Towing Eagle fifth with a gasser

[dmac]

I currently have a 2017 Eagle 317 RLOK and I pull with a Ram diesel. I really use the Ram much more as a grocery getter than for pulling. I am seriously lookin at replacing it with a Ram 3500 with a 6.4 gas motor. Finding one with 4:10 gears in my area that will meet my needs is next to impossible. I found one that is ideal but has 3:73 gears. All of this info to just ask if any folks on here have experience pulling a 10000 pound fifth wheel with this setup and how satisfied were you?
Thank you.

[BassOverflow]

As long as you don't do many hills, then it wouldn't be too bad. If you do go through a lot of hills/mountains, I would stick with a diesel.

[2nOZ]

We’ve pulled our 10,000 lb FW all over the Midwest and the TN hills with our F250, 6.2l gasser, 3.73 gears with no issues except for being a bit thirsty at times. Very pleased so far. We have not been to Colorado as of yet but it’s on the list.

[Big1]

It's doable I had the 2016 2500 6.4L with the 4.10 gears I tow a Dutchman Denali that weight about 10,000+ we went to Las Vegas from WA state it really wasn't too bad but if you don't mind the low 7 to 9 miles per gallon no problem. I did on the straightaway was getting about 10-10.5 mpg. One thing for sure I love it but going up hilly mountains here in the Pacific Northwest was not all that good to me and what I mean by that is high rpm.

I would not want to get the 3.73 gears if you are planning on doing a lot of towing with it but if not you can get away with it, the 3.73 gears is gutless and it seem like that it don't want to go but the 4.10 gears I had I love it, the gas mileage it not that much between the two maybe 1 to .05 mpg.

[dmac]

Thank you all for the responses. I live in Utah so a great deal of hill pulling. I really am surprised how difficult it is to find a gasser with 4:10 gears. I have even checked with Dave Smith, supposed to be the largest Ram dealer in North America and Dennis Dillon. No luck. I do think I will keep looking for the elusive 4:10 setup.

[goducks]

I currently tow 9300 lbs with a 2018 Ram 2500 6.4, 4.10 gears. I live in Oregon and most of our trips are east from the I-5. Every things fine until we hit the pass near the top. Then things get busy. I don't mind the high revs and thats coming from a 12 CTD 2500 that I towed the same 5er with for 5 seasons.
Just cruising down the freeway at 65 mph is effortless. Usually in 5th. The 6.4 will drop to 2nd in the slower 25-35 mph uphill corners. Thats when things get busy. 4500 rpms is not uncommon. But really, it only lasts for a very short period of time.
I'm not sure I would go much over 10-11,000 lbs though. Mines got a 15,??? tow rating, but IMO thats ridiculous for longer trips. MPGs are on the low side. Under 9 most of the time. My CTD was in the 10.5 - 12 range.
The things I do like about the 6.4 over the Cummins are the lighter steering feel, no fuel filters to change, not limited to top tier type diesel stations, and the quicker cold morning warm ups.
Things I miss? The effortless towing in any conditions and the exhaust brake. I've never felt like I was in a white knuckle situation with the 6.4 when descending, but gee whizz the EB makes descending so dang simple and relaxed.
With all that being said I'm more than 100% happy with my switch to gas. I short hop DD a lot and the 6.4 makes it much easier just knowing I'm not treating my 6.4 wrongly like I was the CTD.

If you can wait a few more months I would get a new Ram with the 8 sp tranny. That should make the 6.4 2500 into a really smooth towing truck. Or if you really want to tow better wait for the new 7.3 Ford gasser to hit the dealer lots.

[15BlueStreak]

To the OP. If you want a Ram 6.4 definitely wait and get one with the 8speed tranny and 4.10s. I had a 2015 Ram 6.4 ccsb 4x4 4.10 gears. I despised the 66rfe tranny. I traded it in on a 2017 ford 6.2l with 4.30 gears. The Ford tranny still a 6 speed is light years better. If you dont want to buy the latest I would steer towards Ford or Chevy with Ford being the better of the two for powertrain specs. Look at the transmission gearing specs and you will see what I am talking about. This is just my real world experience and opinions. I tow a eagle ht 324bhts. Had this model with both trucks. I'll take the Ford any day of the week over the Ram and 66rfe.

[Big1]

Originally Posted by dmac

Thank you all for the responses. I live in Utah so a great deal of hill pulling. I really am surprised how difficult it is to find a gasser with 4:10 gears. I have even checked with Dave Smith, supposed to be the largest Ram dealer in North America and Dennis Dillon. No luck. I do think I will keep looking for the elusive 4:10 setup.

I couldn't find any either so that's why I had to order one they are out there but you have to get lucky or order one.

[dmac]

Originally Posted by Big1

I couldn't find any either so that's why I had to order one they are out there but you have to get lucky or order one.

Thank you all for the responses. I am going to the dealer today to order a 2019, equipped like I want. According to the email I got from Ram this morning they will start to ship in April.

[Scott_Trailer_Newbe]

My neighbor has a 2017 Crew Cab 4 wheel drive with the 6.4 gas engine. I have the exact same truck (2018 model) except I have the 6.7 Cummins. He tows a 28' and so do I, both around 8,700 loaded. So far he seems to like his 6.4. In June we are heading through Salt River Canyon, so that will be a really good side, by side test. Salt River Canyon is a true stress test on everything.

The 6.4 has something like 420 ft. lbs. of torque, and my Cummins has 800 ft. lbs. so their is a sizable difference, plus I have the diesel breaking which is really nice.

[goducks]

Originally Posted by Scott_Trailer_Newbe

My neighbor has a 2017 Crew Cab 4 wheel drive with the 6.4 gas engine. I have the exact same truck (2018 model) except I have the 6.7 Cummins. He tows a 28' and so do I, both around 8,700 loaded. So far he seems to like his 6.4. In June we are heading through Salt River Canyon, so that will be a really good side, by side test. Salt River Canyon is a true stress test on everything.

The 6.4 has something like 420 ft. lbs. of torque, and my Cummins has 800 ft. lbs. so their is a sizable difference, plus I have the diesel breaking which is really nice.

I've towed the same 5er (9300 lbs) with a 6.7 Cummins and my 6.4 4.10 gears over the same exact roads. The 6.4 is a little slower in sections, but for the most part I get there at the same time. We have a CG we go to thats at 3200'. I live at 132'. to get there I climb to 5,000' then down to 3200. I get to the CG at the same time depending on traffic.
Biggest issue is the CTD gets 10.5+ with a 35 gal tank. The 6.4 gets 8.5 with a 32 gal tank. Almost a 1/2 tank to get there in the 6.4, just over 1/4 tank with the CTD.

[Scott_Trailer_Newbe]

If a 2019 6.4 can be found with 4:11 gears, I would think it would drive pretty good with the new 8 speed transmission.