When I was buying I wouldn't look at the Chevy. My last chevy was such a turd I didn't want another. I think they are pretty ugly too.
while you're driving down the interstate take notice of what people are towing with. Seems like it's most are Rams with Fords in a very close second. I haven't seen a whole lot of GMs towing on my travels.
Between a ram 2500 and an F250, I wanted the ford, especially in that tri-coat red they have. But equally optioned they wanted $10,000 more for the ford. With ford's historically depreciating faster than a ram I wasn't willing to shell out more for a pretty red truck that won't be worth as much as the competition in a couple of years.
My goal was to buy a truck and keep it until I die or they make a completely self driving truck. So I was pretty specific with the option list. I ended up with a "cowboy Cadillac" of a ram.
Mine is a 2019 I bought new for $63,500. I stuck with the Laramie package because I wanted a black headliner and I hate the chrome bits on the limited. I stayed with the 8.4" screen, after spending 15 minutes in one with the giant screen I realized it wasn't for me. I like physical buttons. It has the off road package, sunroof, heated and cooled seats, adaptive cruise, etc. I opted for no running boards so I could add a set of AMP research motorized steps, they tuck under the body better than the factory ones. I didn't get the air ride, I'd consider that if I were doing it again.
I DIY the maintenance, so it's not much more than a gas truck. It gets 20 mpg unloaded, between 11 and 12 with 10,000 pounds of enclosed trailer behind it headed from Louisville to the Rubicon and back. I think the aero of the enclosed trailer is the bigger factor than weight, I went to California with the trailer empty, maintained 13-14 including through the mountains of Colorado.
I've not driven the 7.3 gas, and I recognize that modern gas engines can be fantastic, but I don't think I'd consider that over a diesel. When I start seeing gas powered ambulances, fire trucks, straight trucks, and other heavy vehicles that work hard I'll reconsider.
Don't short yourself on the adaptive cruise. It takes a lot of the annoyance of interstate driving away. My truck will bring itself to a stop on the adaptive cruise, and it even works well with a trailer. I probably have used it for at least 20,000 miles now. I was skeptical at first but not any more. It works really well.
If something happens to this truck I'd pretty much be ordering the same truck as a replacement. I have 45,000 on it and I'll have it 4 years this August.
Hopefully something in here helps, but I think it devolved into rambling. Here's a pic.
photos.app.goo.gl
