Colorado diesel or Ram diesel???

13794 Views 15 Replies 9 Participants Last post by SteveLNew, Sep 3, 2020

Benoitmaillol

Discussion Starter · Nov 13, 2016

Current owner of 05 ram 2500 Cummins to tow trailer / with 2 UTV. Total trailer weight around 5500 lbs.
Need to upgrade old dodge with a new 2016 truck.
I am told by most to get another Ram 2500 diesel or Ram 1500 ecodiesel. Drove both and both are very nice trucks that perform well, but I am very interested in getting Colorado diesel hoping to see better mpg while towing as well as truck alone! I travel abt 25-30 kmi/ year with abt 10kmi towing trailer. I have not had the chance to test drive a Colorado diesel yet!

Those of you that tow with the Colorado, how does the suspension feel pulling that kind of weight? Or should I plan to install airbags?
How about overall performance while towing? I usually run around 65-70 mph. Could Colorado maintain such speed while towing ? What kind of mpg might I see at those speeds?
How abt merging in traffic? Is there enough torque to get going ? Or to the opposite, is ir pretty sluggish?

I thank you in advance for your replies

B.

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1 - 16 of 16 Posts

mrbones

· #2 · Nov 13, 2016

I just got done towing this on Friday. It was around roughly 5k. You can see the truck hardly squatted. Truck handled it fine, stopped it well had plenty of torque on take off, getting up to highway speeds wasn't the quickest, but it managed and I didn't feel like it was struggling. Averaged about 17mpg with about 70% city, was about 26-28 unloaded and around 19-22 loaded on the highway at 60mph. Just wished I had tow mirrors for when I was backing up with being a narrower truck. But father in law has an eco diesel and hauls about 6k pretty much all over the country and loves his. Best he has gotten was 34 mpg with it.

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SteveLNew

· #3 · Feb 16, 2017

I will say... There are pros and cons to both trucks. (as with every vehicle)
The Dodge does have more HP & TQ (with a programmer you can get those #'s out of the Colorado as well) ( you can add one on a Dodge too )
Towing and hauling are about equal really. Dodge has about 300lbs more in towing. ( not very much more for a full size truck )

So for me it came down to size and price.

I looked at both.
The dodge was going to run me about $38000 fully loaded (after trade in) and its big, but does barely fit in my garage. (big is a pro and a con)
The Colorado ran me $25,000 fully loaded (after trade in) It fits in the garage with lots of room to spare.

Both both are great trucks I think.
I will say, the fully loaded on a Dodge is actually Fully loaded. Power rear windows, Sunroof, Heated and AC seats.
On the Colorado... Manual rear sliding glass, ( that's just dumb for a 2017 truck) No sunroofs, nor AC Seats. ( again I will miss my ac seats )

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oak1971

· #4 · Oct 26, 2019

My Colorado does 32 and change on the super slab.

oak1971

· #5 · Oct 26, 2019

Of course, the new 3.0 Duramax is out too.

DeeK

· #6 · Oct 26, 2019

Doesn't look like the 3.0 has direct injection?

oak1971

· #7 · Oct 26, 2019

I looked for specs, but came up empty.

DurmaxPowderHound

· #8 · Jun 26, 2020

IMO, both trucks are up to the task of towing your current setup. The Ram EcoDiesel, or any other half ton diesel for that matter, are of course going to do it a little more effortless than the Colorado will. But the Colorado isn't going to do that much worse and will still tow your load at 65-70 MPH on highways with relative ease. Both are also more or less of a draw when it comes to fuel economy. Both can also handle a bigger load, but obviously the Ram EcoDiesel has more potential.

If things like a smaller vehicle size and a less expensive rig are more important to you, get the Colorado. If things like having a roomy vehicle with the ability to eventually put an even bigger load behind it, get the Ram EcoDiesel.

oak1971

· #9 · Jun 26, 2020

SteveLNew said:
I will say... There are pros and cons to both trucks. (as with every vehicle)
The Dodge does have more HP & TQ (with a programmer you can get those #'s out of the Colorado as well) ( you can add one on a Dodge too )
Towing and hauling are about equal really. Dodge has about 300lbs more in towing. ( not very much more for a full size truck )

So for me it came down to size and price.

I looked at both.
The dodge was going to run me about $38000 fully loaded (after trade in) and its big, but does barely fit in my garage. (big is a pro and a con)
The Colorado ran me $25,000 fully loaded (after trade in) It fits in the garage with lots of room to spare.

Both both are great trucks I think.
I will say, the fully loaded on a Dodge is actually Fully loaded. Power rear windows, Sunroof, Heated and AC seats.
On the Colorado... Manual rear sliding glass, ( that's just dumb for a 2017 truck) No sunroofs, nor AC Seats. ( again I will miss my ac seats )

Had a power slider on my 2015 Sierra SLT. Actually, the Colorado interior is pretty low rent for the price. It took me awhile to appreciate just how inferior it is compared to the full size. I don't get why GM went all trailer park in there, makes me sad.

SFLTruck

· #10 · Jun 27, 2020

oak1971 said:
Had a power slider on my 2015 Sierra SLT. Actually, the Colorado interior is pretty low rent for the price. It took me awhile to appreciate just how inferior it is compared to the full size. I don't get why GM went all trailer park in there, makes me sad.

"I don't get why GM went all trailer park in there"
LMAO... thanks I needed that!

oak1971

· #11 · Jun 27, 2020

Any time. I'm here all week. Try the shrimp. 2 for one Whiskey Tonic Tuesday.

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Duken4evr

· #12 · Jun 30, 2020

The Eco diesel is on it's 3rd generation. That is a pro - it would seem they have learned from past issues. In contrast to the 2.8's 6L50 trans, the 3.0 also comes with a nice slick shifting 8 speed, another big pro. Even though it is a FS truck, the fuel economy of the 3.0 is not that far off what our trucks manage.

If they are the same money and size is not a consideration, I would go with the RAM, honestly. The RAM does have a better interior - really RAM is the best of all the trucks in this area at any comparable trim level. Dollar for dollar and truck for the money, the RAM would seem to be a no brainer really.

Size was a big consideration for me, and for that reason I do like my Canyon. A FS truck is cumbersome for daily driving, and would not fit in my garage. It is important to me that my new $40,000 leathered out truck be clean, waxed and garaged, and not left out there in the hot/cold cruel world

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oak1971

· #13 · Jul 2, 2020

Ram/Fiat=Disaster waiting to happen. You'll need that nice interior when it breaks and leaves you stranded. It can be your motel until the tow truck arrives.

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Channing

· #14 · Sep 2, 2020

Oil changes on the Ram are stupid expensive I heard, hope the Chevy isn’t bad as that’s what I’m interested in.

SFLTruck

· #15 · Sep 2, 2020

If you change your oil yourself you're looking at under $60.00

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SteveLNew

· #16 · Sep 3, 2020

I agree... I got at least 4 free oil changes from them and it took them forever!!! ( hours and hours )
When I did it myself... It took about15 minutes. ( that's probably because I was playing with the dog also )
Literally one of the easiest oil change you can do on a vehicle.
Even if you get the filter from GM. The whole change will cost, with oil, about $80 and 10-15 minutes.
Plus you won't get that dirty either.

Fuel filter is the same... I was shocked how fast as easy that was as well.

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