Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins-opinions

[Monster5601]

There is nothing wrong with the 68RFE transmission RAM puts behind the Cummins. That poor transmission picked up a bad rap back in the day when all that was required to up the Cummins' output was the turn of a screw on the injector pump which over-stressed the transmission. The 68RFE wasn't designed to passed the additional power as provided by the factory.

RAM warrants their transmission with a five-year 100,000-mile warranty, I doubt they would provide a less than acceptable transmsission solution.

 

[TMGT]

There is nothing wrong with the 68RFE transmission RAM puts behind the Cummins. That poor transmission picked up a bad rap back in the day when all that was required to up the Cummins' output was the turn of a screw on the injector pump which over-stressed the transmission. The 68RFE wasn't designed to passed the additional power as provided by the factory.

RAM warrants their transmission with a five-year 100,000-mile warranty, I doubt they would provide a less than acceptable transmsission solution.

Just wanted to clarify, the 68RFE wasnt introduced until '07.5 behind the 6.7L only. I think you're thinking of the 47R or the 48RFE. The 48 wasnt a bad trans, like you said they got a bad rap from people turning the power up and expecting the trans to hold up while heavy towing or hot rodding around. The 47RH and RE did have some shortcomings.

The 68RFE is an excellent trans and will hold up fine providing you dont try to turn the power way up and beat on it, I'm guessing the old Dodge transmission stories from the 47 are still being circulated.

I have an 07.5 2500 with the 6.7L and 68RFE, over 100k and no problems, it pretty much always has a trailer or load on it.

 

[deerefan]

OP here. We are still a little apart on price. I want to thank all of you for your input, it has been very helpful. My biggest concern is the emissions systems on these diesels and how problematic/costly they can be. I have been advised to do a delete at 100k miles, not sure if I will.

 

[TMGT]

OP here. We are still a little apart on price. I want to thank all of you for your input, it has been very helpful. My biggest concern is the emissions systems on these diesels and how problematic/costly they can be. I have been advised to do a delete at 100k miles, not sure if I will.

I wouldn't worry about the emissions system, the only real problems I've seen is when they've been turned up or used for a lot of short unloaded trips together where the engine couldn't get up to temp.

Worst comes to worse you can always delete it if you have a problem once it's out of warranty.

 

[BigBlue1]

I can't comment related to the Cummins but I can vouch for the Ram trucks being great trucks. I had a 2010 Ram 1500 4x4 Sport for about 120k miles and then last year traded it for a 2017 Ram 2500 Laramie Sport with the 6.4L engine. I personally would suggest that you go for a higher trim level than the Tradesman. Some of the 'luxury' features are pretty nice, including heated & cooled seats, heated steering wheel, backup and cargo bed cameras, locking tailgate, parking sensors, etc. Besides, I think the Sport package just looks WAY nicer than other versions, with the blacked out components vs. chrome and body colored bumpers, not to mention different stance.

Rob

 

[BigBlue1]

When I had my Ram with the tow mirrors I used to flip them out ONLY when towing. I realized the trailer I was towing wasn稚 wide enough to even need them so I stopped flipping them out. When you do flip them you have to readjust them which is probably why people leave them out, to lazy to adjust them back. The correct term for it is å*µhost trailer?

Yes, you have to readjust both the main mirror section and the wideview sections on both sides. Which is why if someone does need them wide they leave them that way. I'm not a fan of them out, myself, and I also agree that in normal position they are wide enough for anything except a full-width tall enclosed trailer. But for everyone to get snooty about other people doing it is quite petty.

Rob

 

[BigBlue1]

That Cummins won't even realize that 10k load is back there.

Went up to Oregon to pick up another load of firewood a few months ago. Usually, I do this in the fall and the wood is dry but this load offered for a great price and I bought it even though the wood was pretty green - wet and heavy. The truck pulled it easily but I noticed that the exhaust brake wasn't doing as well as it usually did and I had to touch the brakes a time or two coming down off the mountain passes. So when I got to Burns Junction I ran across the scale. Truck, trailer and load were just shy of 30,000 lbs. My rig is a 2004 which listed as having only 505 ft-lbs of torque. A new 2018 has over 900 ft-lbs. Piece of cake!
View attachment 576800

I bet that load was just a bit over the capacity of that trailer!

 

[TMGT]

Yes, you have to readjust both the main mirror section and the wideview sections on both sides. Which is why if someone does need them wide they leave them that way. I'm not a fan of them out, myself, and I also agree that in normal position they are wide enough for anything except a full-width tall enclosed trailer. But for everyone to get snooty about other people doing it is quite petty.

Rob

Agreed, the dodge tow mirrors are my least favorite, I have to flip them out with my dump trailer, I'll leave them out if I plan on using it again soon to avoid readjusting them.
I think the newer mirrors are a little better with the larger convex section (is the convex area adjustable independently of the main mirror on the newer ones?)

I miss the old elephant ear mirrors that were on my old F550.

 

[BigBlue1]

Agreed, the dodge tow mirrors are my least favorite, I have to flip them out with my dump trailer, I'll leave them out if I plan on using it again soon to avoid readjusting them.
I think the newer mirrors are a little better with the larger convex section (is the convex area adjustable independently of the main mirror on the newer ones?)

I miss the old elephant ear mirrors that were on my old F550.

Yes, the convex wideview part adjusts separately. Which adds to the complexity of flipping the mirrors. Nice to have it once it is adjusted but it's a pain. I wish they had multi-position mirror memory and motor control for both pieces so you could just flip the mirrors out and push 'memory 2' and then flip them back in and push 'memory 1' and it would be effortless. But oh well...

Rob

 

[TMGT]

Yes, the convex wideview part adjusts separately. Which adds to the complexity of flipping the mirrors. Nice to have it once it is adjusted but it's a pain. I wish they had multi-position mirror memory and motor control for both pieces so you could just flip the mirrors out and push 'memory 2' and then flip them back in and push 'memory 1' and it would be effortless. But oh well...

Rob

Yup they really need to add that, it already knows when its flipped and changes the switch so left/right still adjust left/right etc. so you think they would be able to build in a memory. I have the older style with the little corner convex mirror that is fixed with the main mirror and is so small it's almost useless.