Hemi 5.7 or Diesel

[SDSeville]

Hi Everyone,
I am considering getting a new (to me) truck and am trying to decide on a gasser or diesel. Would a Ram 5.7 Hemi tow my Maxum 2700SCR? Dry weight is supposed to be 6500 lbs., but the trailer is a beast and must weigh at least another 2500 lbs. My current rig, GMC Sierra 4.8, obviously will not get the job done. I had the seller tow the boat to the Harbor last summer, where it has been in a slip ever since.

 

[Maclin]

I think the newer 5.7 1500 Rams when properly equipped are capable with even some headroom, most of the big 3 1500 levels can get close to 11k with options. But how often do you need to tow, and how far? Diesels are great for that, but their maintenance is a lot more involved, so kind of overkill unless you tow a lot, or have other stuff you do with the rig that need the Diesel. And you have to go to the 2500 line to get the big Diesel option, more expense that, if you do not need the extra capability very often, may not make economical sense.

The Rams also have a larger gas engine now in their 2500 line, as do the others I am sure. Brother works for a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram dealer so I get their "news" automatically

 

[98Shabah]

I have a 5.7 hemi in my '14 Ram 1500 with the tow goodies, it pulls my 5,500lb boat and trailer like a beast for a gas engine and has a 10,000lb tow rating. It's available in the 2500s also.

 

[jimmbo]

I really don't see Diesels being tow engines in light trucks. In semis sure, those engines are huge and have a very narrow powerband and many more gear shift ranges than in a light truck. The 5.7 hemi gets my thumbs up. Plus it doesn't stink to high heaven, while blasting 80+ Carcinogens into the air. Get's worse when a Mental Midget owner 'chips it' to belch even more Pollutants out

 

[R055]

I would go for the diesel if you want it long term. Diesels sell high with 150k miles, can't say the same about gas engines.

 

[SecondMchl]

Check out the "Ike Guantlet" videos on YouTube where they compare each truck (Ford, Dodge, Chevy, Toyota) and they towing ability. Any questions you have have will be answered (gas, diesel, 1500, 2500, even the Ecodiesel) These videos got me to fall in love with the 2016 Ram 1500 which I eventually bought.

 

[SDSeville]

Check out the "Ike Guantlet" videos on YouTube where they compare each truck (Ford, Dodge, Chevy, Toyota) and they towing ability. Any questions you have have will be answered (gas, diesel, 1500, 2500, even the Ecodiesel) These videos got me to fall in love with the 2016 Ram 1500 which I eventually bought.

Wow. Cool videos. I am very surprised at how the F150 ecoboost V6 did. ...but the Ram does look like the one to get as far as 1/2 tons go.

 

[jimmbo]

Ecoboost has had some issues. Like all direct injection engines they tend to produce a very hard carbon soot, and over time and mileage accumulation tend to build up a very hard to remove deposits on the intake valves. Some of the soot gums up the turbine blades on the compressor too. Normally a treatment is to use a combustion chamber cleaner to soften and purge the carbon buildup. Unfortunately the Ecoboost has the turbocharger and decarbing has caused some of turbos to fail. Fords solution is/was to replace the cylinder head. Great while under Warranty, but real expensive once that ends.

 

[SDSeville]

Ecoboost has had some issues. Like all direct injection engines they tend to produce a very hard carbon soot, and over time and mileage accumulation tend to build up a very hard to remove deposits on the intake valves. Some of the soot gums up the turbine blades on the compressor too. Normally a treatment is to use a combustion chamber cleaner to soften and purge the carbon buildup. Unfortunately the Ecoboost has the turbocharger and decarbing has caused some of turbos to fail. Fords solution is/was to replace the cylinder head. Great while under Warranty, but real expensive once that ends.

Good to know. Thanks

 

[josh_booth]

If your boat has been in the slip since last summer how often will you really tow it? If you don't need a 3/4 or 1 ton truck for other reasons save yourself the cash and go with any half ton with a v-8 or the eco-boost. Leave the heavy pickups to the guys that need them. I run an OLD C-30 Chevy, but that old girl spends alot more time working for me than pulling my boat.

 

[SDSeville]

If your boat has been in the slip since last summer how often will you really tow it? If you don't need a 3/4 or 1 ton truck for other reasons save yourself the cash and go with any half ton with a v-8 or the eco-boost. Leave the heavy pickups to the guys that need them. I run an OLD C-30 Chevy, but that old girl spends alot more time working for me than pulling my boat.

I will be towing it a couple times a year and I am also going to be towing a travel trailer that weighs about 8,000 lbs 4 to 5 times a year. I am thinking a 1/2 ton that can tow well (like the Ram 1500 5.7) since I won't be towing every weekend.

I would love to just keep my 16 year old Sierra with 140k miles. If I could only rent a tow vehicle 6 or 7 times a year...

 

[Scott Danforth]

Being a former cummins employee.....i say cummins

 

[josh_booth]

I get wanting to keep a vehicle you have paid off and know what you have. If you are not set on getting another truck it wouldn't hurt to look into what it would cost to deck out your Sierra, like trans cooler, engine oil cooler...

On the other hand, if you can afford it and are like me that will maintain a vehicle and keep it long after it's paid off a 3/4 ton diesel will last forever. People will say maintenance for a diesel is more, but they won't say maintenance on a paid off truck is alot cheaper than a truck payment. Then, if you don't care for diesel down the road they hold their value more than a gasser

 

[boatman37]

i tow my 25' sundancer on a 1500lb tri-axle trailer with my 2013 Hemi with 3.55 gears and 6 speed trans. the new 8 speeds are much better and with 3.92's you should be good. mine loaded probably weighs about 8000lbs with trailer. my step-father had a 2011 ram 1500 hemi he towed a 9400lb 5th wheel trailer with 3.55s and now has a 2014 with 8 speed and 3.92s and pulls a 9000lb. 5th wheel. buy the 1/2 ton and worst case borrow or rent a bigger truck for those few times if you really need to. if you are going to be towing these heavy loads a few times a month then maybe i would get the bigger truck

 

[MCFLYIN]

I really don't see Diesels being tow engines in light trucks. In semis sure, those engines are huge and have a very narrow powerband and many more gear shift ranges than in a light truck. The 5.7 hemi gets my thumbs up. Plus it doesn't stink to high heaven, while blasting 80+ Carcinogens into the air. Get's worse when a Mental Midget owner 'chips it' to belch even more Pollutants out

My vote is diesel. Have a duramax and love it. Tow 10k with a 3/4 ton gasser then switch trucks and tow it with a diesel. Let me know which one "tows" better

 

[98Shabah]

I'll also add that my '15 ram 1500 hemi 8spd 4x4 crew cab with 3.92s gets 20-21mpg on my daily commute on 87 octane... that's what my wife's '11 Ford Edge gets. And being a gas engine the routine maintenance isn't expensive.

 

[redneck joe]

I've had a 5.9 Cummins since 2003. Both of them were used when purchsed at 50k and 75k respectively. First one is still running at 300k doing construction hauling for my brother. I've never had anything other than regular maintenance on the diesel part. I've not figured out why people always say it costs so much more to maintain a diesel.

My last Chevy dropped a transmission, so did my first Dodge. Both cost about $2200 to replace. I've had front end suspension work done on both brands, comparable in cost. Oil change is a few bucks more but I also run 10k in between oil changes unless I've done some serious towing. Tires are a bit more, like maybe $100 for the set. Tail light bulbs cost the same. The dually won't fit thru the car wash so I save money by washing at home. Fuel economy is 18 overall on my 05 dually long bed 4 door. 15 when towing the below boat.


For what I get our of the diesel I'll spend an extra hundred or so per year in maintenance and repairs

 

[98Shabah]

Diesels hold more oil, have more frequent fuel filter replacements, and newer ones require urea for emissions. I've never owned a diesel, so I'm just going off of what I've heard. The hemi in my ram holds 7qts of oil, I use synthetic and change it every 7500 to 10000 miles depending on whether or not it's boat towing season, and it gets an air filter every other oil change. I figure I spend around $100 a year on oil and filters.

Now if I towed a lot more often or towed something really heavy, diesel all the way.

 

[R055]

Diesels hold more oil, have more frequent fuel filter replacements, and newer ones require urea for emissions. I've never owned a diesel, so I'm just going off of what I've heard. The hemi in my ram holds 7qts of oil, I use synthetic and change it every 7500 to 10000 miles depending on whether or not it's boat towing season, and it gets an air filter every other oil change. I figure I spend around $100 a year on oil and filters.

Now if I towed a lot more often or towed something really heavy, diesel all the way.

Many of the emmision things can be bypassed especially considering (atleast in washington) if your diesel truck is under 7k pounds or 2007 or newer then you don't need to do emission testing.

 

[Toyelectroman]

I currently have a ram 1500 with the 5.7 and it tows my 24 foot cruiser pretty good, but i think when the lease is up i might go for the ram 2500 with the 6.4