Semi urgent truck selection help needed

[ripperj]

I’m a Ram guy, I need to buy a Ram crew cab 3500/4500/5500 In the next few weeks.

Gasser 4x4. Not towing much, maybe 6k cargo trailer. Not up mountains normally.


Either no bed, just 4” square structural tubing bolted to the bed, or a flat bed with boxes underneath



The truck will haul , semi permanently a flatbed truck camper, which wet will be 4500#
I want to be able to load up the boxes with everything under the sun, and haul a motorcycle on a rack.

Looking at Trademans with rubber floor, but i like the safety package

6.4l Hemi
Aisin as66rc had tranny

4.44 or 4.89.??? (37” max tires, probably 34/35”)

Dual 220amp alternator

52 and 22 gal fuel tanks

What’s the down side of going big? Huge stiff spring pack , crappy ride unloaded, more reg fees based on gvrw.??

I’m thinking of adding a kelderman, any dealers sell it installed?


Thoughts?


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[GeorgeHayduke]

Make sure you can get insurance if you go with a chassis cab, a lot of providers may require a commercial policy. 4500# is well within the payload of a gasser dually 3500 pickup, are you sure you need something bigger?

 

[ripperj]

Insurance is weird to insure a flatbed or no bed.
I have to provide a specific vin to get a quote, she said most guys go to the dealer and keep trying vins on the lot.. makes no sense. I tried my 2500 and insurance was a no go if I took the bed off.


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[john61ct]

I need to safely pull a 15,000# boat trailer over the Rockies, into Mexico, up to Alaska

do **not** want diesel

not commercial, shorter better than longer

Didn't even know RAM had big gassers, was looking at Kodiak or TopKick 4500s with 8.1L

under $20K?

Suggestions appreciated

 

[okto]

I don’t know if you can get the larger fuel tanks with the hemi.

 

[Rovertrader]

Typically 4500/5500 require a commercial insurance policy, though I'm guessing that varies state to state.
Conversely a 3500 cab/chassis gets classified as personal use under typical consumer policy- and yes, the GVW is considerably higher on a straight frame 350/3500 cab/chassis though the ride suffers accordingly until loaded.

 

[deserteagle56]

I need to safely pull a 15,000# boat trailer over the Rockies, into Mexico, up to Alaska

do **not** want diesel

You will **not** be happy pulling 15,000 lbs any distance with a gas engine. When you factor in the weight of the truck - ~8000 lb - you are talking about moving 23,000 lb. Been there, done that.

 

[john61ct]

You will **not** be happy pulling 15,000 lbs any distance with a gas engine. Been there, done that.

Even the Chevy 8.1L in say a 5500??

 

[john61ct]

Typically 4500/5500 require a commercial insurance policy, though I'm guessing that varies state to state

Yes everything to do with insurance does.

Mobile Home title can prevent a CDL requirement, VT is easy to get mail order for a conversion no inspection required.

Commercial for personal use is lots more expensive than RV insurance, the latter can be found if you have flexibility about legal domicile / "garaged" location.

 

[ripperj]

If I go with a flat bed I’m stuck going commercial anyway. Once the camper is mated permanently to the truck, I can go Rv

This is USAA commercial but under written by Progressive, for the RV part

I currently have Progressive policy on my truck camper, initialed by my USAA rep, it could not have been more painless or simple. And imho cheap. I think it was under $170/yr for complete replacement


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[john61ct]

If I go with a flat bed I’m stuck going commercial anyway. Once the camper is mated permanently to the truck, I can go Rv

Maybe for insurance, your options depend on the state and often agent involved

but not wrt titling / registration.

Going the VT route you can legally turn any vehicle at all afaik into a MH.

 

[CFMGarage]

Even the Chevy 8.1L in say a 5500??

If you have a choice, there might be a better tool for the job (diesel). Especially if you will be constantly towing that heavy of a load. This advice might be a bit dated now though with current prices, it would take a lot of tanks full of diesel to make up cost differences. A 5500 means you have a better chance of getting lower gearing which the gas engine would benefit from.

 

[1000arms]

I need to safely pull a 15,000# boat trailer over the Rockies, into Mexico, up to Alaska

do **not** want diesel

not commercial, shorter better than longer

Didn't even know RAM had big gassers, was looking at Kodiak or TopKick 4500s with 8.1L

under $20K?

Suggestions appreciated

The Ford 6.2L gas engine with 4.30 gearing should be rated to pull around 15,000 pounds (at least in the pickups). The recent 7.3L gas engine with 4.30 gearing should be rated to pull around 20,000 pounds (at least with DRW pickups).

Ford uses the 7.3L gas engine as the standard engine in the F-750.

 

[ripperj]

If anyone cares

I pic up the truck tomorrow (site unseen)



New 2021 Ram 3500 crew cab 4x4 longbed SRW, gasser (6.4 Hemi)

Billet Silver with black cloth interior


Just showed up on a lot under an hour away, build date 8/2021

If I I was to order from the factory, there are only three things I would have done different . I would have not have ordered the chrome group(bumpers) , I would not have added the carpets., but I would have added the safety group( all the big brother stuff that would bail you out if you fall sleep while driving)

It has
4x4 with a manual transfer case- a real lever with an actual knob on the end that actually moves gears… (language removed by admin).

6.4 Hemi with 8 speed auto

4:10 gears with either or both limited slip(front??) and locking rear differential. It’s lists both under the packages the truck has, but I’m assuming worst case it has limited slip in the rear(it says mechanical) vice antilock brake bull crap. But it does say limited slip on the window sticker , but locking differential on one of the packages)

Dual 380 amp total alternator

Somewhere between 50 and 87 gallons of gas(Ram build site shows no info and kid at dealer doesn’t know( it’s a gas tank kid, crawl under and count to one or two)


Snow plow and cold weather prep stuff

Rubber mats

Should be perfect,(it will turn out that steering wheels are optional or something

I’ll post real pics tomorrow


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[Buddha.]

If anyone cares

I pic up the truck tomorrow (site unseen)



New 2021 Ram 3500 crew cab 4x4 longbed SRW, gasser (6.4 Hemi)

Billet Silver with black cloth interior


Just showed up on a lot under an hour away, build date 8/2021

If I I was to order from the factory, there are only three things I would have done different . I would have not have ordered the chrome group(bumpers) , I would not have added the carpets., but I would have added the safety group( all the big brother stuff that would bail you out if you fall sleep while driving)

It has
4x4 with a manual transfer case- a real lever with an actual knob on the end that actually moves gears… if the fricken lever is really connected to a switch, I’m taking it out and shoving it up the sale kids ass.

6.4 Hemi with 8 speed auto

4:10 gears with either or both limited slip(front??) and locking rear differential. It’s lists both under the packages the truck has, but I’m assuming worst case it has limited slip in the rear(it says mechanical) vice antilock brake bull crap. But it does say limited slip on the window sticker , but locking differential on one of the packages)

Dual 380 amp total alternator

Somewhere between 50 and 87 gallons of gas(Ram build site shows no info and kid at dealer doesn’t know( it’s a gas tank kid, crawl under and count to one or two)


Snow plow and cold weather prep stuff

Rubber mats

Should be perfect,(it will turn out that steering wheels are optional or something

I’ll post real pics tomorrow


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I think the dual tanks is on the diesel chassis cab. I could be wrong though.