Help me choose: Ram 2500 V8 or Diesel?

I have been looking to buy a tow rig to pull my built up Wrangler...

My choices have been narrowed to a low mileage V8, or a higher mileage diesel....

I did not want to spend more than $20,000 so the diesels are going to have around 80-90k miles...

For those of you who do lots of highway towing, am I risking transmission problems with a 80-90k mi Ram 2500 (or even Ford F250, Chevy 2500, etc)?

thanks.

 

More info could help.

For one, 20K for a relatively newer Ram Cummins, I'm guessing you are refering to 2nd gen trucks then right? A loaded late 2nd gen with 4x4 will probably be easily over 20K with only 80-90K. Now if a 2wd is desired, then 20K is very doable for a clean truck.

Gas versions will be at least 6-7K cheaper on basically any model.

How heavy does this Wrangler and the trailer that it's on weigh? I would think a 47RE should not have much of a problem with under 7K worth of trailer while pulling in OD. I pull my fullsize K5 on a trailer in OD most of the way.

The way I look at mileage between a gas and diesel pickup, gas trucks "age" (for lack of a better term) twice as fast as diesel versions. I would say a gas truck with 25K and a diesel with 50K-70K are about in the same ballpark.

In almost every way having the Cummins is so much better, except the initial cost. Expect to fork out another 6-8K for the Cummins. IMHO, I'd stay away from the 360 V8, it's a gas hog and a dog, I think anyway. I'd rather take the slight hit on fuel mileage and go with a V10 truck that has WAY more power, and sounds cool too....

If you don't plan on ever towing much than a wrangler, and not more than two dozen times a year than I would go gas.

 

The Wrangler and trailer combo will probably be no more than 5-6k lbs.

Originally I was looking into a cheap gas rig, with mid-miles on it, figuring I'd tow just a few times a year, to places in PA about 3 hours away. Then I thought that if I had a more reliable, lower mileage rig, I'd be more inclined to go to other farther places, such as the mid-west... I quickly started thinking about future purchases, like a camper!

So I've seen a few '03 Ram 2500 Hemis with 25-35k miles for around $20k.
I've also seen a few '02 Ram 2500 V8s with 60k miles for around $17k.
Then I saw a '00 Ram 2500 Diesel with 90k miles for $19k, and became completely confused as to what I should do...

Thanks for all the good info. Feel free to follow up with more

 

Diesel. No doubt about it.
Scott

 

Diesel RULES waytogo imp: waytogo

A diesel engine with 80K on it is just getting broke in from what I have read. All I know is I love mine and it tows awesome waytogo

 

Before my CTD I pulled my K10/Flatbed combo (~8,000lbs) with a 98 2500 360 V8. I can't express in words how bad it sucked.

25mph up the steep hills in 1st gear, 40mph in 2nd gear up the slight hills, 55mph in with even a slight headwind, or 65 if I had a tailwind and was heading down hill. That's all she would muster, and 6-7mpg was the best MPG I saw. In the mountains of Montana, I basically drove with the gas pedal firmly sandwiched between my foot and the floor from the moment I left to the moment I got there. With the CTD I'm pulling the same hills at 65 with the cruise control on getting twice the mileage.

Look for the Diesel if at all possible.... A gasser will do the job, but it won't be a picnic either. If you must have a gasser, at least look for a V10. My buddy has a newer V10 Excursion and pulls his flatbed/4Runner much better than my V8 ever did, but still couldn't touch the CTD.

Mike

 

Well, I will probably be lucky if I tow my Wrangler around 1/2 dozen times a year, but it still sounds like there is no real reason to even consider gas, aside from the up-front cost of buying the diesel... and maybe the noise?

I drive a little Mazda 3 daily, to ease my pain about gas costs, but I miss driving a truck! I figure a diesel would allow me a little more guilt-free driving with the better gas mileage it offers, if I felt like driving it around town... Any cons to using a diesel as a daily driver?

What about insurance costs? Any difference?

This is all GREAT info. Thanks to all.

 

To put my situation in perspective, full max coverage with AIG w/ $1k deduct, our 98 V8 is ~$550/6mo and the $36k '05 CTD is $650/6mo, and my wife is under 25 w/ a 50% fault accident.

Mike

 

IMHO, a V10 gas truck is going to be your best choice. Yes, diesel is much better and you are going to get that on almost every board..."diesel is the only way to go." It's not.

You are talking pulling a load of about 5-6K 6 times a year......and you already have an econo box as a daily driver. You would be half nutz in my opinion to buy a diesel rig for that kind of work. After a year's time, you will probably find that a V10 truck would cost a minimal amount more in fuel if all you do is tow with it 6 times a year, by the time you factor in changing the oil. The gas truck costs about half the money to do a change vs. the Cummins.

Both insurance AND registration will be higher on the diesel truck since most of the time that stuff goes off what the truck is worth...and with the diesel adding 6-8K.....

 

Bobby i agree 100%, for 6 times a year go buy a gasser. You will pay less for it, upkeep is cheaper, right now fuel for it is a whole lot cheaper, and it will easily tow your jeep arround.

As for cons of a diesel, the only one is the price of fuel! Just passed a station this morning that had regular unleaded for $2.63, and diesel was $3.81 , im going broke driving my "more economical" diesel truck.

 

i dont know a ton about the dodge gas motors but i would take a cummins over one any day.

around here diesel is about 3.10 or 3.20 and regular is around 2.80. with the better mileage, you will probably end up paying about the same amount as if you had a V-10 gasser.

also, despite what some people say, you can go quite a bit longer on an oil change w/ the diesel simply because there is 3 gallons of oil in the pan (when there's more it wont break down as fast). so although you pay more per change, you change about 1/2 as often so again it ends up being equal.

also i think that you will be happy having extra power instead of being short on power w/ the gasser.

the diesel will last longer too for sure so you will be able to get more miles out of your investment (thats why i bought one). waytogo

 

I guess I was also figuring, that if I kept a diesel a few years, and ultimately felt it was too expensive for what I was using it for, it would depreciate less than, say, a V10.

Today I actually found a 2001 Ram 2500 diesel with 57k miles on it. I haven't seen it yet, but I'm hoping to get a price on it for about $20k...

 

1. He is talking about leaving the truck hooked to the trailer and towing 6 times a year. He has a different daily driver. I would imagine that 6 trips is going to be no more than 3-4K miles. Regardless if it's the Cummins or V10, he should change once a year since he won't "wear" out the oil from the mileage. At that point the Cummins going longer on a change doesn't matter because the mileage won't be there. Otherwise I agree, when a truck sees a fair amount of mileage, the longer oil change life pays off vs. the more frequent gasser change.

He won't fall short at all with the V10 with a measly 5-6K behind him, I wouldn't think.

He won't wear out a gas engine truck, or any truck for that matter if all a guy does is drive it a half dozen thousand miles a year.

 

Bah, towed my truggy to Fordyce Creek Trail (7500-8k lbs) with a '99 V-10 Ram a couple months ago. It was almost the worse towing experience I've ever had. The worse would be a '94 F-250 with the 5.8 gasser towing the same load. Anyways, the V-10 was gas chompin monster...The pedal had to be on the floor ALL the time, which resulted in about 5mpg. And it was waaay weak compared to my '95 12v CTD. Both trucks are auto's. The grades I could run 45-50mph on in the CTD, equaled about 35mph in the V-10. So what if he's only gonna tow "5-6 times a year"? Why would you want misierable performance even once a year? I find it hard to believe that any of you would reccomend a gasser for towing, period. If he wanted a DD truck, that might be different. The only good thing about the V-10 Ram I borrowed, was that is was a blast to drive around unloaded.

And 80-90K on a ctd is nothing...that many miles on a gasser is a different story. Wonder why the V-10 doesn't have the 100k mile warranty? The resale value of a diesel will always be higher as well. As far as I'm concerned, if your lookin for a fullsize truck, I can't think of any reason to get a gas rig period. And if the price diff is your only argument, then look for an older model diesel thats in your price range.

 

With the amount of money he would save buying the V10 between initicial cost, insurance savings, and registration savings...it would way more than cover the extra gas used and then some.

Sorry you had such a terrible experience with a V10 truck. Loosing 10 mph on a hill isn't that big of a deal, and you were pulling a fullsize rig weighing at least 2500lbs more than the original poster's trailered setup. Loosing the 2.5K would probably let the V10 truck catch up by 5mph, or more...leaving a same year CTD only being able to out do it by a few MPH, big whoop.

A good buddy of mine has a '97 V10. 35" tires and 3.55's and still pulls better than any GM 454 truck I've seen, including both of our 454 duallys.

Oh bother.....we are talking a Jeep on a 7K trailer.... not everyone needs a whopping diesel for a piddly 5-6K worth of trailer.

 

Also keep in mind that 80-90K on a Cummins is barely broken in not "higher mileage". I am going to be towing my K5 around after I buy a truck and the only thing I am considering is a diesel.

My parents used to have a 92 F350 with a 460 V8. I had some power but the best mileage you could hope for was 12mpg on the highway empty. Last year I went to Moab with my buddy Rob. We took his 98 Dodge Cummins. He hauled his triple axle 28' gooseneck trailer with his K5, camper, and supplies for 5 days of camping. The worst mileage we got on the whole trip was 11 mpg. The average was 13mpg and we got better then that in some places. His trailer weighs in at about 12000lbs.

His Cummins also pulled alot harder then the 460 V8 that my parents had. The absolute lowest MPH we got to was 37mph on a very long hard uphill grade. Rob downshifted from 4th to 3rd gear and he started to pick up speed climbing a 7% grade towing 12K. His motor had some tweeks done to it but nothing real special.

Harley

 

Exactly, i have a couple friends with both ford and dodge V-10's that tow awesome. Way better than a stock 96 12-valve or Powerstroke, thats for sure. One of them tows his 1-ton bronco at 90mph all over the midwest, with no slowing down on hills. It may downshift out of overdrive, but thats about it.

Did you have the parking brake on the whole time you were towing or something?

 

I have seen quite a few used Dodge V-10s with llike 80k miles on them with Re-built motors. This would be a MAJOR red flag to me. I have also heard elsewhere about problems with that engine. Can anyone shed some light on this subject??? Might be good for him to know if he is considering buying one.

 

Do you have any experience with the subject? I didn't think so. Next.

So what do you use your ctd for? Snowmobiles right? How much do they weigh? Oh, and that ONE trip to Hollister Hills towing your k5?

How can you compare the Dodge V-10 to a 454? Of course the V-10 is gonna out pull a 454. Among other things, the 34ci displacement advantage the V-10 has has gotta count for somethin. Apples to oranges comparison.

Same question. Although I knew the answer when I asked rjf...He has no experience with most of the things he talks about.

Have you towed the exact same load with both a gasser and a diesel? Has anyone? So far most of you have said "my buddy has..."or my friends". As far as I'm concerned, you can't really make a definitive statement about the subject untill you have towed the same load with both.