Upgrade from 2500 to 3500 Question
Currently towing a Grand Design Reflection with a RAM 2500. My truck is a HEMI and the truck is within specs for towing the 5th. We are getting ready to start spreading our wings and take some long ...
Forum Discussion
Went from a 2012 2500 Cummins to a 2018 2500 Hemi with 4.10 gears and then back to a 2019 3500 Cummins. I had the 6sp version in the Hemi 2500. Same HP/TQ though. I went on a 3,000 mile 28 day trip towing a 9600 lb TT from Oregon up through WA, ID, MT, WY, UT, NV, CA and back to Oregon. I hit 8432' going over the Teton Pass. I was in 1st gear at 4800 rpms for what seem like an eternity. Coming down the pass I got the Ram brakes hot as I rounded a corner and saw a road construction stop sign. I'm pretty diligent about braking and that was far from my 1st towing experience so I was being as cautious as possible but but the road conditions overwhelmed the truck and TT. Here's where the exhaust brake comes into play. That would've been a delight to have an EB descending that pass. I could've spent a little more time on the scenery vs working the brakes.
Averaged around 8.5 mpg's the whole trip. Worst part was when out in the boonies where fuel was an uncertainty I had to gas up more often as I didn't want to sweat the next gas fill up.
That trip was the 2nd year I owned the Hemi. I previously towed am almost identical size trailer (Fox Mountain 5th wheel) weighing around 9200 lbs. Towed mostly in the PNW and it did just okay. Biggest issue is the fuel mileage. Some of the places we go to I can't make it there and back on a tank of gas.
Needless to say after that long 3,000 mile trip up in higher elevations where you lose 3% HP/TQ per 1,000' of el, I traded it in on the 2019 3500 CTD.
I now get on average 11.5-12.0 mpg's. On the hwy at 70 I get 20 mph. Plus I can now make it there and back on a full tank which also means means no searching for diesel out in the boonies. I figure I've picked up another 90 miles per tank. The savings I get in diesel pays for the $$$ oil/filter changes since I tow about 5,000 miles a year and diesel and gas are about the same price where I live.
I don't care how good the new Ram Hemi 8sp is in a 2500-3500 it will never make up for the power, braking and mpg's of a diesel.
I'd go 3500 diesel in any brand if doing long trips towing a 5th wheel where you are in the mountains or just in the higher elevations for extended periods. Even at 4,000' like some high plateaus you loose 12% of power.On a Hemi thats 50 HP.
The last leg of our long trip we were at the 4,000' range for a long days worth of driving. When you lose power you need to push the gas pedal further down and means sucking more gas. With a diesel the turbo makes up for all that.
YMMV.
Averaged around 8.5 mpg's the whole trip. Worst part was when out in the boonies where fuel was an uncertainty I had to gas up more often as I didn't want to sweat the next gas fill up.
That trip was the 2nd year I owned the Hemi. I previously towed am almost identical size trailer (Fox Mountain 5th wheel) weighing around 9200 lbs. Towed mostly in the PNW and it did just okay. Biggest issue is the fuel mileage. Some of the places we go to I can't make it there and back on a tank of gas.
Needless to say after that long 3,000 mile trip up in higher elevations where you lose 3% HP/TQ per 1,000' of el, I traded it in on the 2019 3500 CTD.
I now get on average 11.5-12.0 mpg's. On the hwy at 70 I get 20 mph. Plus I can now make it there and back on a full tank which also means means no searching for diesel out in the boonies. I figure I've picked up another 90 miles per tank. The savings I get in diesel pays for the $$$ oil/filter changes since I tow about 5,000 miles a year and diesel and gas are about the same price where I live.
I don't care how good the new Ram Hemi 8sp is in a 2500-3500 it will never make up for the power, braking and mpg's of a diesel.
I'd go 3500 diesel in any brand if doing long trips towing a 5th wheel where you are in the mountains or just in the higher elevations for extended periods. Even at 4,000' like some high plateaus you loose 12% of power.On a Hemi thats 50 HP.
The last leg of our long trip we were at the 4,000' range for a long days worth of driving. When you lose power you need to push the gas pedal further down and means sucking more gas. With a diesel the turbo makes up for all that.
YMMV.
