Hemi 6.4 or Cummins

For your proposed usage I'd say it's the Hemi without a doubt. I just went from diesel to Hemi 6.4 for my 8500# TT and it's a great fit. The Hemi is a real game changer for loads up to around 10K. Much north of that and/or towing often a diesel might be better.

I had pretty much the exact same decision as you. A tradesman diesel or a well setup Hemi. With your usage as a daily driver and modest TT it's a no brainer. The Hemi it more than capable and the bells and whistles on an equipped truck are really nice.

I have a 2014 6.4 hemi tradesman 3:73 and pull a 9700lb 2015 Mesa Ridge TT and the 6.4 pulls great. I can run 55 to 60mph over most everything in the Ozarks. I have owned several of the older 5.9 CTD and the 6.4 has about the same torque with extra horsepower. I avg between 7 to 8.5mpg running 60 to 65mph. The nice thing about the 6.4 is it makes its torque around 4000 rpm. I like the CTD but the extra 7000.00 I can buy a ton of gas. Just my 2 cents

I traded our 2014 6.4 Hemi for a 2015 CTD after just one tow. Our TT is right at 8000 lbs. While the 6.4 was a nice truck, I did not enjoy it as a tow vehicle, esp. on hills or with any kind of wind. Hemi returned 7.5 towing, averaged 13 unloaded and would get up to 18 striclty highway. The CTD is averaging 12 towing the same trailer, 18 mpg unloaded and 20.5 on the highway. I am MUCH happier with the CTD, the torque this engine puts out, loaded or unloaded is always pleasure to drive. Cost to operate is about the same overall when you take resale value and the better mpg of the diesel, esp. towing. Take a look at TFL trying to tow a load up the IKE Gauntlet with a 6.4 it has an issue with first gear lock in (which I experienced) and also a tendency to shift driectly from 4th to 2nd on even mild grades. IMO if you MUST have a 6.4 at least get the 4:10 gears (mine had the 3:73s).

campingken wrote:
It would be interesting to see what it cost you to run the 5.7 V8 vs. the 5.9 diesel for 130,000 miles. Additionally a 2003 5.9 is a very desirable diesel. Had you bought fords, one with a gas V-8 and one with a 6.0 diesel there would not have been an $11,000 price spread when you sold them.

We currently own a 2003 5.9 Dodge and our next truck will be a Ram with the 6.4 V8

Great points. It would be great to see legitimate "cost per mile" over a long stretch of these vehicles. They 5.9 diesel was very popular and commanded a premium. I doubt people that bought them new could have foreseen the demand for used down the road. I would guess the total cost per mile for the 5.9 was relatively low.

The Ford 6.0 was highly touted when it first came out. I bet most new owners figured they would get a premium at resale... and lost their pants. I would guess the total cost per mile was relatively high.

At the end of the day a car or rv is a depreciating asset. I think it is foolish to speculate on potential resale value or even consider that in the decision making process for purchasing a vehicle.

When I buy, I anticipate the length of ownership for my vehicle. For me its usually about 10 years. Then I anticipate my needs for the vehicle. Again, for me, I know that 10 years down the road I am highly unlikely to be fulltiming or dragging a heavy trailer down the road. I also know that I will not be pulling in the Rockies, I will be on the east coast with the highest elevation being about 4500 feet. Most modern gas engines are quite able to navigate 4500 feet without any problems.

Heck, even looking out 20 years from now I don't anticipate constantly driving up and down the Rockies with serious weight behind me. I don't know that my NEXT truck will need to be a diesel either.

OP, sounds like you think the 6.4 will work well for you. I agree with that opinion. It sounds like the new Hemi is a great towing engine. Having a gas instead of diesel gives you a lot more payload rating too. The 3/4 ton with coil suspension sounds like a great compromise between ride quality and weight carrying capacity.

Hope you enjoy your new truck and you give us updates on how it is working for you.

JIMNLIN wrote:

I dont think the coils give up anything. IIRC the 2500 6.4L standard cab is 3900lbs payload and crew is 3600lbs.

The 2500 Ram with the 6.4 6000 RAWR can't carry 3600 lbs or 3900 lbs in the bed of the truck. Both truck rear axle can weigh 2900-3000 lb which leaves 3000-3100 lbs before exceeding tires/wheels and rear spring pack (RAWR).

The payload is a GVWR payload so that 3900 lbs will have to go over the trucks front and rear axles.

If you look at the 2015 6.4 crew cab 4x4
Rear GAWR 6000
rear cure weight 2843
difference 3157
max payload 3280

Even if you put all the available payload on the rear axle you would you would only be over by about 100 pounds. I don't even think it is possible to place 100% of the load on just the rear axle. In this case I believe the payload and the axles are correctly matched.

TOOBOLD wrote:
Does it have to be a brand new truck? Shop around for some used one's and you might be able find the diesel with all the bells and whistles for a good price. Then you can shop for your new trailer.

I'm always afraid I buying someone problems. More so with a truck than a car...I have no idea what they have been hauling with it or abusing it

Does it have to be a brand new truck? Shop around for some used one's and you might be able find the diesel with all the bells and whistles for a good price. Then you can shop for your new trailer.

I dont think the coils give up anything. IIRC the 2500 6.4L standard cab is 3900lbs payload and crew is 3600lbs.

The 2500 Ram with the 6.4 6000 RAWR can't carry 3600 lbs or 3900 lbs in the bed of the truck. Both truck rear axle can weigh 2900-3000 lb which leaves 3000-3100 lbs before exceeding tires/wheels and rear spring pack (RAWR).

The payload is a GVWR payload so that 3900 lbs will have to go over the trucks front and rear axles.

Highway 4x4 wrote:
There is no perfect truck. So get the one that you want and makes you happy to own for what ever reason. ....... I don't want to look back and wish I would have......................

Great advice.

Is that not the story of our lives...No matter what truck i get I'll always second guess my decision. The only way around that for me is to buy both trucks:)

There is no perfect truck. So get the one that you want and makes you happy to own for what ever reason. I have never had a loaded vehicle with leather so at 63 I decided it was time to do it and go big for one of my last big trucks. The 6.4 hemi will tow your TT but the Cummins will do it better. Yes the Cummins costs more. Yes a loaded truck costs more. It's your money, you decide. I don't want to look back and wish I would have......................