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Old 06-21-2014, 08:58 PM   #1
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Question Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 6.4 Hemi vs 6.7 Cummins

Have a 2012 Ram 2500 4x4 with 6.7 Cummins. Finding all-in operating cost per mile much more than expected and a bit cumbersome. Dodge introduced a truck version of the 6.4 gas burning Hemi in the 2500 for 2014 which burns regular gas. Considering a swap to go from Cummins to Hemi to tow my 2012 International. Anyone using the 6.4 Hemi as a tow vehicle? Thoughts???
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Old 06-21-2014, 09:43 PM   #2
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You failed to mention your trailer size and whether you plan a lot of western mountain trips.

We tow our 2014 31' Classic model 30 loaded and load up the bed pretty well, so our heavily modified 2012 Dodge Cummins and trailer crossed the CAT scales at 18,860 pounds. The trailer weighs about 9,100 pounds which exceeds many gas powered towing ratings. With the Curt 15049 hitch (I cut off the factory hitch) rated for 2,550 pounds, our 1,345 pound tongue weight is not an issue. We have a 54 gallon Titan fuel tank in lieu of the factory 36 gallon tank.

Any trip we take going out of Phoenix West, North or East requires mountain grades within a few miles of where we store the trailer. I have towed a much lighter tandem motorcycle motorcycle trailer behind a gasoline v8 Toyota Sequoia and the winding the motor to over 4,000 rpm was tiresome from the engine noise and vibration for long periods of time in the mountains. There was no engine braking in the descents which meant using the brakes to control speed. The Cummins engine brake is adequate for the steepest grades and I do not need to use the new trailer disc brakes or the truck brakes.

On really long steep mountain grades, the Dodge will drop back to 5th at 65mph and all the temperatures (EGT, water, oil, transmission and rear differential) stay where they belong while generating 30 inches of boost and 28K psi fuel rail pressure. That is on 106 degree days.

Good luck in your research. Send me a PM if you want more details.
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Old 06-21-2014, 11:06 PM   #3
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Thanks! We have a 30 International. No mods to the 6.7 Cummins stock 350 hp 750 ft lbs torque. Obtaining "clean" diesel fuel has been a challenge. Water and dirt contaminated fuel difficult to avoid. Buying fuel at high volume name brand stations. Do you favor a single supplier of fuel and who is it? Are you using something other than the stock fuel filtering system? What about fuel additives? Just had a $900 tank draining and line flushing experience. Love the truck, the torque and exhaust braking capability, but the maintenance related to fuel quality has been excessive. Wondering if higher rpm and more braking crossing the mountains is an exceptable alternative to inconsistencies in diesel fuel and the maintenance associated with it.
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Old 06-22-2014, 02:04 AM   #4
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While a gas engine may be able to pull a given trailer, the mileage, usually around 10 mpg will limit the fuel range significantly. As noted, a diesel can have an auxiliary tank, gets a couple more mpg than gas, and this allows longer range between fill ups. In my motorhome which got about 8.5 mpg, held 150 gallons of diesel, I would try to refill at half full or 600 miles on the tank so as to reduce the fuel quality issue somewhat. Also, diesel fuel may have a cost difference of up to $0.30 per gallon within states so having the ability to cruise through the "high price" states saves a little. I put 51,000 miles on my Allegro Bus before selling it to purchase another Airstream.

My current tow vehicle is a 2008 Dodge Cummins 2500 to which I am planning on adding about 50 gallons of fuel capacity to have a maximum range of over 1200 miles. This will get me to the economical fuel stations around the country.
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Old 06-22-2014, 05:06 AM   #5
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Never found bad diesel, but have seen bad gas in this part of the country. Jim
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Old 06-22-2014, 06:04 PM   #6
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Have a 2014 Ram 2500 4x4 Laramie CC with the 6.7L Cummins. I bought this truck specifically for pulling my 2012 28' International CCD. It is ... in a word ... spectacular! Just returned from a trip out west....lots of mountains as well as flat lands. I averaged 14.1 MPG on a 2,200 mile trip. Oh, and I added a 37 aux. diesel tank in the trunk bed as well as a Honda 3000 EU generator. In other words...fully loaded. A major plus with this truck is the exhaust brake....there were a number of long, steep hills where I never had to touch my brake pedal. And going up? With 840 lbs of torque? Not a problem. I LOVE THIS TRUCK!
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Old 06-26-2014, 11:08 AM   #7
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I'm not using one but there is no reason why it wouldn't do the job. If I ever sold my current truck I would give it very serious consideration due to the high cost of fixing the diesel components. Our truck needed a turbo and dpf filter last year - extremely costly when coming out of your pocket (~$3500). You have the 2012 truck with the "Bluetec" emission system like I have (2009 model). This system uses too much EGR and extreme amounts of soot gets pumped back into the engine. In 2013 the Dodge consumer trucks started using the DEF fluid and the system is much more reliable.
I have never had fuel related problems and change the factory filter every 15k miles per the manual. If you wanted to keep your truck you could invest a better water/fuel separator system. There is an auxiliary factory setup as well as aftermarket for better filtration.
I have read quite a bit about the 6.4 on the forums and most folks seems pretty happy, they are supposed to be fast. The fuel mileage will be less than the diesel but the gas engine trucks are more than capable of doing the job. It may not be a big deal if it is a dedicated tow vehicle.
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Old 06-26-2014, 12:28 PM   #8
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Ctd

I couldn't give up my diesel. I had the gas Dodge Ram, not a new one, it was a good grocery getter.
It was nothing like my current 05' CTD.
We bought the CTD after a few trips of gas truck pulls on our previous trailer. It wasn't a 'heavy' trailer, but I didn't want to get run over on the interstate at every hill either. 8 and 10 miles to the gallon, RPM takes fuel. So we bought a diesel. I don't live in flat land, sometimes you need all that torque.
I can't believe my truck is nine years old. Its such a good truck. Runs up and down the hills and mountains of VA and W.VA with such ease. Its slow on the flats compared to others, but I have the 4.10 gear. 62mph is the sweet spot. Up or level it will stay at 62.
It will pull trailers, stumps, a House, plus a Locomotive (at the same Time)

Knock on wood, I haven't had any fuel issues, but I use the Fleetgard or Baldwin filters. No leakee oil either.
I'd keep the diesel, but that's just me.
Have a good one!
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Old 06-26-2014, 02:10 PM   #9
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A friend of mine just traded his '03 Ram CTD on a 2014 Ram with the HEMI. He pulls a 37' Carriage 5th wheel (which you could probably put your trailer and mine inside of). Whereas he got 12mpg towing with the Cummins, he gets 7mpg with the HEMI. The chassis is approximately the same, but the gasser just doesn't have the torque. He said it doesn't pull it nearly as well as the old truck.

Now, if you aren't towing full time, the gasser might be better for you. It will not tow as well as a diesel. But you have to weigh how much of the time you will be towing.

I realize they've dorked up the new diesels with all the emissions junk. Eventually they will get them sorted out. But until then, it's like 1975 with them.

I run a 04 1/2 (basically an '05....they made a bunch of changes mid year that year) pulling a 34 triple axle. I get 12 to 12.5 mpg running 70-75mph on the interstate. I get 15mpg running 55mph on the back roads. Loaded to the gills I'm over 5 tons of trailer, and have never hit a hill I couldn't accelerate up.

Honestly, for an Airstream, you don't have to have a diesel. They just spoil you with torque Not sure if I'd buy one new myself with the way things are. Ten years ago....no questions at all. Diesel all the way. But I bought the truck before the trailer, and I wanted something I could pull a big 5er with.

Best of luck,
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Old 07-01-2014, 07:02 PM   #10
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I had 2 fuel problems(both slight) in 31 years of diesel pickup ownership. I have a 2012 Ram 2500 Mega Cab 4WD with CTD. I am loaded to the max GVW. I get 11-12.5 mpg towing at 68 mph. The new 2013+ will get better mpg due to the DEF system and lower rear gear ratio.
Good luck in your search.

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Old 07-10-2014, 06:46 PM   #11
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Thanks for your thoughts. We are keeping the CTD at least until we complete our mountain towing experience is over. Your posts help confirm my thoughts.
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Old 07-18-2014, 04:30 PM   #12
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My first outing with the new Serenity and my 2008 Dodge Cummins 6.7..... Headed up to Virginia a tank mixed with city driving....yuck 11 mpg. Next tank, mixed city, highway, 12.8 mpg. Then returning home, a pure highway towing, 60 - 65 mph, headed west, managed 14.8 mpg..... So, I am anticipating about 14 while towing, the same as with my 2009 27 FB International Ocean Breeze.

The diesel makes towing so easy, and with 14 mpg, a safe cruising range of over 400 miles. Yes!


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Old 07-19-2014, 01:56 AM   #13
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Look into converting the stock tank to the Titan 56 gallon tank that fits in the same space under the bed and cab. Gives the driver more options as to what brand of fuel he wants to stop for.

Pay attention to the bio-diesel tag. I avoid Love's. Flying J & Pilot as they only sell bio-diesel with up to 20% of the energy robbing stuff, just like less energy in gasoline with the corn squeezings. The stuff is very corrosive so do not spill any on the outside of the truck let alone inside the engine. My 2012 Cummins was supposedly approved for only 5% bio-diesel.

I have seen close to 14 on the level, but hard pulls coming out of the Phoenix area immediately into the mountains will drop it to 10.5 to 11.5 depending on the length of the climb.

Love the exhaust brake, but remember to turn it off on rain or snow covered roads so no jack knife issues arise. One wants all brakes on truck and trailer all off or all on together when the roads are slick.

Currently have two 2,000 watts Honda gen sets, three six gallon water containers, 11 gallons of gasoline in two tanks for the gen sets, 20 pound propane tank for the grill, several hundred pounds in 50 amp power cords/pigtails and tools in the back of the truck.
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Old 07-19-2014, 09:45 AM   #14
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I have had only diesel pickups since 1982 and probably close to a million miles. I have never had a fuel problem of any kind. My 99 still has the original injectors.
The 2013 is averaging 15.1 mpg overall, almost all towing a 5000 lb Airstream. The trruck itself with a cap, 50 gal. aux tank and way too much other stuff weighs 9300 lbs by itself.

The fact that the mileage is only down fractionally from the 99 2WD speaks well for the engineering as the 13 is 4x4 , 130 more hp and a 200 lbs more torque and 2000 lbs heavier . Now I hope it all keeps working.

It appears to me the gas vehicles have just as much extra pollution crap as the new diesels so there may not be much difference in repair cost
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Old 07-19-2014, 09:49 AM   #15
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I have had only diesel pickups since 1982 and probably close to a million miles. I have never had a fuel problem of any kind. My 99 still has the original injectors.
The 2013 is averaging 15.1 mpg overall, almost all towing a 5000 lb Airstream. The trruck itself with a cap, 50 gal. aux tank and way too much other stuff weighs 9300 lbs by itself.

The fact that the mileage is only down fractionally from the 99 2WD speaks well for the engineering as the 13 is 4x4 , 130 more hp and a 200 lbs more torque and 2000 lbs heavier . Now I hope it all keeps working.

It appears to me the gas vehicles have just as much extra pollution crap as the new diesels so there may not be much difference in repair cost
I can't speak to the cost, but gasoline vehicles don't require urea injection or soot management.
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Old 07-19-2014, 10:16 AM   #16
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I can't speak to the cost, but gasoline vehicles don't require urea injection or soot management.
The urea injection is a basic almost nothing cost. It can be bought at the pump for $2.79 a gallon and I am averaging 1000 to 1200 miles per gallon.
The 2012 and older with out DEF do require a bit more maintenance but I think the first particulate filter cleaning is at 67000 miles.
The real question is how reliable the DEF system will be but it should be pretty well proven in big over the road trucks by now.
I was a bit leery of it until I found how little I used.
Like all new technology time will tell. Since I am no longer piling up many miles delivering trailers the reliability input will have to come from others
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Old 07-19-2014, 11:52 AM   #17
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Your cost for towing will go up with a gas version because it will burn more fuel. There are some things you can do to make your current diesel more fuel efficient. I have a 05 2500 5.9 and usually get 12-13 towing my 27FB at 65-68mph. My brother has a 2009 3500 chassis cab 6.7 and once he got to 100,000 miles he took out the egr and went from 14-15mpg on the highway unloaded to 19-21 mpg on the highway. Towing he went from 10mpg to 12-14mpg with his 30ft bunkhouse

If you drop down to a gas 2500 you're going to lose a bunch selling your current diesel and go to about 7-9 mpg towing. Instead of loosing money trading in your vehicle, take out the egr and your mpg will go up.

I'm not trading in my 5.9 cummins until it dies because I don't want to deal with the newer emissions stuff. When I do I will get a Dodge 3500 6.7 and drive it until the warranty goes out and take off the emissions gear to get better mpg.
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Old 07-19-2014, 01:08 PM   #18
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The urea injection is a basic almost nothing cost. It can be bought at the pump for $2.79 a gallon and I am averaging 1000 to 1200 miles per gallon.
The 2012 and older with out DEF do require a bit more maintenance but I think the first particulate filter cleaning is at 67000 miles.
The real question is how reliable the DEF system will be but it should be pretty well proven in big over the road trucks by now.
I was a bit leery of it until I found how little I used.
Like all new technology time will tell. Since I am no longer piling up many miles delivering trailers the reliability input will have to come from others
I have a '08 3500 w/6.7 and the EGR valve and EGR cooler require cleaning then but not the particulate filter. EGR is simple to clean, remove and soak in simple green, cleaning kits are sold pretty cheap thru Geno's garage. I don't know if this still required on the newer 6.7 or not.
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Old 07-20-2014, 09:47 PM   #19
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Soot management non-issue for modern day diesels, all automatic and "behind the scenes" as for the exhaust of the modern diesel, it is cleaner than a gasoline powered vehicle.

DEF is CHEAP and available everywhere, factored in with cost of diesel divided by miles per gallon (one gallon of diesel contains more energy than a gallon of gasoline) coupled with superior torque in a larger available rpm range (power band) shows the superiority of a modern day oil burner over a similar gasoline engine. DEF allows for the crazy great mileage the new diesels are getting over the first generation diesels with the smog controls so to create this clean exhaust.

The question people need to ask, do they need this superior technology because a diesel does cost more than a similar gasoline engine, so an evaluation of cost to value needs to be performed by all, with us all coming up with our own suitable answers.

For myself, I've had a diesel Touareg (superior to my V8 Cayenne), diesel trucks (both Ford Scorpion & Cummins), swapped my thirsty 2014 SRT Grand Cherokee for a 2014 EcoDiesel Grand Cherokee, (similar to my Porsche to VW swap - smart move) and now own a diesel pusher utilizing a Cummins 6.7 vice going with the Ford Gas V-10 similar sized motor coaches.

Yes - I have drinken of the Diesel Kool-Aid, and I Like It...
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Old 07-21-2014, 12:13 PM   #20
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Update to Post 6 above. I have just come back from an 1,800 mile RT to the Northeast with my '14 RAM with the 6.7L Cummins. Of the 9,878 miles on the truck, 8,762 were pulling my trailer. My MPG avg on this 1,800 mile trip was 14.3. Also used just about 2 gal of DEF. Also, a fair amount of mountain travel in PA, VT, and NH. Very good workout for the exhaust braking system, which makes a huge difference in how often I am applying the truck discs and the trailer drums. Met a guy in one of the campgrounds who said, "you buy the truck for the Cummins -- it just happens to be wrapped up in a Ram." Hmmmm!
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