Considering 2020 Dodge/Ram 2500 gasser

[demarpaint]

I'd by a Ram before buying anything Ford or GM has to offer.

 

[nwjones18]

My concern between the Ram and chevy, is which system is less of an issue? MDS or AFM? The plug in muzzlers really only keep it in v-8 mode, but unless you change out the lifters and cam like user Ls1Mike, you still have the potential for failure.

I've read plenty of accounts of lifter failure on non MDS lifters, or on Hemi's without MDS. I think it is a lifter issue not an MDS issue myself for the Hemi and the lifters were supposedly 'updated' around 2016. I know on my truck I swore up and down that it had the 'lifter tick' as it would only last a couple seconds after I started the truck occasionally, but it was broken exhaust manifold studs.

 

[4WD]

I'd by a Ram before buying anything Ford or GM has to offer.

Depends on what you do and where you do it … guy at work quickly got tired of his 2018 2500 6.4L … lots of TSB’s and he lived too far from dealer … he tows fairly heavy and in hill country …
Got a 2019 GMC D-Max and happy camper now … never back to dealer …

 

[demarpaint]

Depends on what you do and where you do it … guy at work quickly got tired of his 2018 2500 6.4L … lots of TSB’s and he lived too far from dealer … he tows fairly heavy and in hill country …
Got a 2019 GMC D-Max and happy camper now … never back to dealer …

I have a few business associates that got out of Ford and GM for Ram and said they'd never go back. I was a Ford fan for decades, Ford would be at the bottom of my list now. I guess it depends on who you ask, just like oil choices.

 

[Zee09]

Looks nice, they did a good job on the spray in. Is it line-x?

It was well done
It is a Ford Factory deal.
Delivered to the dealer complete
Ford gives it a lifetime warranty.

 

[GMBoy]

I honestly felt the same way until I had my 5.7 Ram. On the GM's I drove with the 5.3 and AFM it was noticeable and annoying. On my truck I have honestly never been able to tell when it was in 4cyl mode or 8 so I guess I'm converted..

I agree 100%. It is the smoothest AFM system available. Love my Ram LImited - just turned 83k miles and no issues other than a leaking exhaust stud which was warranty repaired and is common with the 5.7. I run 5w/30 syn and average 18.8mpg with a 60/40 mix of highway/city and a bit of towing a car trailer with a car.

 

[GMBoy]

I have a few business associates that got out of Ford and GM for Ram and said they'd never go back. I was a Ford fan for decades, Ford would be at the bottom of my list now. I guess it depends on who you ask, just like oil choices.

I am in that boat...and I work for GM. It was very hard for me to go to a RAM but I just couldn't top it. The RAM limited I has has more features and 100% better interior than any GMC Denali. I still have my old Denali and the Hemi 5.7 is just as powerful but gets better mileage. Icing on the cake was the out the door price beat GM even with my employee discount. I do have more GM vehicles than not so I do not feel bad about this....still my money to spend.

 

[jeepman3071]

I'd by a Ram before buying anything Ford or GM has to offer.

+1

I'll take the coil springs, Hemi V8 and the ZF8 combo.

 

[4WD]

I agree 100%. It is the smoothest AFM system available. Love my Ram LImited - just turned 83k miles and no issues other than a leaking exhaust stud which was warranty repaired and is common with the 5.7. I run 5w/30 syn and average 18.8mpg with a 60/40 mix of highway/city and a bit of towing a car trailer with a car.

I don’t know what you guys are saying … I had to keep the display on to know it on either 5.3L I bought

 

[Zee09]

I'd by a Ram before buying anything Ford or GM has to offer.

Not me

 

[MacManus99]

I am in that boat...and I work for GM. It was very hard for me to go to a RAM but I just couldn't top it. The RAM limited I has has more features and 100% better interior than any GMC Denali. I still have my old Denali and the Hemi 5.7 is just as powerful but gets better mileage. Icing on the cake was the out the door price beat GM even with my employee discount. I do have more GM vehicles than not so I do not feel bad about this....still my money to spend.

I would have loved to buy a Ram, but my dealer wouldn't budge on them. Saved $5k going with GM. Even the poverty trim level Ram I was looking at was one hell of a truck.

 

[4WD]

The new 3/4 ton gassers get a ZF 8 speed which should help fuel economy.

I hope they use it better than my Rubicon … have had 4.10 gears in several vehicles and expected lower RPM’s at 70 mph … there is lots of back and forth between 7th and 8th around 65 mph …

Hate rustling the howler monkeys … but our L83/6L80e is a more enjoyable powertrain (yet I love the Jeep)

 

[Skippy722]

I hope they use it better than my Rubicon … have had 4.10 gears in several vehicles and expected lower RPM’s at 70 mph … there is lots of back and forth between 7th and 8th around 65 mph …

Hate rustling the howler monkeys … but our L83/6L80e is a more enjoyable powertrain (yet I love the Jeep)

My Ram is pretty comfortable at 65 in 8th with 3.21 gears and my 300 would cruise all day at 50mph in 8th with its 2.62 gearing.

 

[4WD]

My Ram is pretty comfortable at 65 in 8th with 3.21 gears and my 300 would cruise all day at 50mph in 8th with its 2.62 gearing.

Yeah, our Charger is fine … guess the poor aerodynamics of the Jeep make it work differently

 

[Zee09]

The Ford 10 spd seems to know
which gear it needs to be in all the time. Very smooth too.

 

[ls1mike]

My concern between the Ram and chevy, is which system is less of an issue? MDS or AFM? The plug in muzzlers really only keep it in v-8 mode, but unless you change out the lifters and cam like user Ls1Mike, you still have the potential for failure.

GM Gas 3/4 ton and up trucks don't have AFM/DOD/MDS whatever you want to call it. Plus when I looked the Ram with 6.4 did not have the 8 speed and the gearing was worse than the GM. So in any tow testing it was always last place with poor MPG (Which I don't really care about in the truck) even though it made bigger power numbers.

 

[SeaJay]

If you need a 3/4 tonner for whatever reason, you are not going to get "great" gas mileage, whatever that means to folks. For reference, a F250 I owned 4WD short (6 foot 7 inch) bed with a supercab and 4.10 rear end would get 12MPG on a good day. If you don't need the capabilities of a 3/4 tonner, than get a half tonner with better gas mileage.

And if you do need the 3/4 tonner, the gasoline bills are just part of the cost of what you need it for.

 

[4WD]

If you need a 3/4 tonner for whatever reason, you are not going to get "great" gas mileage, whatever that means to folks. For reference, a F250 I owned 4WD short (6 foot 7 inch) bed with a supercab and 4.10 rear end would get 12MPG on a good day. If you don't need the capabilities of a 3/4 tonner, than get a half tonner with better gas mileage.

And if you do need the 3/4 tonner, the gasoline bills are just part of the cost of what you need it for.

Yep, HD LT’s can be a tough market and the cost of a diesel is a huge jump in sticker …
… plus the used one’s are ridiculous even with high mileage …

 

[Bird's_Garage]

Fuel mileage for a 3/4 ton? That's kinda like asking for the towing capacity of a Prius.

 

[spasm3]

If you need a 3/4 tonner for whatever reason, you are not going to get "great" gas mileage, whatever that means to folks. For reference, a F250 I owned 4WD short (6 foot 7 inch) bed with a supercab and 4.10 rear end would get 12MPG on a good day. If you don't need the capabilities of a 3/4 tonner, than get a half tonner with better gas mileage.

And if you do need the 3/4 tonner, the gasoline bills are just part of the cost of what you need it for.

I agree. My 1500 avalanche gets 13 town 18 hwy. And thats on p-metrics. I recently switched to load range E all-terrains, so i don't know what mileage it gets now. A 2500 won't be much different than what i'm getting now.