[diesel85]

Since selling our 2006 Cummins back in 2016, I've had others ask why I've held off buying a Cummins. I explained that I was mostly waiting for the 5th gen cab and an updated transmission. At the time, I wasn't in any hurry since our 2015 EcoDiesel was able to handle the travel trailer and other towing needs. To be honest, I didn't think it would take this long for Ram to release an 8-speed transmission. The 2025 still won't be the 5th gen cab, but at least it will be a refresh.

In the meantime, I had no idea that a similar equipped truck would go from $60,000 to $85,000 during this waiting period. The crux of the issue, at least for me, is cost. I'll be watching the 2025 pricing to see what we can do.

I like the chassis cab. For one, I think the truck will hold up a little better over time, but I also prefer the 74-gallon fuel combination (52-gallon tank + 22-gallon midship tank). My wife doesn't want a flatbed, so we'll end up with a 3500 dually pickup. We don't need a long bed, so we're open to either a crew cab or mega cab. We're undecided on trim level until we see what the packaging looks like. We would like to get into a Laramie, but we'll see how things shakedown. I'd love a Longhorn, but that's probably out of reach. Right now, the base price on a Laramie is $74,200 and the base price on a Longhorn is $87,685. Keep in mind, we bought our 2020 Longhorn EcoDiesel for $54,000 out the door, and that included a 5 year/100,000 bumper-to-bumper Max Care extended warranty.

Yep. Ain't it something how things have went up in price? Doesn't seem like our paychecks get that fat that quick anytime soon...

I paid much less than you did on your 2020 EcoD, but I bought it used to save money for a bigger truck down the line. Glad I did, because the prices keep on going up, even though some folks have told me they will start going down...

In the same ideology of what you are stating about the chassis itself, I do/don't like that. Though parts are abundant for the current chassis and they seem pretty good from what folks say. I'd rather have an abundance of parts (both OEM/aftermarket) versus being stuck with one or the other.

The work 2020 RAM 3500 Cummins I drive almost daily hasn't given me a lick of problems. The sucker just runs and runs. The ride isn't as luxurious as my 1500 EcoD, but it's a truck. Ride doesn't matter. As long as the interior is good, the seats are comfortable, and it's dependable, which that 3500 has.

Right now, as long as my current truck doesn't get totaled out by some idiot on the road, I don't plan on getting the RAM HD until earliest mid-2026 or at the latest summer of 2027. I, as many, will see what they do with the chassis itself.

I for one will not buy a brand new truck right out of the gate with a new transmission. I need to let it percolate for at minimum a year before I'll shell out cash on one. I'll be sure to test drive a bunch of them, and sit around on this forum as well as others and watch the comments (cheers and jeers) roll in.

 

[1shadowsabre]

Since selling our 2006 Cummins back in 2016, I've had others ask why I've held off buying a Cummins. I explained that I was mostly waiting for the 5th gen cab and an updated transmission. At the time, I wasn't in any hurry since our 2015 EcoDiesel was able to handle the travel trailer and other towing needs. To be honest, I didn't think it would take this long for Ram to release an 8-speed transmission. The 2025 still won't be the 5th gen cab, but at least it will be a refresh.

In the meantime, I had no idea that a similar equipped truck would go from $60,000 to $85,000 during this waiting period. The crux of the issue, at least for me, is cost. I'll be watching the 2025 pricing to see what we can do.

I like the chassis cab. For one, I think the truck will hold up a little better over time, but I also prefer the 74-gallon fuel combination (52-gallon tank + 22-gallon midship tank). My wife doesn't want a flatbed, so we'll end up with a 3500 dually pickup. We don't need a long bed, so we're open to either a crew cab or mega cab. We're undecided on trim level until we see what the packaging looks like. We would like to get into a Laramie, but we'll see how things shakedown. I'd love a Longhorn, but that's probably out of reach. Right now, the base price on a Laramie is $74,200 and the base price on a Longhorn is $87,685. Keep in mind, we bought our 2020 Longhorn EcoDiesel for $54,000 out the door, and that included a 5 year/100,000 bumper-to-bumper Max Care extended warranty.

Yep, the time to buy might just be this summer or fall if you can stand a 2024. The 68 trans doesn't bother me that much, been used successfully for a while now. I am thinking that 8 speed is gonna push the price up there pretty good as if they weren't pricey now!

 

[MAS]

As much as I have wanted to see a new trans in the hd line, the shortcomings of the old 68RFE seem to be pretty ironed out in stock form and somewhat bomb proof with aftermarket support. I don’t think I could bring myself to buy a new hd with my use but if I was going to it would have to be with the new transmission. The highest priority to me any vehicle I have bought is drivetrain the rest I can take or leave.

 

[Captainmal]

There sure will be changes across the Ram line in the 2025 model year. Transmission for the HD's. Engines for the 1500's.

Watched a video of testing on the 1500. Good fuel mileage with that Hurricane and towing capability above the Ecodiesel. Reminded me of a gasoline Ecodiesel with that in-line engine.

 

[biodiesel]

Yep. Ain't it something how things have went up in price? Doesn't seem like our paychecks get that fat that quick anytime soon...

I'm not sure how long the higher cost economy can sustain itself. The only reason why I haven't been significantly impacted is because we made all of our major purchases pre-COVID, including refinancing our home mortgage at 2.6%. The higher cost of living has negated any income adjustments we've had over the last four years, so we aren't doing any better than we were pre-COVID and no worse. It was coincidental timing, but we had already planned to pay off a lot of debt in the last 3 years. I've got a few construction projects going on which is absorbing most of our extra income, but I can make room for a truck payment. I just need to save up for the down payment.

 

[biodiesel]

Yep, the time to buy might just be this summer or fall if you can stand a 2024.

I've already started putting away $1,000 per month for an 8 speed. We typically order our vehicles, so I'm thinking about placing an order in October/November of 2026 which would be a 2027 model. By that time, we should have $30,000 for a downpayment.

 

[biodiesel]

I don’t think I could bring myself to buy a new hd with my use but if I was going to it would have to be with the new transmission.

Insurance isn't getting any cheaper, either. I just paid $3,200 for my 2015 EcoDiesel, 2020 EcoDiesel, and travel trailer. That comes out to $266 a month that I'm paying just for insurance. Throw an $80,000 dollar truck on top of that, and I'll be paying $475 per month just for insurance. It's probably time to put the 2015 EcoDiesel under liability insurance.

 

[diesel85]

Insurance isn't getting any cheaper, either. I just paid $3,200 for my 2015 EcoDiesel, 2020 EcoDiesel, and travel trailer. That comes out to $266 a month that I'm paying just for insurance. Throw an $80,000 dollar truck on top of that, and I'll be paying $475 per month just for insurance. It's probably time to put the 2015 EcoDiesel under liability insurance.

I had to up the insurance on my house in case of a total loss, because building materials and labor is much higher. Including all the bits and pieces that would situated inside. I had a neighbor that is now living in an apartment because they didn't have enough insurance when their house burnt to the ground. Not good!

My two other trucks that I own (2007 F150 and 2000 Dakota) I keep on liability and then up the insurance slightly during the summer. Then bring it back down when they are parked.

Here in NYS we cannot just remove insurance and keep the plates and registration as "seasonal" like on motorcycles. If I want to drop insurance I need to turn in the plates and registration on the trucks. Getting them re-registered and plated back up each year is such as PITA. I tried doing that once, and the wait at the DMV was horrid. Yeah, it saved me money, but the harassment of getting the registration redone and new plates was a load of nonsense. Otherwise I'd drop insurance for 6-7 months I don't drive them vehicles. More so they are parked inside and if something were to happen, my homeowners has my back on it.

However, now that things have went up in price, I'm strongly considering this fall to de-register and drop insurance on my F-150 and Dakota. Also the EcoD has proven itself to be very reliable. So I'm feeling comfortable enough doing it. Just drives me nuts about the plates, DMV nonsense, and the sticker... I wish I could just do it online and mail the plates back. But nope. However, doing this, will save me some extra spending money on a new truck too (the way I look at it at least!).

My dream truck is what I got now, but a 3500 with a Cummins and that ZF. I love the black diesel cloth interior. I will never do leather again. I hate leather. Probably stick with the black diamond paint and chrome accents, with chrome (or blacked out) rims, and I want that blacked out with red Cummins logo slapped on both sides. 🤤

 

[diesel85]

I'm not sure how long the higher cost economy can sustain itself. The only reason why I haven't been significantly impacted is because we made all of our major purchases pre-COVID, including refinancing our home mortgage at 2.6%. The higher cost of living has negated any income adjustments we've had over the last four years, so we aren't doing any better than we were pre-COVID and no worse. It was coincidental timing, but we had already planned to pay off a lot of debt in the last 3 years. I've got a few construction projects going on which is absorbing most of our extra income, but I can make room for a truck payment. I just need to save up for the down payment.

I'm not sure either. Plenty of YouTube videos folks talking not only about the price of RAM trucks, but other manufacturers.

I have a friend who's been doing real estate for a long time, and they are expecting a housing crash to be here no later than next summer if not sooner. It's just unsustainable the way the market is right now.

Buckle up folks.

It's also amazing how interest rates very so widely on certain things or commodities. From mortgages to buying heavy equipment.

 

[biodiesel]

It's also amazing how interest rates very so widely on certain things or commodities. From mortgages to buying heavy equipment.

John Deere, for example, is offering 0% interest.

 

[MAS]

John Deere, for example, is offering 0% interest.

Almost always more to that than 0%. You usually pay a higher price or forgone an additional rebate by financing. Nobody is giving you money to use for free.

 

[biodiesel]

Almost always more to that than 0%. You usually pay a higher price or forgone an additional rebate by financing. Nobody is giving you money to use for free.

John Deere has been offering 0% interest for many years, at least since 2008. There are no tricks, markups, or missed rebates. I was able to get my tractor, loader, and backhoe for $3,000 below retail and still get 0%. Kubota is offering 0% also.

 

[diesel85]

I think the reason Kubota and John Deere for example does that is because they want people to actually buy the equipment up. Doesn't do anything sitting at a warehouse or a dealer's lot.

 

[biodiesel]

I think the reason Kubota and John Deere for example does that is because they want people to actually buy the equipment up. Doesn't do anything sitting at a warehouse or a dealer's lot.

Yes, sir. They need to move product and will do whatever they can to make those payments easier for the consumer. It's a marketing strategy that even the auto industry uses when they need to unload inventory. We bought our 2006 Cummins brand new at 1.9% for 7 years, that was through Chrysler Financial. Our 2020 EcoDiesel had a 2.89% interest. Interest rates, generally speaking, isn't something we really worry about since we pay off our debts based on the loan amount. We paid off the 0% John Deere loan two years early since it was the next in line. We don't like a lot of debt, so we try to pay things off pretty quickly.

 

[Captainmal]

Sure pays to shop around for insurance. I actually got a new muti-motorcycle policy just now for 1/2 what I paid last year. What motivated me to shop was the new rates went up over last year. My new policy is something like 60% less than the new rates.

Been putting what little extra money I can live without to pay for a new truck maybe next year. That fixed amount retirement from 1999 buys me 1/2 what it did and you can imagine the huge price increases for trucks today. Even 0% would mean a payment I do not want or maybe even could make. Buying what you can afford is difficult if there is not reasonable way to increase your income to match what we deal with each day.

 

[biodiesel]

That fixed amount retirement from 1999 buys me 1/2 what it did and you can imagine the huge price increases for trucks today. Even 0% would mean a payment I do not want or maybe even could make. Buying what you can afford is difficult if there is not reasonable way to increase your income to match what we deal with each day.

I completely understand. We didn't put a downpayment on our 2020 EcoDiesel, but now we're needing $30,000 before we can buy a Cummins with a similar trim package! To put this into perspective, we bought our 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel (Longhorn) for $54,000. Today, a Ram Cummins (Longhorn) starts out at $85,680. That's with the 68RFE and no options! This is precisely why we have to come up with $30,000 as a downpayment before we can even think about purchasing!

 

[MAS]

Sure pays to shop around for insurance. I actually got a new muti-motorcycle policy just now for 1/2 what I paid last year. What motivated me to shop was the new rates went up over last year. My new policy is something like 60% less than the new rates.

Been putting what little extra money I can live without to pay for a new truck maybe next year. That fixed amount retirement from 1999 buys me 1/2 what it did and you can imagine the huge price increases for trucks today. Even 0% would mean a payment I do not want or maybe even could make. Buying what you can afford is difficult if there is not reasonable way to increase your income to match what we deal with each day.

You had a 2014 ecodiesel sold with appx. 100k miles. You’re now looking to get rid of the Cummins. Maybe keep one a while?

 

[MAS]

I completely understand. We didn't put a downpayment on our 2020 EcoDiesel, but now we're needing $30,000 before we can buy a Cummins with a similar trim package! To put this into perspective, we bought our 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel (Longhorn) for $54,000. Today, a Ram Cummins (Longhorn) starts out at $85,680. That's with the 68RFE and no options! This is precisely why we have to come up with $30,000 as a downpayment before we can even think about purchasing!

I hate to see the prices where they are but blame consumers as much as anything else. If people keep buying of course the dealer will keep the price up. Not everyone but a large majority a big diesel truck is a status symbol play toy or something completely different than what it “should” be. Yep it’s a free country we can all do what we want just got to remember we have to sleep in the bed we make.

 

[diesel85]

I hate to see the prices where they are but blame consumers as much as anything else. If people keep buying of course the dealer will keep the price up. Not everyone but a large majority a big diesel truck is a status symbol play toy or something completely different than what it “should” be. Yep it’s a free country we can all do what we want just got to remember we have to sleep in the bed we make.

If they would make smaller new diesels as a level playing field to give consumers choices on fuel options again, I would buy a new small diesel car or small pickup.

I would love it if Ford would make a diesel Ranger with a i4 turbo diesel that is a reliable workhorse for example.

After owning a handful of gas and diesel vehicles, I'm sticking with diesel. The most troubles I've ever had were with gas vehicles. Mostly EVAP, ignition problems (coils/spark plugs), and O2 sensors.

My last gas vehicle was a pain to keep the CEL light off for EVAP codes to the point where I shelled out money on a good smoke and pressure tester. Here in NYS, they are picky as all heck about emissions, and I don't know how I kept it on the road so long. I guess I'm a good wrenchman...

A guy at work has a 2020 DT RAM with the 3.6l Pentastar V6 and has been chasing down a P0456. He wants me to smoke test it this weekend as his shop can't find the problem.

 

[biodiesel]

If people keep buying of course the dealer will keep the price up.

There will be a day of reckoning, I just don't know when that will be. The economy will eventually dip into a recession and consumers will feel the need to slow spending and hold onto their money. As we speak, many Americans are maxing out their credit limits. As of right now, jobs are abundant, pay is at an all-time high, and there's still a lot of government money making its way through the system. Yes, the economy has slowed down, but consumers are still spending.

I don't wish for an economic crash, but I think there may be a window of opportunity to score a higher trim package truck for a good $18,000 - $22,000 off MSRP. That window could be small, though. The auto industry will be quick to cut jobs and implement widespread layoffs to regulate inventory.