Does anyone have real world experience with the gas 6.4L in a Ram towing yet? I am seriously considering this truck. I would opt for the 4.10 gears. Any likes or dislikes would be appreciated.
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2015 Ram 2500 6.4L reviews
- Thread starter smoothdawg
- Start date
C
Here's a review on the 2014 Dodge Ram 2500 Mega cab w/6.4L gas engine.
Review done by AutoGuide.com
Link:
http://www.autoguide.com/manufacturer/ram/2014-ram-2500-64l-hemi-review-4181.html
Review done by AutoGuide.com
Link:
http://www.autoguide.com/manufacturer/ram/2014-ram-2500-64l-hemi-review-4181.html
J
That review sums it up! I just got my 2016 Ram 3500drw. Ordered it the Longhorn trim and with the Aisin tranny and 3.73 gears. This thing tows so darn well it doesnt seem real! I had an '08 6.7 with 650 torque. But this thing with 900 is in a whole other league. Im telling you all of that because my Dad sells Rams and I spent a day in a 6.4 thinking that was the way I wanted to go. I am so glad I didnt! Dragging big heavy trailers up and over mtn passes is where diesels shine. That being said, I do have an '11 1500 5.7 that is my daily driver, so that helped make the decision to go 'big' an easy one??
I had a 2014 CC Longbox 2500 with a 6.4L gas. I had come from a Ford 6.2L which I think is a better pulling engine but gets worse mileage and I cracked the exhaust manifold on at 18000 miles. Both were my work pickup for the farm so it always had about 1200# of fuel and toolbox on it and pulled any were from 9000# to 20000#. I just hit 24,000 miles and was having a bad knocking sound at cold startup that slowly got better but never went away. First they were thinking lifters and valves but in the end Chrysler decided to swap the whole engine out it does sound like there was a Vin range that had issues but I'm not convinced. I know I was harder on it then the average owner but if it only lasted me 24,000 miles I would be afraid of it making over 90,000 miles for the average user. Also oil changes with the special oil it takes aren't really cheaper then a diesel. It struggled pulling 15k #s or more but would be good for pulling in that 10k# or less range. It was a blast to drive empty. Best average empty was 14.5mpg loaded with 10K# I was looking at 7-8mpg. I'm now driving a 2016 Ram 2500 6.7L CC Longbox and really happy. If they have the dependability of the 6.4L figured out and you don't want to afford the diesel then I would suggest it if you only tow rarely or 10k#s or less.
C
Well, I love mine. I have owned a half dozen or more Cummins trucks but I do not need nor want the hassle of the diesel anymore.
Will it tow, of course it will. Tow what where is the more important question. I live at 7500 feet but only tow my two place around so I find the 6.4/4.10 combo to be perfect. I get 15 mpg in mixed driving, 17 on the highway. The cummins would just be a waste of money for me.
I do not buy special oil for it, M1 at wal mart for $5/qt. Just like anything, they can not deny you warranty coverage for not using their oil unless they give it to you free.
I only have 12,000 miles on my '15, no problems, I would buy another. The 6.4 is just sooooo much more fun to daily drive than a cummins. Unless you tow for a living I think the diesel is waste of money.
Will it tow, of course it will. Tow what where is the more important question. I live at 7500 feet but only tow my two place around so I find the 6.4/4.10 combo to be perfect. I get 15 mpg in mixed driving, 17 on the highway. The cummins would just be a waste of money for me.
I do not buy special oil for it, M1 at wal mart for $5/qt. Just like anything, they can not deny you warranty coverage for not using their oil unless they give it to you free.
I only have 12,000 miles on my '15, no problems, I would buy another. The 6.4 is just sooooo much more fun to daily drive than a cummins. Unless you tow for a living I think the diesel is waste of money.
Thanks for all of the replies guys. I would love to hear from some more folks who have or had one. The mpg posted above sounds good. I would like to hear what other people are getting for mpg as well.
Nice looking rig and don't get me wrong I think it makes a lot of sense for most people and I wanted it to work. As it gets colder out I miss my gas. In the end I don't know if it was my use or the bad set of vin numbers that was the cause of my engine. I would be careful on the oil though because your right they can't deny the warranty if it meets the spec but they made a loophole and basically made a new spec.
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You guys need some newer NH3 tanks! I dont miss hauling those at all!!
Can you get the 6.4 in their 1/2 ton?
J
No. 5.7 or Eco diesel only in 1500. I have an '11 1500 and my wife a '12. Both trucks have cracked the exhaust manifolds after towing 6,000 lbs up Colorado's I-70 on the way to ride sleds or Moab. The first one on mine was at 40k and the second one was at 101k so I had to pay for it? My wifes just lost the left side at 51k. Not sure if it will be an issue with the 6.4, but it is on the 5.7's. The strange thing about the 6.4 is that it feels worse than the 5.7 when towing. Seems to suffer more even at the same 6,000 trailer weight. A half ton towing 6k should not feel better than a 3/4 ton with a 6.4 while towing the same weight. Weird?
Yeah we switched suppliers this year and I wouldn't say their tanks are the best. We had an issue with a broken hitch and a bad valve. For us its still the best way to put our N down but also my least favorite way.
C
Yes, they created a new spec for oil so that Pennzoil could benefit. They still can not hold you too it. The spec is just recommended, nothing more. Required is 0w-40 and I am confident Mobile 1 full synthetic is more than adequate.
They did have some bad rod bearings on some of the '14s, bad batch early on. I haven't seen any major problems since though.
The 6.4 should be less prone to cracked exhaust manifolds when worked hard. They added an EGR cooler similar to what the diesels use to keep combustion temps down during extended high load operation.
It should be a bomber motor but time will tell. I am only at 12,000 miles.
They did have some bad rod bearings on some of the '14s, bad batch early on. I haven't seen any major problems since though.
The 6.4 should be less prone to cracked exhaust manifolds when worked hard. They added an EGR cooler similar to what the diesels use to keep combustion temps down during extended high load operation.
It should be a bomber motor but time will tell. I am only at 12,000 miles.
J
Sweet! Nothing like waiting on a new shiny rig. Congrats!
S
I have a 2015 RAM 2500 with 6.4l and 3.73 gears 4x4 crewcab. I average 16mpg city summer and about 12 mpg city winter so far empty. Have seen 19 mpg empty on a summer drive from MN to MO and back. Towing a 33' 5th wheel camper with 4 wheeler behind on a trailer I only got 8 mpg. My guess is that was 10000#. I also pulled a 5x8 enclosed trailer loaded from MN to ID and back and struggled to get 12 most of the time 10. Man the wind really affects things. Over all I love it have 18k miles on it. Had a '13 1500 5.7L and loved that too
What about power? I really don't care about the mileage cause they all suck pulling an enclosed trailer. Does it have enough power to pull a 4-6 place enclosed out west and not be screaming along?
S
yes it has power I can let you know how it does with a 4 place to black hills January 18th. I really have nothing to compare to other than the 1500 with 5.7 and 3.55. I would say the with 4.10 you should not have a problem. if your worried I think you can get the power wagon with 4.56 gears but I don't know for sure. with the camper it would scream if I was going up hill and into the wind trying to maintain 75 mph.
U
Just get a Cummins... Once you own diesel you'll never go back! More than enough power, 12-13mpg pulling a 32' enclosed, 19-21mpg empty. :face-icon-small-ton:face-icon-small-win
On a serious note, good luck with the pickup search! I've driven both new hemi's, they're awesome fun trucks! But I still won't give up my diesel..
On a serious note, good luck with the pickup search! I've driven both new hemi's, they're awesome fun trucks! But I still won't give up my diesel..
C
I have owned 6 or 7 Cummins trucks... and I wont go back.
Just do the math, the Cummins option is around $9000 and the mileage is 2 mpg better than the 6.4. Nine grand buys a LOT of gas, the Cummins is a luxury like leather seats, not a necessity by any stretch anymore.
The Power Wagon since 2014 is standard with the 6.4 and 4.10 gears. The 4.56 gears went away with the 5.7 Hemi. I run mine up and down mountain passes daily and do not find it screaming. It does need to tach at 4000 rpm to pull a big trailer up a hill but you will barely hear it working it is so smooth.
Well I have nothing to report. I was driving a 2500 while mine was on order and I didn't like it at all. Mileage was awful, 9-11 city empty. I did take my trailer out on the interstate with it and it pulled fine but the transmission couldn't seem to find the right gear. It was either too high rpm resulting in horrible mpg, or in a higher gear too low rpm resulting in not enough power. Got about 7-8 mpg towing a 31' aluminum enclosed. Ultimately got a 1500 with the eight speed transmission. Going 70, it finds the right gear and runs about 2300 rpm. And gets much better mph. Maybe if the 2500 didn't have to be my daily driver I would have kept it but the 6.4L is not at home in the city.
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