anyone using RAM 2500 6.4L Hemi?

[BlueRidge]

If you are using a RAM 2500 with the 6.4L Hemi could you share your experiences with the truck?

Reliable?

Miles per gallon while carrying your pop-up camper?

Options you recommend getting at purchase?

Anyone just decide to get the 3500 instead?

Thanks.

 

[Vic]

Its a great platform and with the Hemi has a really impressive payload. I ended going a different route personally but Truck Camper Magazine had some good thoughts on the Hemi for a truck camper (in a 3500 though) that might be helpful.

http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/news/2014-ram-3500-experience-update
http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/news/tcm-debuts-2014-ram-3500

 

[Jollyrogers]

I have a Laramie 2500 CTD. It's a beast. I have managed 26mpg interstate without the camper, but average -22. With camper on interstate in VA getting about 20. Engine pulls hard and truck is a dream to drive loaded. I only wish I had gotten the single rear wheel 3500 long bed so I could be running a Grandby, but again parking and forest roads would be even tighter. The loaded Hawk with water, gear, and dogs starts loading the truck suspension, but not the diesel. When just the Hawk and no water/gear, no loading and actually rides better. Make sure to get limited slip axles. Watch gearing if you intend on hauling all the time or bigger tires.

 

[Bigfoot]

I have a Laramie 2500 CTD. It's a beast. I have managed 26mpg interstate without the camper, but average -22. With camper on interstate in VA getting about 20. Engine pulls hard and truck is a dream to drive loaded. I only wish I had gotten the single rear wheel 3500 long bed so I could be running a Grandby, but again parking and forest roads would be even tighter. The loaded Hawk with water, gear, and dogs starts loading the truck suspension, but not the diesel. When just the Hawk and no water/gear, no loading and actually rides better. Make sure to get limited slip axles. Watch gearing if you intend on hauling all the time or bigger tires.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1432724094.564181.jpg

Wow, 22 mpg is excellent (hand calculated I hope, as the computer often reads high). Our 2500 CTD gets less than 20 unloaded and 13-15 with a ton of load. The good news is that the load levels the truck perfectly and the weight distribution is evenly split. Without a load the truck is a bucking bronco. Love the CTD's exhaust braking on mountain roads. Not so fond of the rough shifting 6-speed auto tranny. I have tried using the tow/haul mode but do not notice any difference.

 

[Jollyrogers]

I tend to manually shift to +4 in mountains and I too love the exhaust breaking. Manually calculated to 25.7 no load interstate travel. It does ride better with the load of the Hawk. Mines a late '14.

 

[ski3pin]

I believe CTD is Cummins Turbo Diesel? I appreciate the enthusiasm of diesel owners, but let's see if we can get some asked for responses from 6.4L Hemi gasoline V8 owners.

 

[Jollyrogers]

My mistake. The 6.4 will perform well, get worse mpg, but have better payload capacity.

 

[BlueRidge]

Make sure to get limited slip axles.

I'm only looking at 4x4s. I thought all of those have limited slip axles. Am I wrong?

The Tradesman trim levels have the 4WD shifter on the floor and the SLTs have an electronic 4WD shifter on the dash.

Is this an indicator of limited slip axles because I don't see them by name on any of the option sheets?

 

[Jollyrogers]

I'm only looking at 4x4s. I thought all of those have limited slip axles. Am I wrong?

The Tradesman trim levels have the 4WD shifter on the floor and the SLTs have an electronic 4WD shifter on the dash.

Is this an indicator of limited slip axles because I don't see them by name on any of the option sheets?

No, just because it is a 4x4, doesn't mean it has limited slip, positraction, or axle lockers. That is just the engagement of the front hubs and transfer case to engage the forward drive train.
It was an option on my truck, that was listed on the window sticker. It's listed in their website as anti-spin rear differential under the power train options. I would talk to a dealer about availability for the front differential. The limit slip diff(s) makes a significant difference off road and snow, and wouldn't get a "4x4" without it, otherwise I'd be adding air lockers or such later. I had lockers in my old '70s FJ40, though great off road, kind of a pain to use.

 

[JJ1]

FWIW, my 2014 Ram 2500 5.7 SLT has the shifter knob on the dash. Three options: 2WD-4Lock-4Low. I bought it used so I'm not sure what the other options might be.

 

[coguzzi]

i have these same questions, im looking at 2015 6.4L 2500 or a power wagon, cant decide which one since the PW is 3/4 truck with 1/2 ton payload, i might just go 2500 and build to suit, but 6.4L nontheless. and 3.73 or 4.10 gearing for a 2500?

 

[coguzzi]

update, i bought a 15 2500 6.4L laramie last night, four wheel camper hawk from my 4.7L 02 tundra will be going in shortly, ill give some real feedback. the laramie has 3080lb payload form the door sticker, the power wagon larimie has 1329lb payload form sticker. camper is 1245 dry, as much as i wanted the power wagon i just couldnt justify it

 

[simimike]

Congrats on the new truck.

Mike

 

[anonymous]

Coguzzi please report back on mpg, etc.

 

[coguzzi]

i only have 500 miles on the truck as it sits right now, only one shake down trip. that involved backroads through some cities (stop and go traffic) since im still breaking it in and varying speed is important, didnt just wanna get out and go 75-80mph for the first few hundred miles. but in that situation (i wold call it commuter traffic) i averaged 13.8mpg. i expect that number to go up as the truck breaks in, but also cruising at 80mpg doesnt help the number either. considering my tundra got 9-10 in most situations, im very pleased.

i am going out this weekend, i will report back when i have more to tell. BUT, wow does the truck handle the camper nice, comfortable ride, passes cars with ease up hills. im very pleased

 

[anonymous]

Any pics with the camper on?

 

[coguzzi]

here are 2 i have handy from the shake down camp

 

[Jollyrogers]

looks awesome. can I ask a question, how are your fiamma legs hooked up to your jack brackets? I never thought of doing it that way, and would like to because I get tired of the interference.

 

[coguzzi]

looks awesome. can I ask a question, how are your fiamma legs hooked up to your jack brackets? I never thought of doing it that way, and would like to because I get tired of the interference.

Fiamma awnings actually ship with body mounts (ive had Fiamma's in the past on different vans/rigs). im not sure what FWC does with all these body mounts, must have a huge stock pile somewhere, or they cut a deal and dont actually receive them. i cant stand having the feet go to the ground, dogs get playing and run into them, have to be staked down in even a slight breeze etc.

So i fabbed up my own mounting points off the jack brackets and had some spare body mounts laying around. Fiamma changed the design recently on these and i preferred the old style, so i bought a couple sets while i still could. the new ones are enclosed and can fill with dirt and debris, more of an issue if mounted low on the body like they are designed, like on a van. both will work though.

Anyway, i just made a simple bracket from aluminum angle, had to decrease the angle on the forward one to match up with the leg better, but simple bracket nontheless. works well, never worry about it in a small breezes etc. here are some pics.

 

[PaulT]

I keep being impressed by the ingenuity that WTW members apply to common problems most of us face and their willingness to share with the group.

Thank you, coguzzi, for this solution. Cleaning the legs in the field after rain splashed on them carrying abrasive dust to the bottom foot or so of the leg extension was time that could have been better spent.

Paul