Dodge with Cummins

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

BASE729,

Sounds like you've made a decision going for the Hemi. It should make a nice rig. One suggestion then, don't test drive the Cummins, especially on any hills in PA.

Its a bit like deciding between an AS and a 5'er both have pluses and minuses.

BTW, welcome to Airforums.

Gary

This.

We haven't even picked out which Airstream we want, but it will likely be something in the 30' flavor range. I needed something with a backseat for a family addition (previous truck was a regular cab) and was pretty well sold on the 6.4L in the '14 2500 - until I drove the CTD. Now, I have a '14 Ram 2500 CTD Mega Cab Longhorn in the driveway and absolutely love it. It is my daily driver.

That said, I reckon the 6.4L is plenty for near any Airstream.

adam

[mefly2]

One caveat ... the hemi does NOT have a compression brake when descending passes as does the CTD ... nor does it have the trailer hauling torque when ascending steep mountain passes ... YMMV

[Tyvekcat]

Originally Posted by BASE729

So I just read 9 pages of comments in this thread, and all over the internet. I am going to order my tow vehicle (either today or tomorrow). I am stuck between the 6.4L V8 Hemi and the CTD.

My trailer is a 27FB Eddie Bauer, which is only 8k. As configured the 6.4L with 4.10 rear will pull over 12k. (with the payload fully loaded, and getting the air suspension)

I plan on doing a cross country trip, so yes, the "try driving across the rockies" analogy applies.

I would prefer to not spend the 9k upgrade on the CTD and my reasoning is that I have an extra 50% capacity in the tow spec. I'd be nervous if my trailer was 11.9k and the max rating was 12k, but I'm at 8k out of 12k.

How much does the reduced weight of the trailer and not coming close to the max rating comes into play for the decision between the new 6.4L V8 and CTD?

As an aside, I will be on an extended trip, so drive with the trailer, setup camp for a month, then use the truck as the daily driver going to different destinations in that region. It will be my only vehicle as well.

Base729: The 4.10 gears is a excellent idea, in my opinion. It will certainly help the Hemi on pulling. I have the 5.9 Cummins and it is an absolute joy to drive with or without the Airstream. And the 'no-cracked' dash option, is good too !
After buying the 28' International, I am glad I have the 4.10's cause even though this is not the inter-mountain west, some of the roads here in Virginia and NC do have some steep grades. I would not change them out for more speed on the top end. 62-63 mph is good for towing and I am right there at that perfect power band 1850rpm for peak torque. Two lane twisty roads are posted 55mph, so I am good.
And your newer truck will have more gears available in the transmission, whereas I only have 4.
Its nice to look at new trucks, I just don't like those new prices these days. Have a good one !

[crisen]

Originally Posted by RickDavis

I have read that some have had success lubing the front hub bearings through the hole where the ABS sensor mounts. Have not enough miles to worry about it yet on my RAM. I am bothered by the overall lack of lube fittings on the newer vehicles.

The free wheeling hubs would be nice but they seem to be extremely expensive. I am not sure I could justify it unless the price drops in the future

I brought the Yukon gear kit and it was $1600 two years ago or twice the price of sealed hub bearing assembly which I was quoted just under $400 each. When I factored in that the reduced wear on front drive line parts and that they should last longer I went with the kit. I have a G56 manual trans, which has an excessively high reverse gear, so side benefit with the free Warn hubs is I can now use 4 Lo when backing my trailers.

Only comment I have on adding grease to sealed bearing is to consider compatibility of OEM grease and to remember sealed bearings are not normally totally full of grease.

[tjdonahoe]

07 dodge,6.7, 6 speed auto,373 ratio . We tow a 2013, 31 classic, we just returned from a 3300 mile trip from montana to upper michigan via Canada and return averaging 12 mpg.

[21Airstream]

I guess the thing I like the most about our 2012 Ram CTD is the lack of drama when towing. We're able to pass the semis when going uphill and use our exhaust brake to slow us when going downhill. It has no glow plugs to burn out (which happened to us on our Ford tv while on vacation about a dozen years ago). We opted for the lifetime oil changes when we bought the truck so maintenance isn't that bad (while we're near our basecamp anyway). I'll never buy another gas engine. YMMV of course.

[Skater]

Originally Posted by 21Airstream

I guess the thing I like the most about our 2012 Ram CTD is the lack of drama when towing. We're able to pass the semis when going uphill and use our exhaust brake to slow us when going downhill. It has no glow plugs to burn out (which happened to us on our Ford tv while on vacation about a dozen years ago). We opted for the lifetime oil changes when we bought the truck so maintenance isn't that bad (while we're near our basecamp anyway). I'll never buy another gas engine. YMMV of course.

It doesn't have glow plugs? How does it preheat the cylinders in cold weather?

[Dexterpix]

Diesel's are made for towing. No tractor trailer truck has a gas engine. Simply put the power, longevity and low maintence of a diesel is why anything that WORKS for a living is powered by diesel. The Cummins engine is found in TT units, package trucks, buses. Anyone that has driven a gas powered motorhome and then drives a diesel knows the major difference in how the two engines work. Gas needs RMP's to make power, Diesel works low and slow. It is not always about the $$$ don't expect to get the $$ back by saving on fuel or maintence, but enjoy the miles of worry free towing. I have had both gas and diesel tow vehicles for everything from snowmobile trailer(2k), equipment trailer(10k+), horse trailers (10k live weight) and of course travel trailers (flying cloud 25). Diesel is the way to go to set the cruise at 62mph and let it ride, hills are no issue. And the fun thing about a diesel is the hotter the temp outside the better the fuel milage.

Joe D

[Bill M.]

No glow plugs. Turn the key and it starts. Like a gas engine. How? .....I do not know. I expect the ECCU lets in inject for starting. In the teens is as low a temperature as I have driven it in. Had a diesel with glow plugs once. Ancient history. It was a 1988 model. The glow plugs were a real pain and when they swell when they fail you have to pull the head to replace them. Not any more.

[megandrudy]

The Cummins engine has a electric heating grid where the intake is mounted to the head this pre-heats the air entering the combustion chamber.


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[Larry C]

Originally Posted by tjdonahoe

07 dodge,6.7, 6 speed auto,373 ratio . We tow a 2013, 31 classic, we just returned from a 3300 mile trip from montana to upper michigan via Canada and return averaging 12 mpg.

That mileage is fair.....my Dodge/Cummins is a 2003, 5.9 with the manual 6 speed 3:73 rear end. I pull a 2001 30' Excella, we travel every summer for 2 to three months.
This year, our trip was 5,800 miles, fuel mileage average was 17.4. That includes towing and local driving after we're set up in the campground.
Towing only mileage was 15.3...

[21Airstream]

Originally Posted by megandrudy

The Cummins engine has a electric heating grid where the intake is mounted to the head this pre-heats the air entering the combustion chamber.

I'm not a mechanic but this is what I've been told.

[GCinSC2]

My 1997 and 2005 5.9L both use preheat grid heaters in the air horn just above the manifold plate. Each has a relay to run the heater. During cold starts a wait to start or indicator light comes on. Key in RUN position, you wait till the light goes off and then crank. Engine starts. The grid heaters may cycle for a few minutes during real cold starts. Starting procedures are detailed in the owners manual.

[sequoyah101]

One more won't hurt. Is a Dodge Cummins a good tow vehicle? Do bees buzz? I much prefer the pre DEF engines and bought a daily driver to save mine for as long as I can. It is an '04.5. She is loaded but has the six speed manual transmission. I like it that way. This will probably be my last Dodge though since the unions have taken over and obola has propped them up so my next truck will be a Ford before the new CAFE crap kills the full size pickup completely. That one should do me until I die.

I've crossed the scales with the gooseneck loaded with steel and equipment as high as 29,500 lbs and pulled that over 600 miles. Not something I'd like to do every day though. My son just pulled a three axle cargo van 2,600 miles from the North Carolina to Idaho and his rig hit the scales at 28,300 lbs. His truck is an '02 I think. Both trucks are four wheel drive straight axles. You can't get those anymore.

The AS is not even there as far as the Dodge is concerned. As someone said, the brakes are big enough to cover some of the trailer if it does not swap ends with you.

The truck is big, heavy and expensive and expensive to maintain. A new one is about 60 grand. Right now, at 137,000 miles it needs a new $680 steering box after about $500 worth of front end work just for parts. You don't need it to tow most AS. I use it because I have it and I like it.

I put Spintech hubs on the front when my unit bearings had to be replaced. Picked up a little over a MPG. No chip and she does 21 city and 18 to 19 highway, 15 to 16 towing the gooseneck flatbed and stock trailer and about 16 or so with the Airstream. I run about 65 to 70 most of the time but 75 unloaded almost always.

[sequoyah101]

Mine went 135,000ish to front end rebuild. Replaced the factory unit bearings with Spintech lockouts that use real roller bearings. Now have to do the steering box since it has some play in it. Will use a Borgman and not the Mopar.

So far upper and lower ball joints, track bar bushings, front wheel bearings and added lockouts.

Have not had the warranty recall check done. I guess they replace one tie rod end?

[Larry C]

Originally Posted by Skater

It doesn't have glow plugs? How does it preheat the cylinders in cold weather?

The is a heater in the intake manifold that heats the air before it goes into the combustion chamber. A lot more effiecient and effective than glow plugs..

Larry C

[Msmoto]

I have made the decision to keep my '08, do the appropriate repairs, as needed. While there are some nice features on the new trucks, for $40,000 to trade, I can do a lot of custom work on mine and have my "cockpit" highly personalized and all the goodies I could ever need.

As i travel alone to visit friends around the country, I like to have all my driving tools at hand, primarily to assist in maintaining alertness. To do this on a new 2015 would be a lot of work. Also, on a newer truck I would have to put up with the 20,000 to 30,000 mile break in period.

While I do like the DEF system in principle, hopefully someone will come up with a more efficient emissions system, giving the power of the old emission control free engines, yet providing some reduction in harmful stuff from the tailpipe.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by sequoyah101

Mine went 135,000ish to front end rebuild. Replaced the factory unit bearings with Spintech lockouts that use real roller bearings. Now have to do the steering box since it has some play in it. Will use a Borgman and not the Mopar.



So far upper and lower ball joints, track bar bushings, front wheel bearings and added lockouts.



Have not had the warranty recall check done. I guess they replace one tie rod end?

Mine is 2wd and w/o the steer problems. But I've read there is a new MOPAR box. Worth checking. And consult with Denis 4x4


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[CDONA]

I picked up an '02 extra cab, long bed, CTD, auto, 3:55, 153k miles, one owner from Kingman Az $10k. Just started to set it up, ac fixed, needs tires & check front end this week. Then work on hitch, limited slip, tranny tuneup, cap.

[tjdonahoe]

My only comment to the above is the newer engines, even with all the emissions,have more power and torque than any of the older ones, they even last longer. The 1992 dodge only had around 160 hp the 2007 is near 350 hp all done with computer technology....the automatic transmissions are also so much better..