When I buy a vehicle, I usually keep it until it either rots or nickle-and-dimes me to death. As seen from my signature, I've got ~290,000 miles on my 2004 Dakota, which I bought new. Lots of normal replacement parts over the years, but no major engine problems; just clutches, radiators, tires, water pumps, front bearings, brakes, regular oil changes (synthetic of course), etc - and it's still smooth driving.
Anyway, this truck won't last forever and I'm getting a bit tired of using a clutch as I'm creeping near 70yr old - ha ha. So I'm looking to eventually replace it with a Dodge 1500 4x4 crew cab, towing and off-road pkgs with 6'4" bed. I'll be towing a small travel trailer sometimes throughout the Pacific Northwest with lots of mountains and lots of flat farm land, too. My main question is which engine to get; the 3.6L v6 (with 3.55 rear end) or the 5.7L hemi. I'm leaning toward the 3.6 because I'm mainly looking for good mileage and don't like the idea of needing to use higher octane fuel with the hemi. But, I'm not familiar at all with the e-torque system other than reading lots of posts on this forum. For the 2021 trucks, at least when using the ramtrucks build page, one can't choose the 3.6 and 5.7 without e-torque (I don't want the diesel).
Since I plan on keeping this new truck for years and lots of miles, is there enough long-term data on the 3.6L engine to state that, with proper maintenance and the creek don't rise, the 3.6L will/can last for 2-300,000 miles? I know the hemi can last that long, but not sure about these new-fangled e-torque rigs. Any thoughts are appreciated.
A couple of questions do come to mind:
1. What happens when the 48-volt battery goes belly up; cost, availability, etc.?
2. Is it true that the only engine available for the 2021 1500s without e-torque is the 3.0L diesel?
Anyway, this truck won't last forever and I'm getting a bit tired of using a clutch as I'm creeping near 70yr old - ha ha. So I'm looking to eventually replace it with a Dodge 1500 4x4 crew cab, towing and off-road pkgs with 6'4" bed. I'll be towing a small travel trailer sometimes throughout the Pacific Northwest with lots of mountains and lots of flat farm land, too. My main question is which engine to get; the 3.6L v6 (with 3.55 rear end) or the 5.7L hemi. I'm leaning toward the 3.6 because I'm mainly looking for good mileage and don't like the idea of needing to use higher octane fuel with the hemi. But, I'm not familiar at all with the e-torque system other than reading lots of posts on this forum. For the 2021 trucks, at least when using the ramtrucks build page, one can't choose the 3.6 and 5.7 without e-torque (I don't want the diesel).
Since I plan on keeping this new truck for years and lots of miles, is there enough long-term data on the 3.6L engine to state that, with proper maintenance and the creek don't rise, the 3.6L will/can last for 2-300,000 miles? I know the hemi can last that long, but not sure about these new-fangled e-torque rigs. Any thoughts are appreciated.
A couple of questions do come to mind:
1. What happens when the 48-volt battery goes belly up; cost, availability, etc.?
2. Is it true that the only engine available for the 2021 1500s without e-torque is the 3.0L diesel?