2018 Dodge and B&W

[fj12ryder]

Not sure whether to put this here, or in the 5th Wheel forum.

I'm looking at a 2018 Dodge Cummins 3500, and am wondering whether I'll have to replace my B&W Companion hitch that I currently use in my 2001 Dodge Cummins 3500. Or whether I'll have to get the puck-type B&W. There's a hole in the center, but it looks round so I don't think my B&W ball will fit, but don't know. The truck is a couple hundred miles away and we haven't absolutely decided.

It does have the 5th wheel package and OEM brake controller. Any information would be appreciated.

Please move this if it would be more appropriate elsewhere. TIA.

[Cummins12V98]

fj12ryder wrote:
Prepare for a rant. We've been shopping around and all these dealers show a price, and then they say they have to collect all these fees. They end up adding $500-$800 to the price of the vehicle. If you call them on it, they say they have to charge those fees, and that's total BS. Just burns my butt. Basically they're charging you for the privilege of giving them money.

Next thing you know, you'll see a $1 restocking fee at the bottom of your grocery store receipt.

I would hate to be in your shoes right now!!!

My Dad is looking to get into an RV and truck soon but it's a sellers market for sure. 2014 RAM 3500 SRW Laramie one owner with 96k said he would take 54k, he is asking 58k.

[fj12ryder]

Prepare for a rant. We've been shopping around and all these dealers show a price, and then they say they have to collect all these fees. They end up adding $500-$800 to the price of the vehicle. If you call them on it, they say they have to charge those fees, and that's total BS. Just burns my butt. Basically they're charging you for the privilege of giving them money.

Next thing you know, you'll see a $1 restocking fee at the bottom of your grocery store receipt.

[Cummins12V98]

We need pics!!!

[fj12ryder]

Sounds like a plan. Thanks again all you guys.

[Cummins12V98]

Push TowHaul and Full ExhaustBrake put it in gear and let it do the job. Oh yea the permanent smile comes with the truck.

[rhagfo]

fj12ryder wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Yeah, I keep forgetting about the Dodge/Ram thing. LOL

Yes, the new-to-us truck has the Aisin 6-speed, but not sure about the air ride. We're looking at the Tradesman model to keep the costs down. About $10,000-$15,000 difference between them and the same year Laramie. And I'm a cheap bastid. I will be getting the puck mounted B&W hitch for sure. Don't want to lose my membership in the B&W club. 🙂 And the new one would put me in the heavy weight club.

That truck has a 14,000 GVWR. Sounds like a beast. Not as beasty as the new ones, but a whole lot cheaper. 🙂

Thank you for all the info guys. Much appreciated.

So the old Dodge and the New to you Ram 3500 both DRW, what are you towing with your current Dodge?

It's a 2019 Grand Design 351M toyhauler. About the same size as our previous Fuzion, but a couple thousand pounds heavier. Our Fuzion was right at 15,000 lbs. and the 351M is 17,500 lbs. Kind of a light pin at 17%, but seems to behave just fine. The GVWR of the Dodge was 10,400 lbs. I believe and this trailer puts us right at 10,700, so not a big deal IMO. But the truth is I'm getting tired of shifing that dual disc clutch and pulling a heavy load. I'm looking forward to an automatic. 🙂

I think you will be very happy with the HO/Aisin combination!

[fj12ryder]

MFL wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
We're located in Missouri, just north of Kansas City.

Too far, my Dad will be looking for a truck.

I too, was thinking that someone is going to get a really nice older truck for towing. I think Howard's truck has the 6-speed stick, for dependability.

If he doesn't keep it, I'm thinking a relative has likely spoken for it.

Jerry

Yes, it was a great truck, and still is AFATG. I bought that sucker in 2005 for $18,500 and sold it for $15,500. But truth be told, it probably looks as good now as it did new. 🙂 It was the 6-speed and that's a very desirable truck. I put it up on the local Facebook Marketplace less than a week ago and had over 20 people ask about it. Two were serious, and one is supposed to show up tomorrow with money. You just never know when you're selling stuff until the person shows up with the dough-re-mi.

Then I needed a hitch because you guys informed me mine won't work. So back to Marketplace and found a used one a few hundred miles away. $800 for a B&W puck style for a Ram. Then they told me they would meet me where we're buying the truck and deliver it. What a deal!!

Kind of interesting, they went from a 43' 6-slide 5th wheel to a much smaller bumperpull.

[fj12ryder]

rhagfo wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Yeah, I keep forgetting about the Dodge/Ram thing. LOL

Yes, the new-to-us truck has the Aisin 6-speed, but not sure about the air ride. We're looking at the Tradesman model to keep the costs down. About $10,000-$15,000 difference between them and the same year Laramie. And I'm a cheap bastid. I will be getting the puck mounted B&W hitch for sure. Don't want to lose my membership in the B&W club. 🙂 And the new one would put me in the heavy weight club.

That truck has a 14,000 GVWR. Sounds like a beast. Not as beasty as the new ones, but a whole lot cheaper. 🙂

Thank you for all the info guys. Much appreciated.

So the old Dodge and the New to you Ram 3500 both DRW, what are you towing with your current Dodge?

It's a 2019 Grand Design 351M toyhauler. About the same size as our previous Fuzion, but a couple thousand pounds heavier. Our Fuzion was right at 15,000 lbs. and the 351M is 17,500 lbs. Kind of a light pin at 17%, but seems to behave just fine. The GVWR of the Dodge was 10,400 lbs. I believe and this trailer puts us right at 10,700, so not a big deal IMO. But the truth is I'm getting tired of shifing that dual disc clutch and pulling a heavy load. I'm looking forward to an automatic. 🙂

[MFL]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
We're located in Missouri, just north of Kansas City.

Too far, my Dad will be looking for a truck.

I too, was thinking that someone is going to get a really nice older truck for towing. I think Howard's truck has the 6-speed stick, for dependability.

If he doesn't keep it, I'm thinking a relative has likely spoken for it.

Jerry

[Cummins12V98]

fj12ryder wrote:
We're located in Missouri, just north of Kansas City.

Too far, my Dad will be looking for a truck.

[rhagfo]

fj12ryder wrote:
Yeah, I keep forgetting about the Dodge/Ram thing. LOL

Yes, the new-to-us truck has the Aisin 6-speed, but not sure about the air ride. We're looking at the Tradesman model to keep the costs down. About $10,000-$15,000 difference between them and the same year Laramie. And I'm a cheap bastid. I will be getting the puck mounted B&W hitch for sure. Don't want to lose my membership in the B&W club. 🙂 And the new one would put me in the heavy weight club.

That truck has a 14,000 GVWR. Sounds like a beast. Not as beasty as the new ones, but a whole lot cheaper. 🙂

Thank you for all the info guys. Much appreciated.

So the old Dodge and the New to you Ram 3500 both DRW, what are you towing with your current Dodge?

[fj12ryder]

We're located in Missouri, just north of Kansas City.

[Grit_dog]

Can confirm, you're not gaining any real world added capability or meaningfully heavier components in the '19+ trucks.
Couple more ponies, a nicer screen on the dash and some minimal "improvements" combined with potentially large headache if you got a CP4 equipped model.
2015/16 through 2018 is still a very viable, top of the heap truck.
If it's a Tradesman, likely it doesn't have air assist. Not sure how I feel about it, not having had one, but I do know that it can't possibly be more versatile, simpler or trouble free (potentially) than a big ole set of leaf springs.

[fj12ryder]

Yeah, just comparing the 14,000 GVWR of the new truck to the 10,400 GVWR of the old truck. 🙂