Is ram 3500 SRW 6.4 hemi enough?

When i did a build and price, for only hundred$ more you can step up from the 3/4 to the 1 ton and u get almost 1000 pounds more payload. To me that is a no brainer. Yes, the comfort factor sucks. Maybe in a few years, theyll have a monster TV that rides like a cadillac.

IdaD wrote:
I feel your pain. I've decided about a half dozen times that one or other is the smarter choice for my needs. I just can't seem to settle on one, but I feel like now would be a good time to make a move since some 2014s are still available with some nice discounts. So I need to either you know what or get off the pot or I'll probably wait until spring when the 2015s come down a bit in price.

Money being equal I would prefer the CTD. But there's a $7000 difference so money isn't equal.

I would like the towing performance, longevity and resale of the CTD. Being in Idaho I think I'd also benefit from the power the CTD makes at elevation. I'm leery about using it as a DD on my 5 mile commute, though, plus the headaches of dealing with the emission stuff (although it doesn't sound too bad anymore). Really the daily driver with short commute aspect is the thing that has me most concerned with the CTD. That and up front price, anyway.

The Hemi would work better as a DD and would have less to worry about from a maintenance standpoint. The towing mileage/range is a little frightening and I worry a bit about the issues some have had with the gear spacing on 1-2, especially at elevation, and I think you'd give up every bit of your up front savings (if not more) on resale. But the mileage thing is probably a little overblown because with current prices I really wouldn't be spending much more on fuel with the Hemi - in my area gas is around $3/gal vs diesel at $3.70 or so.

The other conclusion I've reached is that a 2500 would probably be fine with the Hemi, but on the CTD a 3500 is really the way to go because the 2500 oil burners have pretty poor payload ratings. I've driven both and to me the 2500s do ride noticeably nicer with the rear coils.

Ok. Here is another reason for ya: If I stepped up to a diesel, I would only be getting 17150 instead of 15590 towing capacity from the 4.10 1 ton with 6.4 hemi to the CTD with 3.42. I dont think $8k is worth it for 1500 pounds towing cap. witht he same payload. Especially when my commute to work is only 5 miles one way. The only way I could see justifying a diesel is to move up to the CTD dually with the 68RFE tranny and 4.10 gearing. But, you also add $600 for the trans. upgrade. Then you get 21580 capacity. This is off rams chart. Then there is a noticeable difference in the towing capacity. I understand the CTD will pull it better than the gasser.Oops this was supposed to be a reply for APT. Sorry

fla-gypsy wrote:
I think the Ram 6.4L is now the best choice in big gassers and has become of particular interest to those of us who like big gas motors since Ford stopped using the 6.8L in PU's. I see no issues unless you decide to go to big on a TH

Thanks for the reply

ib516 wrote:
I tow a 37' 5er with mine that weighs about 12K lbs loaded. I have absolutely no problems. I used to tow with a slightly modified 5.9L Cummins in a 3500 Ram.

I have a few YouTube videos of my 6.4L Hemi in action here:

Video Playlist

Ok so Im trying to look for a TV that I will keep forever(exaggeration). I have beeen going over the specs. I dont even know if i will be able to get one of these at an agreed upon price. I would like to spend $8000 on the diesel but cant afford it. Besides the truck will be my DD around town. I dont want dually cause I really dont need more than a 4000 pound payload which the 1 ton will do with 4.10 gearing. This 2015 truck that im thinking about will give me about 15500 pounds towing capacity. I am looking at toy haulers. I dont really want anything huge right now. But, I am trying to be prepared for the future (in case i want a bigger toy hauler). I dont see myself having a 42 foot monster that weighs 14000 but u never know. Im just trying to get as much truck as i can afford which i know is the right thing to do without going crazy. I wont be using it more than once a week in the summer (if that). Thats why i dont want a diesel also. Is there anything Im missing or didnt add? Thanks

Do your homework and due diligence before purchasing. Where I live very few are trading in a Cummins for the Hemi. If you are going to tow a large toyhauler in the future you might be better in the long run getting the CTD instead of looking for a bigger truck when you get the bigger toy hauler. Look closely at fuel mileage as the Hemi will likely get a lucky no wind or hills 15-16 empty; and towing 9.5 to maybe 11 mpg depending on where you tow and the weight. The biggest benefit of the Cummins is the enormous power that it generates. And at altitude the gas engine loses about two percent per 1000 feet while the turboed Cummins can maintain sea level power up to around 12,000 feet. It also has the exhaust brake, better resale, and the real cost difference delta is not $7-8000 but more like $5500 as the 6.4 is a $1500 option. Among the big three and including Tundra/Titan the only gas engine I would consider is the 6.4. It has the same warranty as the Cummins and should last 200,000 miles with a little loving care.

Truck Camper Magazine owns a Ram 3500 dually 6.4 and loves the truck, not the gas mileage, and while carrying a 5000 pound cab over camper watched the 18 wheelers pass them going up hills in Colorado. Something to think about.

APT wrote:

cchristanis wrote:
I wont be using it more than once a week in the summer (if that). Thats why i dont want a diesel also.

That is a poor excuse for not buying a diesel. The up front $, I respect. At 14k pounds loaded RV, you'll certainly appreciate the 8000-ish lb-ft of torque at 20000rpm of a modern diesel.

A friend of mine has a 2012 dually bought new. It's pretty much a dedicated TV and garage queen. It is tucked away in his garage Nov-March. But when he tows, its a dream.

Too many zeros.

But still good at 800.:B

IdaD wrote:
I feel your pain. I've decided about a half dozen times that one or other is the smarter choice for my needs. I just can't seem to settle on one, but I feel like now would be a good time to make a move since some 2014s are still available with some nice discounts. So I need to either you know what or get off the pot or I'll probably wait until spring when the 2015s come down a bit in price.

Money being equal I would prefer the CTD. But there's a $7000 difference so money isn't equal.

I would like the towing performance, longevity and resale of the CTD. Being in Idaho I think I'd also benefit from the power the CTD makes at elevation. I'm leery about using it as a DD on my 5 mile commute, though, plus the headaches of dealing with the emission stuff (although it doesn't sound too bad anymore). Really the daily driver with short commute aspect is the thing that has me most concerned with the CTD. That and up front price, anyway.

The Hemi would work better as a DD and would have less to worry about from a maintenance standpoint. The towing mileage/range is a little frightening and I worry a bit about the issues some have had with the gear spacing on 1-2, especially at elevation, and I think you'd give up every bit of your up front savings (if not more) on resale. But the mileage thing is probably a little overblown because with current prices I really wouldn't be spending much more on fuel with the Hemi - in my area gas is around $3/gal vs diesel at $3.70 or so.

The other conclusion I've reached is that a 2500 would probably be fine with the Hemi, but on the CTD a 3500 is really the way to go because the 2500 oil burners have pretty poor payload ratings. I've driven both and to me the 2500s do ride noticeably nicer with the rear coils.

Great summary. Each has a place, you just have to decide which is right for you.

I tow a 37' 5er with mine that weighs about 12K lbs loaded. I have absolutely no problems. I used to tow with a slightly modified 5.9L Cummins in a 3500 Ram.

I have a few YouTube videos of my 6.4L Hemi in action here:

Video Playlist

I feel your pain. I've decided about a half dozen times that one or other is the smarter choice for my needs. I just can't seem to settle on one, but I feel like now would be a good time to make a move since some 2014s are still available with some nice discounts. So I need to either you know what or get off the pot or I'll probably wait until spring when the 2015s come down a bit in price.

Money being equal I would prefer the CTD. But there's a $7000 difference so money isn't equal.

I would like the towing performance, longevity and resale of the CTD. Being in Idaho I think I'd also benefit from the power the CTD makes at elevation. I'm leery about using it as a DD on my 5 mile commute, though, plus the headaches of dealing with the emission stuff (although it doesn't sound too bad anymore). Really the daily driver with short commute aspect is the thing that has me most concerned with the CTD. That and up front price, anyway.

The Hemi would work better as a DD and would have less to worry about from a maintenance standpoint. The towing mileage/range is a little frightening and I worry a bit about the issues some have had with the gear spacing on 1-2, especially at elevation, and I think you'd give up every bit of your up front savings (if not more) on resale. But the mileage thing is probably a little overblown because with current prices I really wouldn't be spending much more on fuel with the Hemi - in my area gas is around $3/gal vs diesel at $3.70 or so.

The other conclusion I've reached is that a 2500 would probably be fine with the Hemi, but on the CTD a 3500 is really the way to go because the 2500 oil burners have pretty poor payload ratings. I've driven both and to me the 2500s do ride noticeably nicer with the rear coils.

From everything I have read from people using them, the 6.4 is a great motor that everyone seems happy with. Has to be the best big gas burner out there right now.

Good to go OP...6.4 will be a great choice.

Settle in a let that bad boy rev...