RAM 3500 DRW W/6.4 Hemi
I just found a 2016 RAM 3500 DRW w/ 6.4 HEMI gas engine 3:73 gears with 10K miles and 4wd locally by private owner for a smokin' price. I may want to put a AF 992 on it and tow my enclosed 7x14' trail...
Forum Discussion
After 20k miles with camper in sig, I've average 12.4 mpg hand calc running 65mph on interstate which is probably only about 25% of the camper mileage. I do not use tow/haul mode unless in the hilly mountains except for one trip pulling the boat. In that trip, I average 11.8 mpg on the one tank which included my wife learning to back the trailer down the ramp which took about 20 minutes (to be fair, was a longgggg ramp). Based on diesel comparison of fuel mileage I obtained with my 5.9 manual, fuel cost over 42k miles has been less than an extra $500. Based on backroad driving in 5th, mileage is about the same at 55mph as on the highway at 65mph in 6th. The truck actually prefers to run about 70mph and will easily creep up there if not watched because of the higher rpms.
The MPS cutoff does help a little bit when empty, but with the 3.73s, any gear over 5th or any load makes it useless.
When I custom ordered the truck, my biggest debate were the gears. My figuring on selecting the 3.73 rear end was I would be in 5th gear most of the time which would make the 3.73 correct choice. The 4.10s in 5th gear I felt would make the RPMs over 2k at highway speed. As it turns out, with 3.73s, at 65, I'm about 1600 which works well for the motor.
The biggest thing and about the only thing I don't like about the 6.4 is the lack of an exhaust brake which I had on my 5.9. There are plenty of brakes and I've never once felt like they were inadequate and haven't gotten noticeably hot even on long back road decent. The tow/haul mode does a pretty good job of downshifting and the engine module also adjust valve timing in 1st and 2nd to provide additional engine braking.
2nd most thing is the large gear difference between 1st and 2nd. This means before you downshift to 1st, you need to slow down more than you would think you need to or you get a hard shift. This doesn't happen when normally slowing down.
For those claiming 7-8 mpg, that is the mileage I've heard with the 5.7 Hemi, not the 6.4 Hemi which didn't debut until 2014. The 6.4 Hemi reports are extremely consistent in the 10+mpg even when pulling heavy trailers.
Bottom line, I'm extremely happy with my choice and would buy the same configuration again. Only difference is we would probably switch to a dually to open up camper options since we are getting closer to retirement. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to pm.
The MPS cutoff does help a little bit when empty, but with the 3.73s, any gear over 5th or any load makes it useless.
When I custom ordered the truck, my biggest debate were the gears. My figuring on selecting the 3.73 rear end was I would be in 5th gear most of the time which would make the 3.73 correct choice. The 4.10s in 5th gear I felt would make the RPMs over 2k at highway speed. As it turns out, with 3.73s, at 65, I'm about 1600 which works well for the motor.
The biggest thing and about the only thing I don't like about the 6.4 is the lack of an exhaust brake which I had on my 5.9. There are plenty of brakes and I've never once felt like they were inadequate and haven't gotten noticeably hot even on long back road decent. The tow/haul mode does a pretty good job of downshifting and the engine module also adjust valve timing in 1st and 2nd to provide additional engine braking.
2nd most thing is the large gear difference between 1st and 2nd. This means before you downshift to 1st, you need to slow down more than you would think you need to or you get a hard shift. This doesn't happen when normally slowing down.
For those claiming 7-8 mpg, that is the mileage I've heard with the 5.7 Hemi, not the 6.4 Hemi which didn't debut until 2014. The 6.4 Hemi reports are extremely consistent in the 10+mpg even when pulling heavy trailers.
Bottom line, I'm extremely happy with my choice and would buy the same configuration again. Only difference is we would probably switch to a dually to open up camper options since we are getting closer to retirement. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to pm.
