6.4 Hemi 2K miles....

ryand · 07-30-2016, 03:46 PM

Thought I would update my experience after now 23K miles and nearly 4k of that towing with my 15' 6.4 in the last year. I have been extremely....and I mean extremely happpy with the 6.4 gas engine in the 2500. Most of my happieness stems from the 2500 platform while towing however we took I-40 from Nashville to Knoxville this summer and the engine never made me feel like I needed more power. Held the hills, passed and never even belched pulling the hills. I know that the cummins would have been a better experience however most of my miles are spent empty and at the most recent price of gas.....the big hemi was the right move for me. Sure it winds up to 4K rpm on the hills but never ever does it seem to strain and always runs up to the limit with out fail. If you have a trailer less than 10K and want to throw any thing including the kitchen sink in the bed when camping....can't go wrong with the 6.4 in the 2500. Lots of debate on the Gas Vs Oil here. Dont get me wrong, I would have loved the cummins more....but in the end the truck is where it's at for me. The stability over the 1/2 ton is not even a comparison.

WolfWhistle · 07-30-2016, 04:27 PM

Ryand, if I was buying now, I would probably go with the 6.4 L and limit my trailer GVWR to about what you have (under 8000#). Do you have the air rear suspension? After the I-40 experience, I got KYBs and Timbrens, which after another pull, I think they eliminate 50% of the bounce. Yes, the torque of the CTD is nice, but maintenance is expensive. I am close to doing a full delete on the CTD, which is long overdue. These diesel vs gas, 1/2 vs 3/4 debates are so much BS.
WW

ryand · 07-30-2016, 05:16 PM

No air on my truck. Use a 800# equalizer set up loosely. Truck only squats about 1/2" without any wd hooked up

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kevnval · 07-30-2016, 07:38 PM

Hey....I'm feeling very,very pleased with my 6.4 too.My Sabre 5ver has a GVWR of 11400 lbs...and although I've never weighed it...it is loaded up good. I was a Diesel guy for 15yrs...Powerstroke then Duramax..no the RAM doesn't have the torque of the diesels...but I'm really liking the way it handles the trailer...and I can live with the 21L / 100km fuel useage.

ryand · 07-30-2016, 07:57 PM

Sure the 6.4 is not going to be a oil burner...that's alright for us who don't need it. My point is a 3/4 truck with any engine would be far and away better than the 1/2 to offering. Towing 7k for me is night and day. I'm happy with the gas engine loaded and un loaded. The 6.4 is a well capable mill for less than a 10k load and I wouldn't hesitate pulling slightly heavier based on the truck platform. Diesels have their place....just not in my driveway.

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R HEMI · 07-31-2016, 01:25 PM

Ironic the way the right post happens to open when you need it. I have the 5.7 1500. I have decided to seriously look at upgrading to the 2500. I have been on the fence regarding the hemi or CTD. After reading this post I think know my questions have been answered. Out of curiosity what kind of fuel econmy does the 2500 with the 6.4 get empty?

ryand · 07-31-2016, 01:42 PM

Most of my miles empty are HWY and I avg 17 hand calculated. I too came from a 1500 5.7 hemi. My mileage is just about as good in the 2500 as the 1500. Everything else is apples and oranges. Reguardless of what mill you go with, the heavier truck is where it's at.

ksmith954 · 07-31-2016, 02:10 PM

The 6.4 I looked at recommended premium fuel- true?

aceinspp · 07-31-2016, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryand

Sure the 6.4 is not going to be a oil burner...that's alright for us who don't need it. My point is a 3/4 truck with any engine would be far and away better than the 1/2 to offering. Towing 7k for me is night and day. I'm happy with the gas engine loaded and un loaded. The 6.4 is a well capable mill for less than a 10k load and I wouldn't hesitate pulling slightly heavier based on the truck platform. Diesels have their place....just not in my driveway.

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X 2 even tho I do not have the 6.4 I almost had one till the dealer made me mad a then I went back to Chevy. I'm like you a diesel is not for everyone and my 6.0 3/4 ton does quit well with my 9000# load and get on average 9.5 mpg towing and almost 19 non. If I ever get another truck will look again at the Dodge. Thanks for the good info on the Dodge. Later RJD

Moparman1230 · 07-31-2016, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksmith954

The 6.4 I looked at recommended premium fuel- true?

Nope. I use plain 'o Regular Unleaded, 87 octane.

"Do or do not, there is no try" - Yoda

Moparman1230 · 07-31-2016, 02:44 PM

I too am very happy with my 6.4. I REALLY wanted a diesel, but we just couldn't get the deal done between what I could afford and what the dealer wanted, so I went with the 6.4. Why not wait it out? Because my previous truck blew at 220,000 miles and I was without a vehicle, so I had to get something. I knew I wanted a 3/4 ton + to support our future (now current) travel trailer purchase. Does it like it's gas? Yep, but no more than previous edition 1/2 tons (supposedly the new 8-speed auto gets the 1/2 ton close to 20 MPG.)

Would I like a diesel? ABSOLUTLEY! Unfortunately it wasn't in the cards this time, and the 6.4 is very capable for my 9980 GVWR trailer and a daily driver.

"Do or do not, there is no try" - Yoda

extxn · 07-31-2016, 06:46 PM

ryand ~ I just wanted to say Thank you for your post and also to everyone else who chimed in. Very funny coincidence since we were just out today "window shopping" at the 2500's. Checked all dealers in our area and looked at the window stickers if available. We enjoy looking on Sundays since no one is going to come running out full of memorized questions for us to answer, we have plenty of time to look and talk to each other. Again, thanks to everyone for your comments.

WolfWhistle · 08-01-2016, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by extxn

ryand ~ I just wanted to say Thank you for your post and also to everyone else who chimed in. Very funny coincidence since we were just out today "window shopping" at the 2500's. Checked all dealers in our area and looked at the window stickers if available. We enjoy looking on Sundays since no one is going to come running out full of memorized questions for us to answer, we have plenty of time to look and talk to each other. Again, thanks to everyone for your comments.

Ryand, Another thought. Like I said, I'd go with the 6.4L but I would definitely check SRW 3500 prices. With the gasser cargo capacity would be much better than my CTD 2500, with a 350 / 3500 it is much, much higher. This could come in handy down the road for you.
WW

jtatum65 · 08-01-2016, 12:08 PM

I too am very happy with my '16 Ram 2500 6.4, which I purchased back in Feb. I get 18mpg on 87 octane and get between 10-12mpg towing our 9500# FW. The only downside it the cost of oil changes, as Ram requires Synthetic 0-20 oil to be used or void your warranty. The upside to that is 8,000 miles between oil changes.

I too would have loved a diesel, but couldn't wrap my head around the additional $9,000 for the cummins option and gas is cheaper than diesels these days.

aceinspp · 08-01-2016, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtatum65

I too am very happy with my '16 Ram 2500 6.4, which I purchased back in Feb. I get 18mpg on 87 octane and get between 10-12mpg towing our 9500# FW. The only downside it the cost of oil changes, as Ram requires Synthetic 0-20 oil to be used or void your warranty. The upside to that is 8,000 miles between oil changes.

I too would have loved a diesel, but couldn't wrap my head around the additional $9,000 for the cummins option and gas is cheaper than diesels these days.

Does the truck not come with 4 free oil changes.? Later RJD

ryand · 08-01-2016, 12:27 PM

Amazon prime offers a case of 6 of the approved SRT oil for 41.. With a Wix filter it's about 60 per oil change. High, sure but it's not really too far out of line of other full syn oil changes.

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Mountndream · 08-01-2016, 12:52 PM

We love our 6.4 as well. The oil changes are expensive, but the dealer we bought from offers lifetime Free oil changes, so we make sure we stop when headed that way. They have a big complex and let me drop the trailer in the back lot while they change the oil and wash it.

We couldn't be happier with our Truck. we have 17500 miles on it now and half of that is with a trailer behind it. It handled Yellowstone with zero issues this year and last year handled RMNP.

Riccochet · 08-01-2016, 01:51 PM

I'm the market for a 2500 as well. Really considering the 6.4, but Dennis Dillon in Idaho has an entire lot of 6.7 diesels for about what I'd pay for the 6.4 locally. I can get a fully loaded 2500 Laramie 4x4 6.7 with sport package for just over $50k. Can't touch that truck locally for under $60k.

Decisions decisions.

shorthorn · 08-02-2016, 05:04 AM

Really cant agree more on the move to 3/4 ton! I did the same with out previous TT which weighed around 8k. Previous 1/2 tons were never nearly as comfortable or confident towing the load.

One of these days I gotta test drive one of these 6.4L trucks... although I love my CTD

stevensmith2859 · 08-04-2016, 06:35 AM

That 6.4L looks like a BEAST of a motor, but my wife and I recently went from an 04 Avy with a 5.3L in it to a 1500 Ram with the 5.7L. What a night and day difference, the Hemi's are GREAT motors!

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