First post on here and I need some help. I just sold my 05 Duramax and am looking at getting a 2012 2500 crewcab 4X4 Longhorn with a 5.7l Hemi. The question I have is how will it pull my 9,000 lb 5th wheel, I know it is no diesel, but am tired of all the bs that go with them. Thanks for the help.....Mark

 

Make sure you get the 4.10's

 

considering your last truck was a duramax, you may look into the new cummins. no additives. but as far as pulling your 5th wheel, you'll have no problems, you just wont get very good mpgs

 

Depends on how long and how far your pulling it. If it were me I would still get the cummins, the hemi is good don't get me wrong, but your already going to get into the 2500. Why not put the cummins in? If its just a holiday trailer then ya I could maybe see the hemi, but if your towing everyday, cummins. Your going to get better mileage and its just built to haul. If it is a holiday trailer, and its very short distances 1 or two times a year, I would almost consider the 1500.

Other than that your not going to have an issue. Its just personal preference to me, I wish I could have a diesel but to me its not worth the 2500 to get into it.

 

Nate, I will be pulling it about 8-10 times a year, about 130 miles max one way. I do tandem pull with a boat behind it. I want to go 2500 just because I think I want "more truck" than a 1500. As far as diesel, I am tired of all the bs and extra expense that goes with them. Thanks for the input, I am having a hard time figureing it out. By the way I don't want to start a war, but I am also looking at a F250 with the 6.2l. I like the way the Ram handles alot better, and pricing is way better on the Ram also, just question how it will pull. Thanks for the help......Mark

 

sounds like you already have your mind made up.

I went to ford too before buying my truck, just to look at it. I had been talking to dozens of dealers all over the east coast, and one guy goes "look, I have both a dodge and ford dealership, and I will tell you right now, I own a ram. Just open up the door on the ford and you will see where they stamped the doors" (as in nothing was smooth, grinded, just done quick and easy)


but honestly man, if I had the extra 10 grand, I would have bought the cummins diesel. the new one is supposed to be effortless.

But you want the hard numbers, your looking at like 12 mpgs highway, maybe 14 tops while towing. Bone stock, not towing, truck brand new, with no added weight, I was getting 19/10 on the highway home from NY where I bought the truck. At times 22, but that was on those good down hill slopes.

I love my 2500, but the gas will drain your pockets

 

I have owned 6 Dodge cummins 5 of them were 5.9 and one was a 2008 6.7, and I have also owned one 2005 Chevy duramax. I now own a 2500 with a hemi, and I can say I would never consider buying any newer diesel again. My 6.7 was the last one I will every own. With all the emission BS on these new diesel, and they get about the same mpg as a hemi but diesel cost far more then gas. I could go on and on about how much of a POS my 6.7 was but I won't I can copy a link to a different post about that if you want. My 05 duramax had a ton of issues as well. All my 5.9 were great trucks, and I would love to own another 5.9 with a NV5600 again someday.

As far as the hemi being able to do what you want to do I would say yes it can. I would not want to pull more then 10K lbs with it though. I pull about 7K with my fifth wheel loaded plus I pull a 14' V bottom boat behind that. I get about 10 - 12 mpg with this setup on non ethanol fuel. One thing is my hemi mpg really sucks if you use ethanol at all. Without it I get 15 - 17 mpg on the highway and with ethanol I get 12 - 14 mpg.

The truck has a ton of power and will get better mpg then the Ford 6.2. Plus I think in 2012 the 2500 hemi comes with the same 6 speed that the cummins has in it. It just has a 545rfe casing, but the internals are that of the 68rfe I think the new tranny is a 66rfe.

My buddy also just sold his 6.7 and got a 2010 2500 with a hemi, and he pulls about what you do. He does not regret his decision either far fewer issues, and far less maintenance. Plus the front end has a lot less issues then a diesel does because there is less weight.

Unless you are pulling over 10K lbs all the time I would never even consider buying any of the newer diesel. If you do the math it just does not work out to buy a diesel.

 

You should be good with the hemi...tonnes of power, and IMO better the then that 6.2 ford. Thing about Ford now is they don't sell a motor without a turbo or supercharger anymore. Might be good tech, but again might not be. I have been hearing about lots of ford owners putting new turbos in anywhere from 150-200k. Just another thing that will fail on these trucks. At least with the HEMI you get just that same amount of power WITHOUT turbos, and if you drive right you might get within 1 MPG of what that Ford will do. The Hemi is proven technology and it works, you willing to invest good money into something that you might have to do an overhaul on in 200K? JMO.

 

Yes I agree on the whole BS emmisions crap. BUT I know lots of guys that put a tuner on their cummins and its a totally different motor. They are claiming 150HP just off the tuner, (those guys that have had them in their 3rd gens are seeing increased reliability because of it) because it gets rid off all that emissions control. Might be overstating, but I have heard it is a totally different motor. It sucks that companies are making it that way, but you know all those pro green guys who want MAX emmisions.

 

Evan & Nate thanks for the helpfull replies. After doing some more research I am really starting to lean towards the Ram. One question I have, is there any reason not to get the 4:10 gears, all the dealers seem to stock the 3:73's and that seems odd to me in a 3/4 ton truck. Also wouldn't resale be better with the 4:10's. I only plan on keeping the truck for about 4 years. Again you guys have helped me alot and I really appreciate it. Thanks.....Mark