6.4 Hemi Ram 2500 or 6.2L F-250

katoom400 wrote:
This is a very useful topic to me right now. I have been looking to upgrade from my 2010 Tundra 5.7 since August. I tow a ~7500lb travel trailer about 10 times a year, the rest of the time the truck is my daily driver ~70 miles a day round trip.

I've been reading everything I can on many forums regarding all of the 3/4 offerings and of the big 3 the GM was the only one I did not like at all.

I have been leaning 6.4 hemi with 4.10's after all of the positive comments I've seen. The MDS also appeals to me as the truck is 90% running empty as my daily driver.

as far as my wife is concerned she absolutely loves the interior of the Ford much more than the Ram and I tend to agree...the Ram feels more "modern" inside, but the Ford feels more comfortable to me.

It seems you can get a few more options for the same $ compared to the Ford. but still I'm finding myself drawn to the Ford. I had an 01 7.3 and loved it.

My biggest hold up right now is the way the Ford puts out the power, at least in the trucks I've test driven (which were all 3.73's) as there are no 4.30's sitting on the dealers lots to test drive.

on the test drives the power just felt very linear...no rush to throw you back in the seat compared to the 6.4/3.73 trucks I've test driven. This may be fine...just not what I'm used to..the 7.3 was also very linear but would pull a train.

I have read about the Ford's drive by wire and the "adaptive" transmission learning your driving habits and getting better. and generally I drive like an old man but have gotten used to the snap of my 5.7/4.30 geared Tundra.

Lot's of guys are reporting the 6.2/3.73 trucks pulling 10k+ are pulling great gives me some confidence that I would be ok with the 6.2\3.73 combo once I got used to it...or it gets used to me....

if I wanted 4.30's I would have to order a truck blindly since there are none around here to test drive. question is: do I really need it for a trailer under 8k? some good deals on 6.2/3.73 siting on my local dealers lot right now....I am ready to pull the trigger...

thanks for any advice

My 6.2 3.73 is pulling our fiver in about the same weight range as yours with no issues, after I have been towing with it for a while it does get more responsive, it is definitely an engine that wants to be worked to get the most out of it , It really pulls well as it gets higher in the revs which means to me that I have plenty of power in reserve . I am a masonry contractor and my work truck is a 2010 Savanna 3500 extended van with 6.0 its a great van but the power is lower in the revs and it will run out of steam quickly which is when the 6.2 is getting into its range and will very easily out power it with the same trailer. It was interesting to view the Ike gauntlet pull comparison with the Raptor and F250 with the same engine. Gas engines have come a long way since even a few years ago my GM 6.0 has just hit 100,000 it gets heavily used and abused and it feels stronger than ever & likewise the Ford 6.2 with 23,000 feels like it is getting stronger too.

katoom400 wrote:
This is a very useful topic to me right now. I have been looking to upgrade from my 2010 Tundra 5.7 since August. I tow a ~7500lb travel trailer about 10 times a year, the rest of the time the truck is my daily driver ~70 miles a day round trip.

I've been reading everything I can on many forums regarding all of the 3/4 offerings and of the big 3 the GM was the only one I did not like at all.

I have been leaning 6.4 hemi with 4.10's after all of the positive comments I've seen. The MDS also appeals to me as the truck is 90% running empty as my daily driver.

as far as my wife is concerned she absolutely loves the interior of the Ford much more than the Ram and I tend to agree...the Ram feels more "modern" inside, but the Ford feels more comfortable to me.

It seems you can get a few more options for the same $ compared to the Ford. but still I'm finding myself drawn to the Ford. I had an 01 7.3 and loved it.

My biggest hold up right now is the way the Ford puts out the power, at least in the trucks I've test driven (which were all 3.73's) as there are no 4.30's sitting on the dealers lots to test drive.

on the test drives the power just felt very linear...no rush to throw you back in the seat compared to the 6.4/3.73 trucks I've test driven. This may be fine...just not what I'm used to..the 7.3 was also very linear but would pull a train.

I have read about the Ford's drive by wire and the "adaptive" transmission learning your driving habits and getting better. and generally I drive like an old man but have gotten used to the snap of my 5.7/4.30 geared Tundra.

Lot's of guys are reporting the 6.2/3.73 trucks pulling 10k+ are pulling great gives me some confidence that I would be ok with the 6.2\3.73 combo once I got used to it...or it gets used to me....

if I wanted 4.30's I would have to order a truck blindly since there are none around here to test drive. question is: do I really need it for a trailer under 8k? some good deals on 6.2/3.73 siting on my local dealers lot right now....I am ready to pull the trigger...

thanks for any advice

If you lock out 6th gear on the 3.73 truck and run in 5th your ratio is very close to the same as the 4.30 truck in 6th gear.5th and 6th gear in the ford are both overdrive gears.
I have the 3.73 gear in my truck and my tt is about 10k,I haven't found a hill here in Pa that I can't maintain the speed limit when towing,sometimes it drops to 3rd gear and rpms go to 4500 it pulls fine.

Hannibal wrote:

Mike Up wrote:

Hannibal wrote:
Even my Prius is union made. JAW. All that aside, I think you'd be happy with either truck.

Not according to this UAW list. Checked back to 2007 and only union made Toyota is Corolla and only some of them are Union Made.

Here

JAW is not UAW.

http://www.jaw.or.jp/e/

Oh, another country's workers. I see, NOT AMERICAN MADE. Worst than buying a none union American made vehicle IMO.

This is a very useful topic to me right now. I have been looking to upgrade from my 2010 Tundra 5.7 since August. I tow a ~7500lb travel trailer about 10 times a year, the rest of the time the truck is my daily driver ~70 miles a day round trip.

I've been reading everything I can on many forums regarding all of the 3/4 offerings and of the big 3 the GM was the only one I did not like at all.

I have been leaning 6.4 hemi with 4.10's after all of the positive comments I've seen. The MDS also appeals to me as the truck is 90% running empty as my daily driver.

as far as my wife is concerned she absolutely loves the interior of the Ford much more than the Ram and I tend to agree...the Ram feels more "modern" inside, but the Ford feels more comfortable to me.

It seems you can get a few more options for the same $ compared to the Ford. but still I'm finding myself drawn to the Ford. I had an 01 7.3 and loved it.

My biggest hold up right now is the way the Ford puts out the power, at least in the trucks I've test driven (which were all 3.73's) as there are no 4.30's sitting on the dealers lots to test drive.

on the test drives the power just felt very linear...no rush to throw you back in the seat compared to the 6.4/3.73 trucks I've test driven. This may be fine...just not what I'm used to..the 7.3 was also very linear but would pull a train.

I have read about the Ford's drive by wire and the "adaptive" transmission learning your driving habits and getting better. and generally I drive like an old man but have gotten used to the snap of my 5.7/4.30 geared Tundra.

Lot's of guys are reporting the 6.2/3.73 trucks pulling 10k+ are pulling great gives me some confidence that I would be ok with the 6.2\3.73 combo once I got used to it...or it gets used to me....

if I wanted 4.30's I would have to order a truck blindly since there are none around here to test drive. question is: do I really need it for a trailer under 8k? some good deals on 6.2/3.73 siting on my local dealers lot right now....I am ready to pull the trigger...

thanks for any advice

Mike Up wrote:

Hannibal wrote:
Even my Prius is union made. JAW. All that aside, I think you'd be happy with either truck.

Not according to this UAW list. Checked back to 2007 and only union made Toyota is Corolla and only some of them are Union Made.

Here

JAW is not UAW.

http://www.jaw.or.jp/e/

The payload numbers on the 250 i looked at was 2867 the 350 was 4070 and the Ram 2500 was 2975 just to give everyone an idea too

Hannibal wrote:
Even my Prius is union made. JAW. All that aside, I think you'd be happy with either truck.

Not according to this UAW list. Checked back to 2007 and only union made Toyota is Corolla and only some of them are Union Made.

Here

Hum, the F250 is a really nice truck but felt under powered to me with the 3.73 axles. Truck itself was very nice but very expensive at about $50,000 MSRP with little rebates.

It could get around the payload limitations of my F150 but I don't know if I could get use to the lower power output after being spoiled with the power of the 5.0L and the lighter truck.

I had always thought about getting the Ram CC 2500 6.4L 4WD truck when I was finished with this. Mainly because I was told mileage was much better since I use my truck to commute to work and the 6.4L offers quite a bit more power and is lighter. On top of that, I think it's even cheaper.

I really liked the F250 but it needs more low end power like from the V10 they stopped offering. BUT I guess the 4.30 gears would help but then it will likely drink so much gas, couldn't be used for commuting to far.

Here's my review on the 2014 6.2L F250.

OP, you mentioned seats, riding comfort and steering. After spending seven hours driving yesterday it reminds me of how important the comfort of the seats are and how well the truck tracks in the lane heading down the freeway. I have had other trucks that I was frequently tweaking the steering wheel as I drove. It is sure nice driving a truck that has seats that are comfortable / supportive and tracks straight and true. I do not feel worn out after a long drive.

Both trucks sound very capable and looking forward to seeing what you go with.

Good luck to you,
Stu

2012Coleman wrote:

Last but not least, the Ford is "Made in the USA" and the RAM is "Made in Mexico".

Ummm - they are assembled in Mexico and Warren Mich. I wonder if there are haters on japanese forums twoard people who want advice on a Tundra.

Not sure why you have to call someone a hater, but the fact is the RAM HD's are assembled in Mexico if you like it or not.

Choose wisely my friend! Or like you say "Good judgment"