2017 Ram 3500 6.4L dually. Should I?

[Wagonqueen_Truc]

Yesterday day I drove a new 2017 Ram 6.4 Hemi Dually. I know absolutely ZERO about dodge products. In the past 20 years I have owned all Ford trucks and Chevy SUVs. Currently I carry my old camper with a 99 Ford 350 with the Triton V 10. Although it has under 100,000 miles, the years of hauling heavy loads for work and the general bad weather of PA, is showing her age. A heavy duty truck is integral to our business. Hauling six thousand pound sometimes.

Although I have no plans on getting rid of the Ford, Dodge has some pretty good incentives right now and this particular dually came up on my truck watch. It's hard to find duallys on dealer lots. Anyways, can anyone shed some light on this truck. You know... power, engine, payload, opinions, experience?

[Wills6_4_Hemi]

I just bought a new 2016 CC DRW LB 4x4 with the 6.4 Hemi, I love it and should have bought it sooner IMHO. Mine has a payload of 5,973 LBS. It tows very well!!!

[kohldad]

The only problem with the 66RFE is the larger than normal gap between 1st and 2nd. It is absolutely no issue getting going, but is large enough that you have to stay in 2nd gear longer than one would like when manually downshifting.

The 6.4 in certain situations when engine braking adjust the valve timing to provide additional engine braking. When it engages, it is very noticeable. Just wish the Ram engineers took advantage of this feature more agressively as it is a great benefit.

[towpro]

Troutguy wrote:


I respectfully disagree with this statement. According to the 2016 RAM 2500/3500 brochure "The 5.7 HEMI V8 and the 6.4 liter HEMI V8 are mated to the long-proven 66RFE 6-speed automatic ". I don't believe that the AISIN trans is available with the gas engines in the 2500/3500 trucks but that combo may be available on the 4500/5500 gas engined trucks.
I believe that the OP is referring to test driving the 3500 series dually.

I agree.
using online ramtrucks.com site, I was able to outfit the 3500 with 6.4HD gas engine, and 4:10 gears, in both SRW and Dually, but the only trans choice is the 66RFE. any other trans forces the diesel engine option.

there are a lot of these 6.4's out there, all using the 66RFE trans. there should be a track record that can be viewed on the internet sites.

[Rubiranch]

Never could or will buy a Dodge. 😉

I know that doesn't help one bit. LOL

If I was going to buy a new truck today I would sit in and drive all 3 and then I would buy the one that's the most comfortable for me to sit in and drive.

How much difference does a few horse power of a few hundred pound cargo weight really make anyway??

When I bought my Chevy that's what I did. Never compared the specs until after I bought it.

The Chevy had the least hp (20 less than Ford and can't remember how many less than the Dodge), it got the best gas mileage, has heaviest payload and a highest resale value and was and it is hands down ergonomically the best to me out of the three.

In just over 3 1/2 years I've put over 100,000 miles on it and replace 3 light bulbs. Other than maint that's it.

I've been a die hard Ford man my entire life but I do love this Chevy PU. 🙂

[Troutguy]

KD4UPL wrote:
But, if I were picking a new HD truck with a gas engine I think the RAM 6.4 would be the one to get. Particularly since you can get that engine with the Aisin transmission which adds PTO capability along with MD toughness.

I respectfully disagree with this statement. According to the 2016 RAM 2500/3500 brochure "The 5.7 HEMI V8 and the 6.4 liter HEMI V8 are mated to the long-proven 66RFE 6-speed automatic ". I don't believe that the AISIN trans is available with the gas engines in the 2500/3500 trucks but that combo may be available on the 4500/5500 gas engined trucks.
I believe that the OP is referring to test driving the 3500 series dually.

[Bionic_Man]

jmtandem wrote:

I am looking at this Ram at $32,000 out the door.

If you want to get some good baseline prices on the truck you want check the websites for Dennis Dillion and Dave Smith. Then you can go to your local dealer and negotiate.

Always good to get an idea of costs, but hard to compare apples to apples when one has a trade in.

[jmtandem]

I am looking at this Ram at $32,000 out the door.

If you want to get some good baseline prices on the truck you want check the websites for Dennis Dillion and Dave Smith. Then you can go to your local dealer and negotiate.

[Wagonqueen_Truc]

Thanks all. I appreciate all the input. Making the decision by tomorrow. I think I am leaning towards the purchase. My Ford is fast approaching 20 years old. We have a 2014 Chevy Tahoe we are trading in. With trade in value minus what I owe, plus the factory incentive and dealer deals, I am looking at this Ram at $32,000 out the door.

[kohldad]

See my sig for my setup though it's SRW. Even with the 3.73, it tows the 2,400# camper with 2,800# boat in tow in 6th gear at 62mph. Drop down to 58 mph in 5th and I lose about 1 mpg which is about the same as you would lose with the 4.10s running loaded. Drop down to 55 mph in 5th and get about the same as 62 in 6th.

I choose the 3.73s figuring I would be in 5th with the camper on board, but actually find if I run 64mph on the interstate, the truck loves 6th gear and doesn't seem bogged down.

My father has the 6.7 diesel in his DRW version of my truck and it seems to be getting about the same mileage regardless whether he is towing a 15,000# FW or his 5,000# TC.

The only thing I miss is the exhaust brake, but I've never come close to overheating the brakes even coming down long steep twisting bake roads off the BRP.

My last Dodge truck was a 2004 CTD which I sold with 180k miles after basically trouble free miles.

In regards to the warranty, I think the warranty on the gas engine dropped to 60,000 miles.

[Bedlam]

I would have chosen the Ford 6.8 V10 over the Ram 6.4 V8, but the 6.4 over the Ford 6.2 V8. The V10 is only available in Ford's chassis cabs in a detuned version, but still impresses me for a gasser.

[Wagonqueen_Truc]

woodhog wrote:
Ram 6.4 with camper Review TC Magazine

Exactely what I wanted to read.

[jmtandem]

Ram 6.4 with camper Review TC Magazine

I found the review by TCM to be a little disappointing. Nobody purchases a gas engine for the fuel mileage. It just won't happen when towing or hauling heavy. And the magazine chose not to opt for the 4.10 axles that give both a better chance for the cylinder deactivation to work and adds 1000 pounds to the GVWR, thus increasing available payload that is something the magazine is almost anal about never exceeding. I seriously doubt the 4.10 axles would give any less gas mileage and maybe even better mileage when towing or hauling. Yesteryear the 4.10 axles would yield less fuel mileage than 3.73s but with todays transmissions it is not that big a difference, if any.

[Wagonqueen_Truc]

towpro wrote:
wagonqueen,
you can go to the RAM body builders website pick your year and truck (17 is probably very close to 16 weights) than on left side you will see "camper guide" click on that. go down until you find your truck listed. (be sure to pick 3500, 2 or 4wd, match cab, bed length, engine, GVWR and seats. no field for SRW or dually, but that is already in GVWR field as SRW is less) I noticed they had a mistake and showed both 6.4 and 6.7 as diesel (3500's are 1/2 way down).

once you find your truck it will show you center of gravity info for truck campers. as well as "remaining cargo"

back on the main index screen, you can also click on the page that shows Base Weights/GCW/Payload/Trailer Tow

Very helpful. Thanks!!

[woodhog]

Ram 6.4 with camper Review TC Magazine

[youngm357]

I have a 2016 ram 2500 6.4 and the power is unbelievable. I couldn't justify $10k+ for the diesel and I'm really happy with it. After 2400 miles however my average mpg is 12.7 but I can buy a lot of gas before I could buy a diesel.