RAM 2500

After moving from leaf to coil, I'd never go back unless I had no choice. If not coil, it would be air.

GordonThree wrote:
Folks must be towing a lot heavier loads than I. Never noticed in shifting problems on my 2013 1500 with the 3.92 or my 2017 2500 with the 4.10.

The 1-2 gap with the 66rfe tranny in the 6.4 2500 Hemi is really only bad under a pretty specific set of circumstances. When going up a steep grade and trying to maintain 35-40 MPH or so it shifts to 2nd and can't hold it. At least not with my 11K 5th wheel. I usually just let it wind out and hold 1st and putt along at 30 until the road flattens out. I'm sure this gets better as the gear ratios go up but it will always be there to some extent. On flat or mild hills it does fine for the most part.

I have a 2013 Ram 2500 5.7 Hemi and really like the truck. I pull a 7,000 lb TT and have never lacked any power towing. I don't pay a lot of attention to the shifting or springs vs coils. When n I press on the gas she gets up and goes as fast as I need towing and non towing. I would say go and drive them both and buy the one you can get the best deal on that meets your needs.

GordonThree wrote:
Folks must be towing a lot heavier loads than I. Never noticed in shifting problems on my 2013 1500 with the 3.92 or my 2017 2500 with the 4.10.

Knifedge, don't buy the excuse they would have to build you a truck with the 4.10; just get after your salesperson to find you one in Chrysler inventory. All the 6.4 gasser's around here have a 4.10 because of the "Snow Chief" option group. If you're going CTD, I think you only have the one option for the rear end.

Gordonthree if you have a 3.92 gear, you may not notice the shifting issues that I'm describing because I have a 3.51 gear. When I bought this truck I didn't have a camper so I really wasn't targeting a tow vehicle. And what I'm calling a shift problem isn't really so much a shifting problem as the ratio of the transmission "gears". They appear to be wide ratio. When I'm pulling a hill and the speed starts to drop off when the transmission downshifts it goes all the way to 1st and the RPMs go through the roof. I try to find a happy medium between vehicle speed and RPM but it's just not there. I have either first gear with the engine screaming, or whatever the next gear is which doesn't give me much pulling power.

burningman wrote:
2500 Ram with rear coils is a buddy of mine ....
He tried to carry his truck camper on the new Ram "coilie" and it's a no-go. Can't go over about 40 mph before it tries to wreck.

The one issue with the coil springs is they are in-board of the frame. I installed a set of Timbrens on my '14 for hauling by 14K lbs 5er. I never feel body roll or any 'wiggle' from the rear suspension. Maybe your buddy should try that solution.

KJ

GordonThree wrote:
Knifedge, don't buy the excuse they would have to build you a truck with the 4.10; just get after your salesperson to find you one in Chrysler inventory. All the 6.4 gasser's around here have a 4.10 because of the "Snow Chief" option group. If you're going CTD, I think you only have the one option for the rear end.

I second this... You should be able to find one, but it shouldn't take that long to order one. I get wanting the truck NOW, but you can't convince yourself to wait a month to get the right truck...?

Folks must be towing a lot heavier loads than I. Never noticed in shifting problems on my 2013 1500 with the 3.92 or my 2017 2500 with the 4.10.

Knifedge, don't buy the excuse they would have to build you a truck with the 4.10; just get after your salesperson to find you one in Chrysler inventory. All the 6.4 gasser's around here have a 4.10 because of the "Snow Chief" option group. If you're going CTD, I think you only have the one option for the rear end.

To all, I appreciate the feedback. I definitely know about the shifting issues because I experience it when I tow with my 1500. It's like there should be another gear between either 1st and 2nd, or 2nd and 3rd. I'm disappointed to hear that the same thing exists in the 2500. I could order a truck with the 4.10 gears but unfortunately I'm the type that can't wait for the thing to be built. I guess maybe I'll consider making the jump to diesel.

"I'm @ 60K on my 2014 6.4 Hemi, 3.73 gears and tow an 11K 5th wheel. I'd say the truck is good not great.

While towing - Gear ratios in the tranny are borrowed from the diesel and pretty much suck for this truck. Also, the tranny has some really annoying/stupid shifting behaviors. Most of that can be worked out with manual shifting. The ratios really leave a large gap between first and second. You are often stuck in no man's land trying to go 30-40 up a steep/winding hill. The tranny drops into 2nd but quickly slams back up into 1st.

I know I'm pushing the upper limits of the truck and have the less ideal gears. Even with my complaints it's not like I don't eventually get where I'm going or I just hate the whole experience. It just could be better. If starting from scratch I'd sure be looking long and hard at the Ford 6.2 with 4.30 gears (and presumably a tranny that wasn't designed by an intern).

As a daily driver the truck is near perfect. Also, Ram does give you more for your hard earned money than the competition so it's a tough call. If I towed more frequently, and at the weight I'm towing, there's no way I'd keep this truck."




I second everything said here. I towed a slightly heavier 5th wheel but my truck had 4.10's. The transmission is the down side of the truck. The truck did its job, and did it well on flat land. I towed a smaller bumper pull with a 1500 5.7 and a 2500 6.4. Completely different experience. I would never go back to pulling and travel trailer with a 1500. The trailer I had was only 26ft and 6000lbs, but the 2500 did so much better job and made it so much more comfortable. As far as the motors, you really cant compare a 5.7 in an 1500 and 5.7 in a 2500. They have different power ratings because they use different cams. The 2500 5.7 has lower power ratings than the 1500 motor but a much flatter curve. The 6.4 has a very flat curve and produces a fair amount more power than a 2500 5.7. I personally think Ram makes the nicest truck out there, they ride better and the creature comforts inside are nicer. However the transmission gearing can be enough to make you slap your head at times. The gearing choices in the 2500 gas tranmssion are stupid compared to what GM and Ford uses.

My only first-hand with the new 2500 Ram with rear coils is a buddy of mine who just got a new one after selling his '06 LBZ Duramax (who in their right mind lets go of one of those?? He already regrets that).
He tried to carry his truck camper on the new Ram "coilie" and it's a no-go. Can't go over about 40 mph before it tries to wreck.