2013 Dodge Ram 2500 5.7 Hemi

I just came back from Bristol TN towing a 2008 Outback 26RLS with a 2012 Ram 1500, Hemi, 4x4, Crew Cab, 3:55 gears. I also use a ProPride 3P hitch.

The truck pulled the hills pretty well. I never lost power but it was running about 3,800 doing @ about 62-65 mph on the grades. We avg about 8.5 mpg.

I'm not sure how much heavier the 2500 is compared to the 1500. I think 3:92 gears would be nice as well. At least for towing!

mic

I think you are wasting your time posting a topic like that. The diesel guys just lay in wait for a thread where they can pound their tom tom on.

I tow over 10K with a gassser, but it is a 6.2 Ford. I will never look back on switching from the diesel to gas.

If a six speed trans and 380 ponies won't get me there with ease, it is a place I do not want to go.

I am also wasting my time on this thread but the dogs got me up early and it is gonna be a slow day with the current heat wave. :W

been towing 5th wheel (10000 11500#s) w/3500 dually .hemi, 4.10 gearsnever had any trouble. mileage not the best,but didn't buy it for mileage. 10-12 mpg empty--8-10 mpg towing. got into asituation in south dakota a few years ago missedour turn to go to rusmore,foud a hill put peddle to the metal 10mph @ 6000 rpm's never heated up at all. fingers were a little sore by the time we got to the top.

I'll beat the tom tom on diesels. I have a 2500 with the CTD and tow 9000lbs. 3.73 gears. I wouldn't have it any other way. Yes a gasser would get me there and back but having enough reserve power makes it much nicer. I feel the 2500 CTD and my 9000lb 5'er are a perfect match. Sure the Ram is rated to tow more but so are most trucks with what people tow with. I get 10.5-11.5 depending on conditions. I will see 12mpg with no wind doing 62mph. 17-18mpg empty.

JMO, but I would skip the 5.7 and get a 2014 2500 6.4 Hemi if your serious about a gasser. IMO the 5.7's are gas hogs and the new 6.4 should be better with more power.

My take is it depends on how often you tow, and how far you tow when you do. When my average towing trip was 200 miles twice a month, my Dodge 2500 with the 5.7 Hemi was the best truck in the world. Towed my 8K load on the flat ground that I covered with ease. Even when I went south twice a year I was a happy camper, and didn't mind the fuel stops every 200 miles. Then things changed. For two years I had a trip every three to four weeks that was 2500 miles round trip, half in very hilly country. All of a sudden the Hemi was getting 7.5 mpg and I was shifting between third and fourth gear (standard trans) about every 5 minutes in some stretches, and I couldn't run the speed limit. I changed to a F250 with the 6.0 PSD, and literally got 33% better fuel mileage (and diesel costs less up here). I could run the speed limit (68 mph) in fifth gear, and have the odd downshift to fourth on only the steepest hills. The fuel mileage difference meant I was saving a full tank of fuel a day - $125 per day in savings, $500 per round trip.

So it depends on what your needs are, mostly.

Brian

The OP might want to wait and look at the 2014 RAM HDs (2500/3500) as you can get the 6.4L Hemi in them. 410hp/429tq, and available rear air suspension.

VIDEO

Get a new truck if you want Bluetooth or heated or cooled seats or airbags or some other function but not to save money on fuel. It will never happen.

Do the math. A new truck is going to cost you $35,000 plus sales tax and DMV fees and higher auto insurance premiums. Figure about $40,000 overall if you pay cash. If the new truck uses no gas at all and there is zero fuel costs to drive it instead of 12 MPG for your current truck, your breakeven point would be at 120,000 miles with the new truck. In reality the breakeven point is going to never be reached with the new truck.

My diesel truck cost $9,000 more than the same model with a gas engine. I get 20% more miles per gallon with the diesel engine but pay 15% more for diesel than for regular gas. My breakeven with the diesel engine, if I ignore the higher maintenance and repair costs for the diesel, is at 250,000 miles at current fuel prices.

The diesel engine provides more power for acceleration and going over hills and better engine braking and for that I paid the extra cash. I have no illusions that the higher MPG with the diesel is going to save me a penny in any form or fashion while I own the truck.