RAM 1500 as daily commuter?

[Limitedlifestyle]

Hey all, strongly considering leaving my sedan life behind and doing my 60 mile round trip commute in a Ram 1500 limited.

No “need” for the truck, I live in a subdivision and park everyday in a parking garage. I had a truck (F150) a few years ago during a shorter commute, and miss the usefulness and creature comforts.

Any “long” commuters like me, have any opinions?

Any regrets on getting a truck and upping the gas cost?

I’m worried a few months/years into driving it the gas cost will start to grind on me, but the periodic usefulness and space can’t be beat.

Love to hear how you guys came to a decision.

Thanks.


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[Stevenc150]

Over the years, having driven long school/work commutes in an 06 & 13 Ram 1500's, then bought a Scion Tc...I loved the gas savings (15 vs. 35mpg) but missed the comfort upright seated position of the truck.

FF to now and driving a 15mile commute in a decked out Lhorn; sometimes wish I had the longer commute haha. So if given the chance on a long commute, I'd eat the mpg and go the Limited route. With the comfort, Lane assist, ACControl, 12" nav, vented/heat seats...yeah for me itd be a no-brainer.

 

[SD Rebel]

Depends on what you are getting now and what your prospective truck will get and if you can stomach that annually. Make a calculation of fuel cost differences for the year and see if it's worth it to you.

You should also factor in deprecation of the vehicle for that mileage and the wear and tear it will receive as well. The RAM is a big comfortable vehicle that just eats up the miles, but they are thirsty with the 5.7L and 3.92 rear axle. I would shy away from doing it with a Rebel w/ 33" tires or other trims with the large 22" wheels. The do not usually come close to the mileage on the window sticker.

Get one with the 3.6L Etorque or at least the 5.7L Etorque with the 3.21 rear axle and regular wheels/tires, you should get reasonable close to the EPA ratings of 22 mph highway.

 

[Trailbr8ker]

I drive 72 miles round trip to work. I have driven that for many years. I have had a sedan and a truck. As saving money on gas is great, the comforts, safety features, and riding high off the ground are great. Also it doesn't rain much where I live but when it does the 4 wheel drive is great to have. All in all having a truck is by far a no brainier for me. If your really worried about gas mileage and have extra cash you can get the eco-diesel but you would have to weigh the pros and cons of hemi engine vs diesel.

 

[goDawgs65]

People do it in suburbans, I say go for it.

 

[SpeedyV]

Hey all, strongly considering leaving my sedan life behind and doing my 60 mile round trip commute in a Ram 1500 limited.

No “need” for the truck, I live in a subdivision and park everyday in a parking garage. I had a truck (F150) a few years ago during a shorter commute, and miss the usefulness and creature comforts.

Any “long” commuters like me, have any opinions?

Any regrets on getting a truck and upping the gas cost?

I’m worried a few months/years into driving it the gas cost will start to grind on me, but the periodic usefulness and space can’t be beat.

Love to hear how you guys came to a decision.

Thanks.


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You didn’t mention whether you also haul family / friends around on a regular basis. There are few, if any, vehicles that handle that task better for four full-sized humans than the crew cab on the Ram. And with the availability of an air suspension and power-retractable steps, I can put the truck in a position that’s easier for my in-laws to get into and out of than any car.

 

[J-Cooz]

I drive a similar distance to work and have a Limited with Hemi. It's a great commuting truck but the fuel economy isn't the best. I'm looking at a diesel currently and may pull the trigger if the numbers work out.

The EcoDiesel loves the highway and if you get one with 3.21 gears you should have no problem getting 30+ mpg. It's an expensive option and the maintance costs are higher but if you do serious mileage and depending on fuel costs you could make it work

 

[piening2150]

My commute is about 45-50 round trip. I've only had it for a few months but so far it's a comfy cruiser. MPG isn't the best, but I figured that when I got it. Fuelly is a good site to get a feel for the range of MPG others are getting so you can determine if that's something you can live with. I'm not a truck guy, but I got mine because it was a cheap lease and I have plans for some projects over the next year or so where a truck will be very handy. After that we'll see.

 

[LimitedGRR]

You’re buying a 60k truck a s worried about gas costs? I have a limited and have a 40 mile round trip each day and don’t fret about gas.


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[Grape_Ape]

I have a commuter for work and then the truck gets used for everything else. I have a long commute (70 miles) as well and put 18-20k miles a yr on a vehicle JUST GOING TO WORK.

My decision comes not from a worry about gas but a worry about wear and tear. I know highway commutes aren't hard on vehicles but I couldn't imagine buying a 50k truck and then putting 100k miles on it in 5 yrs. It's significantly cheaper to buy a commuter (My Mazda was 15k) and drive it till it dies. So that's the route I decided to take. With that being said, do whatever YOU want.

 

[OldMarine]

well...I guess I'll have to be the turd-in-the-punchbowl. I am a big fan of having a second vehicle that is long paid off, comfortable, and already has plenty of scratches and dings, and using THAT vehicle for commutes, trips to the dump, anything routine. In the long run it saves money. Keeps mileage way down on the Limited, keeps it in the B2B warranty, feels like a treat when I do drive it. My second veh is a 2008 Ford Edge, 150,000..bought it new, still runs awesome, with ice cold ac, leather, pano, heated seats..etc.

 

[BigD]

You’re buying a 60k truck a s worried about gas costs? I have a limited and have a 40 mile round trip each day and don’t fret about gas.


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I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Jako]

I'm fortunate that I enjoy motorcycles, so my choice for commuting was my MCs. At 6'1" and 225 lbs. I have yet to find a "commuter, gas saver" that I am comfortable driving. It seems all cars are coming with full consoles eliminating "knee space" and increasing my discomfort, long live the Ram bench seat.
I live in NYC and using my new Ram for a daily commute would prove more aggravating than a "beater car". I have been using my 2001 Dodge 1500 SLT lately for yard projects at various houses and the back seat looks like a homeless person is living in the truck. Way passed the stage of worrying about a scratch or a ding - freedom from that new car concern.

I think the conditions of the commute need to be factored in as to the choice of vehicle, highway vs metro congestion. The Ram is as comfortable as can be but the exterior conditions can diminish the interior pleasures.

 

[Le_Slacker]

50-ish miles Roundtrip for me. Did the last 6 years in a Hyundai Elantra getting close to 40mpg....
Upgraded to this Ram, and the drive is much better. The tech is bette. And love sitting up higher.

1 full tank of the ram takes me as far as 1 full tank of the Elantra did....

 

[ktl5005]

2019 Limited. My daily commuter to and from work in the city hospitals. Love it.

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

I use mine as a daily, and wouldn’t change it. The cost of gas is neither here nor there, you have to pay it anyway. It’s just a part of the “owning a truck experience” that you can’t get away from.

 

[Snwjnky]

I don't worry too much about gas prices. It is what it is. If I did worry, I'd second guess every trip, commute, vacation, etc. Don't want that in my life.
I do try to be mindful of buying less expensive gas when I fill up. If no one bought the expensive gas, they would have to lower prices. Just doing my part.

 

[STR]

DD? Sure, but if you have a sedan w/better gas mileage... it’s your $. I love my Rebel, but its gas mileage is, meh. Not complaining... it is what it is.

 

[bryan28]

You're going to pay either way. There is money spent on fuel, insurance, general maintenance, etc on both vehicles. You can spend more on up keeping 2 rather than 1. If you're concerned about racking up miles on the truck then drive a car to work.

 

[JimD007]

I'm retired so I don't have my 70 mile commute any more. My truck mileage is improving, it has only 3,000 miles on it, but currently sits at a little less than 22 (spreadsheet based upon fillups, not the on board calculation). My other vehicle is a convertible with a little over 100K miles that gets about 27. I drive the truck most of the time. The convertible is more fun but the truck can do more. Gas mileage doesn't factor into it. I will soon make a 1,000 mile, each way, drive to see my daughter, son-in-law, and two grandkids. I will take the truck. They will all fit in it, and they would not in the convertible. But the gas difference will be 17 gallons or less. It's quieter than the convertible. For less than $50 in gas, I will just take the truck.

I posted mainly to suggest you calculate the gas mileage cost and use that as an input. For most of us, the difference per year or per month (or in my case per trip) isn't all that significant.