cargo trailer (~6-7k) in the mountains and it works awesome. I'm sure the new HDs with the 8 speed would work even better.
 
Good advice here. I won't do another 2500. I had a mega cab 2500 cab time and payload was horrible. If you are looking to tow pretty much any fifth wheel, I'd skip the 2500 all together. You'll really limit your choices of an RV if you don't. If you are truly going to do enclosed trailer or boats, a 2500 will probably be ok. I had 3 2500s in a row and eventually I started looking a big campers. That's when the towing reality set it....
 
If you are not going to tow, or just around town, then a gas truck would be better for you. If you just want a diesel to have a diesel, then why not? My RAM diesel is too early to say anything about, but my last diesel (Dmax), was my towing machine, and DD. Never had a problem with it, although at least every other week I would take it for a good drive if I hadn't towed with it.

If you are towing, like what has been said, the diesel eats up a lot of payload over the gas, and a 3500 is better than the 2500. Price difference is negligible. Towing ability is meaningless unless you tow a hay trailer. You will run out of payload long before you hit the marketing "tow ability" weight.
 
We had a Suburban 2500 with the 7.4L gasser. Towing was uphill both directions. Our new truck is a 2019 3500 with the HO Cummins. We call it the beast because it has so much power that when we picked it up at the dealer, we took it on a test drive and without knowing it, I was doing 90+ on the freeway. Our first real towing trip will be next month. I expect that the performance will be exceptional.
 
OuachitaAdventure said:
Good advice here. I won't do another 2500. I had a mega cab 2500 cab time and payload was horrible. If you are looking to tow pretty much any fifth wheel, I'd skip the 2500 all together. You'll really limit your choices of an RV if you don't. If you are truly going to do enclosed trailer or boats, a 2500 will probably be ok. I had 3 2500s in a row and eventually I started looking a big campers. That's when the towing reality set it....
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This.

If there's any remote chance whatsoever that a Boat will turn into a fifth wheel + boat get a 3500 if going diesel.

Been pulling doubles for 15+ years and wishing I had gotten a 3500 instead. I've been running air bags and it handles and stops great, but I am punching over my (legal) payload weight.

If you'll never tow over 10K and it's a daily driver, just get the hemi with the 8 speed.
 
I’m a big fan of saving the $10K if a diesel isn’t needed. I can tell you this, if we didn’t have a 16K fifth wheel, I’d be in a gasser or a half ton (way more comfortable). But I’m somewhat frugal and don’t like to spend that much money unless there is a reason too.
 
Canadian Mopar said:
If you're dead set on a diesel I would go for a 3500, a full load 2500 with a diesel and one of the big cabs would eat up alot of the payload (if you go for the mega cab you're down to less then 2000#).
But diesel vs. gas if you're not towing 10k+ regularly I would stay with a gas, way less headache. Especially if you're thinking about driving it as a daily driver and/or in the winter. Also not sure how diesel prices are at the pump where you are, but around here diesel is 30% more then 87 octane, so the fuel economy difference is negligible once you pay that difference.
I use my '17 6.4L to tow a 26' cargo trailer (~6-7k) in the mountains and it works awesome. I'm sure the new HDs with the 8 speed would work even better.
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The 8 speeds are only with gas motor, nothing has changed with diesel powertrains. I drove a new gas motor and was totally impressed with it though.
 
HO Ram Guy said:
The 8 speeds are only with gas motor, nothing has changed with diesel powertrains. I drove a new gas motor and was totally impressed with it though.
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You are correct, that'll more then likely be my next truck. Was just sharing my experience towing with my 6.4L and the 6 speed, so I'm sure the 6.4L with the 8 speed should work even better.
 
Canadian Mopar said:
You are correct, that'll more then likely be my next truck. Was just sharing my experience towing with my 6.4L and the 6 speed, so I'm sure the 6.4L with the 8 speed should work even better.
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I sure hope the 8 speeds on the HDtrucks are better than the ones in the 1500’s. My 8 speed in my 14 Ram 1500 failed at 140k, 20k miles after I had it serviced by the dealer. Bought a 2019 1500 Hemi 8 speed and it never could find the right gear at any speed, constantly lugged in and out of gears and would tow a 8x16 bike trailer with 2 Harley’s in it without sounding like it was gonna blow up! FCA did take it back after me and 4 others complained of the same issues and I told them I would buy a 2500 with a CTD. Now I am having issues with it......grrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!
 
Bozo said:
Best thing about the diesels is they shift a lot less when pullin* hills and towing. Torque is king.
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Absolutely!!!!! Just wish they would get the parts out to fix these 6 speed trannys.......:-( Hate being told to be careful towing after I just bought the truck to do so......:-/ Oh well, it will get fixed soon enough I guess.
 
I sold my 2015 2500 CTD and bought a 2019 2500 with the 6.4....As a daily driver I like the Hemi a lot more. It's much more responsive and the 8 speed transmission is fantastic. Towing my 8000lb travel trailer it does a good job but it took a while to get used to the higher reving engine and frequent shifting on the hills. Fuel mileage around town is 11-12 mpg and highway is around 15-16 mpg if its flat. Towing I get around 8-9 mpg on the flats.

The diesel often felt sluggish driving around town until it spools up and I hated the 68rfe transmission. I had an emission sensor go out (don't remember which one) and after speaking with the dealer and a couple of local diesel repair shops, they all advised if you don't work the truck you can probably expect issues with the emission systems. These repairs can be insanely expensive which worried me as I only tow 4-5 times per year and my truck is a daily driver with lots of short trips. I also never got the mileage a lot people report. I did level the truck and installed slightly larger tires but I averaged around 12-13 mpg in town and 16-17 mpg highway. Towing the same travel trailer I rarely hit 10 mpg even on flat ground.

The CTD is a beast towing and climbing hills will put a big smile on your face but for my needs, the Hemi is the better option.
 
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