I am looking at moving from my 2018 3500 DCSB with a Cummins 6.7 to a 2023 350 dually crew cab with a Hemi. I will be using it to carry a Northern Lite 8-11 while flat towing my Jeep Gladiator. My Cummings handles this load effortlessly, any experience in how well the Hemi would handle this load. The camper plus gear is near 4500 pounds and the Gladiator is about 6000 so well inside the trucks capacity my concern is strictly power.
2023 Ram 3500 dually
- Thread starter wild1
- Start date
Good point! I have been thinking more in terms of getting up the grades but what goes up must come down and an engine brake is hard to beat.
deserteagle56
Adventurer
Going up any kind of grade pulling all that weight the hemi will be turning 4000+ rpm and mileage will be in the single digits. If you're good with listening to the engine scream and watching your fuel gauge drop then go for it.
I have both a gas-powered one-ton and a dually with the Cummins. Pulling with the Cummins is a non-issue...just another drive. Pulling with the gas engine is nerve-wracking in comparison.
I have both a gas-powered one-ton and a dually with the Cummins. Pulling with the Cummins is a non-issue...just another drive. Pulling with the gas engine is nerve-wracking in comparison.
TexasSixSeven
Observer
Mileage will be in the single digits pulling those grades regardless of engine choice. The difference is still noticeable. Like the poster above said the lack of engine braking would be my biggest concern. It’ll still handle it just fine, but it’ll require a lot more attention and strategy to not overheat the brakes vs just letting the motor eat with the Cummins.
TexasSixSeven
Observer
OP if you’re fine babysitting the truck on the downhill side of steep passes then the gasser would be adequate. However if you want to turn the engine brake on and forget it then the Cummins is still the answer. Mileage will suck with both, but not near as bad with the diesel. However higher fuel cost will offset a good portion of that fuel economy savings.
ramblinChet
Well-known member
It's nice to see someone selecting a dually 3500 that is designed to handle that sort of load although the 6.4L Hemi may or may not be the best engine.
Another important consideration is how often do you plan on hauling that load and how frequently do you find yourself in the mountains? If you are only going to tow a half-dozen weekends per year and you only occasionally travel in the mountains you still may be able to get by with the Hemi. When performing research for my current build I spoke with full time travelers with gas engines and diesels. They made it clear that there was a night and day difference climbing, and especially descending, mountains while hauling a load.
If you are planning to travel full time and you spend a significant amount of time in the mountains the 6.7L Cummins is clearly the best and safest choice. I wanted the Cummins but I am only carrying a 1-ton pop-up camper and my intentions are to explore central and south America in a few years. There is no ultra-low sulfur diesel down there and unfortunately no support for modern diesel engines with Tier IV emissions.
Keep us posted and happy trails!
Another important consideration is how often do you plan on hauling that load and how frequently do you find yourself in the mountains? If you are only going to tow a half-dozen weekends per year and you only occasionally travel in the mountains you still may be able to get by with the Hemi. When performing research for my current build I spoke with full time travelers with gas engines and diesels. They made it clear that there was a night and day difference climbing, and especially descending, mountains while hauling a load.
If you are planning to travel full time and you spend a significant amount of time in the mountains the 6.7L Cummins is clearly the best and safest choice. I wanted the Cummins but I am only carrying a 1-ton pop-up camper and my intentions are to explore central and south America in a few years. There is no ultra-low sulfur diesel down there and unfortunately no support for modern diesel engines with Tier IV emissions.
Keep us posted and happy trails!
Thanks for all of the great input. I ran anF350/v-10 for over a decade and I still remember doing 40 miles per hour on the climbs at 4000 rpm’s and it wasn’t relaxing. I love my current truck and the Cummings but it is at its max load capacity with my setup and I would like a little more safety margin. We travel a lot and most of it is in the high mountains of the west. I think I will stick with the Cummings and just grin and bear the added cost.😎
UglyViking
Well-known member
If for no other reason, the resale on a dually with the hemi is gonna be basically worthless. The market for that buyer has got to be slim.
For the amount of weight and towing you plan to do, I'd go Cummins without a second thought. You could do it with the hemi for sure, but you're not gonna be thrilled with it.
Also, I'll be that guy and say it's "Cummins" not "Cummings" (no g).
For the amount of weight and towing you plan to do, I'd go Cummins without a second thought. You could do it with the hemi for sure, but you're not gonna be thrilled with it.
Also, I'll be that guy and say it's "Cummins" not "Cummings" (no g).
