I need more truck!

[Crispie0206]

Originally Posted by Roberte52

I made a similar mistake. Had a 2014 Ram V6 and bought a Forest River Micro Lite based on the truck numbers. Realized after a couple trips I needed more truck. The V6 never seemed to want to shift into higher gears even on level, no wind roads. Our current 2014 Ram Hemi tows our new rig with no issues.

Yes. I was lucky to see 5th gear at all. It wanted to hang out at 3rd and 4th most of the time. 3rd and 4 gear at 60 to 65 was no fun.

[Cabinfever97]

I have towed our Hemisphere with a Dodge, Chevy, and Ford 3/4 ton. They all had about the same throttle response and power, with the Ford having a slight advantage. Stability the Chevy and Dodge about the same, the Ford is much more stable than the other two. Fuel mileage for the Chevy and Dodge exactly the same, about 6MPG. This is the first trip with the F250 so not sure about MPG yet. According to the computer it is 1.5 MPG better, but I prefer filling the tank, doing the miles towing, and then refill to get actual mileage.

[Crispie0206]

I'm gonna have to do a lot of looking and research before October. We have a trip to pigeon forge area planned. We have several other trips planned as well but they are all in flat areas and not as far.

[bikendan]

Yep, with a naturally aspirated v-6 and 3.21 rear end, no wonder you're unhappy towing.
The only v-6 I would tow with, is the 3.5 Ecoboost and at least a 3.55 or 3.73 rear end.
I have a F150 3.5 Ecoboost v-6 with the Max Tow package/3.73 rear end and I get 10-11mpg towing a similar sized TT. I often get 20mpg highway too.
As was said, your payload capacity is quite decent but probably due to the lighter v-6 drivetrain. If you must stay with a Ram 1/2 ton with the 5.7 Hemi, be very careful regarding payload capacities on them. Don't be fooled by the max towing numbers.

[Crispie0206]

Anybody have the 6.4 liter hemi in the ram 2500? What kind of mileage do you get towing vs not towing anything? Thank you.

[Crispie0206]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Yep, with a naturally aspirated v-6 and 3.21 rear end, no wonder you're unhappy towing.
The only v-6 I would tow with, is the 3.5 Ecoboost and at least a 3.55 or 3.73 rear end.
I have a F150 3.5 Ecoboost v-6 with the Max Tow package/3.73 rear end and I get 10-11mpg towing a similar sized TT. I often get 20mpg highway too.
As was said, your payload capacity is quite decent but probably due to the lighter v-6 drivetrain. If you must stay with a Ram 1/2 ton with the 5.7 Hemi, be very careful regarding payload capacities on them. Don't be fooled by the max towing numbers.

Thank you.

[ncebeemer]

Originally Posted by st4

Is the truck used for a daily driver? How much do you plan to pull your camper?
The f150 with the eco boost engine would do fine with that trailer. The 3/4 would be better but if u r only using the camper occasionally I wud go with the right equipped 1/2 ton. I have driven 3/4 tons my whole life and much prefer scooting around in my 1/2 ton for my daily driving now.

X2 x 2

[tomkatb]

Technically you have the payload.

Technically perhaps the towing weight.

However. Somewhere in literature there are restrictions on towing ability for campers. Wind resistance is what is doing you in.

The SAE trailer used to test the truck resembles a road racing car like a Porsche. With minimum wind resistance.

Live with it for now.

A 2500 Ram Cummins diesel would get over 20 mpg on the highway. Big difference between 60 and 80.

We tow #13,000 Fifth wheel or so and always get 11-12 mpg.

It is the DW’s daily driver. She loves it. We thought about the 6.4 gas. The mileage is not real good.

[SlowrideHD]

I really don't like to bash anyone's choice of a truck. Everybody makes pretty good trucks once you match the correct model to your needs.
But I have seen more rust under a Dodge truck than other models. A lot depends on if you use it as a driver up north where they salt the winter roads. That being said, I've still seen more rusty Dodge trucks than any other model.

[Wedes12]

Originally Posted by Crispie0206

Anybody have the 6.4 liter hemi in the ram 2500? What kind of mileage do you get towing vs not towing anything? Thank you.

I have a 2016 6.4 2500. I have NOT pulled our new camper yet, but I did pull all our stuff across the country in a huge enclosed trailer from fort Bragg, NC to JBLM, WA for our last PCS. It pulled well and I got between 9-11 mpg. It is my everyday driver and I get 15-16 mpg normally. It’s my favorite truck I have ever owned.

[Scrapper]

I took this truck into a dealer and he said that it would handle anything on his lot. I just laughed at him as I walked out the door.

[Crispie0206]

Originally Posted by Wedes12

I have a 2016 6.4 2500. I have NOT pulled our new camper yet, but I did pull all our stuff across the country in a huge enclosed trailer from fort Bragg, NC to JBLM, WA for our last PCS. It pulled well and I got between 9-11 mpg. It is my everyday driver and I get 15-16 mpg normally. It’s my favorite truck I have ever owned.

Awesome. Thanks for the response.

[revoff1]

I have a 2019 Ram 1500, 5.7 hemi, with a 3.92 rearend, I tow a 5th wheel 9,000 lbs with no problem.

[moose074]

My Tundra, Eco Boost, Ram 2500 (6.7) and Ford F-350 SWD (6.7) all got between 9-10mpg normal towing the same trailer.

[moose074]

.

Perhaps my understanding of the chart is wrong or this is misleading information you provided

[upflying]

Originally Posted by Crispie0206

Awesome. Thanks for the response.

I bought more truck than I need just in case I buy something bigger in the future. My only regret is the Ram 2500 sure rides rough on those poorly maintained California freeways.

[CincyGus]

12 years ago I was entering my 27th year of tent camping at age 49.
Then I bought a half ton truck followed shortly by a popup. Then bought a small TT camper that was under payload and axle limits by about 250 lbs when fully loaded to camp. Towed fine most days, windy days it was a tough go sometimes. Then bought a 3/4 ton truck with 3300 lbs of payload. Then I bought a toyhauler.

Moral of this story is twofold.

One, I was happy tent camping. Wife not so much.
Two, The TT was fine until I decided I wanted a golf cart to tool around in.

PLANS CHANGE but you can see from my and others stories, there is a probability that you are likely to buy a bigger trailer down the road during the lifetime of the new truck your considering. Buying the 3/4 ton now, opens those options. and only requires you to sell your trailer and buy the new one. Buying the half ton may or may not allow you to do the same.

Whatever you decide, buy as much payload and power along with the right towing options as you can so you can hopefully keep it long enough to pay it off and drive it for a few more years without a payment!

[MT Biker]

Originally Posted by SlowrideHD

Not necessarily true at all. The correct sized engine and drivetrain may very well give a significant increase in fuel economy by letting the truck operate near torque peak at a lower rpm and less effort.

My F350 will get 18-19 mpg empty and 11-13 mpg pulling my fifth wheel. All the time, effortlessly.

Yeah, the OP needs a 1-ton diesel to tow 6000lb

[st4]

Originally Posted by MT Biker

Yeah, the OP needs a 1-ton diesel to tow 6000lb

Yeh I was thinking a semi 😁

[BM Welder]

I went from a 1/2 ton to a3/4 ton to a 1 ton single rear wheel now i'm considering a dually. Every trailer was a little bigger.