Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins-opinions

[deerefan]

Need some help guys. Looking at a 2018 Ram 2500. 4x4 Cummins with automatic, 16k miles. Tradesman package with leather and chrome steel wheels upgrade. Power everything, including factory installed gooseneck hitch. Would trade my 13 Tundra with 136k miles. I drive alot, 120 miles a day minimum. Company pays fuel. Never owned a Ram or Cummins. Give me your advice please-good, bad and ugly.

 

[Gov23]

I’ve got a 2011 Ram 2500/Cummins. It has been the absolute best truck I’ve ever owned. I am not brand loyal....I’ve owned fords and chevys as well. I don’t drive as much as you but still have over 100k on it. Other than normal maintenance(oil/filters/brakes) it has required no repairs. None.

I did recently have the deletes done hoping to avoid emissions trouble down the road.

 

[deerefan]

I’ve got a 2011 Ram 2500/Cummins. It has been the absolute best truck I’ve ever owned. I am not brand loyal....I’ve owned fords and chevys as well. I don’t drive as much as you but still have over 100k on it. Other than normal maintenance(oil/filters/brakes) it has required no repairs. None.

I did recently have the deletes done hoping to avoid emissions trouble down the road.

I have commonly heard good things about the Cummins. Never owned one though.

 

[coobie]

Can"t speak for the Cummins but my 2016 ram 2500 with 6.4 hemi has been flawless pushing 40,000 miles

 

[deerefan]

I would like to match or come close to the Tundra’s reliability. Unfortunately a new Tundra is pricey, that is matching what I have. I like the fact the cab need not be removed for service too.

 

[Tomtint]

I sold a 1995 Cummins 2500 to a friend of mine back in 1996 when it had 15k on it.. He still has it and drives it as his daily driver. I think he is at 350-370k miles now. Basically everything on the truck has been replaced due to rust or mechanical failure of some sort ..except the motor. That thing just keeps chugging along. Compared to today's diesels..it's a dog..does not have the torque or highway comfort that the new ones do.

 

[Tractorable]

What do you plan to do with the truck? Are you looking at the diesel for fuel economy or because you need to tow a lot? Ownership costs of a turbo diesel is a lot more than a gas truck. Higher price, fuel cost, maintenance, and repairs. Out of warranty repairs can be significantly more expensive. Of course, you get more money back when you sell.

 

[Rustyiron]

From the people I know that had Dodge trucks (for the Cummins) highly regretted the Dodge part of the equation.
That truck may be part of the Cummins recall, see if that recall has been completed first. I read something about lawsuits between Cummins & Fiat over this emission recall that may be important for your decision.

 

[deerefan]

What do you plan to do with the truck? Are you looking at the diesel for fuel economy or because you need to tow a lot? Ownership costs of a turbo diesel is a lot more than a gas truck. Higher price, fuel cost, maintenance, and repairs. Out of warranty repairs can be significantly more expensive. Of course, you get more money back when you sell.

We own a small horse farm, 20 acres. Pulling trailers about 30% of the time, loads ranging from 3-12k lbs. Otherwise just commuting to work.

 

[deserteagle71]

WARNING!

Once you drive that Ram/Cummins combination you will be spoiled for the rest of your life. That effortless power that easily moves anything you can hook to the truck is addicting.

My first Dodge/Cummins was a 2004.5 model 2500; I drove it for several years until I decided to get a cab-over camper so I wanted a dually. I traded the 2500 for a 3500 dually and that's what I've been driving ever since. The 2500 averaged 18-19 mpg if not towing, the dually averages 18. What's amazing to me is that the dually, loaded as seen below with camper and towing a heavy trailer with my Jeep on it, still averages 14-15 mpg (mpg figures are all hand calculated). Never had a minute's problem with the 2500. With the dually I had to change out the water pump because it was starting to leak. But that was a 15 minute job and the pump cost ~$35. No other problems to report.