I now drive a 2007 Ram 2500 Cummins 6.7 2wd.I am looking at buying a Ram 1500 mega cab 4x4 hemi.I tow a 30' Cardinal travel trailer,about 10,000 lbs.,will I be O.K.What kind of milage can I expect empty & towing.Tired of paying diesel prices.

 

depending on how often you tow, you might be better off with the diesel. i imagine your seeing low-mid teens for mpg with the cummins if its a gooseneck trailer. if you tow 10K frequently you want at least the 2500. towing 10k with that you'll probably get 8-12 mpg. if this is a dedicated towing machine, i would very very strongly recommend staying with the diesel.

 

I just switched from an 02 cummins to an 06 mega cab hemi. mileage towing 8k-lb 5th dropped from 11.5mpg to 7.5mpgso no savings there (especially since hemi requires 89 octane which at my altitude requires premium fuel). I did save $10k in the purchase of the hemi over the cummins, but no comparison in power or fuel economy, but that was a trade-off I needed to make to have more room for my growing children (02 was the last year of the suicide doorQC). Other mileage specs: 02 Cummins 14 city, 16 highway; 06 hemi mega 11 city, 16 highway (highway in NM is normally at 75mph). Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

10,000 lbs. on any type of regular basis is a LOT to ask of a gas engine, even the Hemi. With the poor mileage you are gonna get pulling that kind of weight, I doubt you'd save anything in fuel costs. If it were me, I'd stay with the Cummins...

 

Thanks for replies,but my 2500 6.7 cummins only gets 8-9 pulling my travel trailer.If I can squeeze out 7-8 in a Hemi.Dodge has lifetime powertrain warrenty.The 1500 mega cab is on a 2500 suspension I was told.I can buy the New2008 mega cab 4x4 SLT for $ 27,995

 

Sounds reasonableagain a good trade-off. The newer diesels do not seem to be getting the mileage of the older ones. Good deal on the mega cab, so you shouldn't be any money out of pocket for the switch.

 

I forgot to mention my mega cab is a 1500and yes, I couldn't find any differences other than what Dodge rated each of them at. I don't feel any less secure/stable in this one (and that is towing in CO mountains at 11,000') from my 02 Cummins.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but the towing capacity is 10350 lbs for mega cab 4x4 with 4.10 axle ratio. So you'll be near maxing her out towing.

 

The truck I am looking at has a 3.73 gears,but I only tow 10 to 12 times a year.

 

I also have the 3.73 gears in my 1500 and haven't had any issues. I believe the 4.1 may be standard on the 2500, so that may account for some of that claimed 40 poundweight difference. Prior writer is correct that "technically" you could be running up against the claimed factory rating & could subject yourself to lawsuits if in an accident with the trailer attached. I don't think it is a realistic argument, but that has never stopped a lawyer...