2014 RAM 2400 - 5.7L or 6.4L? 3.73 or 4.10 Axle?

[Michael_Wild]

Greetings All,

I am buying a 2014 RAM 2500. I am not sure what engine (5.7L or 6.4L) or axle gear ratio (3.73 or 4.10) to get. Any advice would be greatly appreciated especially if it is coming from a RAM 2500 owner.

I will be towing a 1978 - 31' Sovereign, rear bedroom (dry 5,500 lbs, gross 7,500 lbs) and will have 1,000 to 1,500 lbs of payload in the back of the truck.

I know I can get away with a 1500, but I will be doing a 6 months tour criss-crossing the US before moving the entire family to Nicaragua. For this reason I didn't want to be at the high end of the 1500's capacity.

Thanks, Michael Wild

[SteveH]

Any of those options will get the job done, but of course the larger engine will have more power, and the lower gears will have more towing power, all at the expense of fuel mileage. It would basically depend on how much you will be driving the truck sans trailer, because that's where the smaller engine/higher gears would show the better mileage. But really, for 7,500 lbs, either would do fine.

[slowmover]

The rule in the 1960s was to get the biggest motor. That tended to come with bigger radiator, etc. I doubt there is much of any penalty in fuel burn between the motors. Your trailer isn't much of a burden, but I'd still prefer too much where it's available.

As to gearing, it's more of a penalty as to highway mpg. As I do not believe pickups safe above 65mph the choice may not matter to much.

Obviously a 4.10 behind a 6.4 will burn the most fuel. But with your proposed load, you'd be fine with smaller motor and longer legs.