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Old 01-09-2021, 03:16 PM   #41
rhagfo
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So you started out looking at 2019+, well if you can why not order what you want new. If doing so would stretch your budget, the look used, use car guru or auto trader or any other vehicle search engine and be willing to travel a ways to find what you want used. We drove about 300 miles to find our used 2016 Ram 3500 DRW, it had everything we were looking for and a couple extras.
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Old 01-09-2021, 07:18 PM   #42
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Consider building your own,and factory order.
This way you get exactly what you want.
You can save on factory installed option, dealer mark up/inventory cost, salesman commission ect.
We factory ordered a Ford and a Dodge in the past and both worked out well. Took MSRP less 10% + $500.00 for the dealer.
Just for fun I built what I wanted on Ram's website... there is no option to order it. Like someone else said, you have to go through a dealer. So I am not sure how you get 10% off MSRP. I spoke to my dealer and they said I would pay their invoice amount - same as I would if I bought one on their lot. I suppose they may haggle a little with one on their lot, but not a ton. They really have no need to... trucks are at a premium right now and they can sell them almost as fast as they get them. So aside from the 8-10 week wait right now to build one and have it delivered, there is no huge downside to building your own (that I am aware of).
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Old 01-09-2021, 07:31 PM   #43
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3500 short bed 3500 6.4L gass

Just bought a 3500 6.4L gas 4 door short bed 4.10 4x4 the only time I know it is a 1ton is when I hit a bump.I haven't pulled my RV yet but I made a 1400 mile pull with a 20 ft heavy utility trailer with my 2009 2500 6.7 Cummings on it avg.11.9 mpg till I got in to the Smokies it went down to 8 mpg. But I never new the trailer was back there.
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Old 01-09-2021, 07:34 PM   #44
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In my dealings with vehicles, unless there is a factory mandated "discount" regardless, you will pay the price of the vehicle as listed if ordered less, maybe, a small dealer discount. You MAY have a dealer that then offers a "dealer" discount on anything they sell simply because that is what they do to increase sales volume. Generally a truck sitting on the lot, with a loan against it, accumulating debt, will get a better deal than one "fresh ordered" and all it does is come in, drop off and you pick up....the dealer then has no stranded money sitting in that truck that he needs to move.
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Old 01-09-2021, 07:42 PM   #45
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Just bought a 3500 6.4L gas 4 door short bed 4.10 4x4 the only time I know it is a 1ton is when I hit a bump.I haven't pulled my RV yet but I made a 1400 mile pull with a 20 ft heavy utility trailer with my 2009 2500 6.7 Cummings on it avg.11.9 mpg till I got in to the Smokies it went down to 8 mpg. But I never new the trailer was back there.
What mileage are you getting when not pulling anything?
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Old 01-10-2021, 03:21 AM   #46
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So looking for dealer discounts, now that you've got the build sheet of what you want take it to three dealers and get prices. Playing one dealer against another is the only way you will get any discounts.
When I built mine I had shopped around and couldn't fine just what I wanted. Lots of options I didn't want and missing the ones I wanted. I finally figured if I was going to spend towards $70K I was going to get exactly what I wanted. In the end my dealer matched the best price I had gotten from trucks that were on the lot and then through in the sprayed in liner and toneau cover.
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Old 01-10-2021, 09:33 AM   #47
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What mileage are you getting when not pulling anything?
13.5 -16 but most all of my driving is at 75 mph.
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Old 01-10-2021, 10:30 AM   #48
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Just for clarity; YES I did place the orders through a local dealer.
I built the DODGE using their on line site... worked great, but again I was not looking for a specialty TV. Once ready I simply walk in the specs and proposed sale details.
FORD, I needed a heavy TV, I was lucky enough to team up with a sales rep who specialized in municipal/gov't truck tenders or quotes. He knew and understood trucks, we planned it outside his busier tender submission times not to interfere with his larger client timelines. (In or case late January) As you can see I was not in any rush, as long as I had delivery by early spring. Took about 8 weeks for delivery.
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Old 02-09-2021, 09:25 PM   #49
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As an update on this... I plan on putting in an order for a new truck this week. Should have it around May for camping season. I am getting HEMI/3.73. The only thing I am up in the air on (besides color) is do I get a 2500 or 3500 (SRW). In my case it will only be $300 or so more for a 3500 - so do that right?
For the record the payload and towing capacity of a gas 2500 would be PLENTY for us. We have two kids and may go a little bigger with our next camper, but we have a 2007 Outback 23RS right now and would only want to go one size up from that. At 3000+ lb payload we should have plenty of wiggle room with a 2500.

My thoughts are (and they might be wrong)... I typically keep my trucks for 4-5 years and then upgrade - because I like the newer ones. I am thinking when that time comes, there are not as many 3500 out there and it may demand more and be easier to sell than a 2500. I can tell you that is true right now from my search for a 1 year old used truck. Lots of 3/4 ton out there and very few 1 ton (especially SRW). Maybe I am wrong and it will actually be TOUGHER to sell a 1 ton? One part of me says go with the 3500 for this reason, while the other part of me says don't base a decision on a new truck with the next owner in mind.

What I am nervous about is the ride quality of a 3500. Like I mentioned I test drove a new 2500 and really liked the ride. I would have loved to test drive a new 3500 but they are so rare, the nearest one was at a dealer around 2 hours away. However from what people have said on here, the ride is pretty much the same or close to the 2500.

Hopefully the MPG between the 2500 and 3500 is pretty much the same (all other things being equal)

Anyone care to talk me out of the 3500???
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Old 02-09-2021, 09:59 PM   #50
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Not me. Just the flexibility to upgrade your trailer, or move to a 5er, if you ever feel like it is worth not having to upgrade the truck. I'm not sure there is much difference in ride between a 2500 and a 3500. I've not driven one, because my dealer had no access to gas ones (we might well have chosen one if he did), but I've ridden in other people's, on the rutty gravel roads around here, towing nothing. Yeah, it's a truck.
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Old 02-09-2021, 10:05 PM   #51
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Not me. Just the flexibility to upgrade your trailer, or move to a 5er, if you ever feel like it is worth not having to upgrade the truck. I'm not sure there is much difference in ride between a 2500 and a 3500. I've not driven one, because my dealer had no access to gas ones (we might well have chosen one if he did), but I've ridden in other people's, on the rutty gravel roads around here, towing nothing. Yeah, it's a truck.
Me either, what if DW finds a nice 5er she likes?
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Old 02-10-2021, 08:06 AM   #52
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I won't try to talk you out of the 3500 either. As a person that sounds much like I am, and have the same concerns I did, I can honestly say go to the 3500 right off the bat. With 2 small ones and more camping on the horizon there is no telling what will come up as far as camper needs/wants and those "little" ones will keep growing. Or, you could end up like me; out of the blue DW decides she wants a 5th wheel (which I said I would never have) THEN, out of the blue, she decides she wants a washer/dryer...stackable (which I said I'd never have ). So you can see how it could go one day.

I had the same concerns you do about the ride and in fact refused to go to the HD truck for years. They are a little rougher riding than a 1/2 ton but air down the rear tires from 80psi and it's fine. The 3500 ride is about the same as my 2500 was. The 2500 has coil rear springs and the 3500 has leaf (better for loads IMO). If you are ordering get hemi get the 6.4, 4.10 axle and 8 speed; a tough combo to beat for towing what you are looking (will be looking) at.

As far as resale, that's a crapshoot. 1 tons are not nearly as common as the 3/4 ton. In some areas that will lead to a better price while in others it won't. I wouldn't worry about it.
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Old 02-10-2021, 09:52 AM   #53
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I would go for the 3500 if there is only 300.00 difference. If you upgrade trailers you are are covered, if you sell and buy another after 3-5 years, like you said, not many around. You won’t have an issue selling a good used low mileage 1 ton.
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Old 02-10-2021, 10:44 AM   #54
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As long as you get a Ram truck with the macho looking hood embellishments you should do great. If it has HEMI on the side, even better. Zoom zoom.
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Old 02-10-2021, 12:33 PM   #55
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As an update on this... I plan on putting in an order for a new truck this week. Should have it around May for camping season. I am getting HEMI/3.73. The only thing I am up in the air on (besides color) is do I get a 2500 or 3500 (SRW). In my case it will only be $300 or so more for a 3500 - so do that right?
For the record the payload and towing capacity of a gas 2500 would be PLENTY for us. We have two kids and may go a little bigger with our next camper, but we have a 2007 Outback 23RS right now and would only want to go one size up from that. At 3000+ lb payload we should have plenty of wiggle room with a 2500.

My thoughts are (and they might be wrong)... I typically keep my trucks for 4-5 years and then upgrade - because I like the newer ones. I am thinking when that time comes, there are not as many 3500 out there and it may demand more and be easier to sell than a 2500. I can tell you that is true right now from my search for a 1 year old used truck. Lots of 3/4 ton out there and very few 1 ton (especially SRW). Maybe I am wrong and it will actually be TOUGHER to sell a 1 ton? One part of me says go with the 3500 for this reason, while the other part of me says don't base a decision on a new truck with the next owner in mind.

What I am nervous about is the ride quality of a 3500. Like I mentioned I test drove a new 2500 and really liked the ride. I would have loved to test drive a new 3500 but they are so rare, the nearest one was at a dealer around 2 hours away. However from what people have said on here, the ride is pretty much the same or close to the 2500.

Hopefully the MPG between the 2500 and 3500 is pretty much the same (all other things being equal)

Anyone care to talk me out of the 3500???
If your ordering it I would get the fifth wheel prep added....even if you don’t plan right now to ever get a fifth wheel,it’s nice to have the factory puck system... I would also defiantly order the rear bumper step ( it may come in a package) and I would definitely definitely get the 50 gallon tank if available on Hemi builds.....lastly I love the trailer backup cameras with overhead view...and don’t forget the bedliner
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Old 02-10-2021, 12:41 PM   #56
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If your ordering it I would get the fifth wheel prep added....even if you don’t plan right now to ever get a fifth wheel,it’s nice to have the factory puck system... I would also defiantly order the rear bumper step ( it may come in a package) and I would definitely definitely get the 50 gallon tank if available on Hemi builds.....lastly I love the trailer backup cameras with overhead view...and don’t forget the bedliner
Exactly what I was thinking - I am going to get the 5th wheel prep just to have it.
I was all set on the 3.73 gear ratio from what I read, but reading some comments I am wondering if 4.10 is the way to go. It will be my daily driver and I put approx. 15,000 miles / year on it. 1,000 - 1,500 will be towing our camper. Wondering if it is worth it to lose the MPG by going with the 4.10. And how much different does it drive unloaded with the higher gear ratio
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Old 02-10-2021, 12:48 PM   #57
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Exactly what I was thinking - I am going to get the 5th wheel prep just to have it.
I was all set on the 3.73 gear ratio from what I read, but reading some comments I am wondering if 4.10 is the way to go. It will be my daily driver and I put approx. 15,000 miles / year on it. 1,000 - 1,500 will be towing our camper. Wondering if it is worth it to lose the MPG by going with the 4.10. And how much different does it drive unloaded with the higher gear ratio
I don’t know I’ve had 4:10 on my last truck and the one I just purchased.. I’m not a real gas mileage kind of guy but I will say my son has a 2013 2500 diesel with 3:73 and I had a 2012 same truck with 4:10 and he does get like 5 miles better mpg then I got ..BUT he drives a little more conservative then I do ....the only time you will notice it is at the gas pump if your checking and when cruising at 65 or 70 your rpms will be a little higher.....and if you were towing in the mountains it would make a difference but probably not a whole lot
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Old 02-10-2021, 03:23 PM   #58
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Exactly what I was thinking - I am going to get the 5th wheel prep just to have it.
I was all set on the 3.73 gear ratio from what I read, but reading some comments I am wondering if 4.10 is the way to go. It will be my daily driver and I put approx. 15,000 miles / year on it. 1,000 - 1,500 will be towing our camper. Wondering if it is worth it to lose the MPG by going with the 4.10. And how much different does it drive unloaded with the higher gear ratio
The only other consideration is if you are the type of person that puts larger wheels or tires on your truck..if you stick with factory tire and wheels then 3:73 or 4:10 will be both be good choices.
If you put larger wheels/ tires then the 4:10 would be a better choice because adding wheel diameter changes final drive gear ratios in a roundabout way.
I have an old jeep tj with a lift kit and big wheels and tires,I have 3:55 gears and it’s really sluggish with that combo.I bought a set of 4:10 axles and I’m waiting to put them in.
Probably one of the reasons an f450 comes with 4:30 gears
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Old 02-10-2021, 03:55 PM   #59
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I don’t know I’ve had 4:10 on my last truck and the one I just purchased.. I’m not a real gas mileage kind of guy but I will say my son has a 2013 2500 diesel with 3:73 and I had a 2012 same truck with 4:10 and he does get like 5 miles better mpg then I got ..BUT he drives a little more conservative then I do ....the only time you will notice it is at the gas pump if your checking and when cruising at 65 or 70 your rpms will be a little higher.....and if you were towing in the mountains it would make a difference but probably not a whole lot

I bet he does drive a little (lot) more conservative than you do! I've had every gear ratio in a Ram truck (gas) from 3.55 - 4.56 (I added the 4.56) and I never had 5mpg difference between any of them. My last 3/4 (3.73) and this one (4.10) have/had around 1mpg difference. But both trucks were driven by me. I do attribute the change from the 6 speed in the 3.73 to the 8 speed with the 4.10 as a contributing factor.
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Old 02-10-2021, 04:47 PM   #60
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The only other thing to consider is the difference in state licensing fees between the 2500/3500. Could be several hundred $ a year. Just something else to consider, especially if won't be going any larger than the 3/4 can handle. I know we aren't because I simply don't ever want to deal with anything larger than my 3/4 can handle. Limits our park selections too much.
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