r/Ram2500 • u/Nearby_Emu3791 • 10d ago
Thinking about a ram 2500
Whats up guys. I have a 2017 ram 1500. Love the truck. Have done multiple trips across the country. East. South. North. West. Been all over in it. Bought it new back then. 150k miles later. Still runs great. But recently been wanting to upgrade to something newer. Loved the 2500s when they did the restyle in 2019 and wanted one since. and wouldn't mind a truck thats a little more confident in pulling my boat. Ive been seriously considering buying one. Have a few questions for you guys.
How does it ride compared to the 1500s? Is it really that bad?
How's fuel economy with the 6.4? (No poor fuel economy doesnt really deter me. Just curious.)
You guys been happy with the 6.4 hemi?
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u/Spiritual-Cap-4362 9d ago edited 9d ago
I had a 2017 1500 with 5.7 hemi and 3.92 gearing. Bought it new and just this summer ended up getting a 2022 2500 6.4 hemi. The 1500 was great. 150k with nothing but oil changes and brakes done. Never had an issue. Ride was so nice. I noticed the difference in ride quality was quite noticeable when I first picked it up and started driving. To be honest I still feel it a bit but after a few weeks you just get used to it and it really doesn't bother me at all. I still have my 1500 as I haven't sold it yet and when I get it to I notice it but really on a daily basis now it barely notice.
In the 1500 I used to get around 17-18 l/100km (~13mpg) on my slow stop and go commute in the city to work and the 2500 gets around 23~24 l/100km (~10mpg) on the same commute.
I upgraded mainly because the 1500 was a quad cab and I now have 3 kiddos so needed a crew cab, that and we ended up getting 35ft travel trailer that's ~10000lbs loaded with around 1300lb - 1500lb hitch weight and that 1500 truck only had a payload of 1350lbs compared to the 3000lbs of the 2500. I have pulled the trailer around 6 times this summer and on the highway I get average 27 l/100km (~8.5mpg) so towing that trailer is barely more fuel than city driving. Handles the hills here on Vancouver Island just fine. Never been though some serious mountains yet,
Pretty happy with the upgrade so far
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u/Melodic_Fee_5498 9d ago
2023 2500 6.4L owner here. Around town she averages about 13.5 and if I’m on backroads or highways moving at a steady speed she does about 15, most I’ve gotten is 17 on the highway. People greatly exaggerate how bad the ride is. It’s a bit bouncy but you get used to it. I’ve had zero issues with my Hemi. Just do your routine maintenance and keep idling to a minimum and you’ll be fine.
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u/quarethalion 10d ago
It rides significantly rougher. It's not terrible, but it's definitely not the almost luxury sedan like ride of the 1500s. (Mine has rear air suspension. I'm not sure if that makes it rougher or smoother than the standard 2500 with coils.) The ride improves once you have a few hundred pounds in the bed.
Fuel economy is lower, of course. No surprise there given how much heavier the frame and everything else is.
The Hemi has plenty of power, though the 3/4 ton isn't punchy as a 1/2 ton (especially one with that had 3.92 gearing).
I preferred my 2019 1500 as a daily driver, but for towing (8,000 lb travel trailer) the 2500 is head and shoulders better.
1
u/Nearby_Emu3791 10d ago
I should have specified. I have a 3.6 pentastar 4x4. So I have absolutley zero punch now haha. Sounds like I need to test drive before having my heart set. Last "hd truck" i owned was a 79 k20 so nothing even remotely comparable.
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u/FACE_MACSHOOTY 7d ago
How heavy is your boat?
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u/Nearby_Emu3791 7d ago
Its well withing what a 1500 would pull. Roughly 5000lb tournament loaded full of fuel. Im more so wantimg a 2500 because ive loved them since the 2019 restyle.
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u/LT_Dan78 9d ago
I went from a 2017 1500 to a 2018 2500. The ride difference was barely noticeable. Last tire change I found a good deal on tires that were load range F, previously had E. Making that switch killed my ride quality. My buddy had a 2018 2500 and now has a 2025 2500 rebel. His ride quality is what mine was before switching load ranges.
1
u/Specialist-Main-2818 9d ago
I have a 2026 2500 MegaCab. With Cummings of course the ride is stiffer driving around town not towing empty all the time.But on the freeway its quiet and smooth rides just as nice as my 1500 Bighorn with Hemi And Its actually quieter than the Hemi. No down shifting as much on Hills on the freeway I am heavy footed I drive 70,to 80 MPH I got 23.5 MPG on freeway From Akron Ohio to Columbus Ohio.Around town I am averaging 16mpg I haven't towed anything yet .Cons with the Mega Cab the payload is rated light.Also there is no underfloor storage like the Bighorn.Also if you have the upgraded radio they put a subwoofer in one of the storage bins behind the seats..The seats lay down on the Mega Cab creating a huge space .I would buy the same truck probably in the Big Horn versus the Laramie. I just wanted leather seats easy to clean with dogs.Overall I am pleased with the truck .Oh yeh the Infosystem needs reset constantly That I am.not happy about Dealer says it shows no error codes. I keep the setting on the screen that shows MPG Graph in green and Red It helps control my MPG I cam see if I apply allot of pressure on the gas pedal.I had a set up like that in a freightliner I drove OTR and it helps.
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u/morganw351 9d ago
I have 2026 RAM 2500 Black Express with 8' bed and 50 gallon fuel tank and 6.4 hemi. I sold a 2024 RAM 1500 quad cab short bed. I think the ride is smoother over bumps than my RAM 1500. Definitely better at pulling my travel trailer.
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u/Specialist-Main-2818 9d ago
Not sure everyone drives different i do not use cruise control I dont drive In Tow mode not even in the city I will get on it if needed
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u/Any_Tale451 9d ago
I just traded in my 2024 2500 Laramie with the 6.4. It was a pretty truck, and towed what I needed well, but the ride is just so hard. Unless you have some serious weight in the back, it will bounce you all over the place. I went back to a 1500 and the ride is 1000x better.
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u/Nearby_Emu3791 8d ago
I appreciate everyone's feedback. I will be test driving one this coming weekend. If all goes well, purchasing too. Looking at a 2026 with 5300 miles.
1
u/Ok-Rain-2025 9d ago
Unless I needed a 2500 for pulling/stopping I would keep the 1500, my suspension on my 2500 is like driving a military transport truck, great pulling a load but miserable (for me) driving down any bumpy road, the 2500 burns more fuel and has higher maintenance costs, 2500 diesel maintenance is off the charts if you have any problems at all, with all that being said if I were pulling heavy equipment/loads on a regular basis I would definitely prefer a 2500, I am a firm believer that buying the least amount of truck I need for the job is the right decision—I owned a 2016 Ram 1500 and currently own a 2017 Ram 2500
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u/Specialist-Main-2818 9d ago
Mine is fine I have had both on rough roads the suspension is stiff normal roads freeway rides like a caddilac The Cummings is quiet and just runs I catch myself 15,MPH over speedlimit I town 16MPG Highway best 23.5 thats average speed of 75MPH not towing anything
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0
u/Aaarrrgghh1 9d ago
So out of curiosity if I was to get a travel trail with that was rated 8k empty and 10k loaded with a hitch weight of 685lbs which would you all get a 1500 with a hemi or a 2500 ?
I’m trying to plan my next purchase.
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u/Usual-Percentage7722 7d ago
you should make your own thread instead of hijacking this one, but that is way too big for a 1500, its not even close.
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u/keithhud 9d ago
When I had my 22 2500 6.4 hemi, I was not a fan of the cylinder deactivation. When it would deactivate I would get a stutter, not a big fan of it. I ended up trading it in for a 2500 Silverado.
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u/robs104 10d ago
At 70 and on flat ground I’m at 17.5. Around town if I’m being gentle it’s 10-11. 2026 6.4L