Questions about a 2012 Dodge 2500HD / Cummins

[Our_Place]

I'm looking to replace my gas burner with a newer year diesel truck and so far the best deal (price) I have found is a 2012 Dodge 2500HD SLT crew cab diesel auto 6 speed 4x4 with 97k miles. That's kinda high for a 2 year old truck but it seems to be in great shape. The truck has the Cummins 6.7 in it and it runs and drives real nice. It is a short box but so is the 01 GMC I'm using now for my 5er. How are the new Dodge trucks holding up? I know the earlier years has trans problems. I have been told that the front ends are prone to wear problems? Can anybody give some real input on this truck....

[P_Kennedy]

Like seriously 350 hp vs 365 for the HO makes it a race car with 20k GVW. Mine is a cab and chassis at 305 hp and they haul a lot of loads bigger than rv's across North America with no issues. The hardest part of driving an automatic with a big load is hold the pedal to the floor and let the drivetrain computers do their job.

[retispcsi]

I owned a 2012 3500 dually 4 wd. It was a really good truck. First check and make sure the truck is stock and not chipped or tuned. I believe and you can check with Ram that for a small fee you can assume any remaining warranty. 100k or 5 years on drive train and 3 years 36k on bumper to bumper. The 68 RE transmission is as solid as any out there. The 2012 cam with 350hp and 800lbs torque with the auto trans. Mine had the max tow and 4:10 rear end. It pulled my 37 foot Cedar Creek fiver around like nothing including mountains hills and etc. You want to check you load capacity with a 3/4 ton. ie pin weight of you fiver etc. It was the last year for the non def (urea) Rams. I upgraded to the 2014 in my sig because the 2013 and above motors are B20 compliant. The 2012 is B5 compliant and we full time and it gives me peace of mind as far as the bio fuel junk is concerned. Plus I got a killer deal on the new truck.

[jalichty]

My mistake about the auto noted by OP. If it's an auto, it probably is the HO engine and will have more than enough power to handle anything OP is planning on pulling.

[jalichty]

rhagfo, you are right, I am more on an automatic driver, and have been mostly for over 50 years. The truck I had was de-rated due to the manual and had a 3.42 rear end. I felt it was not as good a puller as my previous 2003 GMC D/A combo and the mileage was not getting better over the time I had it, it was getting worse. On top of that, my wife didn't want to drive the manual transmission and I found it difficult to back looking over my shoulder having to keep both feet on the pedals. Even with the taller 3.42 gearing the mileage on this truck was less than the old GMC. By the way, I learned to drive using an old three-speed manual with a first gear stump puller so I do know how to drive a manual, I just didn't like it as much and was displeased with the results, overall.

[P_Kennedy]

2010 Ram trucks had upgraded steering from "gen 3" trucks and resolved most of the emission issues. These trucks get better fuel mileage because the 6 speed automatics shift quicker at lower rpm's when empty allowing the engine to run slower. This reduces the engines ability to built heat and burn off excess carbon (soot) which is trapped by the dpf and eventually burned off so we can't see it. No brand of diesel was exempted from these emission and technology growing pains. DEF was supposed to cure them but created some new ones which the manufacturers are working they way through. Dodge(Ram) can with a 15 minute scan can tell you the entire history on that truck from updates done to programmers to abusive conditions the truck encountered. We have 2 and they like to run hot and run hard, 1 is a company truck and 1 is my sons daily driver. Lack of horsepower-they could put 1000 hp in a pickup and somebody would complain they were not going up a hill fast enough with 20k+ going up a mountain grade. Depending on where you live climate wise will depend on how much you will have to learn about keeping it clean internally. We prefer non DEF engines here due to the severe cold as it will freeze if the tank heater is not working. The absolute worse thing you can do with any diesel is baby it. It is governed for a reason, the manufacturer sets the governor so drive accordingly.

[rhagfo]

jalichty wrote:
I had a 2012 Ram Diesel with crew-cab and long bed with a six-speed manual. Thought it would be a great truck for us, but after towing our Jayco HT 26.5 RLS to Zion and back came to a different conclusion. The diesel is a bit underpowered since it has the manual and is not the HO engine.

I find it hard to believe that with 350 hp and 610# of torque you find it under powered towing a 5er with a GVWR less than 10,000#. I think you may have either had an engine control issue, or don't really know how to drive a manual transmission.

I tow 11,000# wet 5er that has a 12,360# GVWR with a 5.9 with less than 300 hp, and 3.55 rears and roll down the road just fine.
I really hope you enjoy your GM Dmax/Ally also a nice truck, but sounds like you are an auto driver.

[x50v]

I had an 06 5.9 but had too many trans problems. I ended up with a 14 2500. I like that there were improvements to the rear suspension and the front end, that the 13 did not have. I bought one of those lease 14s, it had 17K miles on it. I hope the trans holds up, it is supposed to have a better trans cooler. I ordered all the parts for the 5er hitch to put on the frame and bed to use my old Pull Rite auto slider, just have to put them in. Love the truck, those cooled (ventilated) seats are super.

[Fast_Mopar]

jalichty wrote:
I had a 2012 Ram Diesel with crew-cab and long bed with a six-speed manual. Thought it would be a great truck for us, but after towing our Jayco HT 26.5 RLS to Zion and back came to a different conclusion. The diesel is a bit underpowered since it has the manual and is not the HO engine.

The OP is looking at a 6 speed automatic truck, not 6 speed manual.

[rhagfo]

97,000 is nothing that truck was likely highway driven, I bought my 01 with 234,000, now at 276,000 miles, this rig is taking us into retirement.

[DirtyOil]

ScottG wrote:


Our Place wrote:

I was told by the dealer that Dodge/Ram did not have to go to the DEF fluid until the 13 model year and the Cummins is a very clean engine not needing the DPF/DEF.


For once a dealer know what he was talking about LOL.
That is a true.

That dealer did not know what he was talking about. ALL 6.7 had DPF.

If he was talking 2500/3500, Dealer is correct. The Cab and Chasis 4500/5500 started using DEF on the 2010 MY.

[jalichty]

I had a 2012 Ram Diesel with crew-cab and long bed with a six-speed manual. Thought it would be a great truck for us, but after towing our Jayco HT 26.5 RLS to Zion and back came to a different conclusion. The diesel is a bit underpowered since it has the manual and is not the HO engine. When we took our trip to Zion, we got around 11.9 on the way down there, drove around a bit to St. George and Bryce Canyon unloaded and then back home. When getting home, overall mileage was down to 10.9 and a subsequent fill-up and three trips to a lake about 40 miles away yielded around 10.2. When I hooked up our boat behind the FW was when I really felt the lack of power in this engine. Also, and this is a personal problem, when backing up with the manual, you have to keep both feet on the floorboard to work the accelerator, clutch and brake when backing looking over your shoulder. This was more difficult to do than I wished for. Also, my wife was unwilling to drive the truck with the six-speed manual. So, we traded back to a GMC crew-cab, short bed with D/A combo. Now, we get, generally right at 12 mpg when towing our boat and trailer together and have gotten as much as 13.6 on our trips. I also no longer feel the least bit underpowered. For what you are pulling, that truck will certainly do a good job, just pointing out what I experienced when buying this 2012 vehicle.

[Grit_dog]

Up to 2012 the chassis is the same as 3rd Gen trucks which is solid. Not as robust as the '13 and up as there were big changes in the brakes frame and steering/ susp components in 13.
Still a fine truck.
The G56 trans is reliable but realize if it's stock it's underpowered compared to the HO motors by about 150 ft lbs if it is still stock.
Whether it has/had a tune or not, if it's still on the original clutch at 100k, it has not been beat on and you'll be due for a clutch SOON unless it was really babied IMO. The dmf clutches are the only Achilles heel in these trucks and they're still ok just not he greatest.
If it's in good overall condition and maintained well so far the only other big variable is injectors.
Without addl filtration you could be in for injectors by 150k but this is a toss up not an absolute.
Overall good truck you won't be disappointed.

[goducks10]

I have a 2012 2500 ST CC LB 4x4 3.73 CTD with 23,000+ on it. Solid trouble free truck. I've never had any trouble with the emissions stuff and I only drive it a few miles a day when not camping. I try to get the engine temps up if possible when it's cold out. 11.5-12mpg towing our 9000lb 5'er. 17-18 hwy. Couldn't be happier.
FYI I paid $36,000 and change new in July 2012. Not sure what they're asking for it, just throwing that out there.

[Bionic_Man]

My 2012 has served me well. No complaints here.

There is a recall on the left front TRE, but the dealer will take care of that.