Experience w late model Dodge/Ram Cummins?

[speeder]

I might start towing a much heavier gooseneck trailer, (possibly 20k lbs.), Mopar trucks w Cummins seem to be the overwhelming weapon of choice among people who tow this heavy. Of course, a brand new Ford 6.7 or Chevy Duramax would also do the job but what impresses me about the Cummins is that they seem to perform great no matter how many miles and I would not hesitate to buy one w 200k towing miles on it for the right price and condition.

I'd be probably sticking w about 2015 and newer, I have no reservations about the drivetrain but wonder about the rest of the truck since it seems like I've read some horror stories here in the past.

Any experience here w newer HD Cummins rigs? Especially 1-ton or larger? Thanks.

[ckelly78z]

I've always been a Ford fan, but amounst the Ford fans is the ultimate combination, a rust free Ford, with a Cummins/Allison drivetrain....doesn't get any better than that.

I think for a long period of time Dodge built mediocre trucks with wonderful powertrains. Hopefully in the past few years, thier quality control/ergonomics has improved to match their motors.

[onewhippedpuppy]

From what I’ve seen they are still mediocre trucks with great powertrains. My father in law is a contractor, he put about 100k on a 2014 (I think) 1 ton dually quad cab with a flatbed, bought almost brand new. Six speed manual, needed two clutches and had some odd intermittent engagement issues going neutral to first that required restarting the engine. The main fuse box caught fire at least twice stranding the truck. He had several major ECU issues, the front end needed fully rebuilt before 100k, and a host of other little things. He liked the truck but it was always in the shop for something, and he knew several others with similar results. They are also quite small inside compared to the Ford, and the interior feels really cheap.

[cabmandone]

While I have no experience with the Dodge trucks, my cousin owns a fleet of trucks (Dodge, Ford and Chevy) He was a solid Ford guy until the 6.0 came along. Now he has several of each brand but said he prefers the Dodge trucks. Having said that, my nephew who works for him prefers the Ford with the 6.7.

So I'm no help.

[CurtEgerer]

I've got a '14 1-ton DRW with the HO Cummins and the Aisin trans. 50K miles. It's a 'Tradesman' (low-option contractor truck) which is what I was looking for. Cloth seats, rubber flooring. General fit, finish, and feel is as good as anything else. No issues. I tow around 20,000lbs and am well-under capacity. It's a work horse.

There are nightmare stories on every truck and car made But a good indication for me when deciding on brand was driving in the general area of Elkhart, IN where all the RVs are made. About 60-70% of the independent contractors hauling trailers for manufacturer's are driving RAMs. 2nd most popular is GM Duramax. Seems about the same ratio in horse country around Lexington KY.

You will want the HO engine with Aisin trans options if you're towing 20K (900 lb-ft of torque!).

[onewhippedpuppy]

Maybe because they are cheap? My FIL replaced his problematic Ram with a brand new one, except with a Hemi and automatic. He wanted an F250 but saved about $10k buying the Ram. He said for $10k he will tolerate a few problems, and it's just a work truck for him anyway.

You are correct though, there are horror stories about all makes. There just happen to be a lot of them related to FIAT/Chrysler products.

[CurtEgerer]

I'm sure you're right Matt. They are piece of **** vehicles.

[id10t]

My friends who live in a 35' 5th wheel traveling with the ren faires use a Dodge/Cummins as their tow vehicle, no complaints. Very popular truck in that crowd.

[speeder]

Thanks, Curt. That's pretty much the truck I'd be buying. I've done some reading on a truck sub-forum that is all late model Cummins and apparently the other transmission is also fine as long as you stay within its rated load capacity, which of course is less than the Aisen but still pretty high depending on rear axle and other factors.

Which axle ratio do you have? How many miles do you have on it towing? Any issues?

Responses about gas hemis, older trucks w engine swaps, etc. are irrelevant and do not understand the question. This would be a contest between only the newest offerings from the big 3, equipped w their heaviest tow package; i.e. newest monster diesel, 1-ton minimum DRW, latest gen HD towing transmissions, possibly cab & chassis, etc.

Dodge/Ram trucks in this segment are very popular among pros. There is a guy on the forum w 420k miles on a 2014, (I think), pulling up to 38k lbs. CGVW, (truck+trailer), as an oil rig hotshot driver in TX and OK. Brand loyalty has a whole different meaning for someone like that than people who use a 1/2 ton truck to go to the mall.

Still, I wanted some random data from owners here because that board is very specifically RAM. Not all of them love their trucks but most seem to.

[vash]

my brother bought the last year without DEF. 2013?

it gets awful MPG. shockingly bad. he got a smoking deal and will do modifications later to try to improve that.

the truck itself is posh..super comfy. way more trucklike than the duramax he drove into the ground.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by vash

my brother bought the last year without DEF. 2013?

it gets awful MPG. shockingly bad. he got a smoking deal and will do modifications later to try to improve that.

the truck itself is posh..super comfy. way more trucklike than the duramax he drove into the ground.

That's interesting. Cummins trucks typically get the best mpg of any of the big 3. I guess it depends on configuration. It looks like this early 2012 is the last pre-DEF, (though that is a really minor thing to me), instrument display says 13.8 mpg but who knows what type of driving.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-Dodge-Ram-3500-MEGACAB-LONGHORN-4x4-DUALLY/292493114611?hash=item4419f2bcf3:g:C-0AAOSwCMtaV7Vb&vxp=mtr

[CurtEgerer]

DEF is a good point Vash. 2013 and prior get HORRID fuel mileage as u say. Starting in 2014 with DEF it's a different story. Not towing, I can easily get 21MPG on the highway and 18.5 around town (my old POS Honda CRV only used to get 23-24 ....). Towing 20K I get 12.4 MPG consistently (several trips Michigan to Florida). DEF fluid is cheap and I only have to fill it every few months at most.

Denis - I bought the truck at auction (clean service history) 2 years ago. It had been a contractor's truck and was setup for a gooseneck trailer. So I assume many of the miles are towing. I've had one problem - towing the 20K trailer up the steepest section of I-75 in Tennessee I suddenly heard a loud POP and lost at least 50% power Scared the **** out of me because there are no shoulders on that steep, winding section to pull over and I was running with a bunch of semis. Long story short, I nursed it to a RAM dealer 40 miles away (all on steep grades) thinking I blew a turbo. I could only do about 50MPH. Mechanic found a turbo hose that somebody had screwed around with previously and was not clamped right.

[aigel]

I have the 1/2 ton with the ecodiesel - 2015. It has the same interior, so that's where it is relevant for this discussion. I think the quality is on par with the others in that department. I really like the interior. It doesn't have the over-square shapes "transformers" scheme they have in the Ford now.

Everything is holding up very well on the inside. The rest has been okay, but not great. It was flawless up to about 35k, then a CEL for a cooling valve and now a CEL again (undiagnosed) and a clunk in the front suspension. I got the 100k mi bumper / bumper. Jury is still out but it doesn't look like a "drive into the ground" type truck so far. Personally, ANY more diesels in the family will be pre-emissions.

G

[CurtEgerer]

OMFG, I just glanced outside

[onewhippedpuppy]

Geez Curt, didn’t know your Ram was such a touchy personal topic. Just relaying some personal experience that was less than positive. It’s a sample of one but so is yours. I know that had it been my truck, no way I would have bought another.

[CurtEgerer]

I always find it funny that one negative experience trumps another's positive experience. Why? Doesn't, by the same logic, my one positive experience mean that all RAMs are the best trucks ever built? I'm not a RAM fan boy. Looked at all 3 brands, but this was the right deal at the right time and it's been all good. REALLY tough to buy a bad vehicle of any kind these days. Well unless you search Google for "[insert vehicle name] problems", then they're all crap.

[911boost]

Not a dodge but my 1 ton F350 gets about 18mpg not towing and 11-13 consistently towing. I have found the type of tires makes a huge difference. I got 3mpg more when I had the stock street tires.

I also have the DEF and it’s not an issue at all, they sell it everywhere.

[speeder]

Ok, so definitely want a DEF truck. That simplifies things. I could care less about putting in DEF, it's literally a drop in the bucket in terms of total maintenance cost.

And yeah, a turbo/intercooler hose blowing off while towing heavy up a mountain, (only time it ever happens), is a nightmare. Checking those hoses and clamps should be part of a normal pre-check but it's rarely mentioned.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Fairly certain that I never said my experience trumps yours. One positive and one negative, they cancel each other out. I have no personal vested interest whatsoever.

[flipper35]

If it helps at all we are friends with a father/son team that delivers stock trailers in their spare time from all the other farm duties. They use higher end trucks (posh interior for the wives) than Curt but they drive the snot our of them. They do a mandatory tear-down/rebuild on them at 350k miles but none have ever needed a rebuild. Most of the farmers around here have them for hauling trailers with the big round bales.

The only thing they have complained about so far is mileage on the new ones compared to when they started in the early 90s. The early trucks would get 22 or better when towing. Now they barely get 20 empty.