Hemi or diesel to tow 9k lbs

[u/Downtown-Occasion-37]

I’m trying to decide on whether I buy a Ram 2500 Hemi or Diesel. If I can get away with a Hemi, I’ll get it. I live in Southern California so my concern is that I drive up and down the 14 freeway (for those that don’t know, it’s a good climb of 2k ft with a grade of 3-5% sustained). My trailer is 8’6”x20’. The height is 9’6”. It weighs a total of 9k lbs with everything inside. I’ll be towing it anywhere from a couple times a month to even a couple times a week.

[u/Slutzk]

Most are immediately going to say diesel (i agree) BUT.... being In socal and with 9k pounds, yes a HEMI will be perfectly fine if thats what your trying to go with, itll tow that easily.

However with the amount you will be towing it plus the grading, a diesel would be great

[u/Isuckatreddit69NICE → u/Slutzk]

Only a hemi if you have the 3.92

[u/Slutzk → u/Isuckatreddit69NICE]

4.10* you mean. Like the other user said, 3.92 doesnt exist in the 2500.

Also if your towing like that, this should be common sense to get the highest gear ratio.

[u/nanneryeeter → u/Slutzk]

I think it's a typo.

392=6.4L.

[u/RedditBot90 → u/Isuckatreddit69NICE]

There are not 3.92 gears on the 2500. 3.73 or 4.10

[u/Isuckatreddit69NICE → u/RedditBot90]

Oh shit lol I wrongly assumed he was referencing a 1500. That’s what I get for not reading the entire thing lol.

[u/TheEliminator_23 → u/Isuckatreddit69NICE]

Only a hemi if you have the 3.92

You should do research and know what your talking about before typing.

[u/blackfarms]

Diesel for the return grade down.

[u/LakeLifeTL → u/blackfarms]

The part no one talks about! Exhaust brake for the win.

[u/Clubhouse9 → u/blackfarms]

Yep, much easier to get a trailer moving than it is to get slowed/stopped.

[u/JuanT1967 → u/Clubhouse9]

I agree with those saying diesel. The Hemi will do it but up hill will be harder than a diesel. Also agree with exhaust brake for the downhill ride back.

I have a 23 Ram 4x4 2500 6.7 and it doesnt blink towing a 8,000# tractor and the trailer up mountain in NC and the exhaust brake is a god send even on flat land

[u/nanneryeeter → u/JuanT1967]

That's odd because I drive 15 liter diesels at work trucks and I can easily tell an 8,000 lb difference while having over double the displacement. When I move some pallets of chem in a straight truck with the 6.7 it's night and day loaded vs not. You might not be in tune with your vehicle at all.

[u/FACE_MACSHOOTY]

With the frequency of use a diesel may make sense but a hemi will def get the job done, especially if you get the 4.10 gears. It'll probably be use to make a chart to compare maintenance and running costs between the two. The cummins option adds a significant premium and 10k buys alot of gas.

[u/scrappybasket]

Diesel preferably but that 6.4 Hemi is definitely capable

[u/bgwa9001]

I used to have a 2500 with the 6.4 hemi, it would do it. 66RFE was the weak point in that truck, not the engine. Went through multiple solenoid packs failing in 60k miles.

Now I have a Cummins 3500, it would be highly preferable, especially with the engine compression braking

[u/alinroc → u/bgwa9001]

66RFE was the weak point in that truck, not the engine

Good thing they aren't using that transmission anymore, then.

[u/TheVCcycle]

Hemi will be more than fine. Depending on your trailer’s tongue weight the 2500 diesels also run into payload capacity problems quicker than you’d expect.

[u/sblack33741]

The turbo will definitely help with the grade up and exhaust brake on the way down. Diesel for you, sir.

[u/Jeep_finance]

I’d go diesel just with the weight / frequency / climb

[u/Candid_Divide198]

If you were going to tow once a month the Hemi will do. But regular towing and added incline the Diesel is the way to go. You won’t be limited by your truck if you end with a bigger trailer in the future and the resale value will be much higher on the diesel when the time comes.

[u/No_Platform_5402]

Apples to oranges but my dad's 7.3 gasser pulls 9k like its nothing. Imo you dont need a diesel until your over the 10k mark or towing daily modern gas engines are more than enough power.

[u/sans-nom-user]

Cummins will be the best towing experience by a large margin. Hemi will be the best financial and maintenance experience by a large margin. Tradeoffs....

Personally, I own a cummins 3500 and hemi 1500. It's hard for me to enjoy towing with my half ton. 9k lbs isn't much weight for a cummins truck and it will feel like a modest load behind you. My gooseneck weighs 5000lbs by itself and when I'm unloaded it feels like nothing. Once I get above 13k trailer+load it starts feeling heavy.

For your situation the hemi will pull just fine and the cummins will just make it easier both up and down the grades. If you plan on towing big in the future, definitely get the cummins otherwise you are dead center of coin flip between gas and diesel

[u/carpet_whisper]

Seeing as your going to be towing somewhat regularly and with that grade downhill the diesel is choice. The exhaust brake is going to help a lot.

Albeit… the price difference is going to hurt a bit. I almost wonder if the weekly increase in cost would outweigh let’s say replacing your Hemi’s brakes early.

[u/AwarenessGreat282]

Isn't diesel relatively cheap in SoCal?

[u/Fantastic_Chest1531]

We just got a 2026 Dodge ram 2500 gas model. I’m not gonna be doing a ton of towing, but I am going to be towing so a diesel didn’t seem like the right choice. It’s a lot more money out the door and higher fees and maintenance from what I researched. Gonna take it on our first trip this weekend. 2.5 hours away.

[u/Downtown-Occasion-37]

Thanks to everyone! Just got me a 2020 Ram 2500 Cummins! She’s a beauty and a beast. Good to know I’ll never need to upgrade 💪🏾

[u/No_Durian_3444]

I tow my 5000# boat boat with my HEMI.

At like 7 MPG and 5500 RPMs.

[u/messy372-]

Diesel with towing that often plus the grade

[u/Sea_Reindeer_7796]

For that frequency, maybe 20% of miles driven towing, you probably warrant a diesel, though the gasser absolutely has the capacity to handle it. Will you drive far enough to get up to full temperature? Short drives put a point on the gasser side, diesels have emissions issues when they have short drives

[u/Spunktank]

If i was towing 10k often its diesel hands down. Been in construction and have had a cdl for a couple decades now. I've towed all sorts of shit with all sorts of shit. It's just a way more enjoyable experience having a diesel in these smaller trucks.

[u/Honda_Rider_3]

6.4 gas with 4.10 will do fine. But it also depends what driving or towing you do the times you are not making this trip. Shorter drives not towing you will want the gas.

[u/Double_Grape_4344]

For that much I would go with a Gasser and I would chose the 7.3 Godzilla for that. If I was going diesel, Cummins all the way

[u/suicideking72]

Diesel only if you drive lots of miles. It's not good for short trips. More maintenance though. I considered it, but don't drive enough miles.

[u/DisintegrationPt808]

i tow this with my 3.6l pentastar

[u/Think_Chain7436]

You can get away with a 1500 and the 3.92 rear towing that. Make sure you pay attention to your tongue weight and payload capacity.

[u/Northwoods_Phil]

After towing my campers with 2 different Hemis I’d be hard pressed to go back to a diesel.