Ram diesel truck

Tossing around the idea of a new or newer truck. Towing and everyday use. Camper and enclosed car trailer. 8 to 10 k what are your thoughts about say2012 to new diesel.

My disclaimer is that I work on this junk so I face the evil/ugly side on a daily basis.... and the more I work on the newer stuff, the more I appreciate my 01 (which lists of flaws is deep!).

2012... the end of the soot builder era. Personally if I were shopping for an 08-12 era 6.7 I’d check local laws and delete that sucker if it hadn’t been done already. “IF” that era truck is worked HARD the likely hood of issues was greatly reduced.... but most didn’t buy a pickup to just have sitting in the yard to hook up to when needed. It was my analogy that those pickups should have included a PT cruiser with it for free.... something for those short around town trips.

What I’d buy without little grumbling right now is a 14-17ish 6.7. To be honest, our DEF probs haven’t been that big, and using it has all but made the EGR valve a decoration. They’re much more tolerable of short trips and the mpg numbers I’ve seen on the dashes has been quite impressive. Just get used to the 25-30k tire replacements. Another thing I noted, which sucks in the desert, is that the HVAC air volume kinda sucks on the newer models which can make things a bit uncomfortable in the summer.

19-20.... roller lifters, cgi block, cp4 fuel pump = Unnecessary, crack prone, fails taking out 14k worth of fuel system
My lively hood relies on junk and after replacing 4 complete fuel systems on pickups with 3200-32k miles, I should have some pretty decent job security for a bit. While I haven’t seen personally the block crack issue, I’ve talked with a couple techs in Phoenix that have, and these pickups were not used hard. 60k for a bare bones pickup... no thanks. Can’t believe that 84mos is even a thought when purchasing a new pickup.

Fwiw... last month we took in trade where I work a 2007, 5.9, 6 speed manual, 3500 single with 96k miles on it. Few dings, but very nice interior and a jewel for sure. It sold in 4 hours for 29K!! I’m betting it sold new for 34-36k....

I thank you for the comments. I thought since this is a molar sight that more people would be towing with one. Thanks again, probably my last post because I never get much responded to anything I post or ask

Traffic here isn’t what it was.... I’ve found the annoying pop up ads keeps me away more and more.

I agree with J-Body, 14 -16 for dual purpose. I bought a 2005 dually back in 2009, when I drove beaters for daily use, and the dually for towing and trips. Still using it for towing my drag cars. I since, have started buying trucks from a local business, when they mile them out, or don't want to fix them. Currently am using a 2013, 2500, 4x4, 6.7 as a daily driver, and it works great. Occasionally have to tow 2 trailers to my home track, 300 miles and some hills, so the '13 is very useful. With the current shortage of used marketable pickups, It is foolish, for me, to hang onto the the '13 right now. I could easily net 7-8 K on this truck. If I was you, and you can, I would wait a bit to buy. Auctions are selling used pickups at almost retail prices. This should change after a little time. If you have to buy, your better bet, money wise, would be a new truck, preferably a holdover. Just my 2 cents worth. I wish I had bought more trucks back about a year ago, I'd be retired now. Jim

Pretty much all of your posts are asking questions (taking) and none of them appear to be offering advice or help (giving).

What do you expect?

I'm sure you have some knowledge to answer questions on here, so why don't you? That is what people are doing for you, so why don't you return the favor?

That's why this place is dying. Go to facebook, if you don't like it: your question will be buried in Weirdos, bullschitt, and spam ads in an hour.

My 06 has been ok, tows nice, 19.7 highway but bad parts thru out. Trans at 40, u-joints, heater doors (2 day job pulling dash), leaks in the sliding back glass, rust over the rear wheels, driver seat has a big hole, 135,000 miles. Kinda waiting for the common rail injectors going bad, did install the 2 micron filters, got my fingers crossed.

My 05 has been pretty decent. We dont have rust issues here, no holes in the seats, yet. At 110000 miles, I swapped injectors and put better filtration on it. Ya, about every 3 years, all 3 rear u-joints get changed. Had tranny rebuilt at 150,000. This truck has a trailer hooked up to it 95% of the time, making 600+ miles every trip, and has never left me stranded, so i have nothing but good things to say about mine. Jim.

Do they salt the roads in Montana?

Have you considered gas instead of diesel?
A 2500 with a 6.4 gas will do just fine pulling an enclosed and probably a camper too unless it’s a real large 5th wheel type. Even an older one with a 5.7 will do OK, Rhinodart on the board used diesel Rams for years to tow and it became sort of an inside joke here because once or twice a year he’d post stranded somewhere with a blown trans. He bought a 2500 5.7 a few years ago, and is up around 200k miles last I heard doing a lot of cross country trips pulling car trailers and his truck has been very reliable.
The increased maintenance, generally higher cost of diesel, DEF, and higher purchase cost negate diesels better fuel economy over gas in my mind.
I work for an OEM truck manufacturer and we had to get gas engines back as an offering in school buses because so many school districts and bus companies want to get away from diesel now. If I was an exec I’d be pushing to get gas back as an option in our medium duty trucks too, as I am sure they’d sell well.
Emissions laws really screwed up diesel starting with the 2010 standards. Class 8 over the road applications seem pretty dialed in and reliable now, but most other diesel applications are still somewhat sketchy IMHO.
I want to buy a 6.4 2500, but it’s a sellers market currently. Hopefully the market will loosen up soon and I can put one in my driveway! I’m sure I’d regret it if I bought a diesel.

That’s a very valid point Mastershake and definitely worth mentioning. I’ve definitely seen a few sno-birds the last 2-3 years using the 6.4 HEMI pickups. I’d definitely consider it myself if I were to upgrade from my 01 oil burner. Long trips would kind of suck though. I averaged 13mpg towing from AZ to SoDak. I’m currently at 18,600 combined race ready.

No, we have to go to North Dakota to get salted. LOL.

My Boss just got a 2021 Silverado 2500 with a Duramax and 10 speed auto. He actually does need the load carrying capacity of the 2500 but his truck won't ever tow a trailer. I tried to get him to get Chevy's new gas motor, and gave him my list of reasons(he is the one that gets to cringe when we fix fleet vehicles lol) and he decided to go diesel. First trip he took in his new truck he commented on how thirsty it was and for some reason he has range anxiety about DEF lol. I had to remind him that my truck(16 Duramax) doesn't even have a DEF gauge, it just says OK or gives you a heads up that you have 1000 miles to refill.