Best Bang for the buck Chevy 6.0 or Dodge Hemi

[HighSpeedPursuit]

I am looking for a used truck. I had my mind pretty much set on the Ram 1500 with the Hemi. It will be used to pull my 7500lb boat and for a daily driver. I also like the Chevy 2500hd with the 6.0, but it has 75hp less for and a larger c.i engine. I am pretty sure both will pull fine. I know people are passionate about there trucks like there outboards so lets have it. I am also a Toyota fan, but am not spending 40K for one of those.

[Space Wrangler]

Hemi

[CMP]

I have 240 k on a 1999 Dodge 2500. Buy the hemi...

CMP

[andyp262]

i thought the 6.0 was making at least 350hp?

[jwb]

don't know about the 6.0 but I just sold my hemi and figure 13mpg as your daily driver.

[HighSpeedPursuit]

Thanks for the replies. I know all these trucks drink gas, this is a sad fact.

[terps]

Dusky, if you decide on the Ram, I live in Palm Beach County and I'm probably going to have mine for sale soon. It's a 2WD 2004 Laramie Quad Cab, loaded. 5.7 Hemi, 3.92, tow package, anti-spin, 8900 tow rating. 30,000 miles. It's silver with light leather interior. Mobil 1 since the 3rd oil change.
I've added line-x, stainless nerf bars. It's still under factory warranty, and it also has another 4 years and 40,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper Chrysler Warranty, transferable for $50 or so. Reason for selling is my wife is up my a** about it, as it's against the rules in our neighborhood and she wants an SUV. Let me know if you're interested and want pics, thanks.

[fishquest]

Both are good vehicles.

[HighSpeedPursuit]

Terps.. I sent you a pm. Wow, cant have a truck in the Neighborhood...

[capt esquare]

I you are going to compare the two trucks you mentioned, thats hard because they are very different with different tow ratings built for two different worlds. Now if you want to compare the hemi to the new 6.0 Max that will work because they are both 1500 series trucks. If money does not matter buy the 6.0. Good lucl

[NCDave]

If your looking for a excellent used truck and dont mind Ford,,, check out this super duty with the 7.3L international turbo diesel!!! All the tow truck you'll ever need! THT member selling his truck:

http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/t...168442&posts=5

[carbo]

Buy the Hemi..............then I'll drive around you pulling the same tow load in my Titan. And the Tundra will go around me.....and we will all pass the ford F150. Seriously I would look into that new Tundra, it's a beast . And my Titan is a ton more fun than the F150 AND F250 I had previuosly, and tows better than my old 01 F250.(5.4)


Sorry I re-read you want used.............and the tundra is way under 40 unless you really load it up.......thought i saw some decent discouts also.

[vettnman]

The 6.0 is 345 hp in the silverado SS and the escalade. I have the SS. It has a 7400# towing capacity and is a towing beast. However, it is a thirsty beast and more expensive than the hemi. Still love my SS though. Great motor, just thirsty.

[B-Faithful]

I have driven them both as my buddy owns a 2500 dodge and my father has a 2500HD. I really like the dodge. However, when towing the Rams have to lock out the top two gears and there is no shift pattern change when towing. Chevy has the option of selecting just to lock out the top gear by the column shiffter and it has a tow mode that changes the shift patterns when towing. For towing, I really like the Chevy. For daily driving, I like the dodge. How much do you tow vs. daily driving.

BTW, the 6.0 Chevy may get worse fuel mileage not towing but I believe it does noticably better towing. (my buddy's ram gets ~7.9mpg towing my boat and I believe my father does better than that towing his heavier 27 Judge). Both trucks have 4.10's in the rear

[bowhuntrrl]

Having worked in a Dodge dealership until last year, I would advise the Chevy. First of all, the Hemi is not really a hemi, only called that for marketing. Secondly, the gas mileage sucks, as does the ride, and the auto trannies. The Chev will give a much better ride and more torque for towing all the while using less gas. I sold my Dodge and now use a Tahoe to tow my boat.

[prockvoan]

I tow boats long distance and had in the pass always used dodge trucks with the 360ci.When it was time to buy a new truck,they couldn't get me the 360ci,so I tryed a so called "hemi".With the salesman with me which has sold many trucks to me,he told me to drive it like I want.All I could say is,What a piece of Sh-t!If it wasn't for the tranie,that motor wouldn't be crap!Now the salesman,which is a friend even said so himself!After test riding a 2500 GM with the 6.0,I was more happy,but they didn't want to get off the price.I waited around a month and my friend from dodge gave me a call and told me he could sell me a new dodge 2500 with the 5.9L cummins at a lower price then the 2500 GM with the 6.0L gaser.I never owned a diesel truck in the pass nor in the market to ever own one,but that is the best move I ever did.Will I ever go back to a gaser?Not in my life time!Very big difference in towing anything.

You are looking into used trucks,you might want to look into a diesel truck too!I tow around 8200lbs at 70-75mph and get around 16mpg.Not towing,I get around 19mpg.Oh,the cummins comes with a 100,000 mile warranty,check it out!Do look at ones built after Dec 2004 if you do look.

[C Dave]

Just look in the used car lots around your area. you'll see five Dodge trucks to one Chevy or Gmc, must be a reason. Try finding a two or three year old 2500HD chevy, it's hard to do. looks like people hang on to them. good luck with what ever you get.

[tprice]

I bought an 04 Hemi 1500 4x4 back in May.

Really never been much of a Dodge fan but I liked the way the truck looked and it had been sitting for a couple of months at a business.

I called the guy and stopped by and drove it figuring I would not really like it. I had already price checked and made him an offer and he took it so I now OWN a Hemi.

I really do like the truck and it pulls my boat very well even though I have not pulled it on the HWY but once.

Fuel mileage is right aroudn 13 around town and when I get on the road it will jump up to 17 according to the onboard MPG display

I still miss my Suburban but really wanted to go back to a truck.

I think the Ford's give a better ride and the Chevy's seem to hold value well and you do not see many of them for sale.

I do think new or used the Dodge Hemi is the best bang for the buck and this is from a long time Chevy owner

[andyp262]

6.0 vortec is 353hp. i just looked. and now with a 6spd trannie too. owning a diesel with an auto transmission that is out of warranty is scary to me

[okletsfish]

The fact that the Dodge is a 1/2 ton and the Chevy is a 3/4 ton and you are gonna be pulling 7500#`s which would point me toward the Chevy.Both engines should do the job.