10,000 mile RAM 5500 report

[Hay Dude]

Thought I’d post my first 10k miles report on Ram ownership.
SO FAR, I’d give it a 9.5 out of 10.
Good: One of my biggest reasons for the Ram/Cummins was it pulls so strong and gets good fuel economy. Well, let me tell you this is the best puller I have ever owned. 44,000+ pounds GCW no problems. Not even a hint of trouble. I also am getting excellent fuel economy for a 10,500lb empty truck with 4.88 rears and mostly non-highway driving. As of today, I am at 14 MPG on an engine that’s really not even broken in and was used to haul 770 tons of hay (approximately 70, 11-ton loads). I did only one long highway trip and honestly, I was doing 75 most of it and that actually did nothing to improve my fuel economy.
The interior has been very comfortable and roomy for bigger people. The cab is nice and quiet with just enough Cummins snort to make it fun. Seats are very good. There’s tons of I phone charging options and the different outlets. The front and back have the 400 watt AC outlets which have proven very useful for charging DeWalt batteries-even the 60V no problem. Tons of storage space, hidden compartments, all darker areas lighted with small LED lights. Like the Ram “cornering lamps” never had those before. I can see why people like them.
The chassis is beyond stout. I have no doubt you could put 5 tons on the bed or pull close to 20 tons with it on a proper gooseneck. My gooseneck and cargo has been as high as 18.5 tons!

Bad: 2 TPMS are out, being fixed under warranty and one rear shock absorber blew a seal and will be replaced under warranty. I think the Ford mirrors are better, but these are still pretty nice.

Really like what I have here so far in the Ram Cummins. Anyone considering a Ram Cummins, you will love it. I cant imagine the HO version....

 

[MoKelly]

Congrats. You drive alot. Seems like only yesterday you bought the truck!

MoKelly

 

[dodge man]

Thanks for the review, I’d love to have a 1 ton single rear wheel but don’t really need one.

 

[oosik]

Very nice vehicle. My Ram Power Wagon has a 150 watt converter. OK for cell phones, flash lights and smaller things. Ha, ha - hidden compartments. Just the other day I found another one. Under the fold down center console on the front seat. Just right for my first aide kit.

Ram has taken max advantage of putting storage bins almost everywhere.

 

[coobie]

Good report Thanks..

 

[rusty842]

I have a 2011 2500 with 220,000. Other than a wheel seal and a transmission rebuild, she is running strong.

 

[deezler]

fake news, you shoulda gone with the gas engine instead.

 

[Hay Dude]

fake news, you shoulda gone with the gas engine instead.

I traded my '08 F-550 crew cab 4WD with 6.4L diesel in on my '20 Ram. The Ford had 181,000 miles on it and its lifetime fuel economy was 10.1 MPG under the same driving conditions.
The Ram is much more powerful and gets almost 40% better fuel economy.

While gas engines improved, so did diesel engines. They got much more powerful and much more efficient.

I see no reason why I wont be at 15MPG or more once it gets about 25,000 miles on it.

 

[ruffdog]

Diesel contains about 15% more energy than the same amount of gasoline.

 

[mx1alex]

I have a 2019 Ram Limited 1500. Just crossed over 40K miles. It's like a luxury car with a bed. Heated and cooled seats both front and back, even the rear seats recline. Adjustable air ride suspension. Only complaint is I wish I would've went with 18" or 20" wheels instead of the 22". Cost around $2k to put new tires on it!

 

[timswi]

I have a 2019 Ram Limited 1500. Just crossed over 40K miles. It's like a luxury car with a bed. Heated and cooled seats both front and back, even the rear seats recline. Adjustable air ride suspension. Only complaint is I wish I would've went with 18" or 20" wheels instead of the 22". Cost around $2k to put new tires on it!

View attachment 692720

Nice truck...The wife's Escalade has 22" and I think my total on the tires was around $1400. Probably could have done slightly better but my tire guy said those were the best and it turned out he was right.

 

[mx1alex]

Nice truck...The wife's Escalade has 22" and I think my total on the tires was around $1400. Probably could have done slightly better but my tire guy said those were the best and it turned out he was right.

Yeah I could've went cheaper on the tires but I wanted something with more sidewall. The stock tires are 285/45/22 and I went with 285/50/22. Options are limited with that size so I ended up with Nitto Terragrapplers which I've had in the past and been very happy with.

 

[shooterdon]

Well, I must be spoiled. I would not be ecstatic about a new vehicle with 10k trouble free miles....but then again you have had a couple of minor hiccups, so I suppose for a Dodge that is excellent. Lol

I had a temperature sensor go at about 45k miles on one of the F150’s and was a bit perturbed about it. The other has 151k on it. Bought it with 134k on the clock. 17k uneventful miles.

 

[Hay Dude]

Well, I must be spoiled. I would not be ecstatic about a new vehicle with 10k trouble free miles....but then again you have had a couple of minor hiccups, so I suppose for a Dodge that is excellent. Lol

I had a temperature sensor go at about 45k miles on one of the F150’s and was a bit perturbed about it. The other has 151k on it. Bought it with 134k on the clock. 17k uneventful miles.

Never said I was "ecstatic" ??? I said I was giving a first 10,000 mile report. Will probably do another at 25,000.
Was trying to be helpful to those considering buying a new truck.
Fully expect problems to occur. More so as the miles pile up.

By the way, it hasn't been "Dodge" for 3 model years. Might want to brush up on the modern era. lol
Much better than previous Ford, too.

 

[Snobdds]

I'm glad it made it 10,000 miles. Here's to another 10,000 miles...

 

[TMGT]

I traded my '08 F-550 crew cab 4WD with 6.4L diesel in on my '20 Ram. The Ford had 181,000 miles on it and its lifetime fuel economy was 10.1 MPG under the same driving conditions.
The Ram is much more powerful and gets almost 40% better fuel economy.

While gas engines improved, so did diesel engines. They got much more powerful and much more efficient.

I see no reason why I wont be at 15MPG or more once it gets about 25,000 miles on it.

Does yours have the CP4 HPFP? Have been hearing about some problems with the CP4, they went back to the CP3 in '21.

I've been looking at a '21 5500 similar to yours but in the tradesman trim(and no bed yet). Just can't justify getting one right now).
So far my 2500 has handled everything I've towed, even when I accidentally put aboit 18k worth of clay in my tag dump trailer, oops.

 

[Hay Dude]

Does yours have the CP4 HPFP? Have been hearing about some problems with the CP4, they went back to the CP3 in '21.

I've been looking at a '21 5500 similar to yours but in the tradesman trim(and no bed yet). Just can't justify getting one right now).
So far my 2500 has handled everything I've towed, even when I accidentally put aboit 18k worth of clay in my tag dump trailer, oops.

Yep, thanks for reminding me. Cant win em all lol

 

[TMGT]

Yep, thanks for reminding me. Cant win em all lol

I believe there is a recall for them, its typically a as-failure recall, but if you bring it to their attention I believe they will replace it (cheaper for them to warranty it now then when it takes out all the injectors with it).

 

[ultrarunner]

I have a 2019 Ram Limited 1500. Just crossed over 40K miles. It's like a luxury car with a bed. Heated and cooled seats both front and back, even the rear seats recline. Adjustable air ride suspension. Only complaint is I wish I would've went with 18" or 20" wheels instead of the 22". Cost around $2k to put new tires on it!

View attachment 692720

Neighbor makes his living towing a 22 box trailer up and down the state.

Owned Ford, GMC and Dodge with the old 98 Excursion being super reliable and later Ford and GMC mechanical issues...

So far loves the big Dodge Diesel... Reliable and Luxury...

Only regret is NOT getting the larger rims... go figure?

 

[massey240]

I switched from Ford to a Ram Cummins high output and so far at 45,000 miles an loving it. My 06 F250 was more reliable than my 12 which was just stupid little stuff constantly failing. I decided to tray a Ram this go around for the farm and so far I'm impressed. I have owned 10+ Ford's so was a pretty diehard Ford guy until recent quality downturn. Delete it and those MPGs will get even better.