VintageRacer
Dundas, Ontario
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Drive both and see. My experience is there is a great difference in ride quality between the two. My Ram 2500 rides like a truck, the 1500 I've driven ride more like a big SUV. The Hemi in the 1500 probably has MDS and would benefit from a lot better fuel mileage, I don't think they put that in the 2500. The Hemi is not a frugal engine with all 8 cylinders running all the time.
Brian
2005 F250 Supercab, Powerstroke, 5 speed automatic, 3.73 gears.
20 ft race car hauler, Lola T440 Formula Ford, NTM MK4 Sports Racer
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jyh818
Chino, CA
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If you intend on trading in the 4Runner and use the RAM 1500 as your daily driver and occassional towing, then go for it.
If you're getting it strictly for towing, then I would go with a 3/4 ton with higher axle ratio.
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cpaharley2008
york,pa
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Jyh818 hit it on the head. I just bought a 2009 Dodge Ram Hemi "Big Horn" edition after watching them unload it at the dealer one day and the salesman told me it came with a lifetime warranty I was hooked. BUT, it is still a half ton and the carrying capacity is still limited to around 1600 lbs. So for towing, it will pull anything, BUT, your tongue weight needs to be added to passengers, to fuel, to stuff in the bed, all not to exceed approximately 1600 lbs. So keep that in mind, if it's a daily driver and weekend tv, go for it. I love pulling away and hearing that hemi growl. But towing, I get 10 mpg pulling a 4000 lb trailer. If it will be primarily a tv, get the 2500.
2009 Dodge Ram Hemi 4x4-7300- lifetime warranty
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Elwoodj
Decatur, Ga
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You would give yourself a lot of future options with a 2500 diesel.
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robbie69
wauconda, il usa
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This is one of those questions only you'll be able to answer, you just have to be sure you ask your self the right things.
My 1st (and only other) TV was a 1500(1/2T) express hi top conversion van-boy I loved that van-last of 4 vans I owned.
Our 'Ah Ha' moment came while vacationing in the Ozarks and my previous TV/TT was border line at best. We were camped at the bottom of a-i'd say-4 to 5% grade mile long gravel road. DW said every time we went somewhere that we were NEVER getting out of there and watching 1 guy try didn't help matters much. I was TOLD that the second we got home we were getting a more capable TV (broke my heart  ) I was also told that I better get something that would meet our future needs for yrs to come. I don't get the best mileage but not far from the van(hi top conversion-loaded with a 350CID)
On the flip side I know someone who went through 3 TV's and #TT's in 4 yrs and if the economy(his) was better it would be TV #4. I don't know how his finances are with reguard to his upgradeing but i doubt he's ahead of the game.
Things to ask yourself-how long do you plan to hold on to the TV-and TT. Do you forsee a larger TT in a few yrs. Where do you live(terrain, weather(snow) and/or where do you plan to camp. Is this going to be the only family vehicle and/or what kind of mileage do you rack up in a yr.
With us, capibilty was #1 for present(then) and future TT's(since have doubled the wt. and added 5 ft). what we could afford(good deal) then and driving habits(going on yr #7 w55K mi) Due to economics we do use the '4 banger'(DW's car) more but probably would no matter what the TV was. And what your present and future economics are, some people can afford $40-50K every couple of yrs-unfortunatly I ain't one of em
2004 silverado 2500HD crew cab 4x4 long bed 8.1L gas hog
2006 skyline nomad 3260 platium edition, prodigy, reese dual cam
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advntrs
greenwood, Indiana
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Take my word for it.......Every RV show you attend, your TV will get less and less adequate!!! LOL
I do not know many RVers that did not move up in size at sometime..........So, I agree with everyone here, give yourself a nice ride now and be ready for the future.
Have fun shopping.
08 F-350 Super Crew 6.4
08 28' Keystone VR-1
"Every man dies, but not every man truly lives"
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Sportsman Matt
Blackstone, MA
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Unless the dealer will warranty the transmission for towing (look at the fine print, most of the warranty info is void when towing), I would pass. I have owned several Dodge trucks and vans, 80,000 miles and the transmission is junk, 40,000 miles or less if you tow any considerable weight with it. We've got a 2005 1 ton Dodge 3500 Stake Body here at work, 48,000 miles and it's on it's 4th transmission.
I would look into either a GMC/Chevrolet or Ford 3/4 ton truck, you'll be better off in the long run.
Life is short, Play harder.
2002 GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab Long Bed 4.3L V6 Automatic 2WD
2010 KZ Sportsman Classic 19BH Travel Trailer
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RVBlade
Tampa Bay Region, FL
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This is a similar question to the one I am facing. I just recently bought a TT and have a nice, low mileage Tahoe that I use to tow it. I've debating between getting a 3/4 ton truck to get by until I'm ready to take the plunge into a new/fairly new 1-ton or just using the Tahoe until I'm ready to upgrade.
The Tahoe has very low mileage and pulls the TT fine, although the trailer is at the upper limits of the Tahoe's capabilities and I have other places I'd rather put my money right now than into another TV.
I can't seem to decide which way to go.
2005 Ford F350 CC Lariat DRW
2012 Sanibel 3400
DW & DS (10)
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robbie69
wauconda, il usa
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Joined: 02/22/2004
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RVBlade wrote:This is a similar question to the one I am facing. I just recently bought a TT and have a nice, low mileage Tahoe that I use to tow it. I've debating between getting a 3/4 ton truck to get by until I'm ready to take the plunge into a new/fairly new 1-ton or just using the Tahoe until I'm ready to upgrade.
The Tahoe has very low mileage and pulls the TT fine, although the trailer is at the upper limits of the Tahoe's capabilities and I have other places I'd rather put my money right now than into another TV.
I can't seem to decide which way to go.
unless there's something you're not telling us, or have some doubts of the capibilites of your tahoe i'd wait till i was ready to take the plunge and put the $$ to good use. You say you are within your limits and that it pulls fine, so unless you are looking for a new/different toy to play with or are uncomfortable about something with your present setup i don't see where the question is.
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eabc5454
Virginia
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Thanks for all the responses! I knew I could depend on you all.
Answers to a few questions:
We currently have the 4Runner Sport edition, V8 4x4, with the tow package. Towing weight maximum 7000lbs.
We have decided to wait and get the bigger truck. The price considering the miles, condition, cab and 4x4 wasn't bad, but we decided that the additional towing capacity in the 1500 wasn't enough to trade TVs.
Again, thanks for all the help and wisdom.
To Big Dawg - thanks for the comment on the new TT.
Peace,
elizabeth
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