Hi all. I'm looking at replacing my current truck, 2001 F150 Super Crew with a newer Ram 1500. I'm looking at the 1500s because I don't think I will truly need a 2500.We have a 2000 Coachmen 2790TB which has a GVWR of about 7400 lbs. 1500s with the 5.7 Hemi are capable of towing this size trailer just fine, I think. Plus we will only be going out a couple of times a year at first, maybe a 1000 miles round trip max. Rest of the time, the truck will be a daily driver. I don't commute for work, so I would really only be using it to drive to a from our families' houses 45 minutes away every week.The 2 on my short list right now, 2011 1500 Crew Cab Outdoors package 5.7 V8 with 3.94 gears and larger AT tires with the 5 speed auto (545RFE).2012 1500 Crew Cab SLT Big Horn package 5.7 V8 with 3.55 gears and the 6 speed auto (65RFE).Both are similar in price, 2011 priced at $1k more than the 2012. The 2011 also has what they list as the 205mm HD front axle as opposed to the 2012 215mm axle. 2011 also has an Anti-Spin rear differential.I'm leaning more toward the 2011, to be honest, mostly due to the axle ratio. Price difference is really insignificant considering both are priced at below KBB, but the 2012 is listed at $2400 below KBB while the 2011 is only $800 below KBB with the higher asking price. Not sure how much wiggle room there is there in the price... so lets say both stay at these prices. What would you all pick?

All apples to apples other than the differences you posted, while I’d be tempted to go for the low geared 2011, for me the 6 speed and a year newer would be what I’d go for. More low end oomph with the deeper gears, but neither truck will be towing in OverdrI’ve much if any and the rest of the year you’ll like the 6 speed and highway gears. Both have MDS correct?BTW don’t let the weight cops scare you too much about the “low payload”. It’s a common theme on here, but with a wdh and/or one of the many available easy suspension mods, the axle and the rest of the truck will do fine with it.

Are the odometer readings similar?While I would rather have the 3.94 rear over the 3.55, the oversize tires do effectively reduce your gearing, which is not to say you can't go back to stock tire size eventually.Also, I have heard the 5 speed transmission has funny gear ratios or shift patterns, so the 6 speed transmission with the higher gearing might outperform the 5 speed.

I also think either is plenty of truck for that trailer. I also like the 3.92 gears. I don't think the 6 speed is that much of a step up from that 5 speed. The 5 speed is a reliable model. The thing that gets complained about with it is the wide spacing of the low gears, which only affects shifts during acceleration when towing. It's not a show stopper at all. The limited slip could come in quite handy. I personally wouldn't be without some form of locking differential.

Payload sticker on both? My 13 Ram was an Outdoorsman package, and had a pretty poor payload, only 1200 lbs. Even with my small trailer, that 1200 # was GONE in no time.Did those model years have the coilover rear suspension? The backend sagged bad on my 2013. Fill the bed up with toys, firewood, generator, extra water and then add the trailer, sag city.

Grit dog wrote:BTW don’t let the weight cops scare you too much about the “low payload”. It’s a common theme on here, but with a wdh and/or one of the many available easy suspension mods, the axle and the rest of the truck will do fine with it.Easy for you to say but are you going to be there later to help explain what's going on when the OP does run out of payload capacity when so much of it is being used up by trailer tongue weight, leaving little remaining for passengers and cargo in the truck bed? Heck, we don't even know what that passenger & cargo load will be. Good grief, the OP like anyone else needs to run the numbers first and ignore terrible "no problem" advice like yours. :R

Comparing Ram 1500s | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

TurnThePage
Explorer
Jan 15, 2018
On the other hand, the sky isn't falling if they're a couple hundred pounds over GVWR. Especially with this generation of Ram. Lot's of slop left in the numbers.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jan 15, 2018
Grit dog wrote:
BTW don’t let the weight cops scare you too much about the “low payload”. It’s a common theme on here, but with a wdh and/or one of the many available easy suspension mods, the axle and the rest of the truck will do fine with it.

Easy for you to say but are you going to be there later to help explain what's going on when the OP does run out of payload capacity when so much of it is being used up by trailer tongue weight, leaving little remaining for passengers and cargo in the truck bed? Heck, we don't even know what that passenger & cargo load will be. Good grief, the OP like anyone else needs to run the numbers first and ignore terrible "no problem" advice like yours. :R
GordonThree
Explorer
Jan 15, 2018
Payload sticker on both? My 13 Ram was an Outdoorsman package, and had a pretty poor payload, only 1200 lbs. Even with my small trailer, that 1200 # was GONE in no time.

Did those model years have the coilover rear suspension? The backend sagged bad on my 2013. Fill the bed up with toys, firewood, generator, extra water and then add the trailer, sag city.
TurnThePage
Explorer
Jan 15, 2018
I also think either is plenty of truck for that trailer. I also like the 3.92 gears. I don't think the 6 speed is that much of a step up from that 5 speed. The 5 speed is a reliable model. The thing that gets complained about with it is the wide spacing of the low gears, which only affects shifts during acceleration when towing. It's not a show stopper at all. The limited slip could come in quite handy. I personally wouldn't be without some form of locking differential.
2003silverado
Explorer II
Jan 15, 2018
Are the odometer readings similar?

While I would rather have the 3.94 rear over the 3.55, the oversize tires do effectively reduce your gearing, which is not to say you can't go back to stock tire size eventually.

Also, I have heard the 5 speed transmission has funny gear ratios or shift patterns, so the 6 speed transmission with the higher gearing might outperform the 5 speed.
Grit_dog
Navigator III
Jan 15, 2018
All apples to apples other than the differences you posted, while I’d be tempted to go for the low geared 2011, for me the 6 speed and a year newer would be what I’d go for.
More low end oomph with the deeper gears, but neither truck will be towing in OverdrI’ve much if any and the rest of the year you’ll like the 6 speed and highway gears. Both have MDS correct?

BTW don’t let the weight cops scare you too much about the “low payload”. It’s a common theme on here, but with a wdh and/or one of the many available easy suspension mods, the axle and the rest of the truck will do fine with it.

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Comparing Ram 1500s

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