review of newer ram 2500

[Red9654]

does anyone have a newer ram 2500 diesel with the manual tranny? thinkin about gettin one in the future but need reviews good or bad

 

[avenger79]

Re: review of newer ram 2500

depends on how new. My buddy has a 2001 that he loves. it has auto trans though. his prev truck was diesel manual older Dodge. 97ish. He loved it enough to buy another. He has had no issues with the newer one at all.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: review of newer ram 2500

Relatively few 3/4 ton diesels are sold with a straight shift. Ford SuperDuty's don't even have one available.

All brands of 3/4 ton diesels are plenty good--Ford/Ram/Chevy-GM. You cannot go wrong with any of them. (I have a 10 year old SuperDuty diesel crew cab.)

The diesels cost about $8K more than a comparable gas unit. EPA changes have taken a couple of mpg from the diesels, and technology has given a couple of mpg to the bigger gas engines. It's now cheaper in every way to run a gas 3/4 ton truck--vs the diesel.

But if you've got to haul a 5th wheel trailer, skid steer loader or horse trailer, the diesel's the only way to go.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: review of newer ram 2500

My last 4 trucks have been 3/4 Rams. None have been diesel, however. Biggest issue I came across is, there are no grease fittings on the front end. My 2007 had most of the front end replaced at around 40 - 50k. Thankfully, it was covered by Dodge...My 2012 is lacking fittings too....

If you absolutely need to have a diesel then by all means get one. However, a bunch of guys have them that don't really need one. As mentioned, diesels are more expensive to operate.....

 

[southkogs]

Re: review of newer ram 2500

Biggest issue I came across is, there are no grease fittings on the front end.

I just bought an '04 2500 RAM last year (didn't need on that big, just wound up with one of those "too good not to" deals), I was blown away that I couldn't service my front bearings. Thought I was gonna' throw a chair through the window with the wheel speed sensor.

Beyond that: I never knew that I needed a 5.7 Hemi before. Lovin' that monster!

 

[chimmike]

Re: review of newer ram 2500

My folks had an '06 cummins 2500. Towed a trailer with it daily and a 30' travel trailer for fun. Never got worse than ~16mpg while towing. Incredible economy and insane power. Never had any major issues with it but downsized because they downsized the business and sold the travel trailer. I wish I'd had the money to buy it from them at the time, honestly. Excellent truck.
Without the trailer, they'd see 22-23mpg. Out of a 3/4 ton truck! Ecoboost F150's don't even see that kind of mpg.

I'd go diesel on a 3/4 ton or larger truck in a heartbeat. Especially when buying used. Resale is a ton better with diesel, too.

 

[avenger79]

Re: review of newer ram 2500

yep my new 3500 Chevy is a 6.0 gas, she moves my travel trailer pretty well. It replaced my V10 Superduty which also hauled the trailer down the road very well.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: review of newer ram 2500

Think hard about diesel before you buy. Regardless of brand.

Since 2008 you are going to have a Diesel Particulate Filter which really eats into fuel economy because of regeneration.

It got better in 2011 with Urea injection. The regen is not needed so often.

A diesel oil change is $140.00. Gas is $40.00.

You blow up a diesel, an engine is $15K. Gas is $5K.

Resale on gas is also good for a nicely equipped truck. Condition is everything.