Considering Downsizing from a Ram 3500 Diesel to a 1500 Hemi w/ eTorque - thoughts?

[Ibex]

My 2019 Ram Diesel is getting written off after a head on collision. Thankfully no one was hurt and I was hauling hay, not horses, but my truck and trailer are a write off. In an effort to turn lemons into lemonade, I’m considering options:

1. Replace my truck with the same.
   OR
2. Downsize to a new 1500 with the eTorque (stated tow capacity is 12,700lb).

What I tow:

• I had a Sundowner 2H w/tack room. and ideally replacing it with the same. The 3500 was 100% overkill for the trailer, but it definitely towed like a dream!

Where I tow:

• A windy coastal road

How often do I tow:

• maybe once a month; the rig is as much for emergencies or hauling hay as it is for horses.

Considerations:

• This is also my daily driver, BUT, I work from home (and have for years) so most mileage is highway to/from the barn.
• We are on a single road in/out of town. The way I usually go is hilly, not mountainous, but if I had to go the other way (ie in case of evacuation due to flood or fire, both considerations in the PNW), you’re into the mountains pretty quick.
• Original plan for the 3500 was to put a camper on it, which we never did.
• Not really looking at 2500s as they are subject to an extra tax as they’re pricey but too light to be exempt like the 3500s are.

It may come down to availability (stupid supply chain issues), but I am really back and forth between reaping the benefits of a smaller, lighter vehicle day to day, and the “future proof and cover all bases in case of emergencies”.

Thoughts??

[Tee]

I am the cover all the bases type. I don’t like the idea of hauling with a 1/2 ton regardless of how much it says it’ll tow.

If a 3/4 ton is out of the question (which is what I have, 1996 Dodge), I’d go for the bigger truck again.

Edited to add: I’m happy to hear that no one was hurt!

[Texarkana]

Glad you are ok!

Two thoughts:

Given how expensive trucks are, you may want get a repair estimate before accepting it’s a total loss. My husband’s older 2500 GMC Sierra was hit by a drunk driver and totaled by our insurance company (who also wasn’t going to give us anywhere near enough to replace it). We called around to find a good deal and paid for the repairs out of pocket. We ended up paying around $1000 in repairs for something that initially seemed very bad and had the truck for MANY more years.

Unpopular opinion, but I pull my 2H steel trailer with a 2015 Ram 1500. Mine has one of the highest towing capacity configurations for that year. I have never felt under trucked, and I had stepped down from the said GMC 2500 after it finally needed to be replaced, so I was used to something bigger.

[back_in_the_saddle1]

I’ll second your unpopular opinion! I have a 2020 Ram 1500 Laramie with 5.7L V8 Hemi with eTorque and a 3.92 rear-axle ratio. I LOVE it.

I pull a 2H Adam Julite with dressing room in N. Virginia 2-3 times per week, and I don’t know the trailer is there, even when it’s windy or on the highway. I’m typically hauling my 1250-lb. TB gelding, but I haven’t noticed a difference when I have a friend’s horse along for the ride. It is more than enough truck for my needs.

[Obsidian_Fire]

I’ll third it, but with reservation. I’ve pulled a 2H loaded for camping over the mountains - Santiam Pass - more than once with a 1500 gas. Both times I had zero qualms about my power. In one scenario I was following a friend with a diesel and I had no problem keeping up. Both of these trucks were GMC and it was several years ago, so no electric.
That said. Most of the 1/2 tons only come with a 6’ bed at best, which for my purposes seriously reduces how useful it is to me. And they are a much lighter vehicle. I would be concerned in the wind with my trailer attached.
I have a 2015 3500 Ram Diesel now and wouldn’t trade it for anything. Whatever I need to do, it can do. It’s overkill most of the time, but I’m glad I have it.

[Unfforgettable]

Ram 1500 e-torque owner here. Mine is a '21 Limited Longhorn, 5.7 hemi and 3.92 differential. The 3.92 gear ratio is the important part for hauling with the 1500. My trailer is a warmblood size Hawk 2 horse with dressing room and it tows like a dream behind my Ram. I’ve also hauled hay on an 18 foot flatbed trailer, 8000 lbs, towed an excavator also on a flatbed, and had no problem. The e-torque really makes no difference in anything unless you’re sitting in line at a drive-through window or at a stoplight, where it shuts the engine down rather than idle, and starts it again the second you take your foot off the brake.
I think based on what you’re doing, you should be fine with the 1500. It won’t be the same as the 3500, but it should be more than adequate.

[Jaegermonster]

Get the bigger truck. You’ll have more options down the road for doing other things with it, it will hold up better and resale is better.

Make sure they give you fair market value on your stuff that was totaled and not book value. It’s ok to negotiate

[NaturallyHappy]

Yes…look all over the country for compatibles.

[Horsehusband]

We have a 1500 GMC and a 2500 RAM with a Cummins. We tow a similar trailer to you and while the GMC 1500 is fine for local hauls I wouldn’t want to do anything more extended with it. You really feel everything in the smaller trucks.

[ClosingTime]

Are you still considering a camper? (I assume truck bed style…) If so, that should be a major factor in your purchase decision as the 3500 gives you so many more options without worrying about weight.
FWIW I have a new Northstar TC800 on my Ram 3500 and it is wonderful!

[SBrentnall]

I have a 2021 RAM 1500 hemi with e-torque. I got the “long” bed (6’ 4") and the 3.92 rear axle. It tows like a dream, and the gas mileage isn’t bad.

[SBrentnall]

I would have agreed in the past, but the modern 1500s are SO much more stable and powerful than my last truck, a 1998 RAM 2500.

[LSMarnell]

@SBrentnall

I have a 2021 RAM 1500 hemi with e-torque. I got the “long” bed (6’ 4")

Seriously, this is shameful what “truck’s” have been reduced to. Not laughing at you at all, but it’s a TRUCK!
I am so fortunate I found a newish F250 this summer with an 8’ bed, and I am REJOYCING after dealing with my 6 &1/2 foot compromise previously!

[house]

This is an old thread, but I would suggest buy and older 1 ton and a small car, I did this 8 years ago I leased a Chevy Volt, it was $1000 and $99/month for 3 years. I went from paying $200 a week in fuel (back when diesel was $2/gallon) to $20 every three months. I saved so much money in fuel and maintenance Immediately I cant believe I did not do it earlier.

your situation may be different but it sure worked for me. the 1/2 ton truck will do what you need it to do probably but you will not get much better milage, I purchased a F150, and got 15 mpg vs my diesels 13.5 mpg. and everything on the 1/2 ton cost just about as much to fix as the dually, so there was no savings, when I jumped up to 180 mpg, and virtually no maintenance I was shocked at the savings

[LCDR]

My 2 cents - as mentioned by @obsidian_fire are you going to miss the 8 foot bed of the 3500 if you go the 1500 route?

I haul lots of things in my 8 foot bed that a 6 foot bed just won’t handle safely. If I replaced it with a smaller bed truck I’d have to tow my 18 foot equipment trailer to the big box stores, which is not a positive experience.

[Knights_Mom]

For me the 8 foot bed is a must have. Also, a bigger cab. I’m thinking about moving up from my 20+ year old, only 80,000 miles on it 2500 Ram once prices come down.

Fixing the old truck depends on the type of damage.

1500s are way more prettier but the bed size is a no go.

2500 diesel might be a thought though you said no 2500.

I bought a small Toyota to supplement my truck in 2007. Uses nothing in gas and has 160,000 miles on it. It was under $20,000 and now not much more. Plus no one wants to steal it.

I would again chose new Toyota cheap car and a 2500 I think.

I tow a 2 horse goose with extended tack walk thru to straight load. Mostly haul just my one 1500 lb horse though I can take 2. If I had to deal with mountains more I’d beef up engine.