'19 Ram Rebel

So as some of you may now, I was dead set on getting either a new '19 Limited Crew Max TRD Package at the end of the year, or a used 1794 with low miles.

After reading the reviews and seeing videos on the '19 Ram Rebel, I am very impressed. I know that most people will say the Tundra is more reliable (which it is). Also to be honest I prefer the looks of the Tundra than the Ram. But, I feel like you are getting so much more truck and features at around the same price.

What are you're all thoughts on the Rebel? If I were to get a deal at the end of the year for a new '19 Ram Rebel crew max, vs '19 Tundra Limited crew max?

A huge con for the Toyota other than reliability is a 32v V8 that has no cyl. de-activation. Also the fact that it has been tried and true. The new Rebel is a complete new truck, so whose to say how it is down the road.

Thoughts?

 

I had a Ram between my 1st Gen Tundra and my 2nd Gen Tundra. I had it for one year exactly, it was in the shop 6 times. Towed there 5 of the 6 times. The same issue the first 3 times and different issues the next three. I wouldn't buy another Chrysler product if was between that and walking.

 

Who in the hell wants cylinder deactivation and a truck made by Fiat?

 

Actually love the look of the RAM 2500 Power Wagon. That would be the only Ram I would even consider.

 

I have heard bad things about ram but I’m sure that side says a lot about Toyota too. I’m sure not all ram trucks are in the shop constantly and my buddy test drove a rebel recently and that thing was ba. heated/cooled front and rear seats, full air bag suspension all around. I would go tundra but do what you think is right.

 

Right but the '19 is supposed to be completely different. Maybe the old Rams were unreliable, but do you think Ram made enough changes with the truck this year to make it more reliable? I already know the engine and transmission are solid, but is it the electronics that make these trucks have problems?

 

It was mostly the electronics on mine that were failing.


And they might have fixed it, but I'm not gonna gamble 45 grand on it.

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/tflcar/search?query=ram+rebel

 

That’s a lot of money. And it’s going to depreciate immediately. Get the warranty. Do you plan on buying a new truck every five or six years? If money is not an object go for it. Be prepared for poor trade in value. I don’t disagree that it is a good-looking truck with some cool features.

If you plan on buying a new truck every 5 to 10 years and don’t mind a small return, go for it. If you plan on keeping it a long time I would think again.

 

Yeah I really really like that Power Wagon more so than the other off road trucks.

 

I'd be jelly of the front mid and rear locker.

 

That's a great point. I do not want to have to buy a new truck or car every few years, my next purchase I plan on keeping it for a LONG time. I quite frankly hate car buying but with the near extinction of the V8 truck, I want something that's going to be super reliable, last a long time, and put that grin on my face when I mash the pedal.

I think just through this small thread it's strengthened my will to stick w/ the Tundra when the time is right. Ram's do depreciate tremendously, and there is a major reason why.

 

I was in the same predicament when I was looking for my first ever truck purchase this past January 2019. After much research and test driving, the choices were narrowed down between the Tundra and Ram Rebel. I agree with you that the Rebel have much more new technology to offer: interior and exterior. I loved the adjustable suspension that came with the Rebel. I really think the Rebel is the better truck as it sat in the showroom . I, however, think that the Tundra will be the better truck after 3 years of use.

Obviously i purchased the Tundra because I’m in this cool forum. It came down to which truck I will love looking at on a daily basis. The Rebel just didn’t fit my eye. I’m extremely happy with my Tundra even with its “4-year old technology in a 2019 truck”.

 

A guy I work with has a new Ram, it's less than a year old. It has refused to start on him twice and left him stranded. They are nice trucks, but the reliability just isn't there.

 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ram+rebel+problems

FCA = ... well, use your imagination

 

And how many of those are just click bait titles just like the list of videos of get searching for Tundra problems

 

Call me crazy, but another reason why I'm wanting the Tundra is the great well of knowledge and friendliness you guys have here. I've been on many forums over the past 20 years for different cars/trucks, but this one is one of the best. Nobody is giving me crap for considering another truck, just good solid objective advice.

I look forward to joining the ranks among Tundra owners this year. Thank you for always answering my questions, as dumb or repeated as they may be on the forum.

 

I had a 2014 ram for two years before I traded it in for my tundra. It had 2 recalls that the dealership to fix then a massive mechanical failure that caused all the dash lights to lit up like a Christmas tree. Good thing it was still under warranty. After it was repaired sold it to carmax and went straight to the Toyota dealership

 

Didn't @osidepunker and @papasmurf get to drive a Ram for a promo commercial? Maybe they can chime in.

 

If you do I would wait until used ones start showing up on the lot, pick one up for half the original price and buy the Mopar MaxCare warranty.

 

I like the Rebels and considered one before I bought my Tundra. Love the exterior of the Rebel but the interior styling is god awful, whoever thought those seats looked good should be fired.

For me the Tundra ended up winning on overall looks, reliability, and price.

 

We drove it for a day. Lots of freeway and city and over an hour in the dirt.

Its very comfortable on the freeway. It has air suspension which rides very nice on the roads.

Off road it feels like a wagon with square wheels. It has a rear locker and adjustable height suspension but who cares when every little bump cracks your teeth and smashes your spine. A bone stock tundra would kick its ass off road.

I don't know how to compare the bells and whistles between the two trucks because I haven't sat in a new tundra (mine is 2013). But I would never buy one just based on resale value alone.

 

Also never buy the 1st year of a new style/upgrade, to many kinks to work out....unless it's a Toyota of course!

 

If you want more truck and less features get the tundra.
You want more features and less truck get the ram.

I always thought a real truck came with less features and more feel of a truck! IMO.

 

The Ram passed the 2019 IIHS crash tests whereas the Tundra failed with 15 inches of intrusion on the passenger compartment. For the safety of your passenger, the Ram is worth a look.

 

Oh please let me say I worked for dodge.....oh wait they have spent millions to get that name off there trucks. Dodge has been bought and sold ALOT, you have no consistency when things are always changing.
I will never buy a FIAT Chrysler there reliability is terrible compared to Toyota
Bells and whistles are just bells and whistles

 

It sounds like you need to buy a Dodge and see for yourself. I once had a Dodge truck. It was a stripped model with zero features other than 4WD. It gave me no problems in 150K miles. Everyone who had the loaded up models had problems with all those features.
If I were looking at a stripper model I would definitely look at the big 3. However, if I were looking for a truck that had the features of my Limited with off road package, Toyota is the only game in town for me.
Good luck.

 

A couple things:

You mentioned that the Rebel is all new. That is not a pro. Its a con. This is true for most manufacturers but especially so when it comes to Fiat. You get to be the beta tester. Don't. I've done it. Won't do it again.

You mentioned the friendliness and knowledge/experience of this forum. You're right. I too have been active in various auto forums over the years, up to and including admin'ing and owning. This one is a good'n. You'll find similar communities if you look hard enough, however they're few and far between. Buuuuuttt... its that knowledge and experience part you just flat cannot ignore. You wont get that with an all new truck. You'll get to be the guy helping everyone else a few years from now, since you were the one cutting your teeth on the new platform.

Sounds like you've redecided on a Tundra. Thumbs up from me. If the Rebel still interests you, after its been vetted on the road for a while, you can always consider picking one up. But in the mean time, you've been driving a proven platform bolstered by well traveled and experienced online support.

FWIW

 

I was seriously considering the 2019 Ram until I went on the Ram forum and read about all the problems people were having with their brand new trucks. Too many reports of water leaking into the cab and electrical problems. Several owners were in the process of making lemon law claims. That was enough to turn me away from Ram.