These Three 2024 Ram Cummins Diesels Look AND Cost the SAME, But Which One Is the BEST? 

It was so funny listening to them talk to each other in the 4500 once it got up to speed. The vibrato in their voices was hilarious.🤣

Let me guess… The main difference is in the axels and spring

I like the old mirrors too. Heck, I like when the interior of the 2500s looked like the interior of this 3500. Bench-like front seat with a huge center armrest, dash off the floor, more truck, less car.

It’s nice to see the 2500 still has a GVWR under 10k. In my jurisdiction that’s the breakout for requiring commercial inspections even on personal vehicles. A lot of people were pretty unhappy when Ford first rolled over that line by less than 50lbs. Not enough capacity to mean much more than extra time and expense. Rolling past scales isn’t so much of a concern for me because I live in the middle of nowhere, but there are also places that require you to pull into the scale at that weight.

4500 review section sounded so emotional 😂

This is actually all old news. A ford guy will not like them and a ram guy will not like ford. Every vehicle on the road will have a break down of some sort at some time. It’s a roll of the dice

Something important you missed. 4500 & 5500 use 4.44 standard or more commonly 4.89 rear axle ratios. You’re in 6th gear by the time you hit 35mph with the 4.89. The 3500 diesels use 3.73 and won’t shift into 6th until 55mph.

Ram HD is getting old, but I recently cross shopped a GMC AT4X 2500 vs the Ram 2500 Megacab Limited. I was able to get the Ram cheap enough to cover a Carli Eventure suspension system, supplemental air bags to have the smoothest HD ride possible, or can be loaded up for towing. And Ram offers active lake keep which somehow the GMC still doesn't have. Ford Tremor is a great truck as well but the local dealer is awful for service and they're asking the most money.

Sunday TFL! Sunday buddy video! TFL, my pot of coffee, my pup by my side and the house peaceful and quiet - great start for my Sunday!

Just sold my 22 2500 Cummins, biggest differences are. The ride in a 2500 is second to none. Coils for the win. Also 68rfe is more road friendly, shifts quicker and smoother then the Aisin, Now have a 24 3500 limited night edition with airbags. The extra power from the HO is very noticeable empty or loaded with a trailer, also the Aisin is a straight up pulling tranny, I don’t mind how it shifts, it does like to lug in low rpm, smartens up with tow haul, also note the HO and Aisins exhaust brake works at a slower speed, 3500s run like lumber wagons when empty. As expected it’s for payload and towing. Get any weight in it and she’s like a Cadillac. Also these are my work trucks. Work in Canada in the mountains in oil and gas. Hot summers, cold AF winters. And best part Cummins doesn’t require the cab off to do simple maintenance or service. Ford and Chevy do, so your $47 dollar part turns into a $2700 bill real quick.

One reason for the 10k gvwr is a little related to taxes. If a vehicle is over 10k it doesn't qualify for some exemptions or something like that. I'm sure Ram talks to their fleet customers and they say please do not change the GVWR Another reason is any commercial vehicle over 10k gvwr needs a medical card so depending on what the vehicle is used for, the other trucks wouldn't work. That screen is a joke in 2024 tho

I have a 21 3500 HO Tradesman. It was ROUGH riding in NE PA horrible roads. I put a Thuren suspension (stock ride height) under it with their FOX shocks and sulastic shackles, 17" wheels and 35" tires. It was a massive increase. I drive it regularly from PA to CO. I think it's perfect for me. I have a slide in truck camper for it. I ordered the truck in 2021 and it was $56,500. I think those prices are long gone. I have the 8" dash screen, floor shift, vinyl floors, plow prep, bed liner, goose neck prep, skid plates and that's it. Ohh and the granite crystal metallic paint that's a $200 option. The Aisin shifts wonky until it's completely warmed up. The exhaust brake is crazy aggressive, but a must have for towing.

My company gave me a 24 ram 2500 bighorn. Its well equipped and does everything I need it. We haul scaffolding with a 25 ft gooseneck

I would love to see you guys do a long term review with a 4500/5500 series. Ram truck possibly a camper truck with a built in camper

Ugh, Daylight savings time, when will this madness end? Oh, and thanks for the great video.

Great video guys. Love the back to back test drives, and side by side comparisons. I really like that you included a turning radius test as well, I think some sort of turning radius test should be done in all the truck videos. Great job guys!

Ram does it correctly. 2500's are not 3500's, so why chase the > 10k ratings? If you need that much then buy a 3500. I like that the 2500 is still in their own class, but the price should come down. I'd actually say the 2500 class should have even less powerful diesels but focused more on reliability (less issues with emissions) and on MPG. Why not a smaller diesel with 650 to 700 lb/ft of torque to bridge the difference between a 1500 and a 3500. Perfect for towing RVs or cargo trailers or utility trailers for landscapers etc.

I have a 2011 ram 4500 regular cab 4x4 manual transmission 120” CA with a very heavy duty flatbed dump. I haul 6 tons of material on it daily and it has done incredible. Almost 500,000 miles on it now. Rebuild the top end once and replaced the trans once and been through a few clutches of course. Buying a new 5500 soon.

I think with Andre in this one I would go with the 4500 because for me I like super sized payload on it because a lot of the style truck campers that I like would be really close to 3,500 even if it was a duallys payload for this one gives you just a little bit more so you're not near the max

Yes please Ike cab chassis trucks! I’d be very interested to see towing mpg and Ike tests on the CC trucks.. also would love to see some comparisons vs standard pickup dually.. I’m a hotshot trucker myself, currently running just a DRW 3500, would definitely like to see how CCs stack up.

I like the white one, in the sales lot. ;O)

My 2019 SLT 2500 Ram Crew Cab diesel with 3.42 rear end listed for $62,000 as a two wheel drive with an 8 foot bed. You learn to back in to parking places. It get 17.5 to 18.5 mpg around town, From El Paso to up state New York with 2000 lb load driving 80 mph averaged 22 to 23 mpg over the 5,000 miles. I got $10,000 off the list price and $13,000 trade on my 2001 1/2 Ram 2500 5.9 Quad cab diesel. So I only paid $ 39,000. If I do pull a trailer it an airstream that weighs 9,000 lbs so that gives me another 9,,000 lbs to pull if I want. I love the ride and quietness of the new 6.7 vs my former 5.9.. I don't need all the extra horsepower or torque. I am not a teenager any more. I live in the hot southwest so no leather seats for me. Mine is White with grey cloth interior.

Happy Sunday TFL.. Love your videos with my Coffee ☕🙏😊

My wife and I bought a 3500 in 2019, standard output cummins, lots of tech goodies at the time. 69k and change. To replace that truck today, similarly equipped, would be almost 85k. It's crazy how much more expensive everything is. Especially since almost nothing has changed in 5 years. I'm not sure why ram still holds the 2500 line at 10k GVWR. I had a newer 2500 Silverado in the shop about a month ago with 11,300lbs GVWR. My 3500 ram is 11,800lbs.

Good comparison, I am a small Hotshot and am running a 2017 Ram 3500 4X4 SRW Cummins HO, AISIN. I bought this truck WITH 52K and am now at 387K. It's been great so far. No major repairs. So far I have changed the hydraulic brake unit on the ABS system and one front Hub assembly.

As a former hotshot owner operator with a 2020 Ram 3500. I'd absolutely go with a 5500... And I'd do a super single conversation.

when i worked for ram, i had to deliver a 5500 cabin chassis 200miles to another dealer. while in cruise control at 85mph, i would see the rear tires in the rear view mirror bouncing off the ground literally. was quite the experience lol

I live in Brighton and so cool you guys film around here! Been watching for years

I had a shifter to 4-wheel drive on my 2 door Blazer and loved it. My wife traded it for a larger 4 door 4-wheel drive. Lost it with an engine blowout.

We had a 2012-2013 ish Ram 5500 at my old job that we used to pull huge gooseneck trailers with. Holy. Crap! That thing…yeah. It was SCREAMING at 55mph (2500rpm so it sucked down that diesel) and it would beat ya to death, loaded or not, so I can sympathize with you both. It was not fun to ride in or drive, but it got the job done.

I'm glad I kept my 02' 2500 Diesel. I think I paid 40K for it brand new & it's still going strong.

Not sure if anyone knows. The regular trucks like 2500 and 3500 trucks have a 58” cab to axle(rear of cab to center of rear axle). The chassis cabs come with a 60” cab to axle. Flatbeds, utility boxes setup for 60 cta are usually 9ft or longer.

Great video. Only thing I will say is a Power Wagon is not a comparison, the Rebel line would be a comparison when mentioning the Tremor. My $.02

The 4500 review was my favourite. You guys had me in stitches during the drive 😂

Love the mechanical transfer case selector.

andrey at 21;10 you said [[[ CHATTER happaning ]]]] you meant like valve noise ? coz i got 2023 new 3500 HO/aisin mine does making a clapping noise when you press on the gas pedal ,trying find out if they all do that tnx. in advance

I just got myself a used 2020 2500. I’m definitely one of those people that could almost get away with a 1500, but since it’s a work truck that gets high mileage I wanted something heavier duty. And while I don’t tow a ton, when I do it’s pretty much exclusively 2500 level towing. No need to go beyond to a bigger truck, but enough reason to not go to a half ton. And for the diesel, I’ve just never had the same feeling about gas trucks. Definitely that one is more preference than necessity, but I got the Cummins. The real interesting thing. I got a tradesman that is fairly well equipped for one. For the fun of it, I built a new 2024 on their site with, as best as I could remember, the same options, even that truck came out to almost $80k like $74 or something, just insane for their supposed entry level trim. And considering that it’s got more options in it than the Big Horn 3500, just seems like these trucks are overpriced like mad these days, what a time to be alive!

Thank you gentlemen! I am looking to replace my old 2009 Dodge Ram 2500 with another Ram. You have helped me make up my mind on which model now. The 3500 it is then! Thanks

Stellantis provides and publishes specs for the 4500’s payload. It’s what all upfitters have to use to ensure they don’t exceed the GVWR.

Juar bought a 2500 cummins day before yesterday. Sure wish I could have the payload of the 3500 and the HO engine, but I really enjoy the ride of the 2500 coils, the 2500 fits in my garage (We live in hail country) and I don't want to be beat all around while driving down the road talking on the phone. My old 1 ton literally hurt my guts while driving LOL!!!! So there are good points to all. My boat is about 5000-6000 lbs but pulls like 12,000 lbs in the wind, so I really needed the torque and until I want to haul heavier, the 2500 works well for me. I do miss the power of my old Powerstroke, which would be similar to the Ram HO 6.7. But I guess sacrifices in one way or the other are inevitable. Thanks for the great video yall!

Great video full of info do all the brands to show thier line ups

The 4500 isn't as big a seller as the bigger 5500... its the same frame, brakes, etc... just heavier suspension for higher payload. The 5500 is very common for building into Wreckers or Rollback tow trucks that will have heavy equipment mounted, yet still have tremendous carrying & towing capacity. The wide front axle is not just for tighter turning..its for stability... when heavy commercial trucks are built...theyre often top heavy when loaded...the wider front track makes the entire chassis much more stable which equals safer. There's not much difference between 4500 & 5500 besides suspension... but the 5500 gives better towing as well... just over 35,000lbs max towing & 12,500lbs of cargo.... combine great turning with high cargo & towing.... theres a reason you see them built into HD daily workhorses. That 4500 shown, was a bare bones work truck, but you can get them full luxury/gadgets trim too for those that spend alotta time in a vehicle. The solid front axle is also because its stronger than IFS... and durability, especially when heavy is more important than smooth. Same reason HD trucks are 4x4, not AWD... its about strength & durability... these have all of it. Ram also still includes regular 12volt power outlets... not just USB ports... USB cannot supply much power. 12v outlets & upfitter switches are still VERY much in demand for work trucks... Ram kept theirs, unlike GM.

Great comparison & information. 👏

Great video!! Would have loved to hear differentiation between 3500 pickup vs 3500 chassis as there are many differences (frame and rear to name a few)…other than that it was a great educational video.

Why does the two on the outsides are wider or is it because the camera is at centre, great video guy's keep it coming ✌️

Just one more comment on DOGS the full back seat black covers with quick snaps ties is a must. My baby Australian Shepard loves the back slider window and he can NOT jump through it. My Dog is lached to a short leash that hooks into seat belt connects 😊 the back seat cover is a must if you haul pets. Little pockets to store the outside leashs in. 😊😊😊

I would take the 5500. We just went through this where a friend bought one and we compared the 3500, 4500 and 5500. The 2500 and 3500 are made and marketed for the weekend user, we called it. Like you said, towing a camper/boat etc. The 4500 was 1/2 and 1/2. Weekend warrior/commercial user. The 5500 is built to work hard, and last a long time. The engine is designed and tuned like a "tractor", as is the running gear and frame. With no bed you can really see how the frame is double braced, thicker steel in places, bigger nuts and bolts. Of course the Aisin HD transmission also. For about $1000-$2000 more, the 5500 is my choice. As a note also, this is especially for towing big 5th wheel campers that 3500's are really not enough truck to tow. We see it being done 75% of the time, but the 5500 is more capable, safer and will last much longer doing it! JMHO --gary

when i was looking at buying a new diesel a few years ago during covid. the couple dodge dealers i went to had a 10,000-15,000 dollar markup on brand new trucks just because they had the ASIN transmission

Hey guys, I have a ram 3500 and would like to change out to 37s but I can't get a spare 37 underneath the bed. I have a camper that extends beyond the bed of the tail. Just wondering what you guys do for the spare especially since I know one of the guys has a 4wheel camper in the bed of his truck.

Please do a class 4 truck comparison! Very interested in starting a hot shot business and it would be very beneficial to see how ford, ram and chevy compare

At the dealership I used to work at, we had a 2009 f-250 that had 8-10 leaf springs and had a plow on the front, so the back end was very very stiff!

I am curious if the coil springs in the 2500 the same diameter as the 1500?

Long beds can get a 50 gal tank. 3500 C&C would have been a more interesting comparison to the 2500/3500 pickup, instead of a 4500.

For the consumer having a truck that is under 10,000 pounds GVW is a lower cost for registering and paying taxes through the license bureau

All cab and chassis style trucks get industry standard frame rails (no axle humps). which gives them the ability to install many different types of universal beds. as they all follow the 34" between frame rail spacing. C&C is an option on 3500 and is standard 4500 and up. Also, sometimes insurance companies wont let you have standard insurance on something bigger than a 1 ton truck. They know 4500 up is a commercial grade truck and would try to give you commercial insurance.

Money being no object, then a fully loaded Ram 5500 from Elevation Off Grid is the answer. That said, I think a 2500 Cummins would be the most truck I'd reasonably get. It's big enough to do most things I'd want to do (ex. Tow a huge enclosed car trailer), but not so big that it can't be used as a daily driver and the activities that go with that.

No doubt the new Bighorn options are MUCH better than the last generation! We went from a Laramie to a Bighorn last month and we really don't miss much. The leather is gone, but living in Minnesota, that's actually a plus in the winter. Leather takes forever to heat up on those -22 degree days.

I have a 3500 C&C ram. It is quite the ride with a flatbed. Loaded with anything over 800lbs and it is smooth as silk on the highway. You can put Sulastic shackles on it for about $1100 and get a ride similar to the 2500 when empty without compromising the load capability. You have to specify for the cab & chassis model the much cheaper shackles for a regular 3500 won't work. Also you have to relocate the fuel filler neck which is why the $1100 price tag comes into play. I have the HO 6.7 with Aisin transmission which is a dog compared to the 68re however the aisin is built to hold the power and last where as the 68re is just counting down to its next full rebuild.

Hey guys I really enjoyed that video. I'd like to see you take the 3500, 4500, 5500, on an Ike gauntlet test.

These are the luxury & status cars of our time. My trucks are closer to 40 years old, cost me less than 1/20 of what these cost. Mine are sometimes loaded by forklift or the bucket loader on my 65 year old tractor, and I can maintain them at home. But these are shiny.🙄

I think you boys need to get that Ram chassis Class C RV around the 18 minute mark. Have your boss spring for that puppy.

That empty 4500 ride is pain and suffering.

What you didn’t have to test is the 3500 dually. Which I have . 5400 lb payload , 36k towing . What’s interesting is I have the 8.4” screen on a tradesman. 70k otd 2023 4x4 HO

For 4500, have to go by the GAWR’s as well as GVWR. Depending on what is on the rear, could be far more or similar to 3500 payload (if large/heavy rear fitment worthy of the 11 leaf spring set).😊

I'd go with the one with the black grill and wheels

What were the sizes of the fuel tanks?

The 2500 is the queen of pavement princess, Midlife minivans. It is bought primarily by well off middle-aged men who have kids and need a minivan. However because they're middle-aged; they desperately don't want a minivan. As a result they convince themselves that this truck with it's "Indestructible" Cummins engine is better and more practical. They say they can carry a load of stuff (It can't they bought the short bed), and that they can tow whatever they could need (it doesn't matter he might tow one thing and that will be just to show that his "truck" can tow), and how much fun it will be to go off-roading with it (He will never take his baby on mud ever, or take it on anything that your ordinary FWD sedan wouldn't be able to handle).

im assuming the tires pressure is different from truck to truck affecting the ride. I would also take the 4500 i like the stance of the wider axle

About the 3500. Is it also true that the 3500 also optionel with a duel wheels at the back just like the 4500.

"There's a fire somewhere." "Oh, no that's not the truck."

What i dont understand: The frame and the axles of the 2500 and 3500 are the same right? So why is the payload difference so high?? Just because of a stronger suspension and the bigger transmission?

Unbelievable! I have a 2020 RAM 2500 Diesel Limited and the payload is 2014lbs & now it’s at 2100lbs! Come on RAM, increase the freaking payload!!

Interesting comparison

Love the video can you do the same video with the ford?

Are the brakes the same size on 2500/3500?

I think when reviewing the pedal’s power and feel you left out the gear ratio difference on The trucks and that effects the acceleration more then the tire or rating differences between the trucks the 4.30 ratio of the 4500 compared to the 3.73 of the 2500

Which is better for towing/payload? Smaller wheel and larger sidewall, or larger wheel and smaller sidewall?

I assume these trucks are all “fixed” from the Cummins diesel gate 2.0. The hp and torque didn’t change. So what was the change? Dirtier to drive?

What the gear ratios for the ratio will make some difference within the truck performance

You guys need to take a look at Edison and their new diesel electric hybrid conversions they are working on. It's gonna be a game changer IMO.

😂Ram 4500 review was the best. I think the audio during this time was very choppy when talking. lol

we have a 22 ford 450 superduty pickup and a 18 ram 5500 single cab with a steel dump body, and it does buck a little unloaded but when they are loaded they ride beautifully. the ford not as nice because its all aluminum. The ford is a limited so its still nice. don't dig the nob for 4wd in the ford. I personally love the Manly lever in the ram. they both turn really well.

Can I get factory air bags on the 5500?

My choice is easy, the 4500 cab-chassis is best overall. I'd put a pickup truck body, if possible, if not, I'd put a Stahl or Reading aluminum utility body on it with a sliding cover, without drilling any holes in the ladder frame "C" section web. The 4500 series had a frame which is much deeper just as it goes under the cab this is where the maximum resisting bending moment (RBM) would occur, I'm thinking. The web thickness of the frame is also thicker on the 4500 than on the 2500 or 3500 pick-ups, assuming equal yield strength on all. Frame section modulus is also the greatest on the 4500 series ladder frame as it has a thicker web thickness and deeper frame height, than the 2500 and 3500 series. The GVWR on the 4500 is much greater than the 2500 and the 3500 as well, with heavier springs and axles, front and rear. The Cummins 6.7 liter is a good engine, I don't know if there is a rebuild kit or reclaim kit for that engine, but the price on the diesel option is very, very high, as opposed to a Hemi V8 gasoline engine, or whatever V8 gasoline engine is standard. The ZF transmissions are good transmissions; I'd put an automatic in it, for sheer driving ease.

Actual Chrome on the fron grill area of the 2500 or Chrome Tape?

I just tried to build a 2024 Ram 2500 Tradesman and the Power Wagon option was not available. Can you advise?

$78,000 USD for a fairly bare bones Dodge heavy duty is 🦇💩 crazy.

My 2011 F250 6.7 has 400 hp and 800 Ft-lb torque. So right there with the standard 6.7 Cummins. Love the 6.7 Ford but I think the Cummins is a great engine.

Manual transfer case, ten lug wheels, and bigger brakes for the win. 4500 is it. Thank you for sharing and have a great day.

Id take the 3500 because that's what I have. Short bed SRW with the airbag rear suspension and the HO Cummins. It actually looks like the 2500 you guys own. Silver and night edition.

4500 for the win

I suggested making this video YEARS ago when they would take questions live. Needless to say they said if people wanted to see the difference they can watch all the different Ike Gauntlet videos. They lost me as a viewer after that. Funny enough I’m in the market for 3/4 or 1 ton and this video comes across for me. I guess I’ll wait another 2-3 yrs before I check back in with this channel and see if they gotten any better. Better luck next time.

What happened to the Carly suspension

Yep, prices ARE out of control. And they're going to stay out of control until people stop paying them. If people stopped "needing" a new vehicle every year or two, kept their current vehicles going, were happy with what they had, and STOPPED BUYING NEW CARS, then prices would come down. But just like iPhones, people always gotta be getting the newest thing, and they're fine going into debt to buy it. I wish they would stop.

Prices are crazy. My dad has a 2500 (Cummins engine of course) with an extended bed from 2013 that probably cost half what these 2024 models are going for when he bought it new, and it does everything that a truck needed for hauling/towing needs to do. It has all the creature comforts you could ever want (heated seats/heated steering wheel/seat coolers, leather seats etc). It has all the stuff you would ever want for towing (trailer brake switch, exhaust braking, etc). What do these new trucks offer that would warrant spending DOUBLE the cost for when the previous model cost half that and did everything a truck needs to do (and the model featured in this video had less features in certain contexts)?

The 4500 and 5500 are a heavy duty work truck that mechanics like to use especially if you have to go over scales the down side is the gear ratio is useless because the truck has enough power for a 3.55 gear or taller giving you better fuel economy and longer engine life.

I worked for some people who had a 2019 3500 dually standard output tradesman and the seats were extremely uncomfortable and stiff compared to the 2020 Chevy and 2013 Chevy 3500 dually so that’s my biggest complaint. And I spent almost 15,000 miles total in trips or more in that ram and it was so long and uncomfortable

Any news on the ZF Powerline 8 speed that is coming in the 2025 models ?

Why are 8ft truck beds hard to find anywhere??

3500 dually hands down especially towing a 20K fifth Wheel the stability of the dually makes all the difference.