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Old 01-18-2020, 10:46 AM   #1
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Diesel to Gas

I am very familiar with the towing characteristics of a diesel. I'm a ram guy and I'm thinking on a newer tow vehicle. I'm looking at used trucks and you can get a LOT more truck for your money in a gas job. Our trailer is 34ft and has a GVWR of 9200lbs. Does anybody tow with a Ram Hemi? If so your thoughts please. Thanks
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Old 01-18-2020, 11:35 AM   #2
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You should go to a Dodge forum. I know there are some people who were quite unhappy with the transmission programming on the gas Dodge. If you are buying used, you might want to avoid certain model years.

Also, try to find one with the deepest (highest numerically) rear axle ration that you can find.

You get more payload for the same truck with gas also. I'd look at the yellow sticker on the door jam and make sure you have around 3,000 lb payload.

and whatever you do, don't get a 250/2500 with diesel. Horrible payload.
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Old 01-18-2020, 12:07 PM   #3
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whatever you do, don't get a 250/2500 with diesel. Horrible payload.
Really!!!!

I pulling a 34RL Cedar Creek with a 2008, 2500 SRW Dodge 6.7L Cummins Mega Cab truck.

The only concern I had and I have scaled my truck with the trailer was the GAWR rear and the tire loading on my truck. Both are adequate for my needs.
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Old 01-18-2020, 12:52 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by larryo View Post
I am very familiar with the towing characteristics of a diesel. I'm a ram guy and I'm thinking on a newer tow vehicle. I'm looking at used trucks and you can get a LOT more truck for your money in a gas job. Our trailer is 34ft and has a GVWR of 9200lbs. Does anybody tow with a Ram Hemi? If so your thoughts please. Thanks
What year of Ram you looking at. I have the 2018 2500 with the 6.4 Hemi and towed my V-Lite which weight about 9200 loaded. I have 3:73 gear and towed the TT just fine. I'd get any where from 9.5mpg up to 10.5 depending on terrain. I love the way it tows and now I just bought a new 33ft Phoenix 5er which at full wight would be 12000# I don't plan on loading up to the limit as Its me and the dog now so do not need to carry a lot of stuff. Later RJD
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Old 01-18-2020, 04:51 PM   #5
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I had a 2500 with the 6.4 and 3:73. I feel at the weight your thinking of towing it will do fairly well. The 6 speed auto has a first gear thats a tad high, and an overly large gap between 1st and 2nd, but again I think with the weight your looking at it really shouldn't be noticeable. A new one with the 8 speed would be ideal.
The engine performs very well on its own merits, and I was always impressed with the fuel economy I got with our on trips. Tons of room inside.
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Old 01-18-2020, 06:26 PM   #6
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I have a 2018 Ram 2500 6.4 with 4.10 gears and tow a 9500 lb TT. I'm in Oregon so most of my towing is east or west which means hilly stuff towards the coast and mtns towards the east. It does okay until I get to the steeper passes. It will drop to far down in gears some times and when it does the rpms spike pretty good.
Towed over the Teton Pass at 8400' and 10% grade last summer. Needed 1st gear and 4500-4800 or so for rpms' Needless to say it was screaming for about what seemed like 5 mins till we crested the top. Temps stayed normal including the fan going into turbo mode. Downhill was not too bad. No hot brakes or crazy stuff.
I get about 8.5-9 mpgs.
Out on the flats it'll cruise in 5th all day at 65-68 mph. It won't hold 6th and it really doesn't feel right. Kinda like it's bogging a bit.
i would look for 4.10 gears if you can. They'll keep you in a higher gear long so less down shifting.
I came from a 12 Ram CTD towing a 9300 lb 5er. I miss the CTD in the mtns. Other than that I'm glad I made the switch. The only time the 6.4 is underwhelming is on the steeper grades which isn't that much most of the time.
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Old 01-18-2020, 07:30 PM   #7
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One of the reasons we choose diesel was the length of the fifth wheel.

We use truck lanes when hooked up for fuel. Easy.

There are a lot of gas places I would be afraid to try.

Backing out on a Sunday afternoon just scares me.

Pulling #14,000+ we get 11 or so mpg.
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Old 01-19-2020, 11:50 AM   #8
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I love diesel and all for economy reasons but the physics behind it is 400 hp is 400 hp. One just makes it at 4500 rpm and the other at 2500 rpm. They both are designed to do what they do, it's not working the gas motor harder to let it run it's designed rpm.
The gas motor will use more gallons per hour because there is less energy in gasoline per gallon and the thermal efficiency of a turbocharged and high compression motor is better.
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Old 01-19-2020, 01:08 PM   #9
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Going down the mountain is very different in a gasser.

I virtually never brake going down hill. Cruise does it all.
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Old 01-19-2020, 01:17 PM   #10
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I also really didn't have any issues getting gas with the gasser and my 39' TT.
Just had to pay attention and zero issues..
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Old 01-19-2020, 02:05 PM   #11
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You should go to a Dodge forum. [...]
I can't agree more.

Different tools for different jobs. If you want to better understand the nuances of trucks ... go to a truck forum. You can get some good information here. You will get an entirely different level of information at a truck-specfic forum.

Furthermore, I'm quite sure a person could get some great help here on this RV forum about quilting, but I'd recommend a quilting forum for the best help.

Quote:
Originally Posted by acadianbob View Post
[...] and whatever you do, don't get a 250/2500 with diesel. Horrible payload.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim34RL View Post
Really!!!!

I pulling a 34RL Cedar Creek with a 2008, 2500 SRW Dodge 6.7L Cummins Mega Cab truck.

The only concern I had and I have scaled my truck with the trailer was the GAWR rear and the tire loading on my truck. Both are adequate for my needs.
Note that you didn't actually offer anything to counter the statement that a 3/4 ton diesel has poor payload. That's an objective truth. Newer models in 2020 are increasing GVWR, but anything 2019 and earlier is going to match up to Bob's assertion.

You can argue that it doesn't matter. But, it's really hard to dispute that a 3/4 ton diesel doesn't have a compromised payload rating.

With that said, there are plenty of good reasons why a person may want one. I won't go through them all, but one common reason is registration fees that punish high GVWR vehicles in some localities.

Good luck on your shopping.
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Old 01-19-2020, 02:11 PM   #12
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Myself I have the 2500 with cummins but I have many friends with Rams and Hemi engine. I have not heard anything bad about those trucks and the cost of purchase is much lower for the gas rig. Some folks have mentioned manuring its the same with both you have to be careful and pick your fuel stops. goos luck
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Old 01-20-2020, 09:21 AM   #13
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The only concern I had and I have scaled my truck with the trailer was the GAWR rear and the tire loading on my truck. Both are adequate for my needs.
This guy gets it.......
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Old 01-20-2020, 09:40 AM   #14
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Myself I have the 2500 with cummins but I have many friends with Rams and Hemi engine. I have not heard anything bad about those trucks and the cost of purchase is much lower for the gas rig. Some folks have mentioned manuring its the same with both you have to be careful and pick your fuel stops. goos luck
I actually do know how to spell maneuvering LOL
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Old 01-20-2020, 09:46 AM   #15
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This guy gets it.......
X2....I have a five year old 2015 RAM 2500 with the Cummins it has an I'm sure some will say less then adequate payload of 2159 and it serves my needs perfectly well.....When it doesn't I'll get a new truck that does
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Old 01-20-2020, 10:42 AM   #16
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Note that you didn't actually offer anything to counter the statement that a 3/4 ton diesel has poor payload. That's an objective truth. Newer models in 2020 are increasing GVWR, but anything 2019 and earlier is going to match up to Bob's assertion.

You can argue that it doesn't matter. But, it's really hard to dispute that a 3/4 ton diesel doesn't have a compromised payload rating.

With that said, there are plenty of good reasons why a person may want one. I won't go through them all, but one common reason is registration fees that punish high GVWR vehicles in some localities.

Good luck on your shopping.
I am a retired engineer that spent most of my life designing structures for heavy equipment IE Cat machines. So, I know how the payload/weight games are played by the manufacture to put vehicles into certain selling markets.

So, with my background I do know what really matters when towing and that is can your frame, axles and the tires/rims support the load! In my case yes, the 2500/3500 SRW Dodge/Ram trucks from 2004.5 to 2102 are the same.

The truck uses the same powertrain components, frame, axles, brakes, and tire/rims as sold in the market place. The only difference is the signage and the placard on the B-pillar of the truck. Oh and the weight police are concerned.
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Old 01-20-2020, 10:47 AM   #17
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Really!!!!
Yes . . . really . . . .
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Old 01-20-2020, 11:06 AM   #18
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I have a 17 Ram 2500 6.4, 4.10. My truck is the Tradesman trim and I have 3200 lbs of payload. I have a 32ft TT and I load my side by side on a rack on top of the bed/cab of my truck. I have never had a problem going up or down the western mountains that I need to tow through. Yes it drives different than a diesel because the engine is designed differently. It cracks me up when people complain about high RPMs in a gas engine; that is where the gas engine is designed to make power. That being said, I’ve never felt like my engine was screaming to get up a hill. I’ve never had an issue with not having enough power.

If you feel like you’re wanting a Hemi, get the Hemi. You’ll be fine.
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Old 01-23-2020, 01:43 PM   #19
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Neighbor's new Ram 2020 2500 6.4 has payload 3311 that's good only thing he said about the ride home from the dealership was I don't think it is going to be very good on gas
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Old 01-23-2020, 01:46 PM   #20
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I am a retired engineer that spent most of my life designing structures for heavy equipment IE Cat machines. So, I know how the payload/weight games are played by the manufacture to put vehicles into certain selling markets.

So, with my background I do know what really matters when towing and that is can your frame, axles and the tires/rims support the load! In my case yes, the 2500/3500 SRW Dodge/Ram trucks from 2004.5 to 2102 are the same.

The truck uses the same powertrain components, frame, axles, brakes, and tire/rims as sold in the market place. The only difference is the signage and the placard on the B-pillar of the truck. Oh and the weight police are concerned.
Yes .... my axle/tire load payload is 5094
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