Ram 2500 6.4 vs F150HD 3.5 Eco as a daily driver

I will be doing snow birding with this setup, so we will start in Ontario, then eventually end up in places such as Florida, Texas, Arizona and California. We will drive through Rockies since one of our main activities will be hiking. We will go to Alaska as well.

I'm looking to build a new TT fully custom built, around 25ft in floor plan which will end up like 27ft bumper to bumper. This will be a very heavy TT for that size though since it will not be anything like a normal TT - with big generator and full solar setup along with large battery capacity. Not sure what the weight of this trailer will end up, but I'm estimating at least 6k dry weight and with cargo, probably 8k minimum. Oh yes, I'm planning to add aux fuel tank in the pickup bed as well which eats further into pickup's payload room.

Given this, I think Ram 1500 is out due to their limited towing/payload capacity. I'm also thinking regular version of F150 might not be enough either, hence I'm looking at "HD" version only. But daily comfort is important hence only looking at comfortable suspension. Ram 2500 Diesel might be an option too, need to look at that in more detail.

Regardless of what truck or engine the 2500 will tow more comfortable because of the added weight to the truck and suspension capabilities. How ever going from a half ton Ram with coil spring rear suspension (not a ford) to a 2500 ram 6.4. The 2500 is still much more trucky. It still rides rougher and handles like a truck. A half ton ram is a great daily driver and rides better than many cars on the highway. And they handle great too. I suggest taking both for a ride and compare them as daily drivers. If you can tolerate the rams daily ride then that would be your better choice because it will tow any trailer better. I've also heard ecoboosts get horrible mileage in town driving. They are into the turbos to much and their in town mileage is as bad as the 2500 gas motors. This is just what I've been told by multiple sources. However unloaded they do well for mileage on the highway. My 6.4 does 18-18.5 unloaded hwy. 13 in town, 15-16 mixed. 9-10 towing

If you want a heavier duty truck for towing I would go with the Dodge 2500 and 6.4 Hemi. If you want/need a lighter duty truck...I think the F 150 turbo V6 could be the answer.

Now I see you're in Toronto...not a mountainous area :). But after our trip a short while ago in the mountainous areas of Montana and Wyoming, I've been rethinking my views on turbo engines.

I live on the prairies, but if I lived in a high mountainous area, I think I would consider a turbo charged engine, to compensate for loss of power that a non artificially aspirated, (non turbo or supercharged) experiences.

I did have initial concerns about the durability of the turbo charger on the Ford 3.5 V6, but to my limited knowledge, this hasn't seemed to be an issue with this engine.

So how does this apply to the OP question. Maybe not a lot, except to say if the OP is thinking of light weight trailers (half ton truck tow rating size) and plans to tow a fair amount in mountainous area....maybe the turbo V6 would be a good consideration.

I think the fact that you intend to tow long distances routinely and fairly often should make you lean toward the more heavy duty option, whatever it may be.

A 2500 Ram 6.4 hemi vs a F150 with the max payload is apples vs oranges.

The 6.4 hemi 2500 Ram crew cab has a 5500 FAWR and full floater 6500 RAWR with a 10000 GVWR with payloads from 3030 to 3600 lbs.

The 3.5 EB F150 Ford super crew has a small 3750 FAWR and semi float 4800 RAWR with the 7850 GVWR with up to a 2900 lb payload.

A point about the F150 GVWR high payload numbers.
There is no F150 that can carry 2900 lbs in the bed as its a GVWR payload meaning the 2900 lbs is spread over 3750 FAWR and 4800 RAWR.


What truck the OP wants/needs is up to him. One will be a gazz hog as a DD but will handle that size trailer with ease.
The other will get much better mpg as a daily driver and it will also tow the 7k trailer with ease.

brulaz wrote:

W/r to choochooman's comment:
The Ecodiesel 1500 RAM has very low payloads. If the O.P. is looking at F150 HD Payloads and RAM 2500, then the Ecodiesel has nowhere near their capabilities with respect to payloads, HP and tow capacity.

Of course you can always exceed the manufacturer's ratings with any truck.

Yes, the payload is "less" on my Ram 1500 than my Jeep Liberty. So, towing the same trailer is less safe with the Ram than my Jeep? I am all for not towing stupid, but come on. I know with my Hybrid, putting stuff in the bed, I am over payload on my Ram 1500. So, should I go back to towing with the Jeep?

Also, all 3 engines are similar in Torque. The Hemi, of course, wins at HP. But, I will wave as I tow by at 60mph as they are refueling. But then again, at my age, I will probably be stopping to release the overfilled water....

A little background on me. I had a 91 F350 Dually. I worked on a few race car teams for several years. I towed a Busch North car one year all over the northeast in a 42' trailer. Back then, that is all we had for pickups. A few people were just getting into MDTs and one person actually had an old Winston Cup hauler. Everyone else, one ton dually and enclosed 40ish foot trailer. Shortly after that, life called, and I had to dedicate myself to a career, and there was none in racing.

Towing that many miles my preference would be with a diesel. You will spend twice as much on fuel from my first hand experiance, both owing gas trucks getting 8.9 mpg towing, owning diesels and traveling with people who had both gas and diesels. The gas trucks were drinking roughly 2.5 tanks to one diesel tank of fuel, same size tanks.

Based on your choices You're looking at, 2500 hands down. Halfton option works ok for those towing 5% of the time and daily driver 95% of the time. There are a lot of post trying to convince people, they tow great, they tow ok and many need to upgrade their truck components shortly after to get it to OK. I get it as an option for someone trying to get a good balance out of a combination for mostly daily driving but not for what you describe.

SouthpawHD wrote:
One thing to keep in mind is that SOME Ram 2500s do NOT have higher payloads or tow ratings than Ford and GM half ton HD/Max Tow packages.
...

That would be only the big diesel 2500 RAMs. The gas 2500s typically have payloads around 2500-3000# give or take depending upon options.

W/r to choochooman's comment:
The Ecodiesel 1500 RAM has very low payloads. If the O.P. is looking at F150 HD Payloads and RAM 2500, then the Ecodiesel has nowhere near their capabilities with respect to payloads, HP and tow capacity.

Of course you can always exceed the manufacturer's ratings with any truck.

Both are very good looking trucks! I have had the Ecoboost for a few years now and it is perfect for our needs. Very quite and smooth on the highway in everyday use, and handles our TT with no issues when needed to tow.

I also have the 6.5 foot bed which does make parking in town sometimes an issue.

Make sure you check the yellow sticker in the drivers door for the CCC. Dodge does seem to have lower payload weights. I looked at a RAM 1500 diesel while having the oil changed on my Jeep that had a 1400 payload sticker. For the mileage you will be towing, with a 8000 lb TT, I think I may lean toward the 2500 with the 6.4.

Take your time and test drive, or rent them both ! I think you will be good with either one!

Good luck!

One thing to keep in mind is that SOME Ram 2500s do NOT have higher payloads or tow ratings than Ford and GM half ton HD/Max Tow packages.

This is not a knock on Ram, just a fact and something to keep in mind when physically comparing TV are your local dealers.

Good luck in your search.