New 2500 6.4 or ????

[ryand]

Wow...Trying to sneak in and pick up a 2015 Ram 2500 and I am torn......I know the long standing debate over gas vs diesel and its well documented here and elsewhere. However, the 6.4L is a solid power plant and for what I do outside of Towing the Camper it might be a better fit. Also nearly a 1K higher payload cap with the Gas mill too. Couple that with nearly the same MPG as my current 1500 Hemi (reported on Cummins Forums, and Ram Forumz) its hard not to take a good look.

Looking at an SLT with a Cummins, comes in at 4 grand more than the Bighorn Blacked out Edition I really like....with the 6.4. I get all the advantages and disadvantages of both but its really hard to make the call.

85% of my time will be solo towing nothing. Big Decisions.

[aceinspp]

Both nice. I had almost bought the 6.4 Bighorn Blacked out Edition but the dealer drug his feet so I ended up with the 3/4 ton 6.0 chevy. Sure would have liked to had the Dodge tho. I think I'd go with the 6.4 as it will take some time to recoup the cost of the diesel for no more towing you are planning on doing. Later RJD

[moparguy]

I would go for the 6.4 but I would make sure to get the 4:10 gears which most do not have. The 3:73 gears are standard and there is some lag between shifts.


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[KenHwy61]

Tough call. The Cummins is an incredible towing engine and really great for long trips with heavy loads. Actually makes towing fun. But when not towing and for short trips around town I would probably go with the 6.4 Hemi. Like I said, tough call!

[ryand]

Unfortunately If I want to cash in on the 2015 deals, I need to settle with the rear end options. Most are 3.73.

[ryand]

For clarification, I travel in the truck for work often. MY 2011 ram has 130K on it, mostly work miles. About 7-10K towing. 90 % of my driving is highway.

[SuicideSaints]

All good considerations, my determining factor was I bought this last truck with the "this is the last truck for a long time" mentality. I wanted something that was going to get me a solid 12 to 15 years down the road without losing much power over the course of that coupled with a little higher re-sale value. I had a hemi ram 2 trucks ago and it felt "doggy" around year 6-7. I had the money to spring for the diesel and it opened up the possibility of a TT upgrade (bigger) in the future with still being able to handle it. This is what made my decision.

[KenHwy61]

If you are driving that many miles on the highway and towing 7 to 10 thousand a year I would get the diesel. You will get better mileage, stop for fuel less and have better resale if you trade. Diesel does not makes sense in many cases but in yours it does.

[moparguy]

I think he was saying that 7-10K miles of the 130K was from towing not 7-10K miles per year.


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[Mountndream]

The reason we didn't go with a diesel is that our truck sits alot. If you are driving it daily.. maybe a diesel is the way to go, esp with the dismal gas mileage.

Mind you, I love my 6.4.. and its plenty for what I need. But if it didn't sit alot, i would be driving a diesel

[ryand]

Originally Posted by moparguy

I think he was saying that 7-10K miles of the 130K was from towing not 7-10K miles per year.


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Correct.


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[ryand]

Originally Posted by Mountndream

The reason we didn't go with a diesel is that our truck sits alot. If you are driving it daily.. maybe a diesel is the way to go, esp with the dismal gas mileage.

Mind you, I love my 6.4.. and its plenty for what I need. But if it didn't sit alot, i would be driving a diesel

What is your avg empty highway mileage?



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[Mountndream]

11-13 MPG

I think it comes down to what and how you are planning on using it.

The 6.4 is awesome... but a diesel would be as well

[ryand]

Wow seriously??? Major difference from what I have seen here and on other sites. Seen high as 18 avg of 15.


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[KenHwy61]

My 2012 Chevy 2500 6.0 gas averaged about the same 11-13 mpg. That is a believable figure. 14-15 maybe at moderate highway speeds. 18 mpg is probably unrealistic out of a V8 of that size in a truck as heavy as a 2500/3500.

[Rugged Brown]

I'm in the gasser camp, plus that truck looks awesome.

[moparguy]

Originally Posted by Mountndream

11-13 MPG

I think it comes down to what and how you are planning on using it.

The 6.4 is awesome... but a diesel would be as well

Does your truck have the MDS system?


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[Mountndream]

Originally Posted by moparguy

Does your truck have the MDS system?


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yes, but it only seems to come on when i going down hill or coasting

[palidin40]

Love my 6.4. I tow a 35 foot hemisphere and it tows like a dream. I get about 9 to 10 mpg towing and around 12 driving around town. I do get about 15 to 17 when I run from Ocala to Tampa but it's all interstate and I do it way early in the morning with no traffic.

[Tall frog]

We were looking at Ford, Ram, and GMC all with the diesel engine option we have a 34 foot TT and had a gas 6.0 GMC Yukon XL got tired of having the motor downshift when going up hills after trying all three we settled on the GMC Denali HD with the Duramax and Alison combo could not be happier with the diesel option. I get around 16 city driving with some rural and up to 22 on the highway at 75 miles an hour. When towing our 7500 pound trailer we get 12 - 12.2 miles per gallon. I was looking at the extra cost but decided the return on investment in both mileage and resale and comfort of driving even on the highway without the trailer was well worth it. Good luck on your decision it was tough for us.