Need a new(er) truck.... Maybe?

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I just got my 2013 Ram 1500 back from the shop 5.7 Hemi. Symptoms were ticking, lack of power, and check engine light. After a week in the shop they finally located a burned valve. The shop had the heads sent off to a local machine shop who repaired the burned valve, not sure the details. I'm sure they replaced the valve and seat, not sure what else. Put everything back together and it ran fine under light load but CEL would come back on under heavy load. Timing was found to be advancing too far. Timing set removed and the phaser for the VVT adjustment was found to be broken. That was replaced as well as the water pump and all timing components. Same issue. Heads come off again, damaged lifter found and it had damaged a cam lobe. Re-assembled and 3 oil changes, declared fixed, and it's running like new and sounds fine. Repairs ended up taking about 2 months.

Here is the dilemma. I drive a beater car for fuel economy most of the time. The truck usually sits until I need it for truck stuff, however I try to run out a tank in the truck about every 4-5 in the car so it's getting some use. When I do use the truck, lots of times I'm pulling a trailer or otherwise have it loaded. Back in the day I had a 3/4 ton and I liked it a lot for doing truck stuff. Full size bed, and also a full size 4d cab for when I also needed to haul more than 2 people any distance. It pulled trailers better, blah blah. You that have or had them understand the difference.

I had planned on just keeping the current truck until the end of time. But with the engine history, I assume a motor replacement is in it's future and I don't really think it would be worth the cost. I'm tossing around the idea of selling it and buying a newer 3/4 or 1 ton. Not that I need it and for sure don't need a dually... But I like the idea that if I'm going to be keeping a truck around for a long time for mostly just truck stuff, that it easily be able to do anything I would need to do with it for the foreseeable future.

But holy crap are they expensive! Then there's the diesel vs gas debate and which manufacturer has time bomb motors or transmissions in what year... Ugh. I'm not sure if I need advise or just someone to pat me on the head and tell me it will all be fine....

 

[WM75Guy]

It will be OK to get rid of it and get a new (er) truck. I keep trucks about 10 years or so. After that they tend to start nickel and diming you to death, even without major repairs. I splurged for my 2024 GMC 3500HD Denali DRW as a retirement present to myself, with my wife's permission. Traded in my 08 GMC 2500HD on it. She wants me to be safe towing the tractors. And you can't take it with you, I never saw a hearse in a funeral procession with a U-Haul.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Ooh that's fancy!

 

[JeepHead]

The Ford F250 with a 6.2 V8 gasser is one heck of a truck that will go hundreds of thousands of miles no problem. That engine will go down as being legendary...

 

[dodge man]

I’ve owned 3/4 ton trucks in the past. I liked them but the truth is I don’t ever think I used them in a way a 1/2 ton wouldn’t have been fine. Reasons for a 3/4 ton in my mind is towing heavy and carrying a heavy load. My F150 has a payload of 1960 pounds and is rated to tow about 9500 pounds. That’s more than enough for me. If you do look at new 1/2 tons keep and eye on the payload sticker and make sure it meets your needs.

 

[deezler]

^ excellent advice, the rated payload of many new 1/2 ton trucks is pretty sad. A ram, or tarted up F150 will often come in ~1200-1400 lbs of total payload. Consider the weight of yourself and passengers, some gear in the cab, a few things in the bed, and what do you have left for trailer tongue weight? Hardly anything. A lot of F150s are rated to tow 12000+ lbs on paper, but can't come anywhere near that in the real world due to pathetic payload ratings.

 

[nisaacs]

Wait for this possibility

ZF Powerline for 2025 RAM HD Diesel

 

[Runner]

I might have missed it, but I didn't see where you mentioned how many miles are on the truck and what kind of shape it's in (rust, dents, interior, etc.).

You can put a lot of repairs, even new engines, in that truck for the price of a new one. I would hold on to it, but hey, that's me, Mr. Vegas.

On the other hand, if it's beat-up and you really don't like it that much, then what the heck, might be better to go for a new one now, before they start putting turbo 3-cylinders in all of them.....

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

It's in so-so shape. Needs a tailgate and has several dents. But the paint is still good, except for the tailgate, no rust to speak of. 130k miles.

 

[deserteagle71]

Since you don't use the truck as a daily driver, and do tow I'd recommend going to a 1-ton. There is hardly any difference in price between a 3/4 and 1 ton but the extra capacity can come in handy. You'll not notice any difference in ride.

I own both an F150 and a Dodge 3500. The F150 has a powerful engine and can tow a lot of weight...but there is more to towing than the power to pull the load. With its soft suspension and 12,000 lb behind it the F150 doesn't feel as planted and in control as the 3500 pulling the same trailer weight.

An F350 with the 6.2 or a GM 3500 with the 6.0 should do much better, be a lot more reliable, than the Ram with the engine problems. Got a good friend with a 2021 Ram 1500 and has had major engine work done twice in 15,000 miles.

 

[CliffordK]

As I was reading your description, I started thinking that I heard the new roller lifters can have problems. I'm surprised the shop didn't replace all the lifters the first time.

130K? You likely have quite a few more good miles with that pickup.

What are you hauling? Towing? I've been mighty impressed with the half ton pickups. Yes, I miss the 8 foot beds, but I do like the large cabs. I'm still using the 2013 3.6L RAM, and I work it hard. I do wish it had stiffer rear springs, but I think some of the newer half tons are fixing the weak spring problems.

I'm not sure I'd go with the 2.8 to 3.2L diesel engines. At one time I thought that the 5.0L Cummins in the Titan would be a good compromise, but it doesn't get quite as good of mileage as I'd like.

 

[Hughman]

Wonder if the engine problems has anything to do with MDS.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Wonder if the engine problems has anything to do with MDS.

Bingo.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

As I was reading your description, I started thinking that I heard the new roller lifters can have problems. I'm surprised the shop didn't replace all the lifters the first time.

130K? You likely have quite a few more good miles with that pickup.

What are you hauling? Towing? I've been mighty impressed with the half ton pickups. Yes, I miss the 8 foot beds, but I do like the large cabs. I'm still using the 2013 3.6L RAM, and I work it hard. I do wish it had stiffer rear springs, but I think some of the newer half tons are fixing the weak spring problems.

I'm not sure I'd go with the 2.8 to 3.2L diesel engines. At one time I thought that the 5.0L Cummins in the Titan would be a good compromise, but it doesn't get quite as good of mileage as I'd like.

They actually didn't charge me for the lifter since they missed it on the first couple rounds. It still cost me a little over $3,000 though by the time it was all over and done.

The 130,000 miles doesn't concern me, it's the 40% of the cam lobe that was ground into dust and floating around in the oil that bothers me. The filter could have caught enough of it that it's not an issue, but who knows?

As far as hauling and towing, it's usually not that much weight normally. The heaviest thing is usually my little tractor or side by side on a 22' equipment trailer. The current truck has plenty of power. My sister and brother-in-law have a "farm", just a big chunk of land used for recreation. They have quite a few pcs of equipment and I would like to be able to haul some of it for them if needed also. Although some of it is probably still too big for a 1 ton. Big backhoe and the P37 dozer...

Going to the heavier truck is more of a want than a need. If I'm replacing my current truck, I just want the heavier duty truck. I've had one in the past and it always did the things I'm currently doing a little easier. Brakes are a huge difference, I could stop a heavier trailer with no brakes with the F-250 easier than a lighter load with trailer brakes with the 1500 it seems like.

 

[5030]

In general FCA gas engines seem to have above normal issues. I wonder if it has to do with their lack of QC?

if I was to ever buy a new truck (which I'm not), I'd lean towards a Chevy product over an FCA product. Even Fords seem to have better QC.

Having dealt directly with FCA in my before retirement job, I can say without prejudice that FCA has poor QC and puts profit ahead of everything else. That don't include their cummins powered trucks, just the conventional gas engines and transmissions.

Been said before that the Lord invented FCA trucks to keep the fools out of Chevrolet and Ford trucks and I tend to agree with that old, worn out line as well.

Don't take it personal. Not everyone wants to drop money in the FCA engine bucket, I know I don't.

 

[Oaktree]

It's in so-so shape. Needs a tailgate and has several dents. But the paint is still good, except for the tailgate, no rust to speak of. 130k miles.

Given the fact that you just put some money into the engine, and the body is solid if it were me I'd keep it, especially since you only use it when you need a truck. A 13 year old truck with 130k is just getting broken in, the dents just add character.
Then again, if you've just gotten new(er) truck fever I'm sure you'd have no trouble selling it. Lots of demand for older trucks that aren't rustbuckets, especially with the price of new/late model used ones.

 

[Oaktree]

Having dealt directly with FCA in my before retirement job, I can say without prejudice that FCA has poor QC and puts profit ahead of everything else. That don't include their cummins powered trucks, just the conventional gas engines and transmissions.

Been said before that the Lord invented FCA trucks to keep the fools out of Chevrolet and Ford trucks and I tend to agree with that old, worn out line as well.

Don't take it personal. Not everyone wants to drop money in the FCA engine bucket, I know I don't.

No experience with Fiat Mopars, but my pre-Daimler Dakota has been a great truck.

 

[CliffordK]

As far as hauling and towing, it's usually not that much weight normally. The heaviest thing is usually my little tractor or side by side on a 22' equipment trailer. The current truck has plenty of power. My sister and brother-in-law have a "farm", just a big chunk of land used for recreation. They have quite a few pcs of equipment and I would like to be able to haul some of it for them if needed also. Although some of it is probably still too big for a 1 ton. Big backhoe and the P37 dozer...

Dozers get heavy quickly. The little Komatsu is rated at about 20,500 lbs. You probably can't legally haul it with a half ton, but it could probably be moved with a one ton dually, or a dump truck.

However, for $50,000 or more, how often do you need to use your pickup to move the Komatsu? One heavy tow vehicle for the family? Then everything else light towing?

I assume your cam was replaced. Hard to say what engine damage it caused.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Yeah moving the dozer is probably a pipe dream.

Hard to say what engine damage it caused.

Cam was replaced. That statement above is the whole reason I'm thinking about getting a different truck. Right now I can be up front with a perspective buyer and get a decent amount out of it. If i keep it and it runs another 150,000 miles and goes to the scrap heap it's a win. If I keep it and the engine blows in a year, replacing the motor would probably cost what I can sell it for today.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Ok now talk to me about diesel vs gas. I had originally said gas but there seems to be more diesels on the used market. Since there are more of them there are more trim packages so many of the diesels are similar in price at a lower trim package to a gas with the higher trim package.

I don't think I need the power of a diesel at all. But I'm also hearing that the diesels seem to get better fuel economy and the GM's (which is what i'm leaning toward) and have the 10 speed vs the gas having the 6 speed transmissions.