Ram 3500- 68RFE or Aisin, help me build!

[Explorerinil]

I found a 2015 Laramie 3500 crew cab gasser with 18000 miles for right at 40k. I've added an aluminum flatbed and a Bundutec camper and fully loaded, I'm 1000 pounds under max vehicle gvwr. The diesel engine option would have just about wiped out that 1000 pound difference. My purchase price was a lot cheaper as is maintenance. Im getting anywhere from 9-14 mpg depending on wind, terrain, etc.. Given im never going to pull any significant weight, the diesel with its recalls and higher maintenance costs just didn't seem worth it. Just my 2 cents FWIW.

Recalls? As in 1 (water pump), that really isn’t a big deal. My 18 f150 work vehicle has 4 piled up now.

 

[ATCws]

Thanks for the follow, hope you're enjoying the feed!

Unfortunately I don't have a build thread, one platform to keep up to date (the 'gram) is enough for me. The suspension is a carli 2.5" pin top kit and custom deavers. In a nutshell, I ordered the truck and camper. Installed the carli kit minus the deavers, and only used lift blocks as I didn't know what the final weight was going to be. With suspension installed and wheels mounted and bed removed I brought it to AT Overland so they could build out the flatbed and install the camper. Now that it's for the most part complete with all major weight changers, I loaded up for a trip and weighed it. Brought it to deaver with this info and had them make the truck level without the use of blocks. My truck isn't a common build for a carli kit and i knew it could ride better so I dropped it off at carli to have them revalve the shocks now that the weight was final and the rear springs were in. There's a couple recent videos on my instagram - I absolutely love the way it handles on and off road. To comfortably go on a spirited drive on back roads is super fun for me. I know I've scared some on coming vehicles before cresting hills or coming around corners. It's definitely not a long travel tacoma but for what my build is, it drives amazing.

You could also consider getting a single cab long bed and have a tunnel box - the one between the cab and the camper. I keep a full size spare, camping chairs, and any fun toys such as 2 inflatable SUP's, dutch oven, snow peak fire place, R/C trucks, BB Guns, etc. Most of this stuff I'd rather keep outside the cab to keep the cab clean.

thanks for the info. I'll keep carli and deaver in mind when the trucks gets bought. I'm leaning heavy towards a single cab chassis with the 143" WB and the 60" cab axle distance. Think that gives me a few more inches of bed space for getting the spare and a locker up behind the cab like you have on yours.

 

[Dalko43]

I found a 2015 Laramie 3500 crew cab gasser with 18000 miles for right at 40k. I've added an aluminum flatbed and a Bundutec camper and fully loaded, I'm 1000 pounds under max vehicle gvwr. The diesel engine option would have just about wiped out that 1000 pound difference. My purchase price was a lot cheaper as is maintenance. Im getting anywhere from 9-14 mpg depending on wind, terrain, etc.. Given im never going to pull any significant weight, the diesel with its recalls and higher maintenance costs just didn't seem worth it. Just my 2 cents FWIW.

What recalls?

Only one for the current 6.7L's that I'm aware of is the water pump recall.
There was a SCR recall, but that was for earlier model years.

 

[marshal]

I currently have 3 outstanding recalls on my truck that I have yet to get fixed, on top of the three that they already have done.

 

[Explorerinil]

I currently have 3 outstanding recalls on my truck that I have yet to get fixed, on top of the three that they already have done.

The person that brought it up said the diesel with all its recalls... there is/was 1 recall for the cummins

 

[Bayou Boy]

I found a 2015 Laramie 3500 crew cab gasser with 18000 miles for right at 40k. I've added an aluminum flatbed and a Bundutec camper and fully loaded, I'm 1000 pounds under max vehicle gvwr. The diesel engine option would have just about wiped out that 1000 pound difference. My purchase price was a lot cheaper as is maintenance. Im getting anywhere from 9-14 mpg depending on wind, terrain, etc.. Given im never going to pull any significant weight, the diesel with its recalls and higher maintenance costs just didn't seem worth it. Just my 2 cents FWIW.

For comparison, is your truck a short or long bed and what is the Cargo Rating on the yellow sticker? Mine is a short bed diesel equivalent to yours and is just under 3800#. The long beds get another 400# of GVWR.

 

[kmacafee]

The person that brought it up said the diesel with all its recalls... there is/was 1 recall for the cummins

When I was looking at the diesels earlier this year, Rams website listed 3. I’m sure they have all been resolved.

 

[kmacafee]

For comparison, is your truck a short or long bed and what is the Cargo Rating on the yellow sticker? Mine is a short bed diesel equivalent to yours and is just under 3800#. The long beds get another 400# of GVWR.

Mine is a short bed. Yellow sticker says 3950.

 

[Bayou Boy]

Mine is a short bed. Yellow sticker says 3950.

The diesel isn't as heavy as most people think. You've only got about 200# more capacity than my truck.

 

[marshal]

The person that brought it up said the diesel with all its recalls... there is/was 1 recall for the cummins

i Just meant to point out, as you already did - that all manufacturers have issues and recalls shouldnt be a measurement of the quality of the vehicle

Sell the thing, and buy the "World Class" Ford you keep talking about then! Heaven forbid a manufacture actually WANTS to fix something on a vehicle to make it safer or more reliable. They could have told you to go pound sand.

All manufactures have issues. They all seem to want to fix them, hence the recalls. Your own mentality dictates weather it is a positive or negative experience by either a victor or victim mentality state.

I've never seen someone with a truck like yours, with as many sponsors as you've had, and with as much time spent hyping it up, hate on a vehicle as much as you have as of late. My guess is you are about to switch vehicles, and want to setup the perfect scenario in which that can happen, so you can justify more mods on the next truck, and explain why the Power Wagon was junk.

JMHO.... Take that for what it's worth.

Jason

you must have me mistaken with someone else, because i haven't made any negative comments about my Power Wagon - I love the truck and ive said it time and time again. Perhaps you should take a step back

 

[plumber mike]

I have a 68RFE and I very much dislike the way it shifts. I dislike the way most 6+ speed autos shift and knew that about myself going in. I chose the 68 because it has tuning options in the aftermarket.