Took the plunge - Cummins to Hemi 6.4

[nirion]

After reading posts, reviews, specs, watching videos, and a few test drives, I finally decided to take the plunge. I sold my 2003 Ram 2500 QC LB 4x4 Standard output 5.9 Cummins 5 speed and bought a new 2014 Ram 2500 Big Horn CC LB 4x4 Hemi 6.4 with 4.10 gears in Western Brown.

It has the 5th wheel prep, so I had to order a new base for my B&W companion hitch. It should be here Friday and I hope to do some test towing this weekend. We leave for our first big RV vacation soon, a trip to Disney's Ft Wilderness on 10/18. I'll post back with more info after the test pulls and hopefully a trip to the scales.

Thanks to all, but especially ib516, for the info on the 6.4. I went back and forth between 3500 SRW Cummins or a Hemi 6.4. I really hope I made the right decision. 🙂

[nirion]

transamz9 wrote:


Yeah, my back up is in the 8.4. I don't have the cargo cam but was thinking about adding one. My truck is a short bed and I have a fuel tank up next to the cab so unless I almost stand up in the truck I can't see my hitch. My 5er doesn't have a mirror on the front either.

There is a couple products on the market that you can plug into the back of your 8.4 that will allow you to switch your cameras among other things also.

Here's one product.

I'll check that out. Thanks.

I'll get a pic of the cargo camera on, it would probably help some if you didn't have a mirror on the front of the trailer, but I think it is more geared towards a gooseneck because of the angle.

[Bionic_Man]

Congrats on the new truck. Very nice!

[Cummins12V98]

nirion wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Set full forward with the straight edge forward on the side plates. Adjust to 6" from bed to RV. With my B&W full forward and 4,500# pin weight I add less than 200# to the front axle.

Do you have any issues on sharp turns or if you go off the paved road with it set that way? I have a toolbox that I will be putting in the truck this weekend and worried about getting too close to the front. Also, I don't have a driveway put in my property yet, so it is a little bumpy getting the trailer back in.

Not at all. My toolbox ia bed height and 30" front to back.

[transamz9]

nirion wrote:

transamz9 wrote:
Great looking rig. I like the truck/5er color combo. The cargo camera, is it because it is in the mirror that you don't like it? What about it do you not like? It seems it would make it easier to hook the 5er.

It actually has the cargo camera on the 8.4" screen and the backup camera on the mirror (which is the first thing that irritated me, as I would prefer the backup camera or both on the big screen). I just didn't really see the value, with the rearview mirror on the truck and the mirror on the front of the 5th wheel, the extra camera just isn't necessary. Its not a terrible idea, but if I was custom ordering a truck, I wouldn't be checking the box for that $300+.

Yeah, my back up is in the 8.4. I don't have the cargo cam but was thinking about adding one. My truck is a short bed and I have a fuel tank up next to the cab so unless I almost stand up in the truck I can't see my hitch. My 5er doesn't have a mirror on the front either.

There is a couple products on the market that you can plug into the back of your 8.4 that will allow you to switch your cameras among other things also.

Here's one product.

[nirion]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Set full forward with the straight edge forward on the side plates. Adjust to 6" from bed to RV. With my B&W full forward and 4,500# pin weight I add less than 200# to the front axle.

Do you have any issues on sharp turns or if you go off the paved road with it set that way? I have a toolbox that I will be putting in the truck this weekend and worried about getting too close to the front. Also, I don't have a driveway put in my property yet, so it is a little bumpy getting the trailer back in.

[nirion]

transamz9 wrote:
Great looking rig. I like the truck/5er color combo. The cargo camera, is it because it is in the mirror that you don't like it? What about it do you not like? It seems it would make it easier to hook the 5er.

It actually has the cargo camera on the 8.4" screen and the backup camera on the mirror (which is the first thing that irritated me, as I would prefer the backup camera or both on the big screen). I just didn't really see the value, with the rearview mirror on the truck and the mirror on the front of the 5th wheel, the extra camera just isn't necessary. Its not a terrible idea, but if I was custom ordering a truck, I wouldn't be checking the box for that $300+.

[Cummins12V98]

Set full forward with the straight edge forward on the side plates. Adjust to 6" from bed to RV. With my B&W full forward and 4,500# pin weight I add less than 200# to the front axle.

[transamz9]

Great looking rig. I like the truck/5er color combo. The cargo camera, is it because it is in the mirror that you don't like it? What about it do you not like? It seems it would make it easier to hook the 5er.

[nirion]

The hitch came in. It is a beast. Much heavier than my RVK3000. The base for the 3000 was easy to pickup and put in the truck. The new 3600 base is a bit of a chore to load.

As far as towing, the 6.4 did well. I am sure a new 6.7 would have been better, but the 6.4 rode smoother than my old truck and handled my trailer great. Acceleration was good, integrated brake controller was great. Cargo camera wasn't really useful and not an option I would pick given the choice. I only got about a 15 miles test since it was getting late. I tried with and without tow/haul on and was able to set the cruise at 60 in 6th gear. I'm satisfied with my purchase. The real test comes in 2 weeks when we take a trip to Disney (from central OH, about 1000 miles down through WV, VA, NC, SC, GA into FL).

I installed the posts in the above axle position (2nd closest to front) at the highest setting. I might try it with the middle height setting (should only drop 1"). I had about 8" between bedrails and the trailer, but it looks a little nose high.

The truck squatted about 2"-2.5" with the trailer on it. I haven't weighed it yet, but pin weight per Keystone's brochure is 1995 lbs. I'll have to look at the yellow sticker next time I am out there to see what it shows.



(weight is on truck in the picture, but landing gear is just barely off the ground)

[fireman41]

ChiefCook wrote:
My 2014 Laramie 4x4 Megacab has payload capacity of 2595 Lbs. Son In Laws 2014 SLT 4x4 megacab Cummins has @1300 lbs.

A 3/4 TON truck with a 1/2 ton payload. I guess it's only good to go to the super market. Lol

[transamz9]

nirion wrote:

transamz9 wrote:

nirion wrote:

transamz9 wrote:
I'm sorry nirion, I forgot to put it in my original post and meant to. Congrats on the new truck. That color will go great with alot of the full paint rvs out on the market. I have a '13 Bighorn and I think they are a great mix of comfort creatures.

Thanks. My original decision was gas vs diesel, tradesman vs big horn, and if diesel, auto vs stick. I already almost bought a big horn auto diesel in August, but it sold.

Mine has the 8.4 screen, bucket seats, heated seats and steering wheel, cargo and backup camera, upgraded tires (hopefully decent), tow hooks, skid plates, the 5th wheel prep, and mopar running boards. It stickered for $49675 compared to $51315 for a tradesman diesel I was looking at with only uconnect 5, popular equipment package, and chrome package.

I have the same truck but 3500 SB and Cummins Asin. I did not get the prep. Mine stickered for 56,XXX. You will love the truck compared to your old one.

You need to update your signature! 🙂

I wish mine didn't have the prep so I could have gotten the regular B&W turnover ball like my old truck (would have been cheaper too).

Nothing has changed except I added the '13. I still have everything in my siggy and still use the '05 2500 to tow it all with sometimes. I like my old Cummins better than my new one. It actually handles the load better than my new one.;)

[ChiefCook]

My 2014 Laramie 4x4 Megacab has payload capacity of 2595 Lbs. Son In Laws 2014 SLT 4x4 megacab Cummins has @1300 lbs.

[Hannibal]

Beautiful truck! After six diesels (hear the angels sing!) I went back to gas in '05 with a 5.7L Hemi powered 2500 to tow our 10,400 lb weighed 5th wheel around the southeast. At 120k miles when I traded it, it still ran and looked like new. Then a 5.4L F250 to tow our current 8500 lb 5th wheel. I have no regrets. I like the V8 hot rod sound. Here's wishing you many years and miles of happy towing with your new Hemi powered Ram.

[nirion]

mrgrim007 wrote:
Don't know if anyone said this already, but isn't another advantage of going gas mean added payload?

It is in the 2500 (gas has 6-700lbs or so more capacity). In the 3500 SRW, the GVW is higher on diesel, so they are about the same. In the 3500 DRW, the 6.4 with 4.10s has an advantage again.

http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/

[mrgrim007]

Don't know if anyone said this already, but isn't another advantage of going gas mean added payload?