New 2025 RAM Cummins MPG

[Fightnfire]

New Cummins engine! New transmission! More gears! Better for efficiency!

Still 1mpg less, ~6% less efficient than the Duramax and the Powerstroke.

I don't get it?

 

[TheDo114]

New Cummins engine! New transmission! More gears! Better for efficiency!

Still 1mpg less, ~6% less efficient than the Duramax and the Powerstroke.

I don't get it?

It would be interesting to see how the old Cummins compared on this exact loop, see if they actually gained efficiency from before.

 

[Fightnfire]

It would be interesting to see how the old Cummins compared on this exact loop, see if they actually gained efficiency from before.

I wondered that too, it may very well be an improvement from previous but damn, that's a lot of money for worst still. Completely all new engine and transmission. I would have wanted to see them compete at least.

 

[testerdahl]

I wondered that too, it may very well be an improvement from previous but damn, that's a lot of money for worst still. Completely all new engine and transmission. I would have wanted to see them compete at least.

Years ago, while my Dad still worked at GM in the engineering building, he went down to the HD chief engineer and asked him why those trucks don't get better MPG. The guy looked at him and said, "nobody gives a sh*t about MPGs in an HD truck."

Clear cut answer. LOL

 

[Fightnfire]

Years ago, while my Dad still worked at GM in the engineering building, he went down to the HD chief engineer and asked him why those trucks don't get better MPG. The guy looked at him and said, "nobody gives a sh*t about MPGs in an HD truck."

Clear cut answer. LOL

One of the hats I wear at work is managing our commercial fleet which is up and down the West Coast and Texas I assure you we care about it greatly. I can understand that back in the day it probably didn't matter much when diesel was cheap but it ain't cheap anymore and everybody I know in the fleet industry is paying very close attention to MPG.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

I think it boils down to weight and aerodynamics including the undercarriage. More stuff trapping air, the worse the fuel mileage.

Also throw in the rolling resistance of the tires.

 

[testerdahl]

So… I’m getting the Ram 2500 on Tuesday. I’m usually the loan right after TFL. What do you want to see?

 

[Fightnfire]

Honestly, I get the interiors are nice in RAM trucks but for me that's not very important. All the interiors in new trucks are plenty nice. In saying that, id like to see a deep dive on price vs Chevy and Ford trim for trim etc. and an actual comparison of capability, space, features etc.

It seems like RAM is pricey in comparison but I trust you to figure that out.

More torque and new transmission is nice but was it enough? It doesn't seem it actually did much for the performance/capability on the limited videos I've seen.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Mileage test! Loaded and unloaded.

How does it ride over railroad tracks and potholes.

Can you do donuts with it?

Does it do those annoying over the air updates?

Does it have a grab handle for the driver?

Can you crawl under it without having to jack it up and put it on stands?

How easy is it to get the oil filter?

How much does it cost to replace the taillights?

 

[testerdahl]

Honestly, I get the interiors are nice in RAM trucks but for me that's not very important. All the interiors in new trucks are plenty nice. In saying that, id like to see a deep dive on price vs Chevy and Ford trim for trim etc. and an actual comparison of capability, space, features etc.

It seems like RAM is pricey in comparison but I trust you to figure that out.

More torque and new transmission is nice but was it enough? It doesn't seem it actually did much for the performance/capability on the limited videos I've seen.

Are you thinking more along the lines of the build and price videos I do where I talk through various trucks, options, etc...?

Here's the sticker FYI.

 

[testerdahl]

Fleet office took this pic. I've emailed them about if the bed has a 5th wheel setup. We have some nicer weather here this week and I was thinking of doing a camper towing video if they have the setup.

 

[Fightnfire]

I'm thinking a typical Tim review and then maybe tie it all together with your thoughts about the pricing structure in comparison to similar trims, capabilities, features of Ford/Chevy etc. I've only watched a handful of videos on the new 2025 and from the limited videos I've seen so far it seems to be pretty pricey in comparison but no one has done a real solid breakdown and come to a conclusion. I know in TFL's videos they're comparing to a Silverado Trail Boss 2500, which is a relatively inexpensive trim. The RAM, in their viedeo, is something like $27k more. You get a nicer interior but functionality of that interior seems to be pretty close and the Chevy seems to blow it away in actual capability. Payload, Towing, Accelleration, MPG, interior space etc.

A build video may be the way to go to look at actual features, maybe you get more cheaper in the RAM standard? I don't know.

 

[TheDo114]

I second @Fightnfire points about comparing to the equivalent GM and Ford trims. RAM seems to be extremely expensive compare to the competition and seems to be performing worst.

I know you have a bad relationship with the RAM dealer in town @testerdahl, but do you think you could get your hands on a 2023/2024 and compare gas mileage on a loop?

I know truck guys, on the internet cough cough, say that they don't care about fuel millage, but it's nonsense to me. It's the thing that makes the most difference in the cost of ownership and it can be thousands of dollars per year in difference, especially in the lower mpg bracket that trucks usually evolved in. 45mpg vs 50 mpg is not that big of difference. 12mpg vs 17mpg is a humongous difference and can result in thousands of dollars saved per truck per year.

 

[testerdahl]

I second @Fightnfire points about comparing to the equivalent GM and Ford trims. RAM seems to be extremely expensive compare to the competition and seems to be performing worst.

I know you have a bad relationship with the RAM dealer in town @testerdahl, but do you think you could get your hands on a 2023/2024 and compare gas mileage on a loop?

I know truck guys, on the internet cough cough, say that they don't care about fuel millage, but it's nonsense to me. It's the thing that makes the most difference in the cost of ownership and it can be thousands of dollars per year in difference, especially in the lower mpg bracket that trucks usually evolved in. 45mpg vs 50 mpg is not that big of difference. 12mpg vs 17mpg is a humongous difference and can result in thousands of dollars saved per truck per year.

I texted a few friends and one of them thinks his employee's Dad has a 24 Ram 2500 with the Cummins. I'm seeing if it is the high output or standard output. There were two for the 2024 model year and the 2025 has the one high output basically now.

It is funny to me that so many people online bash Ram trucks, yet I see them everywhere around me. If I had to guess, I'd say my area is 60% Ram HD and the rest split with Ford and GM. I see mostly Fords for fleets.

On the comparison, I'm searching dealership lots right now.

 

[Fightnfire]

In my area it seems pretty split across the three in total but I do think the newer ones I see tend to be Ford/GM, less new RAM's.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

I see tons of Rams here in Southwest Florida.

I also like the build idea.

 

[Patriotgunt]

Maybe you could confirm the mpg. The TFL results could have been impacted by a regen.

 

[Fightnfire]

I paid attention out driving around today and my area seems to be dominated by Ford at nearly a 2:1 count with GM and RAM being relatively equal I think RAM would eventually beat GM if I kept counting. This is heavy duty.

 

[chaseydog]

If I look out at the parking lot at work or in the driveways in my neighborhood there is easily one Ford for every other brand of truck combined. Take Ford out of the picture and Ram probably beats out Chevy/GM and Toyota.

 

[TheDo114]

In my area it's not even close. It has to be Ford -> GMC -> RAM -> Chevrolet. Ford being 3 to 1 to GMC. The newer GMC HD's seem to be gaining ground, I don't remember ever seeing that many around, but they killed it in the looks department and the engine is smooth as silk.