I just bought the truck you have been asking about. It's a 2500 crew cab long box with the hemi. I also considered buying a Tundra long box, until I drove both. There is no comparison. The Dodge is a truck and the Tundra is a pickup. Buying the Dodge was the best decision I have made in a long time. My previous truck was a 1999 Dodge 2500 and this new truck has way more power, rides way better and gets way better gas mileage. It's getting about 17 mpg on the highway, compared to my old one that got 12. I haven't pulled anything with it yet, but I guarantee it will have no problems pulling my boat. And the ride is more like a Chevy in this new truck. I had a buddy ride with me over the mountain range I live next to and he drives a 3/4 ton Duramax and could not believe the ride and the power. My father-in-law and my uncle both have the Toyotas and love them, but both of them hate the lack of clearance on them. If I would have bought a Toyota, I would have had to put a lift on it and beef up the suspension to get it up to the level of the Dodge. Instead, I bought a Dodge. Another reason I bought the Dodge might not seem very important, but it is real important to me. The Dodge has a beefy tailgate and the Toyota's is very flimsy. I load and unload my 4-wheeler a bunch in my new truck and the Toyota tailgate would not withstand that kind of punishment. I even read about some people complaining about bending their tailgates on a Toyota Tundra forum. The last thing that lead me to buying the Dodge is durability. My last Dodge was in the shop one time in 12 years and I'm sure you have heard about the Toyota problems.

 

Thier was a time not so long a go that I wanted a new 2010 Ram 2500, but Dodge did a number on me that will never ever see me in a 2010 Ram.

Dodge automatics suck, I hate all automtics, but dodge takes the cake.

I love the hemi, I love my 06 2500 hemi, I have never had a issue with the front suspension, how ever, booth left and right front u joints on the drive axles have been replaced under warenty, non serviceable, no grease nipples !!!

the 6sp manual in my truck is a blast to drive, you can't drag with race it, but thiers a hell of a lot of power for towing and high way mpg in my truck is dam good, at higway speed, my truck is a rocket with a 373 ltd slip.

No 6sp manual on a 2010 gas 2500 hemi, you get the pos automatic with the higher horse hemi that is still ost for power.

2010 2500 hemi has a lower ride hight and shorter cab, not winning me over.

Now I'm as old as old school can get, my 06 2500 is a solid truck with past issues that have been over come.

THe 6sp auto in the GMC Chevy 2500 Trucks, is better than the automatic in the dodge, even the 5.3 is quick, but, GM is now having issues with the rear main seals leaking ( I drive GM trucks at work ) and GM trucks ride way to low.

If Dodge had the 6sp with the hemi in a 2010 2500 hemi, I would buy one ...

 

yeah, i agree that dakota does have a stout frame, too bad the ride isn't there, but anyway, back on topic. These old 70s and 80s trucks that you compare your current 3/4 ton to as for mileage, #1 Where they crew cabs? Not many of those made back in the day, and those that did usually had a big engine, like 440, 454, 460. Out of those three, a 440 might get decent mileage loaded, compared to loading a 318 down, and watching it totally lose all mileage as it works too hard. #2 How strong was the frames on those 70s and 80s trucks? #3 Ever think about how much safer the newer trucks are? Alot tougher, chances of injuries way less. That effects the mileage, as strucual integraty has it's price, that price is weight. The 5 speed in that 1500 is the same as it is in a 2500. Yeah, wish manuals were available! My 545 will suit me fine, I've griped in the past, ERS helps, but folks pulling more than 6,000 would like better gear ratios, and 1500s in the flatlands can use a 6th gear for econemy. As for Gms 5.3, it goes down the road pinging and hunting for gears. I had one, not again! want to talk about an engine with high rpm, look at Gms 6.2, yeah, more horsepower, but less torque per inch, at a higher rpm than the newer hemi!

 

That's not my experience with my 2010 4x4 1500 Hemi. Empty this thing takes mild hills in MDS mode without shifting and with 3.92's its peppy at any rpm. There is also a tow/haul mode.

I'll make these two points. You seem to want a 2500 without the added weight, drive train load, and reduced gas mileage that is simply part of the 2500 equation. It think its wishful thinking that you can get a 2500 in a 1500 package from any manufacturer.

Second point, dude seriously you need a 3/4 ton diesel. Both my brothers have 3rd gen diesels, one has a 3/4 and one has a 1 ton diesel, trust me your hauling/towing/power issues will be no more.

 

thanks guys again for all the feedback, and nice to see some ones' from 2500 owners

again, I understand all the pro's and con's of owning 3/4 tons trucks, ( I have owned almost 12 of them now)
and in no way am I trying to get a what a 1/2 to be a 3/4 ton.

all I started to say again, was when you look at the stats ona tundra, it has a close to 3/4 ton stats.

and again, I am no longer interested in one, due to some better looking.
I do think that driving it, and a my 06 2500, is light and day different, and the toyota pull lots better, and shifts smother than any dodge I ever drove, including a 2010 2500!

as for no problems on your 06 2500, well, glad to hear, all of my last 5 dodge 2500's had ball joint problems, and are a big problem, on 2500's from dodge!

I too had both my axle joints on my front end fail, both about 60,000 mile mark, and a rear u-joint at 55,000

I also, had the airconditiion/heater blower motor fail at 37,000 miles!
and I have had a idle probelm now the past 15,000 miles
But other than these problems, its been a good truck, as all in the past have been, from a mechanical reliablty point.

As for my older trucks i have compared my new ones to
Frame 's on them, were very solid, back way when , 3/4-1 ton trucks were over built, they came down on frame size if you ask me, as , my older, 3/4 tons, with just extnded cab's(My 79 dodge 2500 ext cab) had a 440, and 35" tires fit under it with room to spare,

could drop way over a ton in it and it still sat very level and high, and yes it drove like a dump truck!
but expected, and it pulled like an animal, and still got 12 mph on average!

all that motor, didn't surge so much to roll over hills, so it balanced out!
and that truck was big and long and heavier, than my 06 2500 quad cab hemi!

so as for it surviving a crash, I felt very safe in it, I would have to hit something much bigger than it.
Hit several deer, and all they did was dent the big front bumper!

New trucks are designed to crumble in a crash, old ones, ??
well they didn't bend very well, you had to hit something big to mess them up!

Go look at old iron, and see how high they sat compared to the new one's
My old 3/4 tons looked like they were lifted, and all were stock!

BUT again, my grip is with 2500's is, that I cannot see how in 25+ years, they cannot do better with gas MPG's, come on!
and as for pulling power, with new technology, and the price these new trucks cost.
they should be much better than the old I owned!

I will give them better interiors, and ride quality.
But thats the stuff that doesn't mean crap to me on power!

Too many people buy trucks to drive to the store, and not to work with, like long ago!
long ago, a truck was measured by an 8 ft bed!
if it didn't have one it wasn't concidered by many as a truck, and NOW!!!
where I live, there hard to find, no matter the badge it wears!!

Maybe if more poeple worked with trucks, they would invest in making them better work vehicles, and not for picking up kids at school with( hence all the quad cabs now)

Again, thanks for all the imput, and would love to hear more from new 2010 2500 hemi owners for real towing experiences and likes dislikes

 

You contradict yourself! Complaining cause you want the sportscar handling, yet say more people should work their trucks more! Take a look at the IIHS vehicle safety ratings. It will tell you about the structure of the vehicle. newer trucks, yeah, parts do crumble, to a certain point...if you didn't have any crumble, you might die like Dale Earnhardt did, the car was tough, but there was nothing to absorb the crash. But the cab on the new trucks is WAAAAY ahead since like 2002. Front end might be bashed to $#*!, but you stand a better chance of getting out! They measure all that stuff, like where the steering wheel goes in a head-on, the rearward movement of floorboards and dash, the doors taking impact: on that note, the Ram only got beat by the Tundra and F150 on the side impact as because a Ram has side bags, no torso bags, I believe it is. So the structure is there. The Ram did better on head on tho than those two, and there are also alot more head ons than side impacts, which a 2010 will be lots safer than a 1985 (or take your pick of any 10-15 plus year old truck) yeah, I had a stepdad drove his 1975 454 3/4 ton GMC 2WD into a tree, had a steering wheel in his chest, he is all messed up still. What, they don't hardly bend? No ratings out there for new 2500 yet, but you gotta believe they are worlds better than a 1995, or whatever. Also, aren't we driving faster than we did in the 70s and 80s? Pretty sure the better highways means faster speeds, are you comparing that you drove 55 and 60 before more, now, 65 and 70 is more like it? take a look at the frames, twenty year olds had a frame less to it than a Tundra, would like to see some of those in that video on here showing the Tundra flexing around! My 07 Dakota had more frame than some 3/4 tons that came out in 05 when that model was new. they also have more emmisions to meet, which might take power out as they tune for a cleaner exhaust. So, that old 440 Dodge, say you drive it through Colorado on I-70, what, 11,000 elevation. Hows that old carb gonna do, unjetted? I bet it will run pretty weak, as it will be so rich. I bet you had to change the oil on it lots more often than a 2010 will need it, carb dumping gas in there. and how did those older trucks do going around a corner, in stock form? Yeah, you were the guy ahead of me, crawling around a turn, cause they couldn't get thru a turn in the 70s trucks. did you like your AM/FM with 2 speakers? Cause the newer ones sound way better, but they add a bit of weight. Like comfortable seats? They add weight, taking away from mileage. How about the sound of the wind on the side vent windows at 65 mph in those old trucks? One more thing they improved on. Run a 400 Dodge crew and a new Hemi crew down the road at 70, bet the 400 will eat lots more gas. Don't get me started on brakes of the old days!

 

Canadian economy is doing fine even our money is worth more that US again so Iam not that worried and when you guys were in Bankruptcy over here they were laid off and the union renegotiated our benefits package and how to keep it funded it the future and that is all taken care of . I don't think Canada is gonna be in as rough shape, We have tons of oil, gold, diamonds, and now the latest a diamond mine in Ontario getting diamonds roughly 15 percent better quality then anywhere.
I know if the US stumbles the world suffers I know but I think if we don't get out of Iraq and the MIddle East Period we will always be broke.

 

well thanks again for the imput
But

""it's all dodge""

I don't know where you read that I drive more at 55-65, never said that!
and again, my older trucks were trucks, and weighted more than my new 06.( not all but some did)
as for gas mpg on my older one's I drove them at 75 most times on the hiway, and still got the same as I do or better now,in my 06, at towing or empty, and some of the old 360's, made well over a 100 hp less than a new hemi, yet towed better( again not all of them did, but some did!)
so why again cannot they do better!!
and as for a carb being so problem matic, well I own many a toy with them and they run flawless.
I snowmobile, and they have carbs that adjust to altidude now, so I guess they could have done that to cr/truck motors too,
I do think EFI, and the types of it, are a better way.

But I think it was all tied into a computer to meet emisions, and then better/easier for makers to test them on a copmuter, than a carb!
just re map, and try again, where a carb would be more labor intensive!
again, it added costs, but did it make better power???
again, pro's and con's to all.
but that doesn't change the fact that 25 years ago, my trucks pulled better!
should be the other way NO?? with your new stuff??

as for traveling speeds,
well in the 60's many state didn't have speed limits on the roads, so, speeds were what you felt safe at!( and I know many of old cars went fast, but handle sucky!)
My early 80's trucks, took turns well, and back in the old day( say the early 90's) in my area( and still in many places)
in winter the roads are snow covered, say 3-6 in hard pack, and trust mewhen it came to stop signs, they stopped better than all these anti lock brakes, my truck, will run right through one if i don't start to stop way sooner than before( I give them a thumbs up on dry or rain wet road, yes advantages and disadvantages)

As for me ever saying I need a better inside on a truck, I never said that, my old 90's and up interiors did just fine
and I could always up grade later, for less cost that what these new inside's cost !
I had a truck on the cover of OFFROAD MAGAZINE in the 1990's
actually twice!
so I know a lot about what can be added on to a truck!
it was a dodge too!, with a real hemi in it!
actually dodge motor sports bought the engine off me!, and as far as I know its still in one of there trucks on the show side!
as for truck frames, they have gone and come in big heavy to light, its all about the costs of them , and what they can get away with
these days they have the computer ability to test things to the breaking point, and then adding just enough! to be on the safty side
old trucks, well either they were made too heavy or not!
the modern age has solved many of that!

as for you dad getting hurt in an accident
I am very sorry to hear that
but at the same time, I have to think that every accident has many variables.
in some of my older truck I had some bad accidents( none my fault! too by the way!)
But I hit a telephone pole at 75, put the drivers side wheel under my steering wheel,
no seat belt( were not a law then) and threw the pole over 100 feet, actually bent the gas petal over the brake petal,
I never hit the brakes, the pole and what was behind it stopped me!
I didn't get a scratch, yes very very very lucky,
but again, it was an old truck, big and beaffy!
had it not been I think I wouldn't be here!
would a new one have faired better??
never want to find out!
again, too many things can go either way.
working on accident calls for a time, I saw many things, from crushed cars/trucks that NO one should have walked away, but did, and some minor dingers crashes, that people got it very bad.
again, all depends on many a things!
I have a general rule of thumb I live by, the heavier vehicle( in a multi car crash) normally wins!
its about physic's
graviety, longer an object stays in motion!, it has to slow down, better the inside,
people have to slow down too!
why tractor trailers win so many crashes with cars!( not always again!!)

you seem to think I am not informed, sorry,but I am !
I again have owned way many trucks, and currently have a 06, 2500, hemi, and other than some issues, am mostly happy.
I am dissapointed in the fact it isn't a lot better than all the old ones! YES,, and ball joints!! they should have all the bugs out of solid axle by now, come on!

that's been what my post has been all about
looking to find out if the new 2010 2500 is actually better than a 06, or a tundra( tundra already lost in my eyes)
before I drop another 40 grand on a truck, that might not be any better than what I now have!!

I again, thank you all for your feedback, ALL of it! the good and the bad, I believe its all ment to help

so plese feel free to add more!

 

you just like to type or do you really think anyone is reading your blabby posts any longer?

 

Lets clear up a few items, first and formost, air bags and helper springs and E rated rubber (10ply) can increase the pay load of a 1500 Ram, it will never truly be a 3/4 ton truck, but it will accomplash a hell of a lot more than a 1500 Ram.

AS I sated before, I hate the automtic in the ram, but all 1500 trucks regaurdless of make have automtics, I don't have expierance with tunners, but lowly 5.4 fords and 4speed automatics respound well to tunners.

If you like plastic, get the Tundra, I admit to liking the Iforce engine, but once again, I hate the shift patterns in the automtic and god awful use of plastic in the interior.

a hemi 2500 Ram, non mds, is allmost identical to milage to a mds 5.7 in a 1500 Ram, when towing in a mds hemi, mds is not working, same is true for hauling heavy loads, a 2500 is built with stronger axles and better suspension.

as for the CTD, you really have to work them hard to justfy owning one, a hemi dose the same job at a 1/4 of the cost, but will never out tow a CTD, for a working mans 3/4 ton, nothing wrong with the hemi.