Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins-opinions

deerefan · Mar 2, 2019

Monster5601 said:
++ using Geno's. One thing for sure about them, you will get original Mopar filters. There seems to be a lot of "knock-offs" on the market these days at prices too good to be true. Well, you know what they say...

The Geno's wrench doesn't seem to appetizing to me. The first time I changed the filters (both fuel and oil) were the most difficult because it was my first time and I swear, the plant had the Hulk tight the filters. Too bad they didn't use him on the drag link instead.

Got my parts from Genos as well as the 28mm socket and dog bone wrench. Planning on oil and fuel filter change next weekend. All parts came as ordered and on time.

deerefan · Mar 2, 2019

Trying to post a video of my truck. How do I do that?

deerefan · Mar 9, 2019

Monster5601 said:
++ using Geno's. One thing for sure about them, you will get original Mopar filters. There seems to be a lot of "knock-offs" on the market these days at prices too good to be true. Well, you know what they say...

The Geno's wrench doesn't seem to appetizing to me. The first time I changed the filters (both fuel and oil) were the most difficult because it was my first time and I swear, the plant had the Hulk tight the filters. Too bad they didn't use him on the drag link instead.

The Genos dog bone wrench worked great as well as the 28mm socket. Did oil/oil filter change, air filter change and fuel filter changes today. Decided to go with Rotella 5-40 full synthetic. Tractor Supply had it on sale plus running nearly 15k miles between changes just made me feel a little better. I used the dog bone wrench on the water sensor and it worked well. Took me an hour to do it all. Local dealer wanted over $500 to do this service. With the Genos 4/2 kit (4 oil filters and 2 sets of fuel filter) and the oil I beat that price by $200. Pretty easy truck to work on.

RyeThomas · Mar 10, 2019

I would not go 15k miles if I were you. I know that’s the supposed interval and I’m not trying to start an oil thread here. With EGR systems on newer Diesel vehicles I would cut a few miles off the interval. JMO.

Just use due regard, oil change at home is cheap all things considered.

deerefan · Mar 10, 2019

RyeThomas said:
I would not go 15k miles if I were you. I know that’s the supposed interval and I’m not trying to start an oil thread here. With EGR systems on newer Diesel vehicles I would cut a few miles off the interval. JMO.

Just use due regard, oil change at home is cheap all things considered.

I actually go by the oil life monitor, changing it between 10-15% life left. I need to check my trip meter, probably about 12-13k miles.

deerefan · Mar 23, 2019

30k mile update- averaging 18.5-19 mpg empty. Tows like a monster. Did the first oil and fuel filter service myself, took about 45 minutes. So far I am pleased, no issues to report.

wmonroe · Mar 23, 2019

Nice report, good luck on the next 30k.

heavy hammer · Mar 27, 2019

Keep up on the fluids and filters and it will last. My 96 12 valve 382K+ before I let her go. It's still on the road today. I just hit 100K on my 05. That motor was built to run!

deerefan · Mar 28, 2019

Here is a picture of her in her work clothes. Load was a little north of 10k with trailer, machine and tools/buckets. As usual, towed it fine. First Ram I have owned and impressed so far.

deerefan · May 9, 2019

I will be turning 36k miles tomorrow. I am averaging 3k miles a month. Only one minor issue-the backup camera acts up occasionally, not coming on if I use the tailgate a lot. Other than that, just received a recall letter for a nut on the steering linkage. Truck has been great. Very pleased with my first Ram so far

BigBlue1 · May 10, 2019

deerefan said:
I will be turning 36k miles tomorrow. I am averaging 3k miles a month. Only one minor issue-the backup camera acts up occasionally, not coming on if I use the tailgate a lot. Other than that, just received a recall letter for a nut on the steering linkage. Truck has been great. Very pleased with my first Ram so far

Yeah, apparently that recall is a pretty important one. About the only one of any consequence that I've had on my 2017 Ram 2500. Had it done at the dealer a couple weeks ago. They found the torque was way under spec. They re-torque the nut(s) back and I think weld them on. You don't want your steering linkage coming apart on the road...

Rob

sixdogs · Jul 13, 2019

deerefan...Good thread to read since I now face the same issue you started with. My Toyota Tundra is a great truck but won't tow what I was and is seriously in need of a refresh that doesn't seem to be coming. If nothing shows up on their 2020 model, due shortly, I've decided to switch to a Ram 2500.

Any new comments or experiences lately? Did you buy your truck new or used?

heavy hammer · Jul 13, 2019

sixdogs I have had two 2500 a 96 with the 12 valve and now a 05 with the 24 valve. The 12 valve had 382k on her before I let her go and I just turned 100k on my 05. They pull great and are very reliable. I purchased both used the first with 72k and the second with 54k.

sixdogs · Jul 13, 2019

heavy hammer said:
sixdogs I have had two 2500 a 96 with the 12 valve and now a 05 with the 24 valve. The 12 valve had 382k on her before I let her go and I just turned 100k on my 05. They pull great and are very reliable. I purchased both used the first with 72k and the second with 54k.

Thank you. I'm pulling for Tundra to refresh their truck soon but starting to want the RAM. It is quite a truck.

Monster5601 · Jul 14, 2019

sixdogs said:
Thank you. I'm pulling for Tundra to refresh their truck soon but starting to want the RAM. It is quite a truck.

The RAMs are awesome but the MSRP's (RAM isn't unique) will make you take a deep breath.

BigBlue1 · Jul 14, 2019

Monster5601 said:
The RAMs are awesome but the MSRP's (RAM isn't unique) will make you take a deep breath.

But MSRP isn't what you pay. Routinely people get them for $13-15K off that pricing. Which I assume is the norm across brands, because MSRPs are pretty similar and I wouldn't pay $60K for a truck.

Rob

deerefan · Jul 15, 2019

sixdogs said:
deerefan...Good thread to read since I now face the same issue you started with. My Toyota Tundra is a great truck but won't tow what I was and is seriously in need of a refresh that doesn't seem to be coming. If nothing shows up on their 2020 model, due shortly, I've decided to switch to a Ram 2500.

Any new comments or experiences lately? Did you buy your truck new or used?

I have put 27k miles on my Ram since Nov 1 2018. A lot of that is pulling various sized loads from 5k-17k lbs. Not one issue. A couple recalls I need to address, but other wise a good truck. Not a big fan of the uconnect for my cell phone, quite quirky. That Cummins is a true workhorse, can’t go wrong there.

sixdogs · Jul 15, 2019

Monster5601 said:
The RAMs are awesome but the MSRP's (RAM isn't unique) will make you take a deep breath.

BigBlue1 said:
But MSRP isn't what you pay. Routinely people get them for $13-15K off that pricing. Which I assume is the norm across brands, because MSRPs are pretty similar and I wouldn't pay $60K for a truck.

Rob

Around here, there must be 500 to 800 or more new RAM 2019, 2500's for sale. That's not counting the holdover 2018's still on the lot and there are a lot of those. Just looking on the websites, they offer 10K off the '18's and 6K off the 19's with the 2020's due soon. They are going to have to seriously cut prices to move this many vehicles. One lot I drove in had around 100 and they was so many packed so close you couldn't even look at them. How do I get 13-15K off? Just ask?

BigBlue1 · Jul 15, 2019

sixdogs said:
Around here, there must be 500 to 800 or more new RAM 2019, 2500's for sale. That's not counting the holdover 2018's still on the lot and there are a lot of those. Just looking on the websites, they offer 10K off the '18's and 6K off the 19's with the 2020's due soon. They are going to have to seriously cut prices to move this many vehicles. One lot I drove in had around 100 and they was so many packed so close you couldn't even look at them. How do I get 13-15K off? Just ask?

That's been the typical end cost around this area (and actually FL too, where my buddy lives now). Between dealer discount and the various programs that FCA has going at any particular time it ends up in that area. No particular tricks... Not like the dealer just starts out there but usually they aren't too many thousand off and you can get them down into that area.

I've never bought a first-year model change so perhaps the new '19 HD trucks might not be down in that ballpark yet, but I bought my 2010 and 2017 in that range.

Rob