Ram 6.4 with 8spd

[PulNSerenity]

Originally Posted by bneukam

Won’t be long when the Cummins will have the ZF Powerline 8 speed AT.

At least that’s the rumor, my guess it will start out replacing the 68rfe.

Yeah I have been patiently waiting but my patients are wearing thin! At first they said 2nd quarter... then it was Q3... now we are in the 4th & no signs of the new tranny!

[BVThunder]

We bought a Ram 2500 with the 6.4 and 8 speed tranny last year. Sweet driving truck. The engine and tranny work very well together. Tows our 32' trailer like a dream. The only thing I don't like is the lousy gas mileage on the 6.4 especially when towing.

[Abner Mality]

I have the zf8 speed trans in my 2020 Ram EcoDiesel and couldn't be happier with it... Runs and tows great!

[bross]

Originally Posted by kdauto

Rumors say it will be on the 2023 gasser 6.6. I would be really interested in trying a 6.6 gas with a 10 speed and see how it hauls a medium to heavy 5th wheel.

What do you guys running HD gas trucks do descending steep grades? I love my current F-150 Ecoboost towing our 5800lb TT and zero issues going up or down steep grades out west. One of the main reasons we have it is because both my wife and I hated our 26,000lb gas (V10) class A MH in the mountains. The V10 actually had decent power for climbing but descents were usually 1st gear 25mph scream fests at 4500-5000rpm. I swore after years of traversing the mountains in that thing if we ever got a 5'er it would have to be a diesel. But at our current weight the Ecoboost is an excellent towing platform. Just curious?

[kdauto]

Originally Posted by bross

What do you guys running HD gas trucks do descending steep grades? I love my current F-150 Ecoboost towing our 5800lb TT and zero issues going up or down steep grades out west. One of the main reasons we have it is because both my wife and I hated our 26,000lb gas (V10) class A MH in the mountains. The V10 actually had decent power for climbing but descents were usually 1st gear 25mph scream fests at 4500-5000rpm. I swore after years of traversing the mountains in that thing if we ever got a 5'er it would have to be a diesel. But at our current weight the Ecoboost is an excellent towing platform. Just curious?

Same thing as people have been doing for 100 years, engine braking. Yeah, it will rev and scream, but that's how it's designed. I'll let it go downhill 5000rpm for 20 minutes if need be. If I lived on a mountain top I'd choose a different truck for sure.

[J63]

Originally Posted by BVThunder

We bought a Ram 2500 with the 6.4 and 8 speed tranny last year. Sweet driving truck. The engine and tranny work very well together. Tows our 32' trailer like a dream. The only thing I don't like is the lousy gas mileage on the 6.4 especially when towing.

Could you elaborate on the lousy mileage? How low are we talking?
I'm new to this, so I'm researching and on the fence about engine choice.

Thanks

[Cumminsfan]

I got 8.5-9 mpg's towing 9600 lbs with my 6sp 6.4 Ram. Much lower in hilly mountain areas. Biggest issue for me was the 31-32? gal tank. If I were in parts of the country where gas stations were spread out and being unfamiliar with the area I usually had to gas up much sooner than normal to be safe. Made for unnecessary stops.
I doubt the 8 sp trans will do any better on mpg's. You still need the same HP/TQ to pull the trailer down the road.

If I were to get a new 6.4 Ram I'd look for one that has the 50 gal tank option.

[J63]

Thank you Cumminsfan.

I built a truck on the Ram website and didn't see an option for a different size fuel tank. Is that only on certain configurations?

[bneukam]

J63-May also want to pay attention to rear ended gears, as that will effect mpg’s. Not sure if they still have the 3.73, with 4:10 as an option.
8 speed with the 3.73 would be a better choice for mpg’s, unless your pulling heavier loads.

[bross]

Might need a long box, my F-150 Supercab w/ 8' bed comes with the bigger (for F-150s anyway) 36g tank.

[Fiesta48]

We get 11-12 mpg on a 17 5.7 Ram 8spd long bed pulling a 8k lbs Grand Design 5er. We are in spec with all weighs. Drive conservatively and avoid head winds.

[tuffr2]

On Ford you get the bigger fuel tank with the 8' bed build. Maybe it is the same for Ram.

[Cumminsfan]

Originally Posted by J63

Thank you Cumminsfan.

I built a truck on the Ram website and didn't see an option for a different size fuel tank. Is that only on certain configurations?

It's LB only.

[J63]

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

It's LB only.

That makes sense.

Fiesta48, Those seem to be really good MPG numbers. The trailer I'm looking at is a roughly 25'bumper pull with a 7500 max weight (4200 dry).