Bad Timing Bummer: 2015 or newer Tow Vehicle for 5k lbs.

I'm having some pain with my otherwise wonderful 2016 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel. Been in the shop for a month for a glow plug replacement- service manager says possibly another month if they have to replace the head, which requires lifting the cab.  I'm really *really* worried that this might be my future if I keep it. 

So I know this is the worst time in the world to be looking at new(er) cars, but I may have to. We tow our '72 Airstream 23' for camping, and it is what keeps us sane during these weird times. It weighs about 4500 max, on a heavy day.  I'm looking to dump the Ram when I can, and finding something else- need new or newer for long distance quiet and comfort. The Ram was superlative at this... just so quiet and comfortable.  I'd rather not go 3/4 ton or bigger.... they are simply too much for me- I use the truck for commuting purposes through San Francisco and getting around town.  I prefer having the bed vice an suv.

I've always loved Tacomas, they can tow 6400 in 4wd double cab form. And I could still get a manual.  And if my son's '99 is any indicator @240k they seem to run forever and have good resale. 

Any suggestions? I'm half considering buying an extended warranty, because otherwise I like the truck, but I think these just might be lemons, and it may be better to just cut bait.

How about a lightly used V8 Ram like I just wrote about in another thread... Fastenal Trucks

I asked something similar recently, towing a camper with a mid-size. 

And the general consensus was the power and everything is fine, but the travel trailers are a big wind sail that knock around a smaller, shorter wheelbase tow vehicle. 

What is your budget, and how far do you tow the airstream?

In reply to Teh E36 M3 :

Is lemon law something you can actually pursue?  

As for extended warranty, the consensus is to not do it.  

z31maniac said:

I asked something similar recently, towing a camper with a mid-size. 

And the general consensus was the power and everything is fine, but the travel trailers are a big wind sail that knock around a smaller, shorter wheelbase tow vehicle. 

Can't you get the Taco with a crew cab and long bed? I'd be surprised if that is much shorter wheelbase than his current Ram.

Anecdotal knowledge. A buddy had one of those of similar vintage, and had endless problems (under warranty, but so what?). Basically, FCA diesel engines are OK in Europe, but haven't been thoroughly enough tested with US emissions to be reliable. He had the same fix performed several times, only to have it fail again and again. He ditched it for a gas Tundra and never looked back.

Ditch it.

I have a friend that used to have the ecodiesel. In the year and a half he owned it it spent 9 months in the shop. He tried to trade it in on a 2500 Cummins and Dodge would not take it on trade. No more Dodges for him.

He is driving a Chevy now. 

So I googled these motors and got this.

What is wrong with EcoDiesel?

On the 3.0 EcoDiesel the EGR cooler is prone to cracking. Fortunately, in October of 2019, FCA issued a recall for 108,000 EcoDiesel Ram's due to cracking EGR coolers. FCA claimed that hairline cracks in the EGR cooler could cause coolant to leak into the engine bay and cause fires.

What I want to know is how a coolant leak causes a fire?  Are they using the waterless coolant?

John Welsh said:

In reply to Teh E36 M3 :

Is lemon law something you can actually pursue?  

As for extended warranty, the consensus is to not do it.  

also most of the mopar extended warranties dont cover anything useful on the ecodiesels or specifically exclude them.

mtn said:

z31maniac said:

I asked something similar recently, towing a camper with a mid-size. 

And the general consensus was the power and everything is fine, but the travel trailers are a big wind sail that knock around a smaller, shorter wheelbase tow vehicle. 

Can't you get the Taco with a crew cab and long bed? I'd be surprised if that is much shorter wheelbase than his current Ram.

I googled this last night, IIRC a crew cab long bed Tacoma is still about 14" shorter wheelbase. But also much lighter. 

I have a friend whose eco diesel shut down on him on the interstate while towing a crawler jeep. The dealer had it a month and ended up replacing the engine entirely. This post is relevant to my interests as I have about 4k lbs to tow once they trailer I ordered is finished.. I wish there were still sedans rated to tow that much, I daily drove a pickup for 6 years and it really turned me off driving them if I can avoid it.

My friend has a '17 2.7 EcoBoost F150 that I really like, I think it's a good compromise as a DD that's still very capable from a towing perspective (limit is something like 7800 lbs).  He added AirLift bags in the back, and they help keep things level when he's hauling his S550 Mustang GT on a (heavy) UHaul open trailer.  My take is that the F150 will tow far better than the Tacoma, that extra mass and width will make for a more stable platform.

John Welsh said:

In reply to Teh E36 M3 :

Is lemon law something you can actually pursue?  

As for extended warranty, the consensus is to not do it.  

Question:  If you actually buy an extended warranty for your car or truck, do the robocalls stop?