Sell me on RAM

[Satchamo]

Hello - first time poster.

I’m on the market for a new full size truck. But if background on me and my lifestyle.

I’m a 33 yr old father of 2. I’m 6’4” with the wingspan of an eagle. I currently drive an 08 Sierra crew that’s been a decent truck. I’m about to hit the 200k mark on it. The only major issue it has is rust. You could fit your fists through my fender wells currently. Every GM I’ve owned rusts and I don’t even live in the north. I’m in southern Indiana where we have mild winters. Also the truck eats oil due to the faulty *** AFM on the GMs of that generation.

I’m a big time bowhunter so this truck will see the dirt. But it will spend the vast majority of its time on highway and city miles. I do a lot of cross country hunts out west so MPG is extremely important. But first and foremost reliability is my number one concern. I plan on keep this next truck for as long as my old which was roughly 8 years. I don’t buy vehicles for vanity and to keep up with the Jones’s. I buy it to use and haul my family so this is an investment for me. It’s worth noting I’m still in the research phase and haven’t driven anything as I plan to purchase in the summer.

I occasionally pull a pop up camper and trailer but I’m by no means towing anything big. I can foresee us getting a bigger travel trailer but nothing huge.

So here’s where I’m at currently. I was almost 100% sold on the f150 up until about 2 days ago. I loved the MPG of the 2.7, the aluminum everything so rust isn’t a concern, and the general track record and commonality of the truck. I felt it was probably my best bet for a truck that would last.

I’ve admittedly hated the rams of the past. I never liked their styling and the interiors were cheap and quite frankly I’ve heard they were the worst truck as far as reliability. BUT then 2019 came and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I loved the styling but it was still just a RAM. So anyways I went down a rabbit hole of reviews and YouTube videos of the 2019 or newer rams and I’m sold in the truck from a style, fit, and pricing. Really seems like you get more bang for your buck on the RAM.

This would be my ideal truck as of now:

Ram 1500
5.7 L
Crew cab
4WD
Big horn package
LED lights (makes the truck look so much better)
Sport appearance
20 in wheels

SO with that long winded intro out of the way - here are my questions-

-what is the real world mileage for you guys? I plan to put on BFG ATs or a similar 10 ply tire but won’t be lifting

-how reliable are these trucks? Are there any common issues? Anything I should lookout for?

-i was going to forgo etorq- good or bad idea?

-is air suspension worth it?

-would you buy a ram over an f150 if you planned to use it as a family vehicle and plan to drive the wheels off of it?

 

[moparleo51]

seems to me like what you choose is good, but i would get it with the off road package, that way you have the nice ride and still some nice light off road capabilities,. will work well for what your looking for.

 

[SpeedyV]

Hello - first time poster.

I’m on the market for a new full size truck. But if background on me and my lifestyle.

I’m a 33 yr old father of 2. I’m 6’4” with the wingspan of an eagle. I currently drive an 08 Sierra crew that’s been a decent truck. I’m about to hit the 200k mark on it. The only major issue it has is rust. You could fit your fists through my fender wells currently. Every GM I’ve owned rusts and I don’t even live in the north. I’m in southern Indiana where we have mild winters. Also the truck eats oil due to the faulty *** AFM on the GMs of that generation.

I’m a big time bowhunter so this truck will see the dirt. But it will spend the vast majority of its time on highway and city miles. I do a lot of cross country hunts out west so MPG is extremely important. But first and foremost reliability is my number one concern. I plan on keep this next truck for as long as my old which was roughly 8 years. I don’t buy vehicles for vanity and to keep up with the Jones’s. I buy it to use and haul my family so this is an investment for me. It’s worth noting I’m still in the research phase and haven’t driven anything as I plan to purchase in the summer.

I occasionally pull a pop up camper and trailer but I’m by no means towing anything big. I can foresee us getting a bigger travel trailer but nothing huge.

So here’s where I’m at currently. I was almost 100% sold on the f150 up until about 2 days ago. I loved the MPG of the 2.7, the aluminum everything so rust isn’t a concern, and the general track record and commonality of the truck. I felt it was probably my best bet for a truck that would last.

I’ve admittedly hated the rams of the past. I never liked their styling and the interiors were cheap and quite frankly I’ve heard they were the worst truck as far as reliability. BUT then 2019 came and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I loved the styling but it was still just a RAM. So anyways I went down a rabbit hole of reviews and YouTube videos of the 2019 or newer rams and I’m sold in the truck from a style, fit, and pricing. Really seems like you get more bang for your buck on the RAM.

This would be my ideal truck as of now:

Ram 1500
5.7 L
Crew cab
4WD
Big horn package
LED lights (makes the truck look so much better)
Sport appearance
20 in wheels

SO with that long winded intro out of the way - here are my questions-

-what is the real world mileage for you guys? I plan to put on BFG ATs or a similar 10 ply tire but won’t be lifting

-how reliable are these trucks? Are there any common issues? Anything I should lookout for?

-i was going to forgo etorq- good or bad idea?

-is air suspension worth it?

-would you buy a ram over an f150 if you planned to use it as a family vehicle and plan to drive the wheels off of it?

- You should go to fuelly.com to check out real-world mileage. It varies a lot by trim (weight) and axle ratio (3.21 vs. 3.92 for the HEMI). Fuelly won't show the axle ratio, but those are real-world numbers. My signature has a link.
- There are a few common issues, but nothing that "dominates" the conversation or is guaranteed to cause a problem. Ensure you don't have a leak at the rear window or CHMSL.
- I have eTorque. I'd get it again. But it's not a deal-breaker either way.
- The coils ride very nicely. But the air suspension is awesome for auto-leveling, raising and lowering, and handling really big impacts. The only downsides to air are increased complexity and decreased payload. I'd definitely get this option again.
- I'd have to evaluate the refreshed F-150 to properly answer this question. But the interior of the Ram (including the backseat legroom and reclining seats on the upper trims) is just outstanding. So if "family vehicle" includes the possibility of driving it cross-country, then the Ram offers a compelling package.

(FYI: I sold a 2003 GMC Sierra 1500HD SLT Quadrasteer that was loaded and tuned by Black Bear for this Ram. Until the 5th-gen came out, I just wasn't interested in anything being offered by the 'big three'.)

 

[Keezer]

-would you buy a ram over an f150 if you planned to use it as a family vehicle and plan to drive the wheels off of it?

Tough call, we were all set on a F150, so close. The Ram was finished better and the bottom line at the time was the the dealer wanted to sell the Ram while the Ford dealer only could come up with wow the Ram guys really discount those trucks.

Ram rides great and looks good not to mention at the time a loaded Laramie (ordered 4x4, CC all but MFT and air suspension) was negotiated 5k less than a loaded Lariat (Dec 2019). Not a daily driver though, road trips only and so far its been flawless.

 

[silver billet]

I would get the manually locking diff. There are 3 options here, open diff, manually locking diff, and an "anti spin" diff which locks up automatically when needed. For most people the consensus seems to be to get the auto locking, but if you're going to offroad a lot then the manual locking is a better option. I believe when you get the manual locker though, you lose out on "4 auto" which is a really really nice feature for winter driving.

I'm not loyal to Ram, I go where the value is, and when I bought my truck it was significantly cheaper and quality (to my mind) is equivalent among all big trucks, with Toyota the exception; but those trucks are so old it's like buying a brand new 2008 model. So you pick your poison, the big 3 all have their own type of problems at this point.

I've gotten 24 mpg on the highway, but for mainly rural winter usage (remote start idling etc) I see about 18 mpg. The GM 5.3 will be better on gas, as will the 2.7 turbo. If you're not pulling much, you could consider the 2.7 but then I believe you can't get a true 4x4 low speed transfer case with the 2.7.

GM is playing stupid games with their drivetrains, and I hate those games and won't play it. I couldn't get what I wanted at the time (6.2 with 10 speed) in any trim approaching reasonable costs so I told them to take a hike and went with Ram instead. No regrets so far.

We have leaking rear window issues with the Ram as well, though judging by the huge page on the GM forum it's worse there.

We have the hated (by some) MDS issue (4 cylinder mode), but on Ram's you get to turn it off whereas on GM you're stuck with the DFM system.

Take one for a drive, you'll probably fall in love like I did.

Edit: for your usage, I would go for the 3.21 rear end as that gets you the highest MPG on the highway and you don't intent to tow heavy. 3.21's are by far the most common, but dealers do stock 3.92's so just be careful there.

 

[grimreefer]

I believe when you get the manual locker though, you lose out on "4 auto"

Nope. Got both.

 

[JJRamTX]

You won't be disappointed with either truck. If you add the Air suspension and the eTorque, your towing (when you do) will be easier and less stressful and you will have a more comfortable vehicle for hauling the kids, cargo and smoother ride. If you go with the Ram I would get the eTorque, Air Suspension and the Pano Roof so the kids in the back seat also have a view. I am driving the wheels off of my 2019 Limited (45,400 Miles now) and Towing lots (Over 18,000 miles towing) to boot. Does the fuel economy suck worse than the Ford, yes. But my smiles make up for the miles difference. I am averaging around 15.6 MPG without taking it that easy, and around 8.8-9.5 MPG While towing 4,000 - 9,300 Lbs (Snowmobiles, Razor 4 XP 1000, Boat, other trailers, etc...)

 

[Satchamo]

Another question- is it possible to get the led housings that match the stock offering for the headlights and taillights after the fact? I’m looking at slightly used models (20k or less mpg) and not seeing lots with LEDs in my area nor lots with the sports package.

Not opposed to new - just setting my bar with the used first then I’ll explore new.

 

[RockYacht2020]

Hello - first time poster.

I’m on the market for a new full size truck. But if background on me and my lifestyle.

I’m a 33 yr old father of 2. I’m 6’4” with the wingspan of an eagle. I currently drive an 08 Sierra crew that’s been a decent truck. I’m about to hit the 200k mark on it. The only major issue it has is rust. You could fit your fists through my fender wells currently. Every GM I’ve owned rusts and I don’t even live in the north. I’m in southern Indiana where we have mild winters. Also the truck eats oil due to the faulty *** AFM on the GMs of that generation.

I’m a big time bowhunter so this truck will see the dirt. But it will spend the vast majority of its time on highway and city miles. I do a lot of cross country hunts out west so MPG is extremely important. But first and foremost reliability is my number one concern. I plan on keep this next truck for as long as my old which was roughly 8 years. I don’t buy vehicles for vanity and to keep up with the Jones’s. I buy it to use and haul my family so this is an investment for me. It’s worth noting I’m still in the research phase and haven’t driven anything as I plan to purchase in the summer.

I occasionally pull a pop up camper and trailer but I’m by no means towing anything big. I can foresee us getting a bigger travel trailer but nothing huge.

So here’s where I’m at currently. I was almost 100% sold on the f150 up until about 2 days ago. I loved the MPG of the 2.7, the aluminum everything so rust isn’t a concern, and the general track record and commonality of the truck. I felt it was probably my best bet for a truck that would last.

I’ve admittedly hated the rams of the past. I never liked their styling and the interiors were cheap and quite frankly I’ve heard they were the worst truck as far as reliability. BUT then 2019 came and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I loved the styling but it was still just a RAM. So anyways I went down a rabbit hole of reviews and YouTube videos of the 2019 or newer rams and I’m sold in the truck from a style, fit, and pricing. Really seems like you get more bang for your buck on the RAM.

This would be my ideal truck as of now:

Ram 1500
5.7 L
Crew cab
4WD
Big horn package
LED lights (makes the truck look so much better)
Sport appearance
20 in wheels

SO with that long winded intro out of the way - here are my questions-

-what is the real world mileage for you guys? I plan to put on BFG ATs or a similar 10 ply tire but won’t be lifting

-how reliable are these trucks? Are there any common issues? Anything I should lookout for?

-i was going to forgo etorq- good or bad idea?

-is air suspension worth it?

-would you buy a ram over an f150 if you planned to use it as a family vehicle and plan to drive the wheels off of it?

Agree on the ORP mentioned above. A little protection underneath is never a bad thing if you're off-roading out west, even if it's just forest roads. If you don't need the 3.92, your mileage is much better with the 3.21 ratio. I have a Rebel with 33" AT tires and the 3.92 (and a bit of extra armor underneath and a winch and Gucci seat covers and...you get the picture; it all adds up), and get real-world MPG of around 14.5, some of that's towing my little RTT trailer (1500 lbs loaded). I towed around a Conqueror (3500 lbs) for a few days and averaged around 13 on/off road. I don't have the eTorque, and don't know that it's amazing enough to be essential or terrible enough to be a deal-breaker, so find out what's available. Air suspension is sweet, but pricy in my opinion if you're not towing that much or that often; just another thing to fail sooner than coils. And you'll see MDS and the lifters as one of the big hitters for "issues" with the engine, but I'm one of those that says "they built it that way, so I'm gonna run the truck as intended and let FCA deal with it if something happens." That's what warranties are for (another hot button item in this forum).

RAM still looks better than anything out there (all opinion, of course) and has a much nicer interior finish than anything else out there, even Toyota. Go test drive one. You'll see. Like any forum, you'll find a heavy list of complaints, but it's a small percentage of owners. I think most of us love it.

 

[devildodge]

I believe when you get the manual locker though, you lose out on "4 auto" which is a really really nice feature for winter driving.

I see this was already answered but felt like replying.

The only way to not get 4 auto is with a Tradesman. The Rebel now also offers the 4 auto.

You can get the eLocker as a standalone item or as part if the Offroad group. If you get it as standalone...only available as 3.92. If you get it as part of the ORG you can get 3.21 or 3.92.

The part time case in the Tradesman and REBEL is much better for extended offroad use. But since you do not seem to be planning a Tradesman or REBEL you will be getting the auto. You just have to be careful when using it in constant low traction as it will overheat the clutches.

Beat deal would be a Bighorn ORG. But a Laramie Sport ORG is a sexy capable beast.

 

[Drewster]

I get about 17-18mpg on my super short commute to work (my old 04 Hemi got ~12 mpg on the same route), low 20's just putting around and not hauling on the highway, and about 13 towing my race car on an open trailer (~6k lbs)

-how reliable are these trucks?
Hard to say - on a new generation truck, some of that new stuff may prove problematic, but the tried and true heart of it - the Hemi, the ZF transmission, etc. have all been refined in different models over decades. There are always exceptions, but one of my favorite things is how the Hemi is still a very simple V8 - it's still port injected, MDS was refined since the last generation, spark plugs have a longer interval, etc.... it's a really nice example of what 17 years of constant improvement can do.

-i was going to forgo etorq- good or bad idea?
Depends on your driving. My main commute is really short, so eTorque makes a HUGE (18 vs 12 MPG) difference. If you mostly drive on the highway, you probably won't see the benefits as much.

-is air suspension worth it?
Absolutely. It rides like a cloud, doesn't squat when you haul cargo, and lets you have a small lift on occasion when you need it. I figured it was going to be helpful, but it quickly became one of my favorite parts of this truck.

-would you buy a ram over an f150 if you planned to use it as a family vehicle and plan to drive the wheels off of it?
Yup - I certainly did. I really love the capability of the F150, but for something that needs to feel nice, ride nice, and get good mileage for the vast majority of my driving, the Ram just does a phenomenal job. The current DT generation really makes the F150 seem more like a work truck. [Edit] I'll also add that everyone told me my 04 Hemi was going to explode - the trans was going to fail, valve springs would fail, valve seats would fail, you name it.. However, I drove that thing from 99 to 140k miles without any major issues - it hauled rocks, cars, and ran like a champ until I traded it in. I had to do suspension maintenance shortly after 100k, and the Chrysler plastic didn't seem to like Texas heat (had a door from the HVAC system break internally).. but all I ever really did was fix wear and tear. If this truck wears the same or better, I'll be happy [/Edit]

 

[mikeru82]

I'm not here to try to sell you on anything. My advice is to drive examples of each and base your decision on those experiences. From your into it sounds like any full sized truck will work for you. All manufacturers build trucks which can have problems. I'm not brand loyal to Ram or any other brand. When I decide to buy a new vehicle I drive everything I can and make my decision based on that. Anyone can say anything online. Trust your own instincts.

 

[HeliPilot]

at 32,000 miles, I traded my 2017 Raptor in on a 2019 Ram Limited 2 years ago. Sitting at 40,000 miles on the RAM and not planning on getting rid of it anytime soon. I much prefer the throttle response and smoothness of the tranny in my Ram vs the twin turbo 3.5 in the Raptor. Its more predictable in how it behaves during daily commutes. Is it as quick? Nope, but I don't care. And the interior of my truck is simply the best interior I've ever had in any vehicle I've owned. My truck has never had warranty work done outside of recalls that were performed during regular oil changes. Others have had different experiences than mine. But thats true across all brands.

 

[SpeedyV]

Another question- is it possible to get the led housings that match the stock offering for the headlights and taillights after the fact? I’m looking at slightly used models (20k or less mpg) and not seeing lots with LEDs in my area nor lots with the sports package.

Not opposed to new - just setting my bar with the used first then I’ll explore new.

Yes—but you'll pay at least twice as much for them as you would to get an option that includes them. You might need to order exactly what you want unless you can get a screaming deal off the lot.

 

[kysourmash]

I was in a similar situation.

I scratched the Ford off early on as the early production issues scared me away. I was never even able to bring myself to test drive one.

2021 Ford F-150 faces early quality issues as delivery delays mount

Ford's overhauled 2021 F-150 launch has reportedly been plagued by early quality issues reminiscent of those that crept up during the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator launches last year.

www.google.com

 

[Granite2WD]

I think you picked the right truck the first time with the 2.7 Ford. If you don't care about how the truck looks and more care about MPG, reliability, and rust, the Ford is better than the Ram at all three. If you care more about ride quality, interior, and value, go for the Ram.

 

[Drewster]

I think you picked the right truck the first time with the 2.7 Ford. If you don't care about how the truck looks and more care about MPG, reliability, and rust, the Ford is better than the Ram at all three. If you care more about ride quality, interior, and value, go for the Ram.

Curious to see your source on this. When I was poking through F150 issues, there were cam phaser problems, oil building up in charge pipes, and (on pre '17 refresh EB trucks) typical direct injection issues. With the Hemi, there are a handful of people with issues related to the (new) eTorque system... but most of the issues are related to the first generation or the (no longer produced) Chrysler RFE transmission.

 

[LaxDfns15]

Don't buy a Hemi for MPG's. The heavier you make the truck, the more it's going to sit in the low to mid teens for MPG.

Here's what sold me on the Ram over others:

1. Entertainment system. Nothing else compares, except maybe now Ford's is getting close. When I was looking they weren't.
2. Interior room. I'm a normal 5'10", but my 3 year old is 3.5 feet tall, and my wife is 6 foot. Trying to fit him in a car seat behind her seat and have them both be comfortable was tough. He can't even touch her seat in the Ram.
3. Styling. I hated the earlier Rebels, I love the 2019+. This thing just looks mean.
4. Ride comfort. Drive a Ram over bumps, then immediately go drive a leaf spring truck over the same bumps. This is the most comfortable truck I've ever driven.
5. Roughly 10% cheaper than a similarly equipped F-150 because it doesn't have FORD plastered all over it.

To answer your questions:

-what is the real world mileage for you guys? I plan to put on BFG ATs or a similar 10 ply tire but won’t be lifting. 17/15 hwy/city in summer, -1 mpg in winter. You can see my mods in my sig.

-how reliable are these trucks? Are there any common issues? Anything I should lookout for? I was wary of Ram's reliability until I read up on the ZF8 trans. I heard horrors about Ford's 10 speed.

-i was going to forgo etorq- good or bad idea? I opted out as to me it was just another thing to cause issues.

-is air suspension worth it? Same as above. I have Timber Grove air bags for my air suspension needs.

-would you buy a ram over an f150 if you planned to use it as a family vehicle and plan to drive the wheels off of it? This is exactly why I bought the truck. I had my Titan for 12 years and only upgraded because I needed cabin room. I plan on my son driving this truck in 13 years when he turns 16. Still chose Ram over Ford.

 

[Granite2WD]

Curious to see your source on this. When I was poking through F150 issues, there were cam phaser problems, oil building up in charge pipes, and (on pre '17 refresh EB trucks) typical direct injection issues. With the Hemi, there are a handful of people with issues related to the (new) eTorque system... but most of the issues are related to the first generation or the (no longer produced) Chrysler RFE transmission.

For just engine reliability I would choose the Hemi over an EcoBoost. If you're concerned about MPG though, you likely shouldn't consider the Hemi. That leaves you with a first-gen FCA hybrid system. For your goal of keeping this truck for around 8 years, I think you would be better suited with the Ford.

If you're concerned about the reliability of everything other than the engine, Ram and FCA are the least reliable full-size trucks, in my opinion. Some would say reliability changed for the better with the 5th gen. I'd trust an F150 and Toyota for greater long term reliability.

I've owned 2 5th gen rams, and ford/chevy/toyota/nissan. I'm not brand loyal. I drive a Ram now because I think it's the best value in full-size trucks, and I enjoy the ride and huge back seat area of the crew cab.

 

[NWRogue]

My Ram is a bit more feature rich than what you are looking at. I drove a 2020 F150 Platinum on a Saturday in June, drove my 2020 Ram Limited the following day. Went home with the Ram the same day.

Mine has air ride as do all Limited, I did not drive a Ram with springs or the ORG as my wife's requirements said I was getting an optioned to the gills Limited. I think most of the reviews/comparisons that say the Ram has the better suspension are for spring trucks. For light off-road the air ride is fine, but anything more than fire roads like mine sees I think I'd rather have the springs and ORG. ORG is the only check box not checked on my build sheet.

Mine an Eco Diesel as well, so cannot speak to the Hemi or fuel economy.

I don't think you'll go wrong with either truck, so I recommend you drive both preferably on the same day or weekend so they are both fresh. Interior wise, I don't think the F150 is on the same planet as the Ram. More room, more comfortable, on long trips my wife enjoys the back seats over the front passenger, more leg room and it reclines. If you can get that in your trim level your wife/kids will thank you.

Every vehicle is going to have problems, especially at the beginning of a refresh cycle. The biggest issue I see is not really the problems but the availability of parts once the issue has been diagnosed. Not sure about other manufacturers, but you'll see quite a few threads here about people waiting for weeks for parts.