Sell me on RAM

[moparleo51]

well i dont know if this helps, but im in ohio, and trying to amke a deal on a new laramie,but theyare low balling my trade,. look at my signature and see if this is the kinda truck your looking for. i only have 10800 miles on it currently. so say if do trade it in i can tell you where it will be, .

 

[moparleo51]

oh and my payoff is #36000. if that helps

 

[hoodac78]

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?

Welcome to the forum! I came from a 2016 F150 Lariat with the 3.5L to my 2019 Limited 1500. I have to say I love this truck. A couple cents worth of my thoughts......if you end up going with the F150 and intend to tow anything at all, go with the 3.5L especially if you may possibly upsize your travel trailer. The power you get in the lower RPM's is very impressive. I will say that with the Ecoboost, the "Eco" part goes out the window when you tow. When my trailer was hooked up to my Ford, it got about the same MPG that my Ram presently does when I tow, which is around the 12 MPG mark. I have the 3.92 rear end in my Ram, and if I remember correctly, my F150 had the 3.55/Max Tow. Just daily driving the Ford, the fuel economy was excellent. I had the 136L tank (36 gallons approx). I did a 543 mile trip this past summer on one tank of gas through the Rockies, and still had gas left over to go further when I got to my destination.
Part of the reason I went to the Ram was for the air suspension when towing. It makes the experience really nice with the auto-leveling feature on these trucks. Your *** end is never sagging down the road when towing or when hauling something in the box. As my daily driver (not that I am driving much these days), it rides better than my Ford did, and also the turning radius is better than my Ford.
I haven't seen the interior up close on the 2021 F150's so I can't really speak to that, but I will say that my Limited absolutely blows my 2016 out of the water when it comes to interior. My Lariat Supercrew was quite spacious, but my Limited is even more so. The materials are a higher quality too.
I haven't had any issues with the rear window or my sunroof. My A/C seems to work fine too.
Ford makes a good truck, and to be honest, I'd probably buy one again in the future. Every manufacturer has their 'gremlins' and my Ford had it's share (Frozen Door Handle debacle, IWE's constantly failing). Like many posters have said, that is what warranties are for.
I know everyone has a lot of ideas, and even personal loyalties when it comes to their choice of truck, but in the end, remember it is your money and you are the one who has to be happy when you are bombing down the road in it. These damn things cost too much money to regret your purchase, so absolutely do what makes you happy! Good luck and let us know what you end up going with!
Cheers!

 

[Anchor Down]

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?

Whatever you do in buying a RAM, check the size of your gas tank on the sticker. I purchased a 2020 Dodge Ram Laramie Sport and was pissed to find out why I had to keep filling up. That's my biggest beef. Make sure it's 32 gallons. Lots of folks overlook this feature.

 

[brian42]

Just curious who bought a new bighorn - where - and what combination of techniques you used to get it. If I need to fly to save, I will. Just as a reminder - I’m not buying today. I’ll wait for a better time of the year. So I’m not sure if dodge has a “best time” or if it just varies from year to year.

Some "light" reading:

How to Get the Best Price on Your New Ram

UPDATE: I am rarely updating this anymore so some of the information may be out of date. Check the most recent comments for new information. 2/11/22 With differing degrees of work you can get a good to great price on your new truck. We will start with the discounted price on the truck and cover...

5thgenrams.com

Price negotiated from MSRP

A few members have mentioned the desire to have a price paid thread so I decided to do one and pin it here so it will be easy for everyone to find. I think the best way to make this thread is as follows: MSRP of the specific truck What Rebates and incentives were applied and $ amounts Any...

5thgenrams.com

 

[millerbjm]

I drive a 2019 Bighorn crew 4x4 6.4 bed and use it very similar to how you describe your use. I don't have any issues with the 3.21 gears or standard fuel tank and standard rear diff. I can always add airbags later if I start towing more but the basic set-up is less complex and has better payload. I feel I got a great value and will have a long lasting truck with just the right amount of creature comforts and a good payload at 1,700. I have no issue with light off-roading with this set-up.

 

[Dusty1948]

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.

There were no RFE transmissions until the 2nd generation Rams. The previous series were the A-series, RH, and then REs. The RFE versions were very reliable overall.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 03 June 2018. Now at: 045221 miles.

 

[Dusty1948]

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?

If you're concerned at all about Ram reliability, then don't buy one.

I've owned three and they are as reliable as any truck, especially when I compare to all the complaints I hear from friends and acquaintances that own GMs and Fords. It's just that Ram haters (who in my experience, most have never owned one) will remember every negative incidence attributed to Ram, but somehow manage to forget issues with their own favorite brand.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 03 June 2018. Now at: 045221 miles.

 

[jdmartin]

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?

1. I have no idea. I've never measured my mileage. I would be really surprised if it was more than 22-23 MPG and suspect it's probably 16-18 MPG. MPG should be the last question (if even a question) asked about a truck. If you need MPG then you don't need a truck. I've owned trucks of all brands my entire life and none of them have come close in MPG to any small car I've had, and that's in over a million miles of driving.

2. So far mine has been reliable. I hear a hum once in a while that sounds like an unbalanced tire that's RPM specific. I had a wet carpet on the driver's side once from the door weep holes not draining all the way. Beyond that it's been fine but I only have 17k miles on it in 2+ years.

3. Personally I would skip E-torq as it just adds one more layer of complexity to the vehicle for maybe 1-2 MPG fuel savings. Maybe.

4. I don't have air suspension so I can't compare but if you want reliability then you want less complexity. Air suspension = more complexity. I think mine rides just fine with the stock suspension, especially since I always had trucks with rear leaf spring suspension.

5. Absolutely. I buy Fords at work because we get them for fleet pricing and I haven't found them overly reliable at all. I won't say they are POS but they have their fair share of problems just like everything else. Most problems revolve around complexity. If you want less problems then you want less complexity. Every time you add fancy doodads you add opportunities for trouble.

I'm a little puzzled about your build out. You say you're going to spend time in muck and mud hunting but you want to buy sport appearance and 20" bling wheels. My truck sounds better outfitted for what you want than the truck you want to buy. Smaller wheels = smoother ride because you have more sidewall. Not to mention cheaper tires. I don't know if they still have it but I bought the "North" package on mine, which adds a block heater, an electronic locking rear axle, the Ram all-weather floor mats (these are the best mats I've ever had in a truck), HD front/rear shocks, full-size spare, hill descent control, tow hooks, 18" AT tires (don't know what they are now, mine are Falken and they have good bite) and some look-good stuff.

As for the truck: nicest truck I've ever owned. Rides nice, nice interior, quiet, drives like a Cadillac. It drives "big", so small parking lots and stuff like that sucks, but I think it's the nicest full-size out there and certainly best for the money.

 

[Drewster]

There were no RFE transmissions until the 2nd generation Rams. The previous series were the A-series, RH, and then REs. The RFE versions were very reliable overall.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 03 June 2018. Now at: 045221 miles.

The third generation trucks did *not* have good reliability ratings and do not have a good reputation outside of Dodge circles - most of those were 45RFE, 545RFE, and 68RFE's. Mine was just fine, and I don't think they're a bad transmission, but the fact is that if you go to a Ford forum and ask this same question, you'll hear "Oh, Dodge transmissions are TERRIBLE" ..regardless of how true that actually is.

Point being, these DT transmissions are made by ZF (8HP), and are used in everything from BMW's to Lamborghini's - regardless of how many people say "Dodge transmissions are TERRIBLE" ...it doesn't matter

 

[jdmartin]

Found the thread - super helpful.

Has anyone on here gotten a big horn crew for close to 40 off the lot?

I’m still weighing used vs new. On my current truck I averaged roughly 14k miles a year. Since then I’ve taken a new position and work 100% remote so I have no commute each day which cuts down on my mileage a lot. I see more traveling in our future to counteract that though snd we haven’t traveled in my truck in the past - but rather the wife’s suv.

What I’m driving towards here is even a vehicle with say 30k miles on it could be 2 full years of ownership for me. So I’m think that’s 2 years worth of low cost ownership I would give up going used.

If I could find a deal closer to the 40 mark - I might be willing to bite. I’m not sure if this helps but I’m looking to put a minimum of 25% down. I don’t want my payments hindering my life.

Just curious who bought a new bighorn - where - and what combination of techniques you used to get it. If I need to fly to save, I will. Just as a reminder - I’m not buying today. I’ll wait for a better time of the year. So I’m not sure if dodge has a “best time” or if it just varies from year to year.

I paid $36750 for mine plus tax & tag/title (TN). The best price I was able to negotiate with them in Jan 2019 was $38,000, then I applied my $1k off your best deal rebate coupon from USAA to that deal, then Allstate gave me $250 for buying the Ram. Tax/tag/title in TN is fairly expensive so it was about another $3k+ for those costs.

That was 2 years ago. I think you could probably get a deal done at $40k plus TTL but I think it will be more difficult to get at $40k all in unless you get a stripped-down model. I just looked at my dealership and found almost my exact truck and with all incentives internet price is $45k. I am guessing they could probably get knocked down $3-5k off that price besides but I doubt they'd go any lower.

 

[millerbjm]

1. I have no idea. I've never measured my mileage. I would be really surprised if it was more than 22-23 MPG and suspect it's probably 16-18 MPG. MPG should be the last question (if even a question) asked about a truck. If you need MPG then you don't need a truck. I've owned trucks of all brands my entire life and none of them have come close in MPG to any small car I've had, and that's in over a million miles of driving.

2. So far mine has been reliable. I hear a hum once in a while that sounds like an unbalanced tire that's RPM specific. I had a wet carpet on the driver's side once from the door weep holes not draining all the way. Beyond that it's been fine but I only have 17k miles on it in 2+ years.

3. Personally I would skip E-torq as it just adds one more layer of complexity to the vehicle for maybe 1-2 MPG fuel savings. Maybe.

4. I don't have air suspension so I can't compare but if you want reliability then you want less complexity. Air suspension = more complexity. I think mine rides just fine with the stock suspension, especially since I always had trucks with rear leaf spring suspension.

5. Absolutely. I buy Fords at work because we get them for fleet pricing and I haven't found them overly reliable at all. I won't say they are POS but they have their fair share of problems just like everything else. Most problems revolve around complexity. If you want less problems then you want less complexity. Every time you add fancy doodads you add opportunities for trouble.

I'm a little puzzled about your build out. You say you're going to spend time in muck and mud hunting but you want to buy sport appearance and 20" bling wheels. My truck sounds better outfitted for what you want than the truck you want to buy. Smaller wheels = smoother ride because you have more sidewall. Not to mention cheaper tires. I don't know if they still have it but I bought the "North" package on mine, which adds a block heater, an electronic locking rear axle, the Ram all-weather floor mats (these are the best mats I've ever had in a truck), HD front/rear shocks, full-size spare, hill descent control, tow hooks, 18" AT tires (don't know what they are now, mine are Falken and they have good bite) and some look-good stuff.

As for the truck: nicest truck I've ever owned. Rides nice, nice interior, quiet, drives like a Cadillac. It drives "big", so small parking lots and stuff like that sucks, but I think it's the nicest full-size out there and certainly best for the money.

I see alot of folks on the forum saying we shouldn't discuss mpg's on a truck forum because if you car about mpg's you shouldn't buy a truck. I get where you're coming from but think it is crazy to say just because hese trucks don't get 50mpg we can't concern ourselves with it. In particular for folks who drive a lot of miles even 2-3 mps difference can add up to significant $$ over time of ownership. Separate from $$ if all the pick-ups in North America got even 1-2mpgs better the energy savings and greenhouse gas reduction would be significant. Peersonally I looked into a wide range of factors when deciding on my truck but mpg balanced with capabilities was important to me. O.K. end of off-topic rant!

 

[Satchamo]

I see alot of folks on the forum saying we shouldn't discuss mpg's on a truck forum because if you car about mpg's you shouldn't buy a truck. I get where you're coming from but think it is crazy to say just because hese trucks don't get 50mpg we can't concern ourselves with it. In particular for folks who drive a lot of miles even 2-3 mps difference can add up to significant $$ over time of ownership. Separate from $$ if all the pick-ups in North America got even 1-2mpgs better the energy savings and greenhouse gas reduction would be significant. Peersonally I looked into a wide range of factors when deciding on my truck but mpg balanced with capabilities was important to me. O.K. end of off-topic rant!

Yeah some of us use trucks as cross country vehicles so mpg absolutely matters.....

 

[Satchamo]

1. I have no idea. I've never measured my mileage. I would be really surprised if it was more than 22-23 MPG and suspect it's probably 16-18 MPG. MPG should be the last question (if even a question) asked about a truck. If you need MPG then you don't need a truck. I've owned trucks of all brands my entire life and none of them have come close in MPG to any small car I've had, and that's in over a million miles of driving.

2. So far mine has been reliable. I hear a hum once in a while that sounds like an unbalanced tire that's RPM specific. I had a wet carpet on the driver's side once from the door weep holes not draining all the way. Beyond that it's been fine but I only have 17k miles on it in 2+ years.

3. Personally I would skip E-torq as it just adds one more layer of complexity to the vehicle for maybe 1-2 MPG fuel savings. Maybe.

4. I don't have air suspension so I can't compare but if you want reliability then you want less complexity. Air suspension = more complexity. I think mine rides just fine with the stock suspension, especially since I always had trucks with rear leaf spring suspension.

5. Absolutely. I buy Fords at work because we get them for fleet pricing and I haven't found them overly reliable at all. I won't say they are POS but they have their fair share of problems just like everything else. Most problems revolve around complexity. If you want less problems then you want less complexity. Every time you add fancy doodads you add opportunities for trouble.

I'm a little puzzled about your build out. You say you're going to spend time in muck and mud hunting but you want to buy sport appearance and 20" bling wheels. My truck sounds better outfitted for what you want than the truck you want to buy. Smaller wheels = smoother ride because you have more sidewall. Not to mention cheaper tires. I don't know if they still have it but I bought the "North" package on mine, which adds a block heater, an electronic locking rear axle, the Ram all-weather floor mats (these are the best mats I've ever had in a truck), HD front/rear shocks, full-size spare, hill descent control, tow hooks, 18" AT tires (don't know what they are now, mine are Falken and they have good bite) and some look-good stuff.

As for the truck: nicest truck I've ever owned. Rides nice, nice interior, quiet, drives like a Cadillac. It drives "big", so small parking lots and stuff like that sucks, but I think it's the nicest full-size out there and certainly best for the money.

I’m not saying I’m going bogging - I just saying it will see off roads which for me in the Midwest is generally just grassy fields, muddy entry roads and similar. Now when I head west - I get on some trash forest service roads that define rough.

That said - most of my commuting isn’t off road - it’s highway miles so yeah it seems weird to say I want to take it off road but I want it to be a little glam, but I’m buying for the 90%, not the 10%. Not worried about a slightly more expensive tire that I only buy every 40-50k miles - it’s probably negligible between an 18/20 in rim anyways.

That said - yes, the 18 will ride better. But I’ll probably wind up putting 10 ply on them anyways which is gonna stiffen it up either way. I like the durability of a 10 ply too much so it’s something I can concede on.

Also I think the 18 inch rims form RAM are awful looking....

 

[Aseras]

when your truck is only getting 13-15mpg city, a diesel that can bag 24-30 mpg city really starts looking great. for the gassers, take 30-40% off that if you tow. 10-15% for a diesel, and the diesel won't care even with 1/2 the HP.

normally the increased fuel mileage, powerband and longevity in a diesel made them no brainers. these days with all the complex emissions, proprietary maintenance items and questionable durability make it a tougher pill to swallow.

if I can find an open stretch of road I can drive between 55 and 62 mph I can get 50+mpg with my ecodiesel. it will reliably get 30mpg and 900+ miles on a tank. you can forget those numbers on a fullsize truck even a decade ago. maybe an old mazda b2200 diesel could come close. and it's a tiny thing with 60hp, being generous.

the big thing ram has going for it is the interior quality. especially the premium trims. take a look at a king ranch, or platinum ford or a high country or Denali Chevy/GM. then drive a Longhorn or a Limited and be prepared to be blown away.

 

[Drewster]

1. I have no idea. I've never measured my mileage. I would be really surprised if it was more than 22-23 MPG and suspect it's probably 16-18 MPG. MPG should be the last question (if even a question) asked about a truck. If you need MPG then you don't need a truck. I've owned trucks of all brands my entire life and none of them have come close in MPG to any small car I've had, and that's in over a million miles of driving.

No, if you need a truck you need a truck. Personally, I need to haul a 6,000 pound trailer and - sorry - a corolla just isn't going to cut it.

If you already need a truck, and you're going to drive 14,000 miles a year, why would you get one that's inefficient? I could have bought a Toyota Tundra that gets 13/18mpg, and on my short day-to-day commute you can bet it would get 13mpg or worse. With eTorque, I get 17/23 - right about what the rating says it should get.

Even with gas at $2 a gallon, that difference day-to-day is over $500 a year. At $3.50/ gallon, that's over $2,100 every year. At current model prices, eTorque is going to pay for itself in just the first year. Over your miLliOn miLeS of driving, that's a whole new vehicle.

It's not like this is the 80's where every truck has some carbureted V8 that gets between 10 and 12 MPG. Hybrids, light hybrids, turbos, and diesels mean you can actually get 30+MPG in a full size truck, and if you somehow don't care about the money in your pocket, or aren't going to drive the truck much, who cares about comparing any metric? Just go get a Raptor or TRX and enjoy the insanity.

OP, I know you mentioned you don't do much towing, but it's also worth noting that diesels usually get the best towing mpg, followed by gas V8's, and then the turbos https://tfltruck.com/2018/06/mpg-challenge-most-efficient-truck-towing-listed-specs/

 

[brian42]

I’m not saying I’m going bogging - I just saying it will see off roads which for me in the Midwest is generally just grassy fields, muddy entry roads and similar. Now when I head west - I get on some trash forest service roads that define rough.

That said - most of my commuting isn’t off road - it’s highway miles so yeah it seems weird to say I want to take it off road but I want it to be a little glam, but I’m buying for the 90%, not the 10%. Not worried about a slightly more expensive tire that I only buy every 40-50k miles - it’s probably negligible between an 18/20 in rim anyways.

That said - yes, the 18 will ride better. But I’ll probably wind up putting 10 ply on them anyways which is gonna stiffen it up either way. I like the durability of a 10 ply too much so it’s something I can concede on.

Also I think the 18 inch rims form RAM are awful looking....

If you are going to get 10-ply (E-rated) tires regardless I recommend the 3.92 rear.

I get about 15 mpg overall in with my 3.21 but only have XL-rated tires (similar to C-rated). If you bump up to E-rated in the same size you're adding 10+ lbs per tire, even more if you go up in size.

 

[ClancyO]

Lots of good advice on this thread. My .02:

Like you I buy for the long haul - Traded an 04 Titan on my 19 bighorn crew 4x4. 36,5 before trade, title, tax & tags, but didn’t get as swell a deal when I upgraded to the 20 Laramie (I know I said long haul - I had a very rare problem with the 19, and wife TOLD me to replace it, so who was I to argue? Look up my posts to read about crack - haven’t seen another case here so rare!). The bighorn had 3.21 non-etorque hemi and definitely got better mileage than my 20 3.92 non-etorque hemi. Throttle response is much better in the 20, but that could be programming. To me axle choice comes down to towing. If you’re gonna stay realistically under 6k, then by all means 3.21 if mileage is big concern. If you’re getting closer to max, then 3.92. I intentionally avoided the 12 in, e torque, lane keep and all the other electronic doo-dads because I’m not sure I’ll want them 10 years from now, but I fully plan to still have this truck! The Laramie has everything I wanted except the 33 gallon tank and I could fix that, but I’m not sure it matters anymore.

Off-road package rides stiffer, even with squishier tires off road tires (wildpeaks). 10 ply on orp might be downright harsh.

Etorque will help your mileage but do you want fca’s 1st gen hybrid system 10 years from now?

Do the leds. My bighorn didn’t have them and I regretted it.

20” nexan’s on the bighorn were great tires. Purely street biased, but rode and wore well for the time I had them.

Born & bred Ford guy here too, but I don’t want turbo/blown on my daily long term truck - sure they get a lot of power out of them, but they’re wringing it’s neck. Again, 10 years from now what are those turbos gonna want/need?

 

[ClancyO]

Oh and by stiffer (on the ride), I mean more like a truck. Non orp ride like a luxury car.

 

[SpeedyV]

Oh and by stiffer (on the ride), I mean more like a truck. Non orp ride like a luxury car.

ORG (or ORP) + Air Suspension rides very nicely, too