Congratulations on the upgrade. I'm a diesel enthusiast, and truck connoisseur. I own 4 different full-size diesel pickups. My favorite BY FAR is the 2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 DRW. It is a mega cab, laramie 4x4 with the G56 6 speed manual transmission, and cummins 6.7l. It's only got 137k miles in it. We use it to haul our camper on our anniversary road trips. We bring our 2 dogs and 2 cats with us. And you're right, the mega cab works well for the animals to have plenty of space. They roam the truck while in the road. The Aisin trans is an excellent transmission. It is sad that you can't get a manual option in any of the big 3 manufacturers anymore. But the Aisin will serve you well.
You guys totally made the right decision. I own a Ram 3500 dually that I use for Hotshot, and it has been a blessing. The high output is the best truck for tow heavy, and it has been so reliable that I couldn't be happier. It has 271k miles on it and hasn't had any issues. I'm so happy for you both. You are definitely going to love your truck. If you have any questions about the high output, don't hesitate to ask.
I think you made a great decision. I'm an engineer by trade, also part of a 2 person driving team. We deliver anything, anyplace rolling 24/7. I have a lot of stories! LOL. I think RAM/Cummins/Aisin is your best tow vehicle option today. I might have even gone 4500 or 5500. A dually, or dualie is a must. That is the axle you don't want to let a tire down on the most. 2 tires, spreading the load, will minimize that. Also if you happen to drop a rear off the road on a narrow road, the 2/side will stabilize that. Our last 5th wheel we re-fitted the rear axles for 2 tires each side, total 8. Most bad accidents we've seen involved losing a truck single rear, or a trailer tire on an interstate. Sad but true. Front's I keep at 40% up tread life, and best option available. I believe Cummins is the best option also. There is a war of words in truck advertising. The Cummins in a 5500 is 330 (real) HP, and ~700 tq. Slightly less than the advertised numbers for the 3500. But that motor has all of it, and will run for 5, 8, 100,000 miles taken care of properly. (fresh oil, fresh filters, often) Aisin makes HD truck transmissions, and they move a lot of trucks worldwide. The same or better than Allison. For 60-70% towing, the best choice! Not much room here, hope you feel better about your decision!! For safety, reliability, and dependability over the long haul, I think you did well!! 8) --gary
Same exact thing happened to me. I am on my 3rd Ram. Ford just would not deal with me. And I was a Ford man/family also. I have bought many Fords through the years. So I swallowed my pride and bought my first Ram in 2012. I went over 100K on it. No problems. my 2016 Ram 100K+ on it and again zero problems. I now have a 21 Laramie and thus far zero issues. I do have many friends with Fords and I still love them. However, after getting use to the Ram 6 cylinder. and its torque I cannot see myself ever going back to Ford. Especially being Ford is on such a high horse and no appreciation for their long term customers. Just my opinion.
Almost same deal with me. Funny that I'm hearing it from you and this video. I switched to a Ram in 2010 because Ford and their dealerships let me down. I'm now on my 4th Cummins, and couldn't be happier. With everything I throw at these trucks, they never let even blink. Gotta love that confidence. I live full time in a 40ft 5th wheel now with a 2018 3500 Cummins dually. The thing is a beast and a half lol
@@LWRC This in anecdotyle, but my brother has a fleet of Ford dually Powerstrokes for his roofing business, and every single one of them had certain issues. He very recently had a 2023 F350 with 40k miles that grenaded seemingly randomly. The dealership originally made a claim that someone somehow put DPF fluid directly into the down pipe, but as it turns out, they ruled it out to be a blown fuse and faulty wiring causing some fuel system electronics to stay on while the truck was off...on a practically brand new truck. The guy isn't a dumby, so he drives a RAM for his personal daily driver lol. The rest of the boys get Fords, which all end up failing constantly under warranty. For me, I've also owned 4 Fords (2 cars, one SUV, and one truck). All of them just falling apart prematurely. Granted, some of these newer Fords are beasts.... but so is the RAM, and it's more reliable to boot. For me, you may have a legitimate debate between Duramax+Allison tranny vs Cummins+Aison tranny. Powerstroke is just no longer part of the equation ( at least for me)
@@phalupium The Ram certainly has the best interior design of the 3. I don't like their exterior styling as much as the Ford. The Ford interior styling, especially the instrumentation, is horrific. Who puts bar graphs on the display? That is pure nonsense! Just copy Porsche or Honda if they ran out of ideas. I don't have personal experience with any major US truck manufacturers but it would appear to me that Ford must have something going for them since most of the commercial trucks I see here in SoCal are all Fords. I very rarely see Ram used as commercial trucks and certainly not GMC nor Chevy. I can't see any commercial fleet operator using Fords even if the breakdowns are covered under warranty since the truck still will be out of service during the down time!
@@LWRC You have a point about rarely seeing anything but Fords for commercial. On paper, Fords are every bit as capable as the other brands, and they do it cheaper. I think the bottom line is that they are cheaper and cheaper to maintain. Parts are cheap too.
I’ve seen some comments about auxiliary fuel tanks and stuff, but the way to go is definitely S&B’s 55 gallon replacement tank! It fits right into where the factory tank is, and almost doubles your range! Definitely a worthy upgrade.
We full timed for 2 years with a Ram 3500 dually 8' bed and a Mobile Suites 5th wheel that weighed 22,000 lbs. We came off the road and sold the Mobile Suites but kept the truck. The Ram is now 11 yrs old and has never been back to the dealership. I do my own routine maintenance. It looks nearly new and someone offered me more than I paid for it 11 yrs ago. I can't see myself parting with it any time soon. Glad to see you've made the move to Ram.
I ran the super glide on a SB F-250 for 3 years. The super glide is a gear slider hitch but a little quirky and clunky at times. We ended up getting another tow vehicle and got the F-450 full sized bed. We now have a standard hitch and and auxiliary fuel tank that gives us 138 gal capacity. The towing experience is night and day. The turning radius and general steering feel on the F-450 is outstanding. Good luck in your journeys!!!
I think you made an incredible decision! Your truck looks so good and I think you will like the Cummins diesel. Awesome rig and so happy for both of you!
RAM is definitely the right call! I'd have opted for the standard crew cab and long bed for sure though. Those dogs are small, they don't need a Mega-Cab.
You'll never regret the higher capacity of a dually. My 2001 ram with 250,000 miles just keeps going. I started with a Lance camper and now pull a travel trailer similar to your last one. I don't need or use distribution hitches. I tow and load heavy for work and play. It's a work horse. Great decision.
Congratulations on your Ram!!! My wife and I upgraded from a 7000 lb bumper pull to a 36' 5th wheel in November of 2022. My Ram 2500 was towing at its full capacity with the 5th wheel, so we decided to buy a 2022 Ram 3500 Laramie Sport dually with the Cummins diesel. It's a great truck, and it fits (just bearly) into our garage. Rams are great trucks, and we have had great luck with both of ours. Our truck is the Mega Cab short bed, just like yours. We've watched our next-door neighbor's Ford F 350 get badly damaged twice now because his will not fit in his garage. Ram is really on to something with the short bed Mega Cab, for owners wanting a garagable truck with heavy towing capacity!!!
I was a Ram Cummins guy all my life till 2017 then switched to Ford… then I realized how pitiful the Cummins actually was. Today I run the Duramax and the Powerstroke both and they are far superior than the Ram Cummins in every way. Towing 45’ toy hauler 24k lbs loaded. Mileage power comfort reliability all better with the Ford and GMC.
Think you made the right decision. The dually provides so much flexibility. I have my dually and pull a TT, but i carry a motorcycle, kayaks and bikes so I needed more then just the power for the TT. I love it.
Good job, they're both great at what they do. I'm currenty in a Ford and like it, but I'm not brand loyal. The Power Stroke feels like a rocketship, but the Cummins pulls like a locomotive. The Ram's exhaust brake is way better too. While I prefer the crisp hard edges on Fords, the Rams interior is the best out there IMO.
Thanks for the review and information. Just got the 2024 Ram 4 door long bed dually w/ 50 gallon tank. Factory rebate plus dealer discount had me hooked. Now I'm looking for my first 5th wheel rv. Thanks.
Calibrated Power makes tunes for your truck that will improve fuel economy up to 7mpg over stock and S&B has larger fuel tanks for the short bed Ram platform as well. Hope this helps you to enjoy your new Ram in the future.
7mpg? Cmon lol!! 4mpg at ABSOLUTE BEST! No way in hell is any light diesel engine/hd pickup going to jump 7mpg, even after full delete and if somehow you could even get Gale Banks to tune it, its not gonna pick up 7mpg in any real world application of the truck.
@@BruceMyersLBZ I guess your a tunwr and tested this in every application to back up your statement too right? My truck gets 27 mpg onthe highway and 22 in the city and never lower than 18 even when pulling a load. I cqn back up my statement. Im pretty sure I know what Im talking about there lil guy.
I ended up with a SRW F350 and I have 4200lbs of payload. I’m pretty close to our RAWR with the single rear wheel but not over. I also daily drive this truck and didn’t want the ride or the looks of the dually. I heard your ford dealer experience and I had the same bad experience. My local dealer wanted over MSRP so I ordered my truck from ford and had it delivered to an out of state dealer that offered me invoice pricing. I did get a long bed and I’d never go back. The long bed is awesome and we have so much more space plus the price of mind of never hitting the trailer on the cab. Great videos, subd
I tow RV's a lot with a short bed truck. My main tank is only 36 gallons but I've installed an in bed mounted 90 gallon aux tank which gives me about 120 gallons of total fuel, the 1,000-1,200 or more miles of towing between fill ups is really nice. RDS does make these in a 45-70 gallon range as well depending on what's best for your situation, they gravity feed directly into your main filler tube and are really easy to install without adding any pumps.
You'll love Ram. I highly recommend the after-market fuel tank from either Titan or S&B. We've had our 52 gallon tank on our short bed SRW 2500 for a few years now and it's been great. About 600 mile range before refueling. Rarely have to go through any fueling stations with the rig attached anymore.
Add a aux tank in your bed, with gravity feed to your main tank. We fulltime aswell in our 3500 mega cab and with the added 50g tank, we have never had to take the rv to a gas station to fill, even with 8 hour hauling days.
I use a DOT approved aluminum RDS auxiliary fuel tank which is mounted in my bed and is plumbed into my onboard tank using one of the RDS installation kits. Install time is about 2-3 hours using basic hand tools. My tank has a 60 gallon capacity and is vertically mounted in the front of my bed in my long bed 3500 Laramie dually. I have gone about 900 miles on a fill up. It’s a very nice addition to my truck.
One comment about the F450 you were initially pondering - If you are worried about weight as you guys were, then the 350 is actually better. The 350 and 450 dualies are both at 14000 GVWR, however, the 450 weighs more than the 350, so you actually lose about 1000 lbs of cargo capacity with the 450.
Go ahead and drop the $2k on the Titan tank. You won't regret it. Maybe you can fenagle a deal with them. I'm sure you've noticed the increased stability while towing. That's a beauty. For sure. 👍🏻
I left Ford after I got to know the service advisor so well. It's been six years now that I've been with Ram and don't have any regrets. My current is a 2022 3500 Megacab Limited DRW and I love it. Great power, looks and very comfortable.
I love how you guys think through all the options. It really speaks to my heart because I do the same thing. It seems to me that you made the right decision for your circumstances right now. One of the things I try and keep in mind is to remain flexible and it was working right now may not work in the future. I’m OK with that. See you down the road!
Ya'll did the right thing by getting the new truck. That RAM is a pulling machine...I had a 2500 CCSB CTD and loved it, but like you, I was running out of payload on the 3/4 ton. So I upgraded to a Chevy 3500 CCLB DRW LTZ and love it. I now have enough truck to pull anything larger if we decide to upgrade. I can still go through most drive throughs, but I stay away from bank drive throughs...way to tight. But I can't believe ya'll didn't get a spray in bed liner!!!! Thanks for sharing.
Hi! We just got almost same truck,!! 2023 ram 3500 duelie diesel black diamond limited edition truck- pulling a keystone sprinter limited 360RLS, I’ve been watching you for about a year and really like your content. We will have our first big trip in November to the Florida Keys and around . We enjoy your channel. Thank you..Ken & Gigi
We have a dually pulling our 5th wheel. The added benefits far outweigh the drawbacks (hips) Dually is great if you have a strong crosswing, more stable. If you get a flat on one of the rear wheels you still have 3 wheels to get you to a repair area. Good choice IMO. The peace of mind that knowing our GVWR is well under our max towing is very helpful.
The engine braking is phenomenal from what I've heard on your truck also the interior of the ram is nice considering the amount of time you spend on the road
I have the same truck. I use a B&W fixed fifth wheel hitch. I just put it on the rear hole. I don’t need the slider hitch. It does put the center a little behind the axle which is a negative. But It pulls just fine. My camper is a 44’ 20K camper. I can turn very sharp. I absolutely love the truck.
We're not full timers, but we've been camping for many years. Started with a Tacoma and a popup. Had several travel trailers and a 5th wheel. Currently have a gmc 1500 but with 6.2l engine and the max trailering package. Pulls the ~6500 TT with ease. What we can't do??? A truck camper. I've always wanted one but we never did. so, keep it in mind - you may want one. Remember, if you get into traveling where you're doing ferries, cost to travel is based on total length, truck and trailer.
This video was fantastic with your explanations and reasoning. Welcome to the Ram Family (I also have a 3500 HO/Aisin and it has been great 48,000 and counting) we are glad to have you! Great looking truck. If I could recommend one upgrade, I would get the Amp Powersteps. I have them, they are fantastic!
I have been towing my a 5th wheel with the 6 foot bed for 24 years not ever making contact with the cab and no auto slider hitch. I switched to a goose box last year and love it. My truck is a 2007 Chevy Silverado crew cab.
We just put 2 x 5 gallon "Sure Can" Diesel cans in the back under storage on our camper and that made our 31 gallon into a 41 gallon. These are a GREAT product and 2 of them were about $110.00. It gives us EASILY a 500 mile range in a day. We just top off during a rest stop anytime after we get to 1/2 tank or less. Thanks for your video.
Forgot to mention, order a CTS3 Edge monitoring unit with the A-pillar mount for Ram. This will let you keep an eye on a ton of engine variables but more importantly keep an eye on the DPF filter status and Regen status. Piece of mind and it’s a fun toy as well (data data data lol). Have one on mine and I love it.
Awesome truck! I've been towing our 2016 Bighorn with a 2016 Megacab dually as well (since both were new in 2015, about 170k on the truck and about 17k on the trailer). I also have a 60 Gallon aux. fuel tank in the bed and still no issues with the short bed. Too many people overvalue an 8' bed. 8' is fine, but it's not 'needed' unless you're working in the trades.
Hello Aaron and Chris!! Whooaaa...a change!! As a person that has had some super squirrelly towing experiences, that is why we went with an over capable F350 (long bed). With the gas engine, and the 4.30 gearing, we have like 4300ish lbs of payload capability; which is way overkill for the ORV 22FQS. I am super happy that you two upgraded your load capability. That dually will be super stable. I used to have a Ram 3500 single rear wheel diesel in the Lariat trim. Like yours, it had all of the bells and whistles that we needed. Anyways....safe travels to you 4!! Oh...there was a time in 2019 that I was going to start a hot shot freight hauling business. That would have totally been with Ram 1 tons!! Iam hoping you are super happy with your decision!
Our Ford diesel dually has hauled two different Arctic Fox 990's for us, towed a toy hauler, our boats, and all sort of other trailers. We had a rear blowout on one of the rears a couple years ago with the truck camper on. Having the safety of an additional wheel/tire on each side is a game changer in situations like that. Once you get used to parking and navigating with the extra width of the "birthing hips" it becomes second nature. Not ideal for off road, but that's one of the few drawbacks. If you ever do go to a truck camper of any size, the dually is a must. We cringe every time we see a heavy truck camper on a SRW truck. We are getting ready to switch to an Outdoors RV trailer as our daughter gave us her large Mastiff as she couldn't have him where she is living. We were fine with our 55lb rescue, but the big guy takes up too much room for the truck camper. The dually will pull it great. Just won't be able to tow our big boat like we could with the truck camper. Putting a rack for our kayaks on the dually. Enjoy the new truck, and the safety margin having those extra tires provides.
I got the same truck, but 2021. Short bed scares me to death, but so far, it's not been an issue. You can turn tighter than you used to, because I think most newer RVs have the kingpin further forward. But awesome truck. I love it. But, it's a really stiff ride unless you have about 18,000 pounds back there. Beats me to death, but with the RV, it's nice and smooth.
DRW is a must when towing a heavy load. Drove 18 wheeler for some time and saw numerour trucks pulling campers upside down off the road. Cause: blowout on the rear having only single rear wheel. You can't have too much capacity.
Very happy with my 2022 Ram 2500 Laramie. Due to the 31 gal tank, I carry two 5 gal diesel cans ( more for a piece of mind). Read your manual about fuel, for my 6.7 Cummins there are some bio-diesel fuels that are not recommended. Enjoy the new truck - agree having more than enough payload is best. Your discussions on these topics have been well done.
I have a 2012 ram 3500 SRW mega cab with a 50 gallon fuel tank, I know they come with a 31gal tank. But having a 50 gallon tank is such a better piece of mind
Just a little tip (as I'm sure you realized quickly), Those dually fenders are susceptible to hitting fixed objects and other vehicles. There is sometimes a learning curve. OTOH, you already have a good amount of experience towing. Very nice rig you have!! Best of luck to both of you!!
😊 Thanks! Yes, it was a little learning curve for the first week or two for sure. But now the truck feels very similar to our Tremor, especially because the length is the same. 👍
I think you guys made a great decision. Even if you go to Airstream, that thing will tow it just fine..... will surely be more truck than required for an Airstream, but so be it. Keeping the length down is nice. Our tow vehicle is 243" long and certainly would not want to be much more than that for buzzing around without the trailer, so can certainly understand why you stayed with the 6'4" bed. We are not full time, but well over 1/2 the miles on my truck are while towing, so certainly it was necessary to focus on that need, as you have, and this truck should work for you no matter which direction you turn next. I enjoyed listening to your thought process. and as always, safe and happy travels.
We love our Ram 3500 Diesel Dually - Mega Cab Short Bed Longhorn Lariat Edition to pull our 41 foot fifth wheel - It pulls the camper like a dream - We did have to go to the super slider hitch - tried the Anderson hitch but we ended up with turning radius issues. The slider hitch is not as smooth as the Anderson but we do not get into our truck cab when turning. We lucked into a deal on a used 2018 truck in 2020 with only 10k miles on it. We only use the truck to pull our camper or our jeeps. It should last us for many years
Totally love the new truck. We are Ram people as well. I kinda agree with some people on here saying why the Mega Cab? Seems like way too much space given to the small dogs just for travel days. Congratulations it is a beautiful truck.
i own a 2018 ram 3500 tradesman with the aisan trans and yes the 6.7 inline pulling a toy hauler 18k weight. 136k miles and i will say this she is a beast. keep up with maintenance and run no matter what with eb all the time. she is a dually long bed just to clear that up. the eb running all the time helps with keeping all epa crap working and your turbo exercising. i do not vamp my trans, i pay to change the filter. things i think are better when it comes to a trans. the only complaint i have with this ram year model is the abs system.
Our 1st set up, we thought go big or go home. We bought a new 23 ram laramie MAGA cab, 6-4 bed dooley. Exaclty the same as yours, except white and chrome with the 360 cameras. Towing a GD 346 fls-r. Upgraded the suspension to the Airlift 7500xl with the wireless one remote air adjustment. Couldn't be happier and you'll be just as happy. Congrats to you both!!
I got a avg of 12 -14mpg pulling are 36 foot fifth wheel sundowner toy hauler 8000km from canada down Arizona and back in 5 weeks. Totally stock 2018 3500 mega cab srw. avg 70-75 mile per hour. I though that was pretty good.
Congrats on the new truck! The only OE replacement fuel tank manufacturer that I trust is transfer flow and unfortunately they don’t make one for your short bed ram 3500. You can upgrade the F150 and F450 long bed Dooley from 48 gallons to 60 gallons. You could also have done that with your existing F350 that you traded in. Best of luck in your travels. Love your videos, always uplifting.
Our guess/guesses were you guys would either get a bigger rig or move to an Airstream. We have a lot of friends that have gone the full circle, like we all seem to do, and eventually end up in an Airstream. We are RAM fans and love your new rig! Congrats! Randy and Kelly Wander til Lost
Who cares what people think and say. You’ll always have these “professionals” online with their expert advice. You did what made sense to you and the ram is beyond beautiful… the mega cab dually is one of the best trucks in the market.. I’m not bias either, I’ve never owned a ram. I drive a 18 crewmax tundra and I absolutely love the cab size of my truck as well… but if I was dropping $100k on a vehicle that either carried my house or towed it… I would pick the mega cab dually ram… it’s simply gorgeous… or if I was truly balling the 5500 with super single 40s and a custom bed with a truck camper… my dream rig 😂
@IreneIronTravels it definitely shifts smoother than the aisin I drove both a high output with the asinin the standard output with the 68rfe . Since we never tow anything heavier than our 13k 5th wheel we chose to save some money upfront. Ram has some huge discounts going on and just as you experienced Ford dealers as well as GMC dealers really were not willin to make a good deal. Enjoy your new ride. P.s. I went with brilliant silver night edition, looks sharp!!
Just watched your video on your interpretation of hitch weight GVWR,GAWR , I thought you explained rather well especially the GAWR which I was a little confused about but not anymore,, I drive a 2024 Chevy Z71,,2500 and my fifth is GVWR ,11000 lbs and I think I’m within my parameters, thanks for the info. Safe travels.
Did you consider moving weight from in front of the front trailer axle to behind the back axle? Shifting weight to the back counteracts the pinbox weight, provided you aren’t overweight on the trailer and trailer axles. I like your videos. They are sorely needed for most folks. RV shops sell RV’s but rarely address the towing setup. And most folks don’t understand it. Keep up the good work!
Hello, thanks! Yes, we did....but the problem with rear living 5th wheels is they have no storage in the back. If we were just a little overweight, we could have made something work, but we were over on our GVWR and our GAWR on the truck. We have a big electrical system up front (batteries and 2 inverters) that can't move. But, I could done something like taking our 2 e bikes out of the front storage, bought a rear rack, and moved them. But again thats only 90lbs.... Again if we were close, I would have tried a few other options first...because upgrading the truck is expensive!
Although not a full-timer in our 45+ years of RV-n we've had a little of everything but not everything. The one thing we have learned though is there is no such thing as a one size fits all nor is there a "perfect" rig for all instances. Our Class A was too big to boondock like we like to do though. As we started being able to take extended trips and leave behind the "Weekend Warrior" mode; we also learned that once you start getting bigger RV's its very difficult to down size. Space is nice. F450's are great, but extremely hard to find in our area. Be aware that a lot of insurance companies treat a F450 , Ram 4500 as a commercial vehicle and your insurance goes way up. I purposely ordered my F350 with an Extra Cab & short bed. Extremely rare anyone sits in the back. I can park it in my garage & park in a standard park spot with no issues. The shorter WB also makes backing into a tight spot much easier. 90% of the truck mileage is towing. I see the smaller tank as a + . Gives us a chance to get out and take a break.
We had the same issues with Ford. We always bought ford. Ford really lost a lot on the Electric trucks and I think they are trying to make it back. You guys were smart to switch. We went with gmc because we wanted a small truck and were able to still get a diesel. The ranger tremor was really cool but dealerships did the exact same thing to us.
Hopefully a video on how the truck tows will be coming. How is the engine brake? (Both modes) How does the truck pull the trailer? You definitely have a payload and rear axle now😮 Enjoy the new rig. You made an excellent choice with the new rig. Stay safe!
Congratulations!! I have a 2024 Ram DRW Mega Cab HO/Aisin just like yours (non night edition) and I am very happy. I’ve driven F-350 & F-450 and towed 40’ gooseneck trailers and the exhaust brake in the Ram is phenomenal! Not disrespecting Ford DRWs, but they’re just not the same. Yes performance wise without towing anything, Ford with that 10-speed transmission will get you moving quick, but if it’s speed I’m looking for…I’ll just buy a Corvette for that matter. I did install a Banks Pedal Monster in the Ram and it’s hella fast!! Enjoy and be safe!
the ram HO 3500 dually is awesome. I have had both the megacab and the 8ft bed crew cab. the ram tows amazing and will have no issues towing any rig out there. The amount of rams available for sale with big discounts is also nice. the aisin is strong and reliable but slower than any of the 6.7 ford trucks. I found that on big hills I could always pass everyother truck even with a fully loaded 46ft 20klb 5th wheel camper. If you move to a in bed camper I think the megacab is a shorter bed than the regular short bed crew cab so you might have an issue or a larger gap sticking out? i loved my ram 3500 Ho with the 8ft bed. I was able to have the extended tank in the 8ft bed version and an extra 50gal fuel/toolbox in the bed. having 100 gallons of diesel was a must for me. See if you can grab a 8ft dually and swap it at the dealer it might be a better choice if you truly want a in bed camper the 8ft in bed campers are nice. My next truck will be the megacab with the 8ft bed. Its a conversion, but very also the best of both worlds.
Damn smart decision, dually is the way to go no matter what. I’m two trucks in already and guess what… next will be a dually. Spend once not three times!
Had a 11.5 foot slide in camper in my F350 Dually for 17 years. Moved up to the 29 foot fifth wheel for the room. Parking is becoming a bigger and bigger in the cities and private parking lots as the cars get smaller and cities are removing parking spots to remove traffic.
Nice truck, you guys made a good choice. 👍 It was good to see you two back in the Keys. We left there about a week ago slowly making our way back to Tn for Dr visits and get some mail before heading to New England for the summer. Travel safe my friends and enjoy the journey. ✌
Wow, you guys really did your homework. I think that should be the main takeaway from this video. You made the right decision for you. People need to do their own research and find works for them and their situation. I’m a Ford person, sad to hear that they are getting greedy. My Ford is a 2003, 7.3 diesel. Not getting rid of it…. Not a full timer tho.
Dually Pro Tip: Back into the parking space. It puts that Big Ass at the adjacent car’s hood. Thus allowing them clearance to safely open their doors and more easily walk between the vehicles. Also, fold in your mirrors.
I had a 2020 RAM 2500 with the Cummins and my local diesel shop installed the Titan 52 gallon tank. The diesel shop owner is also a RAM fan so knew that he was very familiar with my truck. We loved the increased capacity but at least back in 2021, Titan did not have the firmware/software required to play nice with the RAM's electronics so my fuel gauge was never accurate. There was no way to tell the truck's electronics that the fuel capacity had changed. I even had three RAM dealers attempt to update the electronics but it was a no go. Titan is manufactured in Idaho and wanted to support a small US business. I understand there are other aftermarket tank options that do allow you to update your electronics to account for a larger fuel capacity. As an aside, I just traded the RAM 2500 in for a Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Duramax for the exact same reason you changed. The RAM had 1,700 lbs of payload and it didn't cut it. So far, loving the Silverado one ton.
You have a really nice set up. Like my wife and I, we have enough into our truck and fifth wheel we could have a pretty nice class A. There are pros and cons for each set up. I never thought of a short bed dually having as much tow capacity, I would have went that route. You have 1500 lbs more payload than our 3500 long bed. Enjoy your ride, have fun and be safe!
A note on F450's - you have to pay attention to the payload on them, a lot of times it's actually less than a similarly equipped F350 since all the HD goodies on an F450 are heavier thus subtract from the payload quite a bit.
Thank you for this video. This IS EXACTLY what I needed to know. I'm a new RV owner and looking to purchase my first truck. I'm going to be upgrading my RV in the next year or two as well so I've been overwhelmed trying to figure out what to get.
I’ve driven both brands (ford and ram) and ram is my preferred truck. I drove a new 22 ford long bed for a month last year and hated the 10 speed transmission (had to change my driving habits down hills) but loved the empty fuel mileage. Diesels are supposed to be inline 6’s (semis are…) If your truck is a 4x4 you are going to want to look at locking hubs for the front axle. Ram front drive shafts always turn and can cause a failure point if NOT properly greased (know from experience) Sharp truck
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Well as far as I’m concerned I don’t care what you guys do I think it’s all great.
Congratulations on the upgrade. I'm a diesel enthusiast, and truck connoisseur. I own 4 different full-size diesel pickups. My favorite BY FAR is the 2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 DRW. It is a mega cab, laramie 4x4 with the G56 6 speed manual transmission, and cummins 6.7l. It's only got 137k miles in it. We use it to haul our camper on our anniversary road trips. We bring our 2 dogs and 2 cats with us. And you're right, the mega cab works well for the animals to have plenty of space. They roam the truck while in the road.
The Aisin trans is an excellent transmission. It is sad that you can't get a manual option in any of the big 3 manufacturers anymore. But the Aisin will serve you well.
You guys totally made the right decision. I own a Ram 3500 dually that I use for Hotshot, and it has been a blessing. The high output is the best truck for tow heavy, and it has been so reliable that I couldn't be happier. It has 271k miles on it and hasn't had any issues. I'm so happy for you both. You are definitely going to love your truck. If you have any questions about the high output, don't hesitate to ask.
Thanks appreciate that!
Inline 6 Cummins with a 6 speed Aisin. You have the best of the best now. Low end torque, best in class exhaust brake and top tier longevity!
I think you made a great decision. I'm an engineer by trade, also part of a 2 person driving team. We deliver anything, anyplace rolling 24/7. I have a lot of stories! LOL. I think RAM/Cummins/Aisin is your best tow vehicle option today. I might have even gone 4500 or 5500. A dually, or dualie is a must. That is the axle you don't want to let a tire down on the most. 2 tires, spreading the load, will minimize that. Also if you happen to drop a rear off the road on a narrow road, the 2/side will stabilize that. Our last 5th wheel we re-fitted the rear axles for 2 tires each side, total 8. Most bad accidents we've seen involved losing a truck single rear, or a trailer tire on an interstate. Sad but true. Front's I keep at 40% up tread life, and best option available. I believe Cummins is the best option also. There is a war of words in truck advertising. The Cummins in a 5500 is 330 (real) HP, and ~700 tq. Slightly less than the advertised numbers for the 3500. But that motor has all of it, and will run for 5, 8, 100,000 miles taken care of properly. (fresh oil, fresh filters, often) Aisin makes HD truck transmissions, and they move a lot of trucks worldwide. The same or better than Allison. For 60-70% towing, the best choice! Not much room here, hope you feel better about your decision!! For safety, reliability, and dependability over the long haul, I think you did well!! 8) --gary
PS; I don't do the driving thing much anymore, I'll be 72 on Thursday. I also have over 1M miles by motorcycle. 8) --gary
Same exact thing happened to me. I am on my 3rd Ram. Ford just would not deal with me. And I was a Ford man/family also. I have bought many Fords through the years. So I swallowed my pride and bought my first Ram in 2012. I went over 100K on it. No problems. my 2016 Ram 100K+ on it and again zero problems. I now have a 21 Laramie and thus far zero issues. I do have many friends with Fords and I still love them. However, after getting use to the Ram 6 cylinder. and its torque I cannot see myself ever going back to Ford. Especially being Ford is on such a high horse and no appreciation for their long term customers. Just my opinion.
Almost same deal with me. Funny that I'm hearing it from you and this video. I switched to a Ram in 2010 because Ford and their dealerships let me down. I'm now on my 4th Cummins, and couldn't be happier. With everything I throw at these trucks, they never let even blink. Gotta love that confidence. I live full time in a 40ft 5th wheel now with a 2018 3500 Cummins dually. The thing is a beast and a half lol
Isn't Ford's current high output Powerstroke with 1200 ft-lbs of torque high than the Cummins high output??!!!
@@LWRC This in anecdotyle, but my brother has a fleet of Ford dually Powerstrokes for his roofing business, and every single one of them had certain issues. He very recently had a 2023 F350 with 40k miles that grenaded seemingly randomly. The dealership originally made a claim that someone somehow put DPF fluid directly into the down pipe, but as it turns out, they ruled it out to be a blown fuse and faulty wiring causing some fuel system electronics to stay on while the truck was off...on a practically brand new truck.
The guy isn't a dumby, so he drives a RAM for his personal daily driver lol. The rest of the boys get Fords, which all end up failing constantly under warranty.
For me, I've also owned 4 Fords (2 cars, one SUV, and one truck). All of them just falling apart prematurely. Granted, some of these newer Fords are beasts.... but so is the RAM, and it's more reliable to boot. For me, you may have a legitimate debate between Duramax+Allison tranny vs Cummins+Aison tranny. Powerstroke is just no longer part of the equation ( at least for me)
@@phalupium
The Ram certainly has the best interior design of the 3. I don't like their exterior styling as much as the Ford. The Ford interior styling, especially the instrumentation, is horrific. Who puts bar graphs on the display? That is pure nonsense! Just copy Porsche or Honda if they ran out of ideas.
I don't have personal experience with any major US truck manufacturers but it would appear to me that Ford must have something going for them since most of the commercial trucks I see here in SoCal are all Fords. I very rarely see Ram used as commercial trucks and certainly not GMC nor Chevy. I can't see any commercial fleet operator using Fords even if the breakdowns are covered under warranty since the truck still will be out of service during the down time!
@@LWRC You have a point about rarely seeing anything but Fords for commercial. On paper, Fords are every bit as capable as the other brands, and they do it cheaper. I think the bottom line is that they are cheaper and cheaper to maintain. Parts are cheap too.
Oh yeah and welcome to the RAM NATION , we are now in our 5 th Ram and absolutely love these trucks for work and play!
I’ve seen some comments about auxiliary fuel tanks and stuff, but the way to go is definitely S&B’s 55 gallon replacement tank! It fits right into where the factory tank is, and almost doubles your range! Definitely a worthy upgrade.
We full timed for 2 years with a Ram 3500 dually 8' bed and a Mobile Suites 5th wheel that weighed 22,000 lbs. We came off the road and sold the Mobile Suites but kept the truck. The Ram is now 11 yrs old and has never been back to the dealership. I do my own routine maintenance. It looks nearly new and someone offered me more than I paid for it 11 yrs ago. I can't see myself parting with it any time soon. Glad to see you've made the move to Ram.
I ran the super glide on a SB F-250 for 3 years. The super glide is a gear slider hitch but a little quirky and clunky at times. We ended up getting another tow vehicle and got the F-450 full sized bed. We now have a standard hitch and and auxiliary fuel tank that gives us 138 gal capacity. The towing experience is night and day. The turning radius and general steering feel on the F-450 is outstanding. Good luck in your journeys!!!
I think you made an incredible decision! Your truck looks so good and I think you will like the Cummins diesel. Awesome rig and so happy for both of you!
RAM is definitely the right call! I'd have opted for the standard crew cab and long bed for sure though. Those dogs are small, they don't need a Mega-Cab.
You'll never regret the higher capacity of a dually. My 2001 ram with 250,000 miles just keeps going. I started with a Lance camper and now pull a travel trailer similar to your last one. I don't need or use distribution hitches. I tow and load heavy for work and play. It's a work horse. Great decision.
That's baby stuff. I've seen a kit of them pull hard their entire lives and hit 400-600k. You have some miles yet.
Titan makes a 50 gallon fuel tank for the 3500 Mega Cab Dually. I added one to my Ram 3500 mega cab. Definitely money well spent.
Congratulations on your Ram!!! My wife and I upgraded from a 7000 lb bumper pull to a 36' 5th wheel in November of 2022. My Ram 2500 was towing at its full capacity with the 5th wheel, so we decided to buy a 2022 Ram 3500 Laramie Sport dually with the Cummins diesel. It's a great truck, and it fits (just bearly) into our garage. Rams are great trucks, and we have had great luck with both of ours. Our truck is the Mega Cab short bed, just like yours. We've watched our next-door neighbor's Ford F 350 get badly damaged twice now because his will not fit in his garage. Ram is really on to something with the short bed Mega Cab, for owners wanting a garagable truck with heavy towing capacity!!!
I'm a ford guy have been all my life but I drive a ram now because of the Cummins engine you can't beat it.
I was a Ram Cummins guy all my life till 2017 then switched to Ford… then I realized how pitiful the Cummins actually was. Today I run the Duramax and the Powerstroke both and they are far superior than the Ram Cummins in every way. Towing 45’ toy hauler 24k lbs loaded. Mileage power comfort reliability all better with the Ford and GMC.
@@STEEL.AXL1. Love the independent front suspension in the GM trucks. Especially in any area where the roads are bad. The IFS shines.
Think you made the right decision. The dually provides so much flexibility. I have my dually and pull a TT, but i carry a motorcycle, kayaks and bikes so I needed more then just the power for the TT. I love it.
Good job, they're both great at what they do. I'm currenty in a Ford and like it, but I'm not brand loyal. The Power Stroke feels like a rocketship, but the Cummins pulls like a locomotive. The Ram's exhaust brake is way better too. While I prefer the crisp hard edges on Fords, the Rams interior is the best out there IMO.
I would have gone with a long bed with a regular quad cab, but if it works for you, congratulations. The dually is definitely a good idea.
Not often do we hear a woman refer to a truck as “knarly”, but Chris is one of a kind. 💕
That's true! 🤣
calm down jmicgael
Thanks for the review and information. Just got the 2024 Ram 4 door long bed dually w/ 50 gallon tank. Factory rebate plus dealer discount had me hooked. Now I'm looking for my first 5th wheel rv. Thanks.
update when you have a 5th wheel plz
Calibrated Power makes tunes for your truck that will improve fuel economy up to 7mpg over stock and S&B has larger fuel tanks for the short bed Ram platform as well. Hope this helps you to enjoy your new Ram in the future.
7mpg? Cmon lol!! 4mpg at ABSOLUTE BEST! No way in hell is any light diesel engine/hd pickup going to jump 7mpg, even after full delete and if somehow you could even get Gale Banks to tune it, its not gonna pick up 7mpg in any real world application of the truck.
@@BruceMyersLBZ I guess your a tunwr and tested this in every application to back up your statement too right? My truck gets 27 mpg onthe highway and 22 in the city and never lower than 18 even when pulling a load. I cqn back up my statement. Im pretty sure I know what Im talking about there lil guy.
I ended up with a SRW F350 and I have 4200lbs of payload. I’m pretty close to our RAWR with the single rear wheel but not over. I also daily drive this truck and didn’t want the ride or the looks of the dually.
I heard your ford dealer experience and I had the same bad experience. My local dealer wanted over MSRP so I ordered my truck from ford and had it delivered to an out of state dealer that offered me invoice pricing.
I did get a long bed and I’d never go back. The long bed is awesome and we have so much more space plus the price of mind of never hitting the trailer on the cab.
Great videos, subd
I tow RV's a lot with a short bed truck. My main tank is only 36 gallons but I've installed an in bed mounted 90 gallon aux tank which gives me about 120 gallons of total fuel, the 1,000-1,200 or more miles of towing between fill ups is really nice. RDS does make these in a 45-70 gallon range as well depending on what's best for your situation, they gravity feed directly into your main filler tube and are really easy to install without adding any pumps.
You'll love Ram. I highly recommend the after-market fuel tank from either Titan or S&B. We've had our 52 gallon tank on our short bed SRW 2500 for a few years now and it's been great. About 600 mile range before refueling. Rarely have to go through any fueling stations with the rig attached anymore.
Yeah Buddies!!! I bought a Ram Pickup this time, even though Gramps of same name, was Henry's 1st Apprentice back in '01!
Add a aux tank in your bed, with gravity feed to your main tank. We fulltime aswell in our 3500 mega cab and with the added 50g tank, we have never had to take the rv to a gas station to fill, even with 8 hour hauling days.
Woooo! From van to the new dually and 5th wheel! Look at all the new avenues life takes us! Congratulations!
I use a DOT approved aluminum RDS auxiliary fuel tank which is mounted in my bed and is plumbed into my onboard tank using one of the RDS installation kits. Install time is about 2-3 hours using basic hand tools. My tank has a 60 gallon capacity and is vertically mounted in the front of my bed in my long bed 3500 Laramie dually. I have gone about 900 miles on a fill up. It’s a very nice addition to my truck.
One comment about the F450 you were initially pondering - If you are worried about weight as you guys were, then the 350 is actually better. The 350 and 450 dualies are both at 14000 GVWR, however, the 450 weighs more than the 350, so you actually lose about 1000 lbs of cargo capacity with the 450.
Go ahead and drop the $2k on the Titan tank. You won't regret it. Maybe you can fenagle a deal with them.
I'm sure you've noticed the increased stability while towing. That's a beauty. For sure. 👍🏻
Yep mine came with the 33 gal tank so I’ve been keeping an eye on that tank as well!
I left Ford after I got to know the service advisor so well. It's been six years now that I've been with Ram and don't have any regrets. My current is a 2022 3500 Megacab Limited DRW and I love it. Great power, looks and very comfortable.
Welcome to the Mopar family! You won’t be disappointed.
But powered by a Cummins nice mopar seats.
I love how you guys think through all the options. It really speaks to my heart because I do the same thing. It seems to me that you made the right decision for your circumstances right now. One of the things I try and keep in mind is to remain flexible and it was working right now may not work in the future. I’m OK with that. See you down the road!
um ok
Titan gas tank is a game changer..... won't regret I did year of towing with stock tank, then switch!
Ya'll did the right thing by getting the new truck. That RAM is a pulling machine...I had a 2500 CCSB CTD and loved it, but like you, I was running out of payload on the 3/4 ton. So I upgraded to a Chevy 3500 CCLB DRW LTZ and love it. I now have enough truck to pull anything larger if we decide to upgrade. I can still go through most drive throughs, but I stay away from bank drive throughs...way to tight. But I can't believe ya'll didn't get a spray in bed liner!!!! Thanks for sharing.
Hi! We just got almost same truck,!! 2023 ram 3500 duelie diesel black diamond limited edition truck- pulling a keystone sprinter limited 360RLS, I’ve been watching you for about a year and really like your content. We will have our first big trip in November to the Florida Keys and around . We enjoy your channel. Thank you..Ken & Gigi
Hello! Congrats on the new truck! Apprecaite ya all watching!
We have a dually pulling our 5th wheel. The added benefits far outweigh the drawbacks (hips) Dually is great if you have a strong crosswing, more stable. If you get a flat on one of the rear wheels you still have 3 wheels to get you to a repair area. Good choice IMO. The peace of mind that knowing our GVWR is well under our max towing is very helpful.
The engine braking is phenomenal from what I've heard on your truck also the interior of the ram is nice considering the amount of time you spend on the road
I have the same truck. I use a B&W fixed fifth wheel hitch. I just put it on the rear hole. I don’t need the slider hitch. It does put the center a little behind the axle which is a negative. But It pulls just fine. My camper is a 44’ 20K camper. I can turn very sharp. I absolutely love the truck.
I love your two pups are so safe and secure in the back seat of the new Dodge Ram Dually! Good luck, and am happy to see the hitch !
Us too! Thanks!
We're not full timers, but we've been camping for many years. Started with a Tacoma and a popup. Had several travel trailers and a 5th wheel. Currently have a gmc 1500 but with 6.2l engine and the max trailering package. Pulls the ~6500 TT with ease. What we can't do??? A truck camper. I've always wanted one but we never did. so, keep it in mind - you may want one. Remember, if you get into traveling where you're doing ferries, cost to travel is based on total length, truck and trailer.
Thanks! Good points!!
This video was fantastic with your explanations and reasoning. Welcome to the Ram Family (I also have a 3500 HO/Aisin and it has been great 48,000 and counting) we are glad to have you! Great looking truck. If I could recommend one upgrade, I would get the Amp Powersteps. I have them, they are fantastic!
I have been towing my a 5th wheel with the 6 foot bed for 24 years not ever making contact with the cab and no auto slider hitch. I switched to a goose box last year and love it. My truck is a 2007 Chevy Silverado crew cab.
We just put 2 x 5 gallon "Sure Can" Diesel cans in the back under storage on our camper and that made our 31 gallon into a 41 gallon. These are a GREAT product and 2 of them were about $110.00. It gives us EASILY a 500 mile range in a day. We just top off during a rest stop anytime after we get to 1/2 tank or less. Thanks for your video.
Thats smart!!! I might do this first!
Forgot to mention, order a CTS3 Edge monitoring unit with the A-pillar mount for Ram. This will let you keep an eye on a ton of engine variables but more importantly keep an eye on the DPF filter status and Regen status. Piece of mind and it’s a fun toy as well (data data data lol). Have one on mine and I love it.
Congratulations!! You will love the stability of the dually. Love the new look
Awesome truck! I've been towing our 2016 Bighorn with a 2016 Megacab dually as well (since both were new in 2015, about 170k on the truck and about 17k on the trailer). I also have a 60 Gallon aux. fuel tank in the bed and still no issues with the short bed. Too many people overvalue an 8' bed. 8' is fine, but it's not 'needed' unless you're working in the trades.
Hello Aaron and Chris!! Whooaaa...a change!!
As a person that has had some super squirrelly towing experiences, that is why we went with an over capable F350 (long bed). With the gas engine, and the 4.30 gearing, we have like 4300ish lbs of payload capability; which is way overkill for the ORV 22FQS.
I am super happy that you two upgraded your load capability. That dually will be super stable. I used to have a Ram 3500 single rear wheel diesel in the Lariat trim. Like yours, it had all of the bells and whistles that we needed.
Anyways....safe travels to you 4!!
Oh...there was a time in 2019 that I was going to start a hot shot freight hauling business. That would have totally been with Ram 1 tons!! Iam hoping you are super happy with your decision!
I have a 2014 Ram Megacab dually HO. Its such a great towing vehicle, and our dogs love the huge cab. Congrats on the new rig!
We have a 2018 Ram dually bought new and it works great and no worries with our trailer weight. We added an in bed 35 gallon fuel tank.
Our Ford diesel dually has hauled two different Arctic Fox 990's for us, towed a toy hauler, our boats, and all sort of other trailers. We had a rear blowout on one of the rears a couple years ago with the truck camper on. Having the safety of an additional wheel/tire on each side is a game changer in situations like that. Once you get used to parking and navigating with the extra width of the "birthing hips" it becomes second nature. Not ideal for off road, but that's one of the few drawbacks. If you ever do go to a truck camper of any size, the dually is a must. We cringe every time we see a heavy truck camper on a SRW truck. We are getting ready to switch to an Outdoors RV trailer as our daughter gave us her large Mastiff as she couldn't have him where she is living. We were fine with our 55lb rescue, but the big guy takes up too much room for the truck camper. The dually will pull it great. Just won't be able to tow our big boat like we could with the truck camper. Putting a rack for our kayaks on the dually. Enjoy the new truck, and the safety margin having those extra tires provides.
Great,, great, great choice y'all! You were smart to do the math and make the upgrade. Congrats!!
Thanks so much!
I got the same truck, but 2021. Short bed scares me to death, but so far, it's not been an issue. You can turn tighter than you used to, because I think most newer RVs have the kingpin further forward.
But awesome truck. I love it.
But, it's a really stiff ride unless you have about 18,000 pounds back there. Beats me to death, but with the RV, it's nice and smooth.
DRW is a must when towing a heavy load. Drove 18 wheeler for some time and saw numerour trucks pulling campers upside down off the road. Cause: blowout on the rear having only single rear wheel. You can't have too much capacity.
They were going too fast and never checked the air pressure or tire condition, not because they only had one tire Stevie
We have never had any regrets with our Ram3500, dually with the 8' box. We lovecthecway that it tows our 340RL. We get about 10/11 mpg while towing.
Very happy with my 2022 Ram 2500 Laramie. Due to the 31 gal tank, I carry two 5 gal diesel cans ( more for a piece of mind). Read your manual about fuel, for my 6.7 Cummins there are some bio-diesel fuels that are not recommended. Enjoy the new truck - agree having more than enough payload is best. Your discussions on these topics have been well done.
Good to hear! I've been thinking about the gas can idea. Its 60 bucks vs almost $2000 for the 55 gallon tank installed!
I have a 2012 ram 3500 SRW mega cab with a 50 gallon fuel tank, I know they come with a 31gal tank. But having a 50 gallon tank is such a better piece of mind
I chose a Ram 2023 3500 dually 8 ft bed. Way more storage . Pulling a paridym 2023 301rl
Hope to see ya on the road. I’m a chick driving Irene😊
Just a little tip (as I'm sure you realized quickly), Those dually fenders are susceptible to hitting fixed objects and other vehicles. There is sometimes a learning curve. OTOH, you already have a good amount of experience towing. Very nice rig you have!! Best of luck to both of you!!
😊 Thanks! Yes, it was a little learning curve for the first week or two for sure. But now the truck feels very similar to our Tremor, especially because the length is the same. 👍
I think you guys made a great decision. Even if you go to Airstream, that thing will tow it just fine..... will surely be more truck than required for an Airstream, but so be it. Keeping the length down is nice. Our tow vehicle is 243" long and certainly would not want to be much more than that for buzzing around without the trailer, so can certainly understand why you stayed with the 6'4" bed. We are not full time, but well over 1/2 the miles on my truck are while towing, so certainly it was necessary to focus on that need, as you have, and this truck should work for you no matter which direction you turn next. I enjoyed listening to your thought process. and as always, safe and happy travels.
We love our Ram 3500 Diesel Dually - Mega Cab Short Bed Longhorn Lariat Edition to pull our 41 foot fifth wheel - It pulls the camper like a dream - We did have to go to the super slider hitch - tried the Anderson hitch but we ended up with turning radius issues. The slider hitch is not as smooth as the Anderson but we do not get into our truck cab when turning. We lucked into a deal on a used 2018 truck in 2020 with only 10k miles on it. We only use the truck to pull our camper or our jeeps. It should last us for many years
I have a Ram 3500 Limited HO SRW with my travel trailer. The HO makes towing easy with the best in class exhaust brake. Congrats.
Totally love the new truck. We are Ram people as well. I kinda agree with some people on here saying why the Mega Cab? Seems like way too much space given to the small dogs just for travel days. Congratulations it is a beautiful truck.
Congrats! Welcome to the Ram Truck Family!
Thank you!!
i own a 2018 ram 3500 tradesman with the aisan trans and yes the 6.7 inline pulling a toy hauler 18k weight. 136k miles and i will say this she is a beast. keep up with maintenance and run no matter what with eb all the time. she is a dually long bed just to clear that up. the eb running all the time helps with keeping all epa crap working and your turbo exercising. i do not vamp my trans, i pay to change the filter. things i think are better when it comes to a trans. the only complaint i have with this ram year model is the abs system.
Our 1st set up, we thought go big or go home. We bought a new 23 ram laramie MAGA cab, 6-4 bed dooley. Exaclty the same as yours, except white and chrome with the 360 cameras. Towing a GD 346 fls-r. Upgraded the suspension to the Airlift 7500xl with the wireless one remote air adjustment. Couldn't be happier and you'll be just as happy. Congrats to you both!!
Nice! You guys are set for a good while!
MAGA cab? How about Mega cab. I guess when you’re in the cult, everything is MAGA.😂😆🤣 Also, it’s a dually, not a dooley.😂
I look forward to hearing more about how you feel about the new engine, drivability and MPG.
I got a avg of 12 -14mpg pulling are 36 foot fifth wheel sundowner toy hauler 8000km from canada down Arizona and back in 5 weeks. Totally stock 2018 3500 mega cab srw. avg 70-75 mile per hour. I though that was pretty good.
Excellent report 💯
Much appreciated, thanks for watching!
I think if you did what was right for you then you absolutely did the right thing.
You guys will fall in love with the exhaust brake 🤌😮💨
I have a 2019 3500 mega. I have the 50 gallon Titan underneath and 40 transfer in the bed. Works great.
Congrats on the new truck! The only OE replacement fuel tank manufacturer that I trust is transfer flow and unfortunately they don’t make one for your short bed ram 3500.
You can upgrade the F150 and F450 long bed Dooley from 48 gallons to 60 gallons. You could also have done that with your existing F350 that you traded in.
Best of luck in your travels. Love your videos, always uplifting.
Our guess/guesses were you guys would either get a bigger rig or move to an Airstream. We have a lot of friends that have gone the full circle, like we all seem to do, and eventually end up in an Airstream. We are RAM fans and love your new rig! Congrats!
Randy and Kelly
Wander til Lost
You guys made a great decision! I like the Fords but that cp4 issue on the fords made me get a ram 🐏 with the Cp3 pump.
Who cares what people think and say. You’ll always have these “professionals” online with their expert advice. You did what made sense to you and the ram is beyond beautiful… the mega cab dually is one of the best trucks in the market.. I’m not bias either, I’ve never owned a ram. I drive a 18 crewmax tundra and I absolutely love the cab size of my truck as well… but if I was dropping $100k on a vehicle that either carried my house or towed it… I would pick the mega cab dually ram… it’s simply gorgeous… or if I was truly balling the 5500 with super single 40s and a custom bed with a truck camper… my dream rig 😂
I also switched from a SRW Ford superduty to a 2024 RAM 3500 dually crew cab. I opted for laramie longed with the SO cummins with 68 rfe trans.
Nice! 👍 I heard the 68rfe shifts alittle smoother than the Aisin.
@IreneIronTravels it definitely shifts smoother than the aisin
I drove both a high output with the asinin the standard output with the 68rfe . Since we never tow anything heavier than our 13k 5th wheel we chose to save some money upfront. Ram has some huge discounts going on and just as you experienced Ford dealers as well as GMC dealers really were not willin to make a good deal. Enjoy your new ride.
P.s. I went with brilliant silver night edition, looks sharp!!
Just watched your video on your interpretation of hitch weight GVWR,GAWR , I thought you explained rather well especially the GAWR which I was a little confused about but not anymore,, I drive a 2024 Chevy Z71,,2500 and my fifth is GVWR ,11000 lbs and I think I’m within my parameters, thanks for the info. Safe travels.
Did you consider moving weight from in front of the front trailer axle to behind the back axle? Shifting weight to the back counteracts the pinbox weight, provided you aren’t overweight on the trailer and trailer axles.
I like your videos. They are sorely needed for most folks. RV shops sell RV’s but rarely address the towing setup. And most folks don’t understand it.
Keep up the good work!
Hello, thanks! Yes, we did....but the problem with rear living 5th wheels is they have no storage in the back. If we were just a little overweight, we could have made something work, but we were over on our GVWR and our GAWR on the truck.
We have a big electrical system up front (batteries and 2 inverters) that can't move. But, I could done something like taking our 2 e bikes out of the front storage, bought a rear rack, and moved them. But again thats only 90lbs....
Again if we were close, I would have tried a few other options first...because upgrading the truck is expensive!
Although not a full-timer in our 45+ years of RV-n we've had a little of everything but not everything. The one thing we have learned though is there is no such thing as a one size fits all nor is there a "perfect" rig for all instances. Our Class A was too big to boondock like we like to do though. As we started being able to take extended trips and leave behind the "Weekend Warrior" mode; we also learned that once you start getting bigger RV's its very difficult to down size. Space is nice. F450's are great, but extremely hard to find in our area. Be aware that a lot of insurance companies treat a F450 , Ram 4500 as a commercial vehicle and your insurance goes way up. I purposely ordered my F350 with an Extra Cab & short bed. Extremely rare anyone sits in the back. I can park it in my garage & park in a standard park spot with no issues. The shorter WB also makes backing into a tight spot much easier. 90% of the truck mileage is towing. I see the smaller tank as a + . Gives us a chance to get out and take a break.
We had the same issues with Ford. We always bought ford. Ford really lost a lot on the Electric trucks and I think they are trying to make it back.
You guys were smart to switch. We went with gmc because we wanted a small truck and were able to still get a diesel. The ranger tremor was really cool but dealerships did the exact same thing to us.
Hopefully a video on how the truck tows will be coming. How is the engine brake? (Both modes)
How does the truck pull the trailer?
You definitely have a payload and rear axle now😮
Enjoy the new rig. You made an excellent choice with the new rig.
Stay safe!
Congratulations!! I have a 2024 Ram DRW Mega Cab HO/Aisin just like yours (non night edition) and I am very happy. I’ve driven F-350 & F-450 and towed 40’ gooseneck trailers and the exhaust brake in the Ram is phenomenal! Not disrespecting Ford DRWs, but they’re just not the same. Yes performance wise without towing anything, Ford with that 10-speed transmission will get you moving quick, but if it’s speed I’m looking for…I’ll just buy a Corvette for that matter. I did install a Banks Pedal Monster in the Ram and it’s hella fast!! Enjoy and be safe!
the ram HO 3500 dually is awesome. I have had both the megacab and the 8ft bed crew cab. the ram tows amazing and will have no issues towing any rig out there. The amount of rams available for sale with big discounts is also nice. the aisin is strong and reliable but slower than any of the 6.7 ford trucks. I found that on big hills I could always pass everyother truck even with a fully loaded 46ft 20klb 5th wheel camper. If you move to a in bed camper I think the megacab is a shorter bed than the regular short bed crew cab so you might have an issue or a larger gap sticking out? i loved my ram 3500 Ho with the 8ft bed. I was able to have the extended tank in the 8ft bed version and an extra 50gal fuel/toolbox in the bed. having 100 gallons of diesel was a must for me. See if you can grab a 8ft dually and swap it at the dealer it might be a better choice if you truly want a in bed camper the 8ft in bed campers are nice. My next truck will be the megacab with the 8ft bed. Its a conversion, but very also the best of both worlds.
Lance truck campers, they are great. Ram is so nice. You will love it
Damn smart decision, dually is the way to go no matter what. I’m two trucks in already and guess what… next will be a dually. Spend once not three times!
Had a 11.5 foot slide in camper in my F350 Dually for 17 years. Moved up to the 29 foot fifth wheel for the room. Parking is becoming a bigger and bigger in the cities and private parking lots as the cars get smaller and cities are removing parking spots to remove traffic.
Nice truck, you guys made a good choice. 👍
It was good to see you two back in the Keys. We left there about a week ago slowly making our way back to Tn for Dr visits and get some mail before heading to New England for the summer. Travel safe my friends and enjoy the journey. ✌
You can't go wrong with the Cummins Engine and the Ram truck. Great choice in Trucks
Wow, you guys really did your homework. I think that should be the main takeaway from this video. You made the right decision for you. People need to do their own research and find works for them and their situation. I’m a Ford person, sad to hear that they are getting greedy. My Ford is a 2003, 7.3 diesel. Not getting rid of it…. Not a full timer tho.
Thanks!
Dually Pro Tip: Back into the parking space. It puts that Big Ass at the adjacent car’s hood. Thus allowing them clearance to safely open their doors and more easily walk between the vehicles.
Also, fold in your mirrors.
Dually for your purpose’s especially never go wrong. Nice shorty set up. Well done
The ram has looks interior & if you opted for the Cummings HO it's tough to beat all of the big 3 have pros & cons
I had a 2020 RAM 2500 with the Cummins and my local diesel shop installed the Titan 52 gallon tank. The diesel shop owner is also a RAM fan so knew that he was very familiar with my truck. We loved the increased capacity but at least back in 2021, Titan did not have the firmware/software required to play nice with the RAM's electronics so my fuel gauge was never accurate. There was no way to tell the truck's electronics that the fuel capacity had changed. I even had three RAM dealers attempt to update the electronics but it was a no go. Titan is manufactured in Idaho and wanted to support a small US business. I understand there are other aftermarket tank options that do allow you to update your electronics to account for a larger fuel capacity. As an aside, I just traded the RAM 2500 in for a Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Duramax for the exact same reason you changed. The RAM had 1,700 lbs of payload and it didn't cut it. So far, loving the Silverado one ton.
Add some air bags in the rear. Helps a lot for towing. Simple to install.
You have a really nice set up. Like my wife and I, we have enough into our truck and fifth wheel we could have a pretty nice class A. There are pros and cons for each set up. I never thought of a short bed dually having as much tow capacity, I would have went that route. You have 1500 lbs more payload than our 3500 long bed. Enjoy your ride, have fun and be safe!
Right on!
A note on F450's - you have to pay attention to the payload on them, a lot of times it's actually less than a similarly equipped F350 since all the HD goodies on an F450 are heavier thus subtract from the payload quite a bit.
Thank you for this video. This IS EXACTLY what I needed to know. I'm a new RV owner and looking to purchase my first truck. I'm going to be upgrading my RV in the next year or two as well so I've been overwhelmed trying to figure out what to get.
Also you can't go wrong with that Cummins straight six. The best diesel engine of the three in my opinion
It'll be great as long as you keep it below the salt belt in the winter. Up in the north they rust like crazy. The cummins is always a good option
I’ve driven both brands (ford and ram) and ram is my preferred truck. I drove a new 22 ford long bed for a month last year and hated the 10 speed transmission (had to change my driving habits down hills) but loved the empty fuel mileage. Diesels are supposed to be inline 6’s (semis are…)
If your truck is a 4x4 you are going to want to look at locking hubs for the front axle. Ram front drive shafts always turn and can cause a failure point if NOT properly greased (know from experience)
Sharp truck
Thanks for sharing that!