Test Drove a 2025 Ram 1500 - Impressions vs my '24 Tundra Platinum

The only Domestic truck that I would own and have owned is RAM 2500 Cummins Turbo Diesel. The only reason is the Cummins Inline 6 motor.

The Tundra and Toyota are unsurpassed.

 

Question about your 2500 Diesel.

I was looking at both the 6.4 and the 6.7. The way I broke it down, in my final choice was this:

The 5.7 in a 2500, under powered for the weight of the truck.

The 6.4 in a 2500 provides the power, the load capacity, and the towing that I would need.

The 6.7 Diesel in a 2500 is a much heavier engine which cuts down on cargo capacity and towing.

To go to the 5.7 I would have gone to the 1500, and to get the 6.7 I would have gone up to the 3500.

Do you find the load capacity and towing less with a 6.7 in the 2500?

 

Couple things about Diesel

1-Nothing is more efficient moving pounds-tons to gal than diesel
2-Cummins is a power plant that is used in capital equipment-It is proven product and company.
3-Life of motor is unsurpassed - it will last 2-3 times longer thang gas motor
4-Maintenance is very simple oil, oil filter, fuel filter and rack valves every 100,000 miles or so. There are no plugs, wires or distributor. Do not add snake oil additives, change pump parameters or delete. The motor will last several hundred thousands of miles. Much of the decision to run diesel are maintenance and asset life
5-Weight of motor was not a consideration, I used for towing. As a mater of practice I never exceed the 75% capacity of any machine. This is a safety and maintenance protocol that I personally follow. Equipment last longer and runs much more efficient based on this rationale.
6-Going 3500 you could go single or dual rear, but the big difference is the asin trans.

Both of my past RAM diesels are still running. My 1997 (sorry I sold this truck) was sold to my nephew over 400,000 miles last time spoke a year or so ago. The 2014 I gave to my SIL-Daughter-They use for hauling a John Deere tractor on flatbed and travel trailer.

 

Good points, and I absolutely agree with #5. My biggest thing was I am not towing anything major, often. I may, MAY, tow something over 9K once every 8 years or so, so I didn't need such a big engine.

My main question was did I make the right choice. The biggest thing recommended was to not get a Diesel unless I was using it as a towing machine. I don't, so I didn't.

Good advice? I am new to the HD trucks.

 

When I was still working and needed an HD pickup for heavy hauling, I listened to all the fan boys of the vaunted Ford 7.3L diesel, so I bought a 2002 F250 with one.

There's no denying that truck towed heavy loads well, but I quickly got tired of that loud, stinky diesel engine. Then, in typical Ford fashion, that truck started to nickel and dime me to death with a multitude of service problems at around 75K miles. At around 100K it begin smoking like a coal train to point of being embarrassing. My trusted mechanic had to put new fuel injectors all the way around. That expensive repair was the last straw, and I couldn't trade that POS in fast enough.

I've had 3 Tundras ever since that Ford fiasco, and I will never own another diesel.

 

Doesn't the 6.4 have cylinder deactivation in the 2500?

 

I have a ram Laramie and it was a night mare. In the shop more than on the road. Also towing is terrible compared to the tundra. It does ride nicer when not towing though.

if I were to go away from the tundra, I’d likely look toward a gm 2500/3500 at4x.

 

Everyone does understand the reputation of Dodge was SO horrendous, they changed the name because even Dodge didn't want to be associated with Dodge. RAM is Dodge!! And they are still making POS trucks. The guys I know that have them are in an abusive relationship. They keep making excuses for why their truck repeatedly lets them down, then stay with the truck for unknown reasons. It is very bizarre. It's like they can't admit they made a horrible mistake, so they stick with it and double down.

 

People rave about the 7.3 from the good old days. I had the same experience you did with a 2002. Sounded like a bag of quarters in the dryer, smelled and just generally unpleasant. Some times the good old days are that good.
I've been driving a 6.6 Denali 2500. Big truck but very nice powertrain.

 

The novelty of the diesel engine wore off quickly for me.

I'd have to turn that loud stinky pig off at drive-thrus just to place an order. My garage always reeked of diesel. My wife could even smell it on my clothes. The slightly cheaper than gas fuel price, at the time, wasn't worth the aggravation, to me.

I will admit, I chipped that engine, which undoubtedly contributed to the early injectors failure, but that truck was still the worst POS I've ever owned. I traded it in for a 2008 Tundra, and I couldn't wipe the smile from my face when I drove away from the Toyota dealership.

 

Plus, with the Tundra, you can still get the diesel clatter when it's warm.

 

Plenty of CDJR dealers been doing this for years. The warranty is only good for the purchaser and at the dealership if all scheduled maintenance is done at said dealer. Doesn’t say much about anything about Ram or Dodge or any other dealership who does this.

as someone who has owned 11 Rams in last 3 years and over 15 in my life I can tell you the 2500s from 2019+ suffer the most. TRXs were incredible trucks without a flaw. Sweet spot is 2013-2018 2500/3500 diesels. Yes, 3rd brake light leak issues and the 68rfe doesn’t like 150hp tuned with constant WOT pulls, but outside that 4th gen trucks are awesome. The 5th gen 1500s suffer from cracked manifolds, lifter failures and rear window assembly leaks. As a loyal Ram owner the most frustrating thing of them are the dealerships. They’re miserable. I finally left for a Tundra but let’s not think these aren’t without flaws. I love my tundra and plan to keep it around but there are some things that are lingering with these just like every mass produced truck.

 

Sold my 2014 Laramie ecodiesel in Sep/2024 with 315k km & bought a new 1794 Tundra. Some concerns/annoyances with Tundra vs Laramie; stereo quality very poor compared to Ram, cabin very noisy at highway speeds (I didn't expect this with laminated windshield & windows). However, in general, very happy with the Tundra; looking forward to towing my 8k lb trailer back to Ontario from Fl in May - that was ultimately the ecodiesel's downfall.
Appreciate this forum!

 

I think people often blame the dealership but it's really driven by the parent company. Ford has had a quality crisis going on for years now. 3x the warranty costs and it hits their earning per share. Same with Stelantis. So, they try to cut the costs on that line item by tightening parts inventories, putting more authorizations in for warranty approvals and so on. i.e., my F150 needed a gateway box for the electronics network and it had to be shipped from Michigan as opposed to having them in region. Two approval to get that done too. The dealer looked like idiots but it was really corporate being chintzy on parts supply. Squeezing everyone.
My Tundra is far from perfect but I trust the overall Toyota apparatus to repair things more than anyone else in the 1/2 ton market.

 

11 Rams in 3 years????? Says it all. I owned 3 Tacomas over a span of 35 years.........sold the last one with 335k miles for $8,500.

 

My experience with warranty work was never an issue. The lack of interest from the dealers to help was far more an issue. Not to sound like a d**k here but my experience is what dictates my opinion. There are great dealers out there and I have found them, but they are few and far between.

Doesn't say anything other than I like to move trucks. Im 39 and had 46 vehicles. Did I have issues with some of those trucks? Absolutely. I also had absolute flawless ones. I typically change vehicles every 4-6 months. Its a sickness Im trying to overcome honestly but for the few that had issues, majority of the trucks were great with only minor things that every vehicle on the road will encounter.

 

Definitely no advantage to buying Toyota if you're going to switch vehicles that often.

 

I bought my tundra at an extremely good deal but not looking to change yet. I went with the tundra because I think they offer the best value proposition... I like the NA V8, relatively reliable nature, easy to fix/source parts, affordable parts, retains value better than most and did I mention NA V8? It checks a lot of boxes, for me personally.

 

I wouldn't say that, there are those of us that just like the tundra better than the others for several reasons.

but I get what your saying with only the reliability glasses on

 

to the OP, I am driving a Ram now, and just my impression is it seems to be built more solid than my Tundra.

 

I've driven and rode in my best friend's 2021 Ram 1500 a bunch. It has the 5.7L Hemi engine. I honestly think the fit, finish, and ride is better than my '23 Tundra. Everything just feels more tight and solid, right down to little details like window and AC controls.

I think he's at around 60K miles and has only had one minor programming recall on it, and no warranty repairs. Meanwhile, my truck is 2 years newer, and I've had 2 recalls and 2 warranty repairs in 20K miles.

I honestly wish I'd given the Ram 1500 more consideration when I bought my '23 Tundra.

 

When I purchased my 2019 last year, I was only considering the Tundra. Wouldn't even look at the big three.

Had the 5.7 Hemi in the Grand Cherokee I got rid of. Stuck lifters destroyed the cam at 140,000, and luckily they honored the Lifetime Powertrain that came with the purchase. I still think that issue is from the cylinder deactivation crap, heard Chevys have had that issue too. They put another engine in.
But that thing constantly gave me problems and soured me from the Hemi. Check engine light was the most reliable feature. Wasn't interested in Ford or Chevy either from past issues. Can't make a comparison as I didn't even look at them.
But happy with my Toy.

 

Sorry to hear.

I started my Tundra journey with a Gen 1 and besides a small oil leak from a gasket, that truck just worked. Paint was going bad on the roof, but that was it.

My Gen 2 had a lot of issues, and I am not sure if it was just a bad batch or what, but everything that I fixed didn't break again. But it just got to nickling and dimeing me.

Now I am in a 2020 2500 Ram. So far, so good, and no issues, but I agree with what you are saying. The finish and build seems much tighter and stronger than the Tundra.

 

Look into using the SRT oil filter and dont let it idle for extended periods. This is part of the belief to wiping lifters early. I personally think all the lifter issues are a supply issue ON TOP of design/MDS etc, nothing else makes sense that so many manufacturers and engine types are having early failures.

 

Thank you. I have not heard of them but will look them up. Thanks.

As for Idling, It does have a little higher idle hours on it from its previous life, but now that it is under my ownership, I know the running hours will start to become higher and idle is lower.

 

Shitty steel.

 

The Ram, the oil filter, or something else?

 

Your friend got a really good truck but according to the NHTSA their has been 12 recalls on the 2021 Ram 1500 and some are for some serious issues such as the high pressure fuel pump failing and causing an engine stall to certain vehicles being built without the retaining clip that secures the master cylinder push rod to the brake pedal, which can cause the brake pedal to separate from the brake system.

https://www.cars.com/research/ram-1500-2021/recalls/?page=1

I think it all boils down to brand loyalty for a lot of us. We prefer a certain brand and that's what we go back to sometimes.

 

I could see loyalty, and that plays a huge part. But I also believe many can become disillusioned and just want something that works, and sometimes that something is different than what they had before. Just a thought looking at this thread.

 

All of the failing lifters and valve springs across all brands. Can followers in the pentastar. Valve springs in the UR series. Lifters in the GM and Rams. And on and on. Shitty steel. Not necessarily poorly designed motors.