Ram 2500 with 6.4 Hemi
I've ben keeping up on the posts and researching the new 6.4. I just sold my Lance camper and will keep my 21' Toy hauler. My 03 DRW with the Cummins pulls it well, but it's really more than I need a...
Forum Discussion
I would strongly recommend AGAINST going with the gas 6.4L HEMI if you will be towing anywhere near the stated tow/payload capacity or anywhere near the mountains.
I tow a V-Cross Platinum 275 fifth wheel with a dry weight of less than 8000 lbs and less than 30 foot in length. I had a number of issues on my first trip out requiring significant time in the shop out-of-state, but that's not even the problem.
After getting the truck back together I finally took off for the mountains west of Denver, and just couldn't get there. With empty tanks and modest gear (just cargo for one person, no generator, no special equipment, etc.) I couldn't even get to the Eisenhower tunnel coming up I-70 from Denver, much less attempt Vail pass or over the Continental Divide. Within 10 miles of leaving Golden the truck maxed out around 6,000 RPM and stayed there, getting less than 2 MPG and going about 35 MPH with the pedal literally on the floor. Because of the earlier trouble I turned back, but I think that's standard performance with this engine, everything else aside.
I wish I had seen this video BEFORE I bought the brand new truck, but it's indicative of my experience but actually came out a lot better than I did:
http://www.tfltruck.com/2014/10/2014-ram-2500-hd-6-4l-hemi-and-gear-hold-feature-ike-gauntlet-video/
My tow weight with the 5'er cannot possibly be more than 10,000 lbs, and it's probably closer to 9,000. I understand that's a grueling drive, but I bought my fifth wheel very conservatively, leaving ample room for both gross weight and payload (in the cab there's only me at 180 lbs and a dog at less than 20 lbs plus the hitch in the bed), so I'm well under payload capacity with the dry pin weight of my 5er around 1800. True, I have the 3.73 RAR, thought I wanted the 4.10 it wasn't available on a realistic timeline when I was looking, but watching that painful video at least the 4.10 could make it up the mountain.
Towing in standard conditions it's obviously better, but the torque is just NOT there, even towing at my weight. I traded in a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the EcoDiesel V-6 that I used to tow a 22 foot travel trailer, and I would give ANYTHING to have that kinda torque, or anything close to it, in the RAM.
So now I've got a 6-week old truck than can't climb a mountain and I'm 1600 miles away from the TX dealership that sold it to me. I'll save my experience with Dodge and RAM on this little fiesta for another day, cause I don't want to lose site of the point here.
Long story short, I don't know if they over-engineered it or if the 6.4L HEMI just isn't a good engine, but I would not recommend it to ANYONE, and I would think VERY carefully about buying this truck to tow anything that is near the published towing capacities. Certainly do not think about meeting or exceeding them. Sorry Dodge fans, I was one too, and I researched the hell out of this truck before buying it. I guess I listened to a lot of speculation and not a lot of experience with this engine. Better luck to you guys.
I tow a V-Cross Platinum 275 fifth wheel with a dry weight of less than 8000 lbs and less than 30 foot in length. I had a number of issues on my first trip out requiring significant time in the shop out-of-state, but that's not even the problem.
After getting the truck back together I finally took off for the mountains west of Denver, and just couldn't get there. With empty tanks and modest gear (just cargo for one person, no generator, no special equipment, etc.) I couldn't even get to the Eisenhower tunnel coming up I-70 from Denver, much less attempt Vail pass or over the Continental Divide. Within 10 miles of leaving Golden the truck maxed out around 6,000 RPM and stayed there, getting less than 2 MPG and going about 35 MPH with the pedal literally on the floor. Because of the earlier trouble I turned back, but I think that's standard performance with this engine, everything else aside.
I wish I had seen this video BEFORE I bought the brand new truck, but it's indicative of my experience but actually came out a lot better than I did:
http://www.tfltruck.com/2014/10/2014-ram-2500-hd-6-4l-hemi-and-gear-hold-feature-ike-gauntlet-video/
My tow weight with the 5'er cannot possibly be more than 10,000 lbs, and it's probably closer to 9,000. I understand that's a grueling drive, but I bought my fifth wheel very conservatively, leaving ample room for both gross weight and payload (in the cab there's only me at 180 lbs and a dog at less than 20 lbs plus the hitch in the bed), so I'm well under payload capacity with the dry pin weight of my 5er around 1800. True, I have the 3.73 RAR, thought I wanted the 4.10 it wasn't available on a realistic timeline when I was looking, but watching that painful video at least the 4.10 could make it up the mountain.
Towing in standard conditions it's obviously better, but the torque is just NOT there, even towing at my weight. I traded in a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the EcoDiesel V-6 that I used to tow a 22 foot travel trailer, and I would give ANYTHING to have that kinda torque, or anything close to it, in the RAM.
So now I've got a 6-week old truck than can't climb a mountain and I'm 1600 miles away from the TX dealership that sold it to me. I'll save my experience with Dodge and RAM on this little fiesta for another day, cause I don't want to lose site of the point here.
Long story short, I don't know if they over-engineered it or if the 6.4L HEMI just isn't a good engine, but I would not recommend it to ANYONE, and I would think VERY carefully about buying this truck to tow anything that is near the published towing capacities. Certainly do not think about meeting or exceeding them. Sorry Dodge fans, I was one too, and I researched the hell out of this truck before buying it. I guess I listened to a lot of speculation and not a lot of experience with this engine. Better luck to you guys.
