Help me decide, 3 trucks I need to pick 1 from.

[dieselscout80]

Well that’s false because I drive my Ram 12K per year for 5 years and I haven’t had any such issues whatsoever.

I think what is in your favor is you are working your truck pulling heavy loads often rather than just getting two bags of chips at the grocery store.

These diesel’s need to work enough to get fully warm to avoid issues and you do that and that’s how they’re supposed to be run.

 

[newbury]

Try to find a good pre-‘18 Dodge with the Cummins and you can tune it unless VA (I suspect) has smog inspection. Fords today are laden with problems. They have the highest amount of issues, and I know this because I belong to two Ford truck web communities. A pre-‘18 Dodge can be tuned for 20+ mpg on the highway. I get that in my dually 3500 CC when I try. The sweet spot for the Cummins is 1900-2000 rpm, which is upper 70’s and where the best unladen fuel economy is. The trucks are so nice on the inside (Laramie) you’ll make it your daily driver. At one time my brother and I owned 13 Fords, so I’m not disloyal, just pragmatic.

Thanks for the detailed reply.
I'm trying to get away from the DIY work because of my aging body. Repairing trucks is not my strong suite. It's also getting difficult to find trustworthy mechanics. I've had 3 great guys for my diesels (1988 7.3L IDI, 2002 7.3 Turbo), 2 of which passed away, one just stopped. So I've been focusing on new or near new for my tow vehicle.

 

[Torvy]

We had 2 days of 10-12 degree weather here last winter. I was also told that when the temps get that low, you should keep the DEF level under 1/2 full. I didn’t realize my DEF tank was 3/4 full. I was worried it would freeze. It never did.

In my 20+ years of being on the internet, I have read more BS rumors that never amounted to anything.

From what I read, that ia right at the freezing point for DEF. Assuming it works like water in that regard, short time right at freezing will not be an issue. Air changes temperature much more quickly than water (and likely DEF, too). I'd guess it's a bigger issue for those who regularly get temps under 12 degrees F (-11 C).

Where I grew up, they average 36+ nights with lows below 0 F. Average low temp in January is 2 F. Up there, I am sure it's a bigger issue.. DEF wasn't a thing back then, though.

 

[jyoutz]

Buy a Ram with the Cummins diesel, but not one with 300K miles.

 

[whitehair]

Background:I'm retired. I've been going through the process of trying to determine what truck to add to my fleet. The truck will be used in Virginia and Mississippi. It's prime purpose will be to gather dust and suck up parking space. Occasionally, maybe 5 times a year I'll drive it from Va. to Ms. towing a 10K trailer down I81, I40, I75 and getting to northeast Ms. and then after a month or three, drive back. It will carry 2 passengers, me and my wife.
I've been making this trip with about this frequency since 2011 mostly with a 2002 Ford F350 7.3, CC, dually and it's crazy I know.
But the dually is getting "long in the tooth" and I'm concerned about it breaking down.
I missed out on the deals last January and the Tariff threat kicked in and prices jacked up. But now they have come back down slightly.
Also I looked at 5L F150's and they cost almost as much.

So I've narrowed my choices down to 3 vehicles.
2023 Ram Bighorn with /edit- 6.7L
diesel < 300 miles ~53K
Warranty mostly used up sitting on the lot
2024 Ford F250 XL w/ 6.7 0 miles full warranty ~56K
2025 Ford F250 XL w/ 6.7 0 miles full warranty ~60K

To me the 2024 is the sweet spot.
/edit - what would you pick?

You might consider leasing or purchasing a property in that area as an alternative. IMHO

 

[tradosaurus]

I am also retired and only drive my diesel 2018 2500 6.7 Ram about 8000 a year. The thing I learned the hard way is the DEF fluid in all the newer vehicles solidifies clogging everything up. I was quoted $7000 to repair mine. Problem is if I fix it, it will just keep happening. You would be better off rebuilding the engine in your 2002. I was told I needed to drive at least 45K to 50K miles a year to keep it from happening.

Or buy an older 6.7L diesel that's been deleted. Then no worry about DEF.
I too only drove my F250 6.7L about 7K / yr. Ended up selling it a few months ago. Came to terms that I don't need a truck and if do I'll just rent one.

 

[newbury]

You might consider leasing or purchasing a property in that area as an alternative. IMHO

I've 2 houses and ~ 1 acre in Va. and 2 houses and ~400 acres in Ms. thank you.

 

[paulsharvey]

On the specific vehicles listed; i do think the Ram Bighorn trim is a sweet spot, of options that are nice to have, vs expensive stuff you'll never use, but still pay for.

 

[Merck]

Background:I'm retired. I've been going through the process of trying to determine what truck to add to my fleet. The truck will be used in Virginia and Mississippi. It's prime purpose will be to gather dust and suck up parking space. Occasionally, maybe 5 times a year I'll drive it from Va. to Ms. towing a 10K trailer down I81, I40, I75 and getting to northeast Ms. and then after a month or three, drive back. It will carry 2 passengers, me and my wife.
I've been making this trip with about this frequency since 2011 mostly with a 2002 Ford F350 7.3, CC, dually and it's crazy I know.
But the dually is getting "long in the tooth" and I'm concerned about it breaking down.
I missed out on the deals last January and the Tariff threat kicked in and prices jacked up. But now they have come back down slightly.
Also I looked at 5L F150's and they cost almost as much.

So I've narrowed my choices down to 3 vehicles.
2023 Ram Bighorn with /edit- 6.7L
diesel < 300 miles ~53K
Warranty mostly used up sitting on the lot
2024 Ford F250 XL w/ 6.7 0 miles full warranty ~56K
2025 Ford F250 XL w/ 6.7 0 miles full warranty ~60K

To me the 2024 is the sweet spot.
/edit - what would you pick?

Either truck will do the job. If they are selling the Ram as new the warranty won't start until it is registered to the owner. With only 300 miles I would give it a close look. I know it is crazy but I looked at a 2016 Impala that had 40 thousand miles on it. It was a dealer demo and never been titled so they could sell it as new. I am partial to Fords and have a 2012 now that I bought new. It only has 62 thousand on it with the 6.7 engine. As old as I am I hope it lasts another year or two. The Ram will be easier and cheaper to repair. It is totally up to you. The Ford is a totally new design so give that some thought. Let me know which one you get.

 

[mike5511]

Background:I'm retired. I've been going through the process of trying to determine what truck to add to my fleet. The truck will be used in Virginia and Mississippi. It's prime purpose will be to gather dust and suck up parking space. Occasionally, maybe 5 times a year I'll drive it from Va. to Ms. towing a 10K trailer down I81, I40, I75 and getting to northeast Ms. and then after a month or three, drive back. It will carry 2 passengers, me and my wife.
I've been making this trip with about this frequency since 2011 mostly with a 2002 Ford F350 7.3, CC, dually and it's crazy I know.
But the dually is getting "long in the tooth" and I'm concerned about it breaking down.
I missed out on the deals last January and the Tariff threat kicked in and prices jacked up. But now they have come back down slightly.
Also I looked at 5L F150's and they cost almost as much.

So I've narrowed my choices down to 3 vehicles.
2023 Ram Bighorn with /edit- 6.7L
diesel < 300 miles ~53K
Warranty mostly used up sitting on the lot
2024 Ford F250 XL w/ 6.7 0 miles full warranty ~56K
2025 Ford F250 XL w/ 6.7 0 miles full warranty ~60K

To me the 2024 is the sweet spot.
/edit - what would you pick?

None of the above. But then this is mine so I might be prejudiced.

 

[Hay Dude]

Well, I’ve had DEF freeze several times.

That’s an owner/operator issue. Can’t blame the truck that DEF freezes. All 2012 and up diesel trucks have similar DEF tanks, pumps and heaters.

For the Ram/Cummins fans, the new ones with emissions are not the trucks you’re familiar with. I bought a new one in 2020, and traded it last year for a Ford diesel instead. In the 4 years, and 80,000 miles, it never made it from one oil change to the next without having warranty work needed, about 3/4’s of that was emissions related. I think at the end I was at 6 or 7 DEF pumps, two tanks, the lines for it, an injector and the controller/module was changed out or reprogrammed (maybe both?, trying to forget.) It also had an intercooler replaced, some alternator issue, and body issues with fit and waterleaks.

To the OP, myself for what you’re describing, I’d either redo your current truck if you like the basics of what you have, or look at the Ford godzilla in either a 3/4 or one ton single rear wheel.

That’s other worldly. 7 DEF pumps? That has to be a world record.
Can’t say any of that happened on my 2020.
So far on mine: (1) DEF sensor (truck still ran fine, gauge wouldn’t work), front wheel spindle (I submerged truck in 2’ of water trying to escape a flood).
And I work my truck hard as heck.

By far best truck I ever owned and as of now would buy another in 2027, when the 7.2L Cummins hits, unless Ford or GM fix their issues.

 

[Hay Dude]

I think what is in your favor is you are working your truck pulling heavy loads often rather than just getting two bags of chips at the grocery store.

These diesel’s need to work enough to get fully warm to avoid issues and you do that and that’s how they’re supposed to be run.

And there is the problem. Everyone wants a diesel truck just to pull their jet skis or look tough.
Its a free country and you can spend your money wherever you want, but don’t complain about modern diesel truck problems because your truck sits for months or never gets used for its’ intended use.

 

[Hay Dude]

Or buy an older 6.7L diesel that's been deleted. Then no worry about DEF.
I too only drove my F250 6.7L about 7K / yr. Ended up selling it a few months ago. Came to terms that I don't need a truck and if do I'll just rent one.

Which sounds great until you live in a state that inspects the trucks emissions system. Once it’s discovered you tampered with it, you’re not going to pass inspection. Or worse, if you get DOT’d while towing, they will park you and fine you.

Unless you live in a state with no emissions inspection, I highly suggest you disregard deleting anything. Then there’s the possibility you devalue your truck to a buyer when you sell, unless it’s a buyer looking to take the risk of driving a truck that has federally mandated emissions that have been removed.

 

[tradosaurus]

Which sounds great until you live in a state that inspects the trucks emissions system. Once it’s discovered you tampered with it, you’re not going to pass inspection. Or worse, if you get DOT’d while towing, they will park you and fine you.

Unless you live in a state with no emissions inspection, I highly suggest you disregard deleting anything. Then there’s the possibility you devalue your truck to a buyer when you sell, unless it’s a buyer looking to take the risk of driving a truck that has federally mandated emissions that have been removed.

Relax. We are under a new regime!
The OP could paint his deleted truck army green and automatically get a military waiver for emission equipment.

 

[jyoutz]

Relax. We are under a new regime!
The OP could paint his deleted truck army green and automatically get a military waiver for emission equipment.

Regime is irrelevant if you trade in your truck to a dealer. They won’t touch a deleted truck. And many shops won’t work on them so be prepared to do all mechanics yourself.

 

[deserteagle71]

And there is the problem. Everyone wants a diesel truck just to pull their jet skis or look tough.
Its a free country and you can spend your money wherever you want, but don’t complain about modern diesel truck problems because your truck sits for months or never gets used for its’ intended use.

^This!

I see so much of that around here. Young mine workers making $100,000+ a year, driving diesel pickups (mostly Ram and Ford) with monster lifts and tires, because they can. Not because they need that kind of power. I can usually hear the Rams coming from a half mile away because removing the muffler and cat and running a straight pipe seems to be the thing to do these days.

 

[newbury]

^This!

I see so much of that around here. Young mine workers making $100,000+ a year, driving diesel pickups (mostly Ram and Ford) with monster lifts and tires, because they can. Not because they need that kind of power. I can usually hear the Rams coming from a half mile away because removing the muffler and cat and running a straight pipe seems to be the thing to do these days.

But how is that much different from us seniors? I remember one of my friends spending about 5K on a Boss Mustang in 1969, on a salary of about $10K /year. This in a state where the TOP speed limit is 50 mph.

 

[Hay Dude]

But how is that much different from us seniors? I remember one of my friends spending about 5K on a Boss Mustang in 1969, on a salary of about $10K /year. This in a state where the TOP speed limit is 50 mph.

It’s different because we are referring to people spending 100K on a diesel truck, using it for nothing other than what a car or SUV could do, then complaining on the internet about DEF/DPF failures.
Buying a muscle car is fine. It won’t ruin itself by sitting or being used as a grocery getter.

 

[Hay Dude]

Back in early 2020’s, buddy of mine dug my Ram and wanted one. He had the money. Went to same dealer I bought mine from.
In an unusual act of courage, the salesman said to my buddy “I don’t want to sell you a diesel truck”. My buddy actually respected that.
The salesman listened to my buddy tell him what he would do with it (short trips, no heavy towing) and told him he’d be much better off in a gas truck.

 

[paulsharvey]

Back in early 2020’s, buddy of mine dug my Ram and wanted one. He had the money. Went to same dealer I bought mine from.
In an unusual act of courage, the salesman said to my buddy “I don’t want to sell you a diesel truck”. My buddy actually respected that.
The salesman listened to my buddy tell him what he would do with it (short trips, no heavy towing) and told him he’d be much better off in a gas truck.

TBN is part of the problem too; recent thread, guy needs a trailer to move a 1900# subcompact tractor with his jeep. Over half of the posts told him to get a 10,000# trailer and a 3/4 ton truck