Looking at 07-09 Cummins and 06-09 hemi 2500s

Will tow my 6000lb 2nd gen Gasser a few times a year. Other than that will be DD and exploration truck on BLM and forest service trails up here in ND,MT,WY, and Michigan when I go home.

Do I really need a diesel? I can't make up my mind yea hemj mpg will be a few less than a deleted 6.7. But maintenance will be less on hemi and it weighs alot less than Cummins so I can see front end parts lasting alot longer etc.

IM ABOUT TO RIP MY HAIR OUT Lol.............

 

I've played that game a couple times. My last five trucks dating back about 22 years two diesels, three gasser and I've always regretted not getting a diesel whenever I bought a gasser. This last time, after having owned my '04 Hemi longer than any vehicle I've ever had I decided to go back to a diesel. I just turned 50 and this being a diesel could conceivably be the last truck I buy. I got almost 12 years out the Hemi and it was in good enough shape to fetch me $16,300 last summer so I can see me getting 20+ years out of a diesel unless I wreck it.

As far as maintenance, since you are looking at deleted trucks, it won't cost much more than maintaining a gasser. As for MPGs when my Hemi 1500 was stock it would get about 13 mpg overall and maybe just eek out 17 mpg on trips if I stayed out of it. After the lift, adding about 80 HP and 35" tires, I took about a 3 mpg hit.

I'm getting 20.5 with the Cummins 2500 overall use and got over 24 on a recent trip from Fla to NY and back. My maintenance will be a bit higher because I'm not deleted and with a 10 year / 120,000 mile bumper to bumper I don't intend to delete until 2024, unless emissions screws up and becomes a headache. But with a deleted truck you can go longer between oil changes and you won't have two fuel filters nor have to purchase DEF.

It's up to you, the 2500 Hemi will do what you want it to do, the Cummins will just do it easier and for many years longer...

 

Hammer hit it on the nose. sounds like a hemi will do you just fine. But as he said, he regretted not getting a diesel each time he bought a gasser. If you're spending the money, my opinion would be to opt for the diesel....more power, will get better mpg if you delete it. A stock diesel that hasn't been deleted will get roughly the same mpg as the hemi. You could go for an older cummins like 07.5 or older and not have to worry about deleting things to get good mpg. Diesels hold their value as well

 

I Would not buy a 3rd gen 2500 Ram, This gen has crap front stearing and suspension, Soon to be rust backets.

My Hemi has been the only joy in my ownership expierance,

Dodge trucks are fauty pos crap or I just had bad luck with my pavement queen 06...ie only 141,000 km..

Even from new, u joints were binding up. In 2wd...

 

That's just them sh*t ones designated for Canadian sales. We don't got them issues on the ones down here, LOL.