Chevy or Ram

[sundancer 87]

Thinking about trading in my 2012 Chevy 3500 Silverado LTZ for a 2018 Tradesman 3500 RAM.


The Chevy needs to be towed to a dealer because of a no start condition. I don't really want to endure the parts replacement/elimination dance with the dealer so a new truck is the thought process.


I'll still be pulling the Voltage 3800 so I'm wondering who uses the RAM for this purpose.

[CSCLARK]

Tow my 20k 3990 with my 2018 Ram 3500 dually and love it, wouldn't trade it for anything. Make sure and get the 4.10 and Aisan tranny.

[sundancer 87]

Originally Posted by CSCLARK

Tow my 20k 3990 with my 2018 Ram 3500 dually and love it, wouldn't trade it for anything. Make sure and get the 4.10 and Aisan tranny.

I'll keep that in mind.

[Pirate]

That's Allison transmission. The latest is an 8 speed.
Without a doubt go diesel, Cummins or Duramax.
Yes the Dual Rear Wheels make it easier on the axle and tires when you put a 3000 lb "point load" on the hitch with a Voltage 3800.

My 2011 Silverado, 3500, Duramax, Allison, dualie, 4X4, Crew Cab has, 3.** gears in the rear axle. Amazing I can be going up hill, in cruise control, and the cars that find they can't pass me gives lots of laughs. I drive mine in "parking alert OFF", "Exhaust Brake ON', transmission Tow Mode ON and it does just great. Pulling the Voltage, about 8 MPG.

Just my thoughts,

Pirate

[sundancer 87]

Originally Posted by Pirate

That's Allison transmission. The latest is an 8 speed.
Without a doubt go diesel, Cummins or Duramax.
Yes the Dual Rear Wheels make it easier on the axle and tires when you put a 3000 lb "point load" on the hitch with a Voltage 3800.

My 2011 Silverado, 3500, Duramax, Allison, dualie, 4X4, Crew Cab has, 3.** gears in the rear axle. Amazing I can be going up hill, in cruise control, and the cars that find they can't pass me gives lots of laughs. I drive mine in "parking alert OFF", "Exhaust Brake ON', transmission Tow Mode ON and it does just great. Pulling the Voltage, about 8 MPG.

Just my thoughts,

Pirate

Thanks for your thoughts Pirate but as stated earlier I already own a 2012 Silverado LTZ 3500 with the Duramax 6.6 and Allison tranny with the 3.78 gears. It's sick and I'm entertaining the thought of trading it for a new RAM diesel.

[dmcvey]

I had a Ford F250 in which my trailer ended up pulling the truck. It was scary going up or down hills. I bought a 2016 Ram 3500 dually with the diesel turbo and trailer package to pull my 3605 VOLTAGE which is around 20,000 lbs. Best decision I ever made. I installed a leveling kit in the front and mounted off road 35" tires on the stock rims. Looks great and hardly feel the trailer behind me. In the future I'm going to install a chip to match my transmission shift points to stock and get better gas mileage.

[Denali]

Originally Posted by sundancer 87

Thinking about trading in my 2012 Chevy 3500 Silverado LTZ for a 2018 Tradesman 3500 RAM.


The Chevy needs to be towed to a dealer because of a no start condition. I don't really want to endure the parts replacement/elimination dance with the dealer so a new truck is the thought process.


I'll still be pulling the Voltage 3800 so I'm wondering who uses the RAM for this purpose.

I have a 2016 RAM 3500 Cummins that I pull my fifth wheel with. Combined weight about 23,000. I have had no issues at all.


To clear up the transmission confusion this is not an Allison trans. It is Asin. More info. Aisin Seiki is the maker of the AS68RC and AS69RC Ram automatic transmissions. Aisin AW was a joint venture between Borg-Warner and Aisin Seiki, created in 1969. ... Aisin AW is the largest producer of automatic transmissions in the world.


Today the automatic transmissions will take more abuse than the manual so the automatics are turned up further.


Manual trans: 350 HP 660 on torque
68RFE auto 370HP 850 on torque
Asin auto 385HP 930 torque (starting this year)





I don't have the Asin. I have the 68RFE. The advantages with the Asin is that the engine is turned up a little further but people report fuel milage suffers a little. The downside an extra $2,500. Fluid change required every 15,000 if you are towing a lot.


My truck has 54,000 on it so far and has been perfect. No complaints at all.

[Sinecure]

Originally Posted by Pirate

That's Allison transmission. The latest is an 8 speed.
Without a doubt go diesel, Cummins or Duramax.
Yes the Dual Rear Wheels make it easier on the axle and tires when you put a 3000 lb "point load" on the hitch with a Voltage 3800.

My 2011 Silverado, 3500, Duramax, Allison, dualie, 4X4, Crew Cab has, 3.** gears in the rear axle. Amazing I can be going up hill, in cruise control, and the cars that find they can't pass me gives lots of laughs. I drive mine in "parking alert OFF", "Exhaust Brake ON', transmission Tow Mode ON and it does just great. Pulling the Voltage, about 8 MPG.

Just my thoughts,

Pirate

Originally Posted by sundancer 87

Thanks for your thoughts Pirate but as stated earlier I already own a 2012 Silverado LTZ 3500 with the Duramax 6.6 and Allison tranny with the 3.78 gears. It's sick and I'm entertaining the thought of trading it for a new RAM diesel.

You both have 3.73 gears.

Not familiar with the Rams but while 4.10 gears would pull the heck out of anything, it's going to DRINK fuel. So if this is going to also be your daily driver, you may want to take that into consideration.

[sundancer 87]

Doesn't make much difference now. The RAM looks good but my Chevy lives.
No major mechanical failure caused it to be towed to the dealer. What is was a critter decided to eat wires and a tank nipple and hose to the DEF tank. New tank, wiring harness, heater and oil change and 925 duckies and it's back on the road.
40k miles on the Chevy yielded a 36K dollar trade in value against the RAM. Still thinking though, buy a new truck or have the old one detailed. Decisions, decisions.

[Drydock]

2016 tradesman single rear wheel. 6 speed 68rfe with 3.42 rear end. Package 2fa with trailer brake control and exhaust brakes stock.
Pulls a 3990 2014 3 axle voltage. No issues.
Outputs more than 6.0 Ford and 7.3 I had.
Yes a dual rear is better. But unfortunately I only use my trailer 6 times a year..cant sell it. No one has a truck to pull it or needs one that big.

[dkruchko]

I decided to order and build out a 2017 Ram 5500 Larime to pull my 2017 Voltage 4051 that comes in at 20,000 lbs. I am running the Aisin Trans and 4:44 gears. By buying a C&C there are a few trade offs to consider. In my case it isn’t a daily driver so it was less of an issue. I wanted a 4500 but they stopped putting the 4:44 gears in the 4500 for 2017. The only difference in the two trucks is the payload ratings. I probably gave up 1-2 mpg with the 4:44 gears over the 4:10 but I was concerned with towing this heavy of a load and it hunting for gears all the time. Hindsight a 4500 with 4:10 would have done just fine. I am getting 9-11 mpg empty or towing. My rational for going with a Heavy Duty C&C was to have the closet thing to a tank I could drive on the streets. I feel far more secure having all the larger axles, tranny, drive train, wheels / tires and brakes to handle the stress of towing these heavy RVs. Now the downsides. I am slightly over my GVWR but well in spec of all axle ratings etc. The 5500 weighs in at 11,200 and they don’t tag these commercial trucks as high as the 3500 for obvious reasons. The chassis trucks come from the factory “detuned” vs the non commercial trucks. It could use the extra 100 ft pds when towing in hilly conditions. Being told no way to program this any differently. Tried to order it w/o but wasn’t an option. Reason for this is vast majority of these chassis trucks are used for tow trucks, Rescue Squads etc and they are supposedly built for longevity. Lastly, this will force you into a commercial insurance so that is an added cost if you don’t own a business to write some of these costs off. For me being able to custom design a bed that would serve me more efficiently than a traditional style bed was a positive to the overall project also. Good luck with your choice you likely can’t go wrong with various options of a truck build / choice.

[falconbrother]

I'd just get my Chevy fixed and keep on driving it. Unless, you just want to trade. Then the Dodge is a good option.

[Pirate]

Yup its all a matter of your personal likes. Either will get the job done with ease. you just have to test drive for sitting comfort. Check out the location of controls for all the "stuff" and decide which fits your desires better...and buy it!

I had two Dodge Cummins. But after getting hit from behind on the bike...life changed. Looking for a new truck to pull a Toyhauler. For 2011, Chevy was ahead in the interior layout and options. Took a test drive of 20 miles. Wife commented her back didn't hurt sitting in the Chevy seat (she suffered three burst fractured vertebrae in the wreck) and that settled it! Done. Ordered what I wanted, arrived in three weeks. I ordered an aluminum tool bed from Highway Products. Drove all the way to White City, Oregon to get it put on. No problems at all!

Pirate

[larrypride]

Your truck would be perfect for my 2951. I pull it now with a 2003 2500 crew cab, with duramax. It pulls it great but I would like a newer dualy for the bigger axels and heavier brakes.

[Pirate]

Larry,
One thing to remember...a dually is a pain in the butt to drive around town and park!
So mine just sits unless I'm pulling one of the trailers I own. So got it on November 12, 2010 and today have a bit over 85,000 miles on it. So it should last a good long while!!!

Pirate

[sundancer 87]

You do have to be aware of the other set of tires out there and the fender but after you curb the outside wheels a few times you'll get the hang of it.

Parking sports aren't that difficult to find, it's getting the thing cranked into a spot. Drive it like a semi and most people will get out of the way if they like to choke intersections and driveways.

[larrypride]

If I go new I probably will go with one ton single.