Opinion on Truck Reliability

[HydrogenCyanide]

I upgraded travel trailer last year and the new trailer weighs approximately 8000lbs. I've been towing with a 2017 3.5l ecoboost. The power has been great....no issues there but I have felt uncomfortable on the highway. The trailer throws the truck around.

3/4 tonne is the answer but I don't have brand new 3/4 tonne kind of money right now.

I am looking at a 2017 Ram Laramie Cummins which I can get after trade for about 20k more. Any insight into this truck. It has 110,000 KM (70,000 miles). Is this truck and engine reliable? It is a well equipped Laramie.

Any thoughts or insight would be appreciated.

[camp-n-family]

MFL wrote:

blt2ski wrote:


Yes, my new used chebby looks like a typical chebby????????

Marty

Hey Marty...do you know how to post a pic of said truck?

Jerry

Look on page 3 and 4 of this post.

[MFL]

blt2ski wrote:


Yes, my new used chebby looks like a typical chebby????????

Marty

Hey Marty...do you know how to post a pic of said truck?

Jerry

[blt2ski]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:
Congrats on the new rig

What??? No mentioning that it looks like a "JEWEL" :B

Sorry Ron
Looks like a typical Dog-de!

????????????

Yes, my new used chebby looks like a typical chebby????????

Marty

[Cummins12V98]

FishOnOne wrote:
Congrats on the new rig

What??? No mentioning that it looks like a "JEWEL" :B

[FishOnOne]

Congrats on the new rig

[HydrogenCyanide]

Loving the truck so far. Won't be towing trailer until May timeframe, but I did tow my two place snowmobile trailer last weekend which is about 2000 pounds fully loaded and I couldn't even tell it was there 🙂

[rhagfo]

mtofell1 wrote:
If budget is an issue you're sure spending a lot of money for a diesel that you don't need to pull around an 8K travel trailer. Of course, all trucks are complicated these days but I think a diesel has more that can go wrong than a gasser.

While you don't need a diesel you REALLY don't need a 3500 for that travel trailer. I understand all the arguments but, for whatever reason, SRW 3500 trucks are pretty hard to find. Also, with Ram the coil spring rear suspension is a noticeable improvement daily driving to the jarring leaf springs in the 3500. This difference is less noticeable with Ford/Chevy where both are leaf springs.

If you're thinking of upgrading your trailer get the diesel and consider a 3500. For the trailer you have now a 2500 gasser is a great truck. The money you save going gas should get you into something newer... maybe even new.

If budget is an issue, then consider, finding out why the current F150 is having stability issues. It should work with that TT unless it is really long.
If you are looking at moving up, then don't think about what you are currently towing, but think ahead to what you might want in three to four years.
You are currently towing with a turbo charged engine, it you go back to a NA gas engine you will notice it.
If you get a newer 3500 SRW your GVWR will range between 11,500# to 12,300#, which will handle a 5er up to about 15,000#.

[2012Coleman]

Awesome looking truck - hook up your camper, then come back and tell us how you really feel!

[Grit_dog]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I don’t remember touting Anything. Most likely was a cost savings change.

Exactly. CP4 was already well known as being problematic by 2019, yet Ram used them. And all the Dodge boys were like WT F? And all the Chevy guys were like “even GM is smarter than that and got rid of them 2 years ago!”
And all the Ford fans were like “Dodge is trying to bee like us now! All they have to do is make it so you need to remove the cab to work on the engine and they’ll be almost as good as Fords!” LOL

[deltabravo]

rexlion wrote:
Before spending money on a different truck, I'd say to figure out why the current rig is giving you handling problems.

It's an F150 (1/2 ton). That's the problem right there.

[Cummins12V98]

I don’t remember touting Anything. Most likely was a cost savings change.

[Kavoom]

IdaD wrote:
I think in 2019 the Cummins went to a CP4 pump which is hot garbage. However I think they dropped it in 2021 and went back to a CP3 unit, which is what 2018 and earlier had. The 2017 you are looking at would be good to go and a huge step up from your F150.

I have a 2015 with 70,000+ miles on it and I had a water pump failure (which was later recalled) and a back-end NOX sensor failed which I replaced myself (I think the part was about $200 on Amazon). Otherwise it's been a solid truck and I plan to keep it a lot more years.

If you are buying used I would absolutely ignore the 2500 vs SRW 3500 distinction for this vintage Ram. Your used market is limited and they're the same truck from a capability standpoint, maybe with a $200 investment in Timbrens or airbags on the 2500 (and it wouldn't be necessary at all for your current trailer).

Hah, went back to the CP3 huh. I remember them touting that new pump like greatest thing since sliced bread. The CP3 is proven. Going back to it says something about the CP4...

[MFL]

HydrogenCyanide wrote:
I think I figured it out. Here she is

https://imgur.com/9Gbm2b3

Congrats, should serve you well!!

Jerry

[blofgren]

Beautiful looking truck, OP! You're going to love your next towing experience! :C