Hemi 6.4 Ram vs Ford 6.2 (gas)
Before I do comparisons on these two engines, has anyone already done research on this... feedback would be great and perhaps save some extra time. Thanks for the input!
Forum Discussion
kzspree320 wrote:
I too am very interested in this subject. Owning a diesel with dpf emission control stuff out of warranty like I do is just a risk I'd rather not have. Seems like a lot of people like their new gassers and my fiver weight is a little less than 12,000, which is well below some of the gas tow ratings.
If you look at last years pickup truck ultimate 3/4 ton challenge on the Ike Gauntlet, you will see that the Ram 6.4 with 4.1 lost to the Chevy with 6.0 and 4.1, as well as the Ford with 6.2 and 3.73 rear end. Why?? The first and second gears of the Ram are 3.23 and 1.84, while the Chevy's are 4.03 and 2.36, and the Ford's are 3.97 and 2.31. The Ram came in last and went up a long section at under 30 mph with the rpms limited by the Ram engineers to prevent damage. The Chevy and Ford trucks have lower transmission gearing in first and second even though they both have less torque and the Ford only had a 3.73 axle.
I live in flat Louisiana and this would rarely apply to me, but I do love to go to Colorado. All these engines are gasping for air at the end of the Ike Gauntlet at over 11,000 feet and have lost about 30% of their power due to elevation. It's an extreme test. In less extreme conditions I think all 3 would do fine. I would just have to get used to 4,000 rpms instead of the 1,600 or so I now hear with the Cummins.
I am hoping at least one of the 3 put an 8 speed transmission in a 2500/250. That would probably push me to gas again. I have had a 7.3 Ford and 6.7 Cummins and I love the way diesels tow. The emissions stuff has just made them less reliable and more costly to maintain, with big potential repair cost that don't fit my retirement budget well. I hope this helps some. Good luck with your decision.
There is an odd side to this thing about the Ram's 6.4 not wanting to pull the higher RPM's in first and second; Actual owners have reported having no such problems.
I for one would like to here from more people that actually own them.
However, from my own standpoint I find the whole thing very plausible since they've been doing the same power limiting programming in first and second to Cummins powered RAM's for more than 10 years.
