RAM 4 year , 50K mile review

[Hay Dude]

Thought I’d post a review on first 4 years & 50,000 miles of ownership on my 2020 RAM 5500 cab & chassis w/ Cummins engine.

So far, I’ve had few issues. The 3 that were notable were:

1. Steering wheel heat failed. I didnt want a heated steering wheel. The truck came with it. It failed in the 3rd year of ownership. It was replaced with a new leather wrapped steering wheel under warranty.

2. DPF tank level gauge failed in 2nd year. The readout on the dash was “E” all the time. Turns out theres a sensor built into the tank that wasn’t reading anymore. It was replaced with a new sensor under warranty.

3. Right side front wheel hub bearing failed. The right side spindle began clicking. This one may have been my fault. I drove truck through some deep water. Nobody knows. It was replaced under warranty.

Those are the 3 failed components in 4 years. Everything else still looks & works excellent. Once in a while, the center stack display in the middle of the dash will go off for 1 second then come back on.

Truck ownership experience: I’d give it an ”A” so far like a low 90’s out of 100. The truck was purchased brand new to pull a heavy trailer and carry all my necessary tools. Does an excellent job of this. Even the de-rated chassis & cab Cummins pulls better than anything previously owned or I expected from this truck. The truck has been asked to do above and beyond its rated capability hundreds of times. In extreme overlaoding situations, the transmission has a slight shutter between 1st & 2nd gear, but only when well overloaded (pulling trailer off road through bumpy soil).

The fit & finish has held up VERY well. It’s a comfortable strong truck meant for heavy duty use, but still retains a comfort & ease of operation.

I’m very pleased and would highly recommend RAM/Cummins/Aisin to anyone.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks for the review. Once I pay off a few things, I need to buy a bigger truck with a diesel engine and duel rear wheels. I go back and forth between buying new or used. If I buy used, I go back and forth between buying a Dodge 5.9 and rebuilding it, or something a lot newer with very low miles for a decent price. My biggest fear is DEF and electronics failing, which means I need a warrantee. My mechanic keeps telling me to avoid anything new because of how expensive it is to replace stuff on them. He wont work on them, so that's another concern to find somebody that does. I've heard horror stories of ten and fifteen thousand dollar repairs to the exhaust system that convince me to stick with the older 5.9 engines.

Did you have have a 5.9 Dodge? If so, how was it?

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I'm curious on why you chose a 5500 over a class 6 or class 7 truck. Big pickup vs smaller big truck. I have looked in the past and the used market for the medium duty trucks seems to be more affordable than the heavy duty pickup trucks in a lot of cases.

 

[deserteagle71]

Did you have have a 5.9 Dodge? If so, how was it?

I've had two. The first was a 2004 2500. No problems with the engine at all but I traded it off for a 2004 dually because I have a heavy cabover camper. The difference in stability, hauling a tall heavy camper, on a dually versus single rear wheel, is remarkable. Only problem I've had with the 2004 dually is that I had to put in a new water pump at about 65,000 miles. But on a Cummins that's a 15 minute job. Leave these engines stock and they will last a lifetime.

In retrospect I should have kept the 2500 in addition to the 3500. The dually has the camper mounted on it most of the time so its a bother when I just need to haul or tow something. I love driving these diesels - it is such a pleasure with all that torque. Hills/mountain passes, where a gas engine has to scream at 4000+ rpm, are effortless with the Cummins. Fuel mileage when empty/not towing is 18-19 mpg. Loaded with the camper and towing a trailer with a Jeep Wrangler on it (about 16,000 lbs total) the dually still gets 13-14 mpg. I hope to be driving this truck the rest of my life.

It's not just the emissions systems that are problems on the newer trucks. From my reading on the forums the electronics the new trucks come with are more of a problem than the emissions systems.

 

[Snobdds]

Didn't you replace the CP4 to a CP3?

 

[dodge man]

Thanks for the review. Once I pay off a few things, I need to buy a bigger truck with a diesel engine and duel rear wheels. I go back and forth between buying new or used. If I buy used, I go back and forth between buying a Dodge 5.9 and rebuilding it, or something a lot newer with very low miles for a decent price. My biggest fear is DEF and electronics failing, which means I need a warrantee. My mechanic keeps telling me to avoid anything new because of how expensive it is to replace stuff on them. He wont work on them, so that's another concern to find somebody that does. I've heard horror stories of ten and fifteen thousand dollar repairs to the exhaust system that convince me to stick with the older 5.9 engines.

Did you have have a 5.9 Dodge? If so, how was it?

Eddie I had a 2004 with a 5.9 Cummins that I bought used with 100,000 mikes on it and I put 50,000 miles on. I fought rust on it is why I sold it, losing battle.

Id say the truck was good but they have come so far with the newer ones I’d have a hard time going back. For example terrible door seals, a lot of wind noise, and terrible headlights. I also had a bad vibration at about 65 mph that I chased and never fixed, a common complaint. There are some things you can do to correct some of those things. I never had any trouble with the drivetrain and just did normal maintenance. A good solid engine, I probably averaged 16 mpg mixed driving and occasional towing. Nice used ones bring top dollar.

 

[Hay Dude]

I'm curious on why you chose a 5500 over a class 6 or class 7 truck. Big pickup vs smaller big truck. I have looked in the past and the used market for the medium duty trucks seems to be more affordable than the heavy duty pickup trucks in a lot of cases.

Several reasons.

1. It fits in my garage
2. 4WD traction
3. I can use it for smaller jobs
4. My son can drive it
5. It it low enough off the ground to pull valuable tools like chain saws, weed wackers & battery powered tools from without climbing up and down cab steps.
6. Crew cab for occasional passenger use.

I also have a class 8 truck.

 

[Hay Dude]

Didn't you replace the CP4 to a CP3?

Yes, but that was done via a national campaign. It didn’t fail. I guess I could have included that, but my truck was running perfectly on the CP4. Also, other brands have the CP4.

 

[YanmarFever]

I have a ram 2500 HD Laramie with 22 thousand miles on it, I only put 2 thousand miles on it this year.
I'm happy with it, HOWEVER the service brake light comes on for 3 minutes when I first start it up and drive, then it goes out.
Other than that I'm getting 16mpg.
So far I'm happy with it

 

[Hay Dude]

Might be time to purge/change your brake fluid?

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I have half your miles on a '17 3500 C&C, only used for towing.

The only issue so far was completely self inflicted. Supposedly '16s and older can use a lot of distilled water in the DEF, and '18s and up will only tolerate so much.

Well, nobody seemed to know about '17s so I tried putting the "safe amount" in mine. Didn't work. But in the process I learned to disregard the 150-mile countdown to limp mode.

That's it. No other issues of any kind. Okay, a few recalls, but I've either ignored them or fixed things myself.

 

[BryceSteiner]

I've had two. The first was a 2004 2500. No problems with the engine at all but I traded it off for a 2004 dually because I have a heavy cabover camper. The difference in stability, hauling a tall heavy camper, on a dually versus single rear wheel, is remarkable. Only problem I've had with the 2004 dually is that I had to put in a new water pump at about 65,000 miles. But on a Cummins that's a 15 minute job. Leave these engines stock and they will last a lifetime.

In retrospect I should have kept the 2500 in addition to the 3500. The dually has the camper mounted on it most of the time so its a bother when I just need to haul or tow something. I love driving these diesels - it is such a pleasure with all that torque. Hills/mountain passes, where a gas engine has to scream at 4000+ rpm, are effortless with the Cummins. Fuel mileage when empty/not towing is 18-19 mpg. Loaded with the camper and towing a trailer with a Jeep Wrangler on it (about 16,000 lbs total) the dually still gets 13-14 mpg. I hope to be driving this truck the rest of my life.

It's not just the emissions systems that are problems on the newer trucks. From my reading on the forums the electronics the new trucks come with are more of a problem than the emissions systems.

A couple years ago I purchased a 2004 5.9 2500 with 150,000. It's in real good condition and it's been fantastic. I never owned a diesel before this. It runs clean, sounds great. I change the oil, and fuel filter about once a year and the transmission and differential every couple years.
I had knocked off the bumper valance when I first got it and thought I wouldn't worry about it. I watched a video on it and then replaced it to get about 3 more MPG. I'll get about 23 highway with it. When towing it ranges from 7 MPG with my 32 ft Montana fifth wheel at 70 MPH (11 at 55MPH), 15 towing my RK 25 with backhoe, and about 17 with just the tractor. I really don't see a reason to upgrade to something with a lot more complexities.

 

[Hay Dude]

The fuel mileage has been very good. I have to sometimes remind myself the first 25K miles was a break-in period, so I expect it to improve even more.
IMO, because of the in-line six engine configuration, this is the best overall trailer pulling truck there is when the loads are constantly heavy.

 

[Snobdds]

Yes, but that was done via a national campaign. It didn’t fail. I guess I could have included that, but my truck was running perfectly on the CP4. Also, other brands have the CP4.

 

[oosik]

Good to hear about your experiences Hay Dude. I bought my Ram Power Wagon - brand new in 2019. I only use it for fun. No heavy hauling or towing. Just plain 'ol fun vehicle. I have 31K miles on it and get 16.7 mpg.

So far no problems. I just wish the mice and chipmunks didn't like it so much also. I think I've found a cure though. I park it out in the yard and always keep the hood open. Same with all my other vehicles - tractor, ATV and riding lawn mower. It has become obvious - the tiny critters do not like open spaces.

I control the truck interior with lots of stinky dryer sheets and many bars of Irish Spring soap.

I now knock on wood...............