With the cash from my 05 Ram sale burning a whole in my pocket, and having to ride around now in a Corolla I will be off tomorrow shopping for my new TV. I have been wanting to look at the 6.4 Hemi but can't find one in any inventory list around my area. Are they that popular that they can't keep them in stock or are they that unpopular that the dealers aren't stocking them? I would ask a salesman but would prefer a real world answer, if you know what I mean. So, if any of you rv'ers tow with a 6.4 Hemi, how do they handle 8000-9000 lb. 5er? What kind of mileage do they get heading to grandma's house without the rv? What do you think of the 68rfe transmission? :)

I recently went from a 03 Cummins Ram 2500 to a 2014 6.4 Ram 2500. It averaged 7mpg towing over 11k of 5th wheel and gets around 14 empty (mix of in-town and freeway).Trip reportPost after I bought the truck

I went from an 07 5.9L Cummins to my 6.4L Hemi. I get 7-9 mpg (8 usually) pulling a 37' 5er that weighs in at about 11.5 to 12k.Mixed driving nets 12-14 mpg.Empty highway is 16-18 mpg.The Hemis use a 66RFE trans which is almost identical to the 68RFE -- they have the same ratios and basic construction. I am very happy with the way it performs so far.

Thanks for the information. And that trip report was great. I know the route you took through WV very well. I would have liked to here greater mph but that sounds about what my son gets with his 6.0 Chevy. But I don't thinking he has that much HP. I calculated at 15000 unloaded miles per year it would take 12 years to make the diesel pay out. Of course on resale you can recoop much of that. Ram is offering some really good deals on 2014 diesels right now. This will be a tough decision if I can find a 6.4.

Look at the tow ratings of the 6.4 verses what you currently tow and what you may want to tow in the future. I went with the diesel not because the gasoline engine could not handle my current load, but because it was close to the limits of the gasoline engine and would limit my choices later. The last two trucks I have sold in the past 26 years have been due to the want of more capacity and not due to wearing them out. Maybe my new one will last me longer with a 19K lb GVWR and 26K lb GCWR.

The 6.4 is very popular. The 14's are getting scarce. Buddy of mine looked long and hard for the one he picked up last week. His dealer had to locate one for him. Good news, the 15's will be out soon. Bad news, the incentives probably won't be close to the 14's.

Shopping starts tomorrow | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

mountainsam
Explorer
Nov 19, 2014
I have had diesel for ten years and pulled flat beds, horse trailers and a cargo trailer but just started pulling the 5th wheel. I have to say I may have bought the 6.4 Hemi if I could have found one. I think I made the right choice on this one though. This transmission is awesome and the extra HP and torque is very obvious. Haven't pulled the trailer yet but I will say the 6 speed and engine brake really flatten out these mountain roads in Northern California.
TXiceman
Explorer II
Nov 17, 2014
For towing, you are going to love the oil burner and wonder why people even use a gas burner to tow an RV.

ken
nirion
Explorer
Nov 17, 2014
Congrats on the new ride!
ttsr4us
Explorer
Nov 14, 2014
mountainsam wrote:
ok, went with the diesel. Picked it up today late afternoon. 2014, ten grand off sticker. 6.7 cummins, 6 speed auto, long bed set up for 5th wheel. DW got to pick out the color. If I can figure out how to do it I will post a pick or two tomorrow evening. Could not locate a 6.4 Hemi anywhere near us.

Enjoy your Truck.

Great idea to let DW choose something she likes. I was tending towards a Cummins myself but DW preferred the cabin, seats, finish etc. of the NEW GMC Sierra 3500 HD SLT Duramax 2014 we just purchased.

She was happy, I was happy to get the Diesel. Like you, I got a great deal on a new 2014. I'm sure we will both have many happy towing miles and great camping weeks/months/years.

Enjoy

Brian
mountainsam
Explorer
Nov 14, 2014
No pictures, for the life of me I can't figure out how to post a picture on this web site. others are no problem. :>(
mountainsam
Explorer
Nov 13, 2014
ok, went with the diesel. Picked it up today late afternoon. 2014, ten grand off sticker. 6.7 cummins, 6 speed auto, long bed set up for 5th wheel. DW got to pick out the color. If I can figure out how to do it I will post a pick or two tomorrow evening. Could not locate a 6.4 Hemi anywhere near us.
mowin
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
The 6.4 is very popular. The 14's are getting scarce. Buddy of mine looked long and hard for the one he picked up last week. His dealer had to locate one for him. Good news, the 15's will be out soon. Bad news, the incentives probably won't be close to the 14's.
Bedlam
Moderator
Nov 12, 2014
Look at the tow ratings of the 6.4 verses what you currently tow and what you may want to tow in the future. I went with the diesel not because the gasoline engine could not handle my current load, but because it was close to the limits of the gasoline engine and would limit my choices later. The last two trucks I have sold in the past 26 years have been due to the want of more capacity and not due to wearing them out. Maybe my new one will last me longer with a 19K lb GVWR and 26K lb GCWR.
mountainsam
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
Thanks for the information. And that trip report was great. I know the route you took through WV very well. I would have liked to here greater mph but that sounds about what my son gets with his 6.0 Chevy. But I don't thinking he has that much HP. I calculated at 15000 unloaded miles per year it would take 12 years to make the diesel pay out. Of course on resale you can recoop much of that. Ram is offering some really good deals on 2014 diesels right now. This will be a tough decision if I can find a 6.4.
ib516
Explorer II
Nov 12, 2014
I went from an 07 5.9L Cummins to my 6.4L Hemi.

I get 7-9 mpg (8 usually) pulling a 37' 5er that weighs in at about 11.5 to 12k.

Mixed driving nets 12-14 mpg.

Empty highway is 16-18 mpg.

The Hemis use a 66RFE trans which is almost identical to the 68RFE -- they have the same ratios and basic construction.

I am very happy with the way it performs so far.