Time For A New Truck!

[Rbertalotto]

Traded in my 2006 Dodge RAM 2500 5.9 diesel with 196,790 miles for a brandie new 2018 RAM 2500 with 6.4L gasser and 12 miles!

Only have 83 miles on it so far.

Will be leaving on a long trip as soon as it has had 500 break in miles and I can start towing. Massachusetts to Oshkosh, WI.

Will be interesting to compare the 5.9 to the 6.4 during this trip.

Initial Observations:

RIDE....Not even close, this new truck is a "cadillac" ride. Even though it has nearly 1000 pounds more payload, these new coil springs really soak up the bumps

NOISE....Very strange after 12 years in a diesel...."Has the engine stalled?"..."Is this thing still running!"

POWER.....No comparison. The diesel was a beast. Ate 5.0 Mustangs for breakfast. Never down shifted. Want to pass someone. Step on the peddle, spool up turbo and ZOOOOM! The 6.4L uses its transmission. Hills take 6-5 downshift without towing (373 axle). Simply no substitute for a diesel. But I knew this.....

ROOM....Parked next to my old truck, my 2006 looked like a compact pick-up! The rear seat room in the new truck is amazing. The number of storage compartments is bordering on ridiculous. Even has two coolers in the rear floor!

MPG.....Way to early to tell, but the dash indicator is reading 18.5 average. Where I live, GAS is $2.99 a gallon and Diesel is $3.49. With a 30 gallon tank, I put $15.00 in my pocket at every fill up. My 2006 diesel averaged 16 MPG not towing and 12mpg towing. We'll see how this plays out.

AMMENITIES... My 2006 was a "FARM TRUCK"....Rubber floor mats, manual crank windows, no power door locks, no cruise...(I added all these features as aftermarket)....This new truck is a "Cowboy Cadillac"!.....All kinds of stuff to play with while barreling down the highway at 14,000 pounds and 70 mph!....Even has carpet!

Stay tuned for more updates as time allows......

Wish me luck!

 

[Explorerinil]

Congrats, you will be happy with the 6.4,it’s. Very reliable engine, my wife’s grand Cherokee art has a 6.4, it’s been problem free. The gasser will take time to get used to but you’ll like it.

 

[Gohere]

Did you have too much fun while driving your diesel? My dad's 05 averages 24 in the city 30 on the HWY. It does have a HD suncoast diesel trans, is 2WD, and he is a bit OCD about his mileage. Even when I drove it, it would regularly get 22 unburdened.

Congrats on the new truck! Seems as if the 2500 and the PW are the new staples for non-hardcore off-roading. I am a huge fan of these trucks, I drive an 09 1500, very stock, unfortunately I have decided it is too big and too nice to take on the Alabama trails, so I will be getting a Nissan Xterra.

What are your plans for it? These trucks have great aftermarket support.

 

[Betarocker]

Does it come with Preparation H, or do you supply your own? You want to deal with Hemi's early.

Nice truck, but white? Who would get a white truck?

 

[Martinjmpr]

I'd be curious to know how your actual MPG is vs what's on the dash. 18mpg in a 3/4 ton gasser is hard to believe unless you're strictly doing freeway driving.

There's a part of me that really wants to get an overbuilt 3/4 ton as a tow vehicle but the more rational part of me understands that a 1/2 ton would be more than adequate.

Does yours have the dial 4wd control or the by-god lever on the floor? I think that only comes on the Power Wagon and the Tradesman (base model) package.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

I'd be curious to know how your actual MPG is vs what's on the dash. 18mpg in a 3/4 ton gasser is hard to believe unless you're strictly doing freeway driving.

There's a part of me that really wants to get an overbuilt 3/4 ton as a tow vehicle but the more rational part of me understands that a 1/2 ton would be more than adequate.

Does yours have the dial 4wd control or the by-god lever on the floor? I think that only comes on the Power Wagon and the Tradesman (base model) package.

On the other hand you get guys replying that their unicorn diesek gets 25city and 30hwy lol.

 

[Gohere]

On the other hand you get guys replying that their unicorn diesek gets 25city and 30hwy lol.

Cruise at 68 and the engine spins at 1200 rpm on the highway. I did mention that my dad was crazy about his MPG. This is what a 4 mile commute with an average speed of 55 mph and only 2 stop lights, as well as occasional cross town trips on the highway at the aforementioned speed. This is before all of the exhaust restrictions came to the trucks. Granted I'm not here to convince you.

Regardless, 16 mpg in a pre-restriction Cummins diesel is fairly poor. That's why I asked about how much fun he had driving, maybe some stop light drag racing, maybe some trail time. And of course we are on a forum mostly for 4x4s, so maybe the 4x4 with all the added weight and poorer aerodynamics could have been the reason.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

Cruise at 68 and the engine spins at 1200 rpm on the highway. I did mention that my dad was crazy about his MPG. This is what a 4 mile commute with an average speed of 55 mph and only 2 stop lights, as well as occasional cross town trips on the highway at the aforementioned speed. This is before all of the exhaust restrictions came to the trucks. Granted I'm not here to convince you.

So you would classify him as a hypermiler? I've just had all the big diesels pre and post emission and never averaged over 20 mpg even if I was trying, and that's in Oklahoma, the flattest place on Earth. I guess you could get to those numbers if it was a side hobby of sorts.

 

[Gohere]

So you would classify him as a hypermiler? I've just had all the big diesels pre and post emission and never averaged over 20 mpg even if I was trying, and that's in Oklahoma, the flattest place on Earth. I guess you could get to those numbers if it was a side hobby of sorts.

Yes, I would classify him as a hypermiler. How many of your trucks were 2wd?

 

[jaxyaks]

I have about 75K experience with the 2500 6.4 I had a 2014 until I traded for different truck. You can actually get close to 20MPG on the open rd if you watch your speed and RPM. Once it shuts down half the cylinders you can get decent flat ground towing. Mine had the 4:10 Gears. Mileage will drop in town I usually was around 14-16 (Atlanta stop go). Towing you will see the mileage drop to 12 or under with any sort of load or wind drag. Mine was reliable with no issues. Maintenance intervals are decent and not too expensive for a 3/4 ton. If you are a high mileage driver or tend to keep vehicles for a long time, the Maxcare warranty may be a good idea, they don't offer it on the diesels but it is available for the 6.4.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

Yes, I would classify him as a hypermiler. How many of your trucks were 2wd?

None

 

[plainjaneFJC]

I have about 75K experience with the 2500 6.4 I had a 2014 until I traded for different truck. You can actually get close to 20MPG on the open rd if you watch your speed and RPM. Once it shuts down half the cylinders you can get decent flat ground towing. Mine had the 4:10 Gears. Mileage will drop in town I usually was around 14-16 (Atlanta stop go). Towing you will see the mileage drop to 12 or under with any sort of load or wind drag. Mine was reliable with no issues. Maintenance intervals are decent and not too expensive for a 3/4 ton. If you are a high mileage driver or tend to keep vehicles for a long time, the Maxcare warranty may be a good idea, they don't offer it on the diesels but it is available for the 6.4.

That's a pretty good report on the 6.4! Rams are decent trucks, not sure why they don't offer a rear e-locker like the Fords in the 3/4 and 1 tons.

 

[Dalko43]

OP, good-looking truck!

Keep us posted.

 

[Gohere]

None

I would say, between hypermiler and 2wd, there is the difference.

 

[Kingsize24]

Congratulations! Great looking truck! My Hemi 2500 has been great as well. I have about 30K on it with zero issues. Oil changes are cheap, and the mileage average has been between 14.8 and 16.1 for the duration of ownership depending on usage for that time period. I've been letting the dealer service this one due to having the Max Care Unlimited Mileage Warranty on it and my wifes Chrysler 300.
https://www.chryslerwarrantys.com/lifetime_warranty.cfm