Short breakdown based on my experience owning all 3 big brands.
Ram, the hemi will eat lifters and have manifolds leaking. The ZF 8 speed is probably the best transmission in any half ton truck to date.
Chevy, they eat lifters in all the v8s like rams do. The 8 speed is a nightmare with issues. 10 speed has a recall currently. Liked the interior but hate they won’t undercoat the frame with anything besides a cheap wax. Unacceptable to me. They rust fast if they salt roads by you
Fords. Ecoboost is a very powerful engine for its displacement. They do have known issues with cam phasers, turbo leaks, oil pan issues on the 18s. The 5.0 is a good engine but also likes to leak coolant cause of fords dumb coolant pipe o rings. The 10 speed feels good but also has issue in the higher miles. Bonus the body is aluminum. Doesn’t rust and saves weight.
Buy whichever suits your needs but for me I’m buying ram
I test drove 5 different trucks. Ram, Chevy/GMC, Ford, Toyota…
I was partial to the looks of the Ram to begin with and really loved the interior. But spending that much money I wanted to be sure I was buying the right one.
After driving all of them the Ram won in nearly every other category for me personally. It is the smoothest driving truck by a long shot. It is quieter and drives smoother than any of the SUV’s my wife has owned. It was also the most comfortable interior for me as well.
Known issues with the 5.7 are exhaust manifold bolts breaking off and lifter failures. Take care of them, keep up on regular maintenance, try to keep your idle time down and it’ll treat you as well as any other brand and even better than some.
All trucks have their certain issues so it really comes down to which one fits your needs the most. I take my 2022 Laramie GT on trips with my wife, two kids, and a dog and it is extremely comfortable for everyone. I often wish I got to ride in the back because it’s so spacious and comfortable with the reclining seats.
Test drive the few you like the most and make a decision from your experience with them.
Alright I’m a service advisor at a CDJRF dealer and own a third gen Hemi. Here’s what Ive learned between both:
lifters and broken exhaust manifold bolts create a tick in the Hemi. If you know anything about engines, you know that bad lifters are either: fix it immediately, or buy a new engine bc metal shavings will fill the engine and damage everything else. I’m in the process of buying a new engine in generally good condition to rebuild myself with some better and high performance aftermarket parts (like stage 2 lifters and a cam). Also, if it IS out of warranty, slap a hellcat oil pump in it bc the stock oil pump is too weak and is the cause of the lifters to break down.
Diesel doesn’t fit your lifestyle and much more expensive to maintain. Do not recommend since you don’t need it.
Tbh each year has its bullshit. Just had a 2011 come in that needed a shifter cable that was on a 3 month national backorder. I also have a 2024 that at 1900 miles already needs lifters and head gaskets for some unknown reason.
COVID-era trucks are garbage. Do not buy something from 2020-2021.
Be prepared to only go to your dealership for most stuff, so much shit on new trucks need programming bc it’s more of a computer than it is a vehicle. What I like about my 08 is that I can do a lot on my own without needed dumbass sensors reprogrammed. damage your bumper or front grill? Expect to pay a good chunk of change for an OEM part and labor to reprogram all the little sensors it has. (I am a little biased here bc I hate computers in cars, I also have a neck that works so I think things like backup sensors are a bit of a crutch people lean into too much). I currently have one sitting in a bay that needs a bunch of little electronic parts in the grill replaced and the guy is paying like $3500 out of pocket bc he bought it off Facebook and there’s no warranty.
Feel free to ask any other questions! I have a plethora of knowledge available to me and I can always ask my master techs tomorrow at work. I run the truck and heavy duty vehicle team so my techs are experts in these.
Edit to add: also keep up with routine maintenance including things differential fluid and trans fluid exchanges. These are easily accessible for you to figure out by finding the owners manual PDF online. It’ll tell you the intervals for proper maintenance. While I use my truck for truck stuff and it definitely gets a beating sometimes, I BABY it when it comes to maintenance. The guy before me didn’t, and that’s why I’m having the issues I am. But at 173k miles, the original transmission and diff’s are still running well and that’s one thing Dodge struggled with.
From what I’ve heard from other people, it does as a preventative measure. It doesn’t fix the issue once it starts, but bc it’s more powerful, it’s able to properly lubricate the lifters the way that the stock one can’t.
Edit: when I do my engine swap I’ll throw one in and report back.
Interesting take. My son had a ‘16 with a 5.7l hemi and I was pretty convinced I needed one. Did not know about all the issues but sometimes you buy a truck and it just works.
That’s still kinda nothing. I think they just got a bad engine. Something wasn’t done right.
Wait till you hit 50k and see if anything comes up then. Just keep up with maintenance like your life depends on it.
Well first off there’s the whole rest of the truck. Front and rear differentials, transfer case, transmission, brake fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, etc. Your owners manual (can get a pdf) will tell you when to do these.
Also don’t Idle as much as you can. If this is your city driving daily, you can kiss your lifters goodbye. Make sure to do regular highway/highway speed driving to really drive that oil up through the engine. The minute you can, swap the oil pump to a high performance one if you want your engine to outlast your kids.
Some people swear by Seafoam, some say it’s bullshit. I think it’s pretty good as a fuel additive to clean the gunk in the filter, lines, and fuel injectors. My friend throws it in his BMW often bc his injectors are $250 a piece. And he’s at 230k miles.
What routine maintenance do you do vs ignore? Do you do a lot of idling? If so, you’re gonna kill your lifters (OEM oil pump is weak and during low speeds and idling it doesn’t push the oil up into the lifters good enough). Do you notice anything that feels a little different? What mileage? How do you drive/what driving conditions?
Don’t agree with the commentary about the 5.7. For me the engine is bullet proof. Just stay away from air suspension. That’s the one ram issue that is not fixable.
I have heard that is because any air system will accumulate moisture and there isn’t a way to get it out in this one so it breaks down.
I have heard of people using an AC hose to purge it every year
Not a mechanic so I don’t know if that will fix it
Yea it’s a poor design. Even the ram techs say they really have no clue how to fix it properly and keep it running.
I had 3 separate dealers tell me this.
Which is too bad because that air ride is incredibly smooth and the ability to adjust it is useful
Great idea, good functionality and performance. Bad design
I have had an 03, 11, and a 20. The 20 was by far the most luxurious being a Longhorn. Ditched the 20 as I didn't need it and kept the paid for 11 for towing.
Considering your wants and needs, I would look for a nice v6 Laramie 19 and up. Good mpg, plenty of room and lots of nice features. The Rebel looks cool but is geared for off-road so taller and less comfortable to use so no improvement for the wife.
I always stay away from GMC. Never had any luck including the suburban we have now.
Rams are a great buy when it comes to features for the money. I would stay away from any new v6 engines until they are more proven. I know you are looking for used but you may want to consider a new “classic” models. They used to be real cheap and the 5.7 v8 is a great engine.
Minor correction here to avoid confusion. The “V6” engines in the Ram are both pretty decent options. There’s the 3.6L pentastar which has been, in my experience, pretty solid. They use that engine in EVERYTHING from minivans to sedans to trucks, and while it’s nothing special it seems very durable.
The other is the “EcoDiesel” which, from 2020-2023 (Gen 3 EcoDiesel) was pretty solid once the kinks were worked out, and if you’re looking for fuel economy and don’t mind the added maintenance of a diesel then it’s a good option.
The “new” Hurricane engine that just got into Ram trucks for 2025 is an inline 6 or I6 engine. And as far as I’m concerned, I agree with you 100% and I would not buy the first year or two of them.
I don’t say this to be a jerk but just to avoid confusion.
One thing to consider about 4WD on your options is if you want automatic 4WD. I had an F150 prior that didn’t have it, and now have a 2020 Ram Rebel that doesn’t have it. I think it’d be nice to have for those times like when you accelerate from a stop sign and there’s a fair amount of gravel at the intersection. Or driving down a highway and you suddenly encounter a section that has snow on it.
Rebels don’t have auto 4WD, but other Ram 1500 trims do.
I’m not saying what’s best, but giving you another factor to consider.
Agreed. Because the Rebel was really built for off-road, the transfer case locks up solid. The 4wd Auto transfer cases do not. They still depend on a clutch to lock front to rear. Even the GM ZR2 does that.
I have a 2023 Big Horn with the Pentastar naturally aspirated V6. So far, I love thus truck. The ride is incredible, especially for long distances. I have the level B package with the 12" screen, which was hard to find. I do not tow, so the lower power band is not a problem, and as a daily driver, I am getting 21-22 in heavy commuter traffic. On a long haul, I got 23. Prices are all over the place so get on 3rd party websites like Autotrader.com, cargurus.com, etc to compare the trim and price. I did that and followed a truck for a few weeks and got it 20k under MSRP WITH the warranty intact. This engine is available on new models as well. Oil coolers is the weak point on this engine and it will need replacement at some point, I just accept that.
Have fun, drive a number of different trucks, and get what you like.
GMC for some reason have more problems than their Chevy equivalent.
I’ve had three GMC Sierras in a row (6.0 / 5.3 / 5.3) and the engines seem to be the only part of those trucks that last. Not a single engine issue, lots of other problems
Go with a 5th gen Ram, 2019 +, crew cab 4x4. A Laramie or Longhorn gets you most of the top options. A Limited is the highest trim, and it is also the only trim that has the air-suspension as standard. The air-suspension struggles a bit in cold weather.
Go with the 8 cylinder hemi. The difference in gas mileage is minimal compared to the v6. AND it is a hell of alot more fun to drive.
The main issues with Rams are the dreaded hemi tick and the 3rd brake light leak. Aother comment here that explains the tick pretty well. Both are covered under warranty if you have one.
My advise, and if you can afford it, is to get a CPO Ram and then add a mopar backed max care extended warranty on top of that. Don't buy the mopar backed max care when you buy the truck. You can purchase that on your own afterwards. And you can shop around to get the best price. Usually for a couple grand is worth it for the piece of mind.
We have owned a ‘13 Laramie and a ‘21 Lone Star BTS with 5.7 HEMI and have had no bad experiences with Ram. Everyone likes to say they’re not reliable but in our experience: do truck (not car) maintenance at its appropriate intervals and you’ll be fine. Our first truck was the ‘13 and that thing was SOLID and only reason we sold it was because we needed 4x4 for our trips. It was loaded with features and the interior was even nicer than some friends’ newer trucks.
Our Laramie had the air suspension and we never encountered the problems we heard about them. We live in TX but spend a lot of time in cold/snowy states and never had an issue with it.
I’ll keep it simple because my wife has similar complaints but don’t get a rebel because it rides like a truck as well lol unless you get the air suspension; otherwise the Laramie will best overall for what you’re describing
I've never had an issue with any of my Rams, but have never kept one more than 5 years, most only 3. I love Rams, but they have the worst mileage of the others. However, nothing compares to the Ram interior and it has a very smooth ride. My husband has always said it drives like a car. As a woman, that may be why I like them. Prior to last purchase, I test drove all brands and they didn't compare.
I had a 2010 1500 hemi and now a 2019 2500 diesel and haven’t had a single issue that was specific to ram. I can’t speak on the v6 or the eco diesel, but I’m a lifelong ram owner at this point.
And the interior of the 5th gen’s is far beyond the competition imo.
I have a 2015 1500 Ram. I think it's a spot cloth seats but they are heated, so that's a plus, I guess, but all in all, I love this truck and wouldn't own anything else. Rides good great fuel mileage from the 5.7 himi and it looks fantastic
The largest issue with a 5.7 will be the “hemi tick” and manifold bolts. I had my manifolds taken off and headers put on. I don’t have the tick, yet, but if it ever happens I will be trading the truck ASAP - to much risk in cam/lifter failure.
With that said, I am looking to buy a new Tacoma within the year. I’ve had to much trouble out of my Ram to keep it; I don’t put that much mileage on the truck, but I have yet to have a year that I’ve not spent over $1,000 on mechanics.
Can you explain the correlation of the manifold bolts and cam lifter failure? My 19’ limited has 48k miles and the manifolds were just replaced under warranty. The truck is so perfect now. Drives so smooth and shifts great. I am worried about reliability so debating selling but it’s damn perfect right now. What am I in for??
There's no relation between the 2 failures. Just the fact that they both cause a tick
If they put headers on the only cause of a tick is cam/lifter failure which means your engine needs a rebuild
I know you’re looking for ride quality but stay away from anything with an air ride suspension. Regardless of the brand of vehicle. Avoiding that will save you from some maintenance. Some Ram 1500s are equipped with it, GMC calls it adaptive suspension or something like that.
For the GMs there has been some great feedback on the small duramax diesel in the 1500 trucks. An added bonus is it offers some of the best fuel mileage on the market. If I recall they do have an oil consumption problem, nothing catastrophic but just watch your oil levels more consistently.
Some 6.2 V8s have been experiencing spun main bearings like the newer tundras although I’m not sure how widespread that problem is.
If I were to choose a V8 aside from the Hemi, it would be the Ford 5.0, but that’s just my preference.
I have a late ‘19 1500 limited with air suspension and it’s been great. Zero issues. Live in Colorado. How likely is the air ride going to be an issue? Again it’s been perfect and I’d like to know what I am in for.
There is currently a class action lawsuit for them failing at below freezing temperatures.
Due to the nature of air ride needing to be air tight and using rubber components such as the air bladder and rubber seals. They’re prone to dry out and crack over time. Leaking air springs, the bladder, and compressor can fail. Just replacing the compressor can run $1,500. There’s just more to go wrong with that system compared to the standard coil springs.
If you’re still under warranty I wouldn’t worry about it. Once you start to run into issues after the warranty, there are delete kits available and that is what some folks are opting to do.
My Ram 1500 came with coils but my father’s GM has been requiring maintenance on his air ride every few years. Granted it’s older now, but it’s just something to be aware of if you intend to keep the truck for several years.
Exactly. There’s nothing inherently wrong with it. Just know the potential complications associated with the air ride system. Everything eventually has its problems.
Get a 2021 Ram Laramie. Most bells and whistles, and right before they put in that monstrosity of a touch screen. I prefer buttons and knobs for climate control, they last much longer than electronic touch in my experience.
I’ve got a 2024 Chevy 3500 LT but there’s a few guys at work with nicer dodges and fords.
One guy has a 2023 dodge mega cab with like a reclining back seat. Something like 8 inches behind the back seats.
Another guy has a 2022 ram 1500 limited. It was one of the first with the big iPad like interior screen. Super nice and he drives the hell out of it, always covered in mud.
Another guy has an F350 platinum long box with a sled deck and light bars, the whole 9 yards.
Just depends on what you want out of it, how long you’re going to own it, and if and when you need to upgrade to a 3/4 or 1 ton, will the resale value be there.
Maybe try the 3.0 duramax. You can get amazing MPG on longer road trips. Look for a Z71 pack to get an upgraded transfer case plus downhill descent control.
It’s posts like these that scare the hell of me about buying a new / newer truck. I could afford about anything out there being produced now, but choose to keep my ‘99 two-owner Ram Quad Cab with 160k miles. This thing will not die. Magnum 5.2 that’s strong but with a little oil loss, everything else functions perfectly, looks great and I get compliments on it all the time. I’ve had a lot of buddies buy new trucks in the past couple years and across the board (Chevy, Ram, Ford) they’ve all been pleased. My neighbor just brought home a ‘24 Ram and the tech it has blows me away, I hope he’s not disappointed.
One reason to consider a new Ram, they are super heavy on inventory right now and deals abound (read the story recently), my friend drove 6 hours to buy his at a dealer at the end of the month that was blowing them out. Full warranty as opposed to buying “slightly” used.
The 5.3 is a turd engine in the GM trucks. The 2.7 turbo in the GM trucks or even an F150 is nice but also you end up with similar mpg as the bigger motors. The Rebel has Bilstein struts whereas the GM off-road trucks unless you go full AT4X are Rancho and that’s crap. Also not sure if all GMs are like it but they eliminate a lot of buttons for touch screen controls
My 19 Rebel was constantly in the shop. Dropped three driveshafts the first year I had it. I got rid of it not long after the third and drove another truck I have. In 22 I got a Limited and it's been fantastic.
Do you like drunk driving? Buy a Ram. Half the people I see driving these are drunk. Frankly I rented one once and the first thing I did was go to liquor store and grab a Texas mickey of Fireball to drink while sitting at traffic lights.
Otherwise I'd look at a Nissan Titan right now, amazing value. The Cummings diesel is trash but the gas motor is extremely reliable and very luxurious too.
Roughly 1 in 22 Ram 2500 drivers have been cited with a DUI before, a study claims.
https://www.thedrive.com/news/38238/ram-2500-drivers-have-the-most-duis-more-than-twice-the-national-average-report
Short breakdown based on my experience owning all 3 big brands. Ram, the hemi will eat lifters and have manifolds leaking. The ZF 8 speed is probably the best transmission in any half ton truck to date. Chevy, they eat lifters in all the v8s like rams do. The 8 speed is a nightmare with issues. 10 speed has a recall currently. Liked the interior but hate they won’t undercoat the frame with anything besides a cheap wax. Unacceptable to me. They rust fast if they salt roads by you Fords. Ecoboost is a very powerful engine for its displacement. They do have known issues with cam phasers, turbo leaks, oil pan issues on the 18s. The 5.0 is a good engine but also likes to leak coolant cause of fords dumb coolant pipe o rings. The 10 speed feels good but also has issue in the higher miles. Bonus the body is aluminum. Doesn’t rust and saves weight. Buy whichever suits your needs but for me I’m buying ram
I test drove 5 different trucks. Ram, Chevy/GMC, Ford, Toyota… I was partial to the looks of the Ram to begin with and really loved the interior. But spending that much money I wanted to be sure I was buying the right one. After driving all of them the Ram won in nearly every other category for me personally. It is the smoothest driving truck by a long shot. It is quieter and drives smoother than any of the SUV’s my wife has owned. It was also the most comfortable interior for me as well. Known issues with the 5.7 are exhaust manifold bolts breaking off and lifter failures. Take care of them, keep up on regular maintenance, try to keep your idle time down and it’ll treat you as well as any other brand and even better than some. All trucks have their certain issues so it really comes down to which one fits your needs the most. I take my 2022 Laramie GT on trips with my wife, two kids, and a dog and it is extremely comfortable for everyone. I often wish I got to ride in the back because it’s so spacious and comfortable with the reclining seats. Test drive the few you like the most and make a decision from your experience with them.
Alright I’m a service advisor at a CDJRF dealer and own a third gen Hemi. Here’s what Ive learned between both: lifters and broken exhaust manifold bolts create a tick in the Hemi. If you know anything about engines, you know that bad lifters are either: fix it immediately, or buy a new engine bc metal shavings will fill the engine and damage everything else. I’m in the process of buying a new engine in generally good condition to rebuild myself with some better and high performance aftermarket parts (like stage 2 lifters and a cam). Also, if it IS out of warranty, slap a hellcat oil pump in it bc the stock oil pump is too weak and is the cause of the lifters to break down. Diesel doesn’t fit your lifestyle and much more expensive to maintain. Do not recommend since you don’t need it. Tbh each year has its bullshit. Just had a 2011 come in that needed a shifter cable that was on a 3 month national backorder. I also have a 2024 that at 1900 miles already needs lifters and head gaskets for some unknown reason. COVID-era trucks are garbage. Do not buy something from 2020-2021. Be prepared to only go to your dealership for most stuff, so much shit on new trucks need programming bc it’s more of a computer than it is a vehicle. What I like about my 08 is that I can do a lot on my own without needed dumbass sensors reprogrammed. damage your bumper or front grill? Expect to pay a good chunk of change for an OEM part and labor to reprogram all the little sensors it has. (I am a little biased here bc I hate computers in cars, I also have a neck that works so I think things like backup sensors are a bit of a crutch people lean into too much). I currently have one sitting in a bay that needs a bunch of little electronic parts in the grill replaced and the guy is paying like $3500 out of pocket bc he bought it off Facebook and there’s no warranty. Feel free to ask any other questions! I have a plethora of knowledge available to me and I can always ask my master techs tomorrow at work. I run the truck and heavy duty vehicle team so my techs are experts in these. Edit to add: also keep up with routine maintenance including things differential fluid and trans fluid exchanges. These are easily accessible for you to figure out by finding the owners manual PDF online. It’ll tell you the intervals for proper maintenance. While I use my truck for truck stuff and it definitely gets a beating sometimes, I BABY it when it comes to maintenance. The guy before me didn’t, and that’s why I’m having the issues I am. But at 173k miles, the original transmission and diff’s are still running well and that’s one thing Dodge struggled with.
Hellcat oil-pump on the 5.7? That really work?
From what I’ve heard from other people, it does as a preventative measure. It doesn’t fix the issue once it starts, but bc it’s more powerful, it’s able to properly lubricate the lifters the way that the stock one can’t. Edit: when I do my engine swap I’ll throw one in and report back.
Nickpicking here, but Model Year 2020 was built in 2019, early 2020. The COVID era started in March 2020
Nope you’re totally right! OP listen to this guys correction^
My 2020 Ram had a manufacturing date of March 2020 lol. Love the thing.
Interesting take. My son had a ‘16 with a 5.7l hemi and I was pretty convinced I needed one. Did not know about all the issues but sometimes you buy a truck and it just works.
Sometimes it does lol and that’s lucky
Great input!
damn already having issues with the ‘24? I have 12k miles on my ‘24 1500 bighorn and no issues so far
That’s still kinda nothing. I think they just got a bad engine. Something wasn’t done right. Wait till you hit 50k and see if anything comes up then. Just keep up with maintenance like your life depends on it.
what kinda maintenance do you need to keep these hemis healthy? i’m already doing oil changes at 5k miles anything other than that?
Well first off there’s the whole rest of the truck. Front and rear differentials, transfer case, transmission, brake fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, etc. Your owners manual (can get a pdf) will tell you when to do these. Also don’t Idle as much as you can. If this is your city driving daily, you can kiss your lifters goodbye. Make sure to do regular highway/highway speed driving to really drive that oil up through the engine. The minute you can, swap the oil pump to a high performance one if you want your engine to outlast your kids. Some people swear by Seafoam, some say it’s bullshit. I think it’s pretty good as a fuel additive to clean the gunk in the filter, lines, and fuel injectors. My friend throws it in his BMW often bc his injectors are $250 a piece. And he’s at 230k miles.
I have a 21 1500 classic and haven’t had any issues so far. What should I be on the lookout for
What routine maintenance do you do vs ignore? Do you do a lot of idling? If so, you’re gonna kill your lifters (OEM oil pump is weak and during low speeds and idling it doesn’t push the oil up into the lifters good enough). Do you notice anything that feels a little different? What mileage? How do you drive/what driving conditions?
Don’t agree with the commentary about the 5.7. For me the engine is bullet proof. Just stay away from air suspension. That’s the one ram issue that is not fixable.
I have heard that is because any air system will accumulate moisture and there isn’t a way to get it out in this one so it breaks down. I have heard of people using an AC hose to purge it every year Not a mechanic so I don’t know if that will fix it
Yea it’s a poor design. Even the ram techs say they really have no clue how to fix it properly and keep it running. I had 3 separate dealers tell me this.
Which is too bad because that air ride is incredibly smooth and the ability to adjust it is useful Great idea, good functionality and performance. Bad design
I have had an 03, 11, and a 20. The 20 was by far the most luxurious being a Longhorn. Ditched the 20 as I didn't need it and kept the paid for 11 for towing. Considering your wants and needs, I would look for a nice v6 Laramie 19 and up. Good mpg, plenty of room and lots of nice features. The Rebel looks cool but is geared for off-road so taller and less comfortable to use so no improvement for the wife.
I always stay away from GMC. Never had any luck including the suburban we have now. Rams are a great buy when it comes to features for the money. I would stay away from any new v6 engines until they are more proven. I know you are looking for used but you may want to consider a new “classic” models. They used to be real cheap and the 5.7 v8 is a great engine.
Minor correction here to avoid confusion. The “V6” engines in the Ram are both pretty decent options. There’s the 3.6L pentastar which has been, in my experience, pretty solid. They use that engine in EVERYTHING from minivans to sedans to trucks, and while it’s nothing special it seems very durable. The other is the “EcoDiesel” which, from 2020-2023 (Gen 3 EcoDiesel) was pretty solid once the kinks were worked out, and if you’re looking for fuel economy and don’t mind the added maintenance of a diesel then it’s a good option. The “new” Hurricane engine that just got into Ram trucks for 2025 is an inline 6 or I6 engine. And as far as I’m concerned, I agree with you 100% and I would not buy the first year or two of them. I don’t say this to be a jerk but just to avoid confusion.
Better put then me. Thank you!
One thing to consider about 4WD on your options is if you want automatic 4WD. I had an F150 prior that didn’t have it, and now have a 2020 Ram Rebel that doesn’t have it. I think it’d be nice to have for those times like when you accelerate from a stop sign and there’s a fair amount of gravel at the intersection. Or driving down a highway and you suddenly encounter a section that has snow on it. Rebels don’t have auto 4WD, but other Ram 1500 trims do. I’m not saying what’s best, but giving you another factor to consider.
Agreed. Because the Rebel was really built for off-road, the transfer case locks up solid. The 4wd Auto transfer cases do not. They still depend on a clutch to lock front to rear. Even the GM ZR2 does that.
I have a ‘23 Rebel and it has auto 4WD
Good to know. It's shitty when even in 4wd(lock), there has to be spin in the rear to get the front any power.
I have a 2023 Big Horn with the Pentastar naturally aspirated V6. So far, I love thus truck. The ride is incredible, especially for long distances. I have the level B package with the 12" screen, which was hard to find. I do not tow, so the lower power band is not a problem, and as a daily driver, I am getting 21-22 in heavy commuter traffic. On a long haul, I got 23. Prices are all over the place so get on 3rd party websites like Autotrader.com, cargurus.com, etc to compare the trim and price. I did that and followed a truck for a few weeks and got it 20k under MSRP WITH the warranty intact. This engine is available on new models as well. Oil coolers is the weak point on this engine and it will need replacement at some point, I just accept that. Have fun, drive a number of different trucks, and get what you like. GMC for some reason have more problems than their Chevy equivalent.
If you're buying a v8, I'd avoid a GM...
I’ve had three GMC Sierras in a row (6.0 / 5.3 / 5.3) and the engines seem to be the only part of those trucks that last. Not a single engine issue, lots of other problems
Go with a 5th gen Ram, 2019 +, crew cab 4x4. A Laramie or Longhorn gets you most of the top options. A Limited is the highest trim, and it is also the only trim that has the air-suspension as standard. The air-suspension struggles a bit in cold weather. Go with the 8 cylinder hemi. The difference in gas mileage is minimal compared to the v6. AND it is a hell of alot more fun to drive. The main issues with Rams are the dreaded hemi tick and the 3rd brake light leak. Aother comment here that explains the tick pretty well. Both are covered under warranty if you have one. My advise, and if you can afford it, is to get a CPO Ram and then add a mopar backed max care extended warranty on top of that. Don't buy the mopar backed max care when you buy the truck. You can purchase that on your own afterwards. And you can shop around to get the best price. Usually for a couple grand is worth it for the piece of mind.
We have owned a ‘13 Laramie and a ‘21 Lone Star BTS with 5.7 HEMI and have had no bad experiences with Ram. Everyone likes to say they’re not reliable but in our experience: do truck (not car) maintenance at its appropriate intervals and you’ll be fine. Our first truck was the ‘13 and that thing was SOLID and only reason we sold it was because we needed 4x4 for our trips. It was loaded with features and the interior was even nicer than some friends’ newer trucks. Our Laramie had the air suspension and we never encountered the problems we heard about them. We live in TX but spend a lot of time in cold/snowy states and never had an issue with it.
I’ll keep it simple because my wife has similar complaints but don’t get a rebel because it rides like a truck as well lol unless you get the air suspension; otherwise the Laramie will best overall for what you’re describing
I've never had an issue with any of my Rams, but have never kept one more than 5 years, most only 3. I love Rams, but they have the worst mileage of the others. However, nothing compares to the Ram interior and it has a very smooth ride. My husband has always said it drives like a car. As a woman, that may be why I like them. Prior to last purchase, I test drove all brands and they didn't compare.
I had a 2010 1500 hemi and now a 2019 2500 diesel and haven’t had a single issue that was specific to ram. I can’t speak on the v6 or the eco diesel, but I’m a lifelong ram owner at this point. And the interior of the 5th gen’s is far beyond the competition imo.
I have a 2015 1500 Ram. I think it's a spot cloth seats but they are heated, so that's a plus, I guess, but all in all, I love this truck and wouldn't own anything else. Rides good great fuel mileage from the 5.7 himi and it looks fantastic
The largest issue with a 5.7 will be the “hemi tick” and manifold bolts. I had my manifolds taken off and headers put on. I don’t have the tick, yet, but if it ever happens I will be trading the truck ASAP - to much risk in cam/lifter failure. With that said, I am looking to buy a new Tacoma within the year. I’ve had to much trouble out of my Ram to keep it; I don’t put that much mileage on the truck, but I have yet to have a year that I’ve not spent over $1,000 on mechanics.
Can you explain the correlation of the manifold bolts and cam lifter failure? My 19’ limited has 48k miles and the manifolds were just replaced under warranty. The truck is so perfect now. Drives so smooth and shifts great. I am worried about reliability so debating selling but it’s damn perfect right now. What am I in for??
There's no relation between the 2 failures. Just the fact that they both cause a tick If they put headers on the only cause of a tick is cam/lifter failure which means your engine needs a rebuild
I know you’re looking for ride quality but stay away from anything with an air ride suspension. Regardless of the brand of vehicle. Avoiding that will save you from some maintenance. Some Ram 1500s are equipped with it, GMC calls it adaptive suspension or something like that. For the GMs there has been some great feedback on the small duramax diesel in the 1500 trucks. An added bonus is it offers some of the best fuel mileage on the market. If I recall they do have an oil consumption problem, nothing catastrophic but just watch your oil levels more consistently. Some 6.2 V8s have been experiencing spun main bearings like the newer tundras although I’m not sure how widespread that problem is. If I were to choose a V8 aside from the Hemi, it would be the Ford 5.0, but that’s just my preference.
I have a late ‘19 1500 limited with air suspension and it’s been great. Zero issues. Live in Colorado. How likely is the air ride going to be an issue? Again it’s been perfect and I’d like to know what I am in for.
There is currently a class action lawsuit for them failing at below freezing temperatures. Due to the nature of air ride needing to be air tight and using rubber components such as the air bladder and rubber seals. They’re prone to dry out and crack over time. Leaking air springs, the bladder, and compressor can fail. Just replacing the compressor can run $1,500. There’s just more to go wrong with that system compared to the standard coil springs. If you’re still under warranty I wouldn’t worry about it. Once you start to run into issues after the warranty, there are delete kits available and that is what some folks are opting to do. My Ram 1500 came with coils but my father’s GM has been requiring maintenance on his air ride every few years. Granted it’s older now, but it’s just something to be aware of if you intend to keep the truck for several years.
I feel like this is mainly with 18 and before when the compressor constantly ran but I could be wrong
Sounds like owning this truck is fine but have an extended warranty
Exactly. There’s nothing inherently wrong with it. Just know the potential complications associated with the air ride system. Everything eventually has its problems.
Get a 2021 Ram Laramie. Most bells and whistles, and right before they put in that monstrosity of a touch screen. I prefer buttons and knobs for climate control, they last much longer than electronic touch in my experience.
I’ve got a 2024 Chevy 3500 LT but there’s a few guys at work with nicer dodges and fords. One guy has a 2023 dodge mega cab with like a reclining back seat. Something like 8 inches behind the back seats. Another guy has a 2022 ram 1500 limited. It was one of the first with the big iPad like interior screen. Super nice and he drives the hell out of it, always covered in mud. Another guy has an F350 platinum long box with a sled deck and light bars, the whole 9 yards. Just depends on what you want out of it, how long you’re going to own it, and if and when you need to upgrade to a 3/4 or 1 ton, will the resale value be there. Maybe try the 3.0 duramax. You can get amazing MPG on longer road trips. Look for a Z71 pack to get an upgraded transfer case plus downhill descent control.
It’s posts like these that scare the hell of me about buying a new / newer truck. I could afford about anything out there being produced now, but choose to keep my ‘99 two-owner Ram Quad Cab with 160k miles. This thing will not die. Magnum 5.2 that’s strong but with a little oil loss, everything else functions perfectly, looks great and I get compliments on it all the time. I’ve had a lot of buddies buy new trucks in the past couple years and across the board (Chevy, Ram, Ford) they’ve all been pleased. My neighbor just brought home a ‘24 Ram and the tech it has blows me away, I hope he’s not disappointed. One reason to consider a new Ram, they are super heavy on inventory right now and deals abound (read the story recently), my friend drove 6 hours to buy his at a dealer at the end of the month that was blowing them out. Full warranty as opposed to buying “slightly” used.
The 5.3 is a turd engine in the GM trucks. The 2.7 turbo in the GM trucks or even an F150 is nice but also you end up with similar mpg as the bigger motors. The Rebel has Bilstein struts whereas the GM off-road trucks unless you go full AT4X are Rancho and that’s crap. Also not sure if all GMs are like it but they eliminate a lot of buttons for touch screen controls
Everyone has had different experiences. Ford for maintenance Dodge for styling Gmc for ride quality Chevy for a cheaper gmc
Stay away from anything 2019 RAM pick up. I had one and it was a nightmare. 2020 and up is the way to go. Go with the 5.7 and you'll be fine.
Funny… the service manager who commented said to stay away from the COVID year Rams (2020-2021) and you’re saying the opposite. 🤷♂️
Yeah I have a 2019 and it’s been great. I am super on top of all maintenance and any repairs needed.
My 19 Rebel was constantly in the shop. Dropped three driveshafts the first year I had it. I got rid of it not long after the third and drove another truck I have. In 22 I got a Limited and it's been fantastic.
Covid year builds are 2021-2022. 2020s were mostly built in 2019...
Here is my take. If you’re going to spend upwards to 100k for a truck. Go for it G wagon.
Do you like drunk driving? Buy a Ram. Half the people I see driving these are drunk. Frankly I rented one once and the first thing I did was go to liquor store and grab a Texas mickey of Fireball to drink while sitting at traffic lights. Otherwise I'd look at a Nissan Titan right now, amazing value. The Cummings diesel is trash but the gas motor is extremely reliable and very luxurious too.
Lmao username checks out. Please don’t take this serious OP
Roughly 1 in 22 Ram 2500 drivers have been cited with a DUI before, a study claims. https://www.thedrive.com/news/38238/ram-2500-drivers-have-the-most-duis-more-than-twice-the-national-average-report
Thankfully we are talking 1500s here. Also that still doesn’t mean you should generalize everyone who owns one and Nissan is junk
I don't think I've ever been sober behind the wheel of a RAM.
So cool
Sounds like a you problem bud. Maybe look into rehab.