Njmurvin

My 2020 LT has the leather package which apparently includes the rear seat storage cubbies and the fold down armrest (with cupholders). I believe there was a separate option on cloth seat models for those features. Some of the other features on my truck don't make much sense either. The interior lighting and fog lights are all LED but the head and tail lights are incandescent. I'll probably upgrade those with LED bulbs someday.

How different would the results be if they had used 3500 trucks instead ... bringing the Ram HO Cummins and Aisin into play? For the record, I think the exhaust brake works just fine on my truck when towing my 5th wheel. I just had to get used to how to set it with brake taps. That said, it would be nice if it was more effective in around-own, unloaded driving. My old 2004.5 Ram 3500 with PacBrake worked great in that regard and saved on brakes.

18 inch w/Michelins.

At first I thought this feature might be useful. But, I've never felt I needed it with an auto trans (stick shift is something else). I'll admit it kinda freaked me out the first time it kicked in on my driveway.

I owned a 3rd Gen Ram 3500 Cummins for 16 years before trading up to my Duramax 3500. I only had about 100k on the Ram but it left me stranded twice in the last year (once with the fifth wheel connected) and that's not a good feeling. So, my wife insisted we get something new (who am I to argue with THAT?). For me, the jump was significant: from 325hp to 445hp and 600lbft to 910lbft. Yes, this truck is heavier but the towing experience with my 12k lb fifth wheel is a day and night improvement. With the added power and butter-smooth 10speed auto (vs 4-speed 48RE), my Dmax doesn't even breathe hard - even on 6% and higher climbs. Three factors made me decide to get the Dmax last summer: (1) Inventory was low, so Ram dealers wouldn't deal much and incentives were weak at best, (2) the 2019-2020 Ram trucks that were available at that time had the CP4.2 injection pumps (starting with MY2021 models they're going back to the CP3 pump), and (3) I qualified for the GM Family First discount. I found a truck on a dealer lot about 1 hour from me that fit my needs so I pulled the trigger. All things being equal (price, injection pumps and features), I probably would have gone for the Ram HO with Aisin trans just because of my history with Cummins. But I don't regret at all switching to GM. The longer standard bed, roomier crew cab and that Allison transmission are really nice bonuses. I have no idea which brand will most likely get you to 400,000 km without issues (probably neither). But you're likely to find more high mileage owners over on the Ram forums.

I had the dealer add the GM chrome tubular steps before I took delivery (and they're very nice).

Yes! Options include: Duramax, convenience packages 1 and 2, gooseneck/fifth wheel package, Z71 offroad and protection, leather package, hitch package and Autotrac 2-speed transfer case.

Mine had 2 leaks at <1000 miles. Took it in for a DEF leak which they didn't locate at first. They found an oil leak which I hadn't seen (hadn't started dripping on the garage floor yet). The day they finished fixing that leak (had to order new oil filter adapter plate), they finally saw the DEF leak and fixed it by replacing the DEF injector.

Either truck (GM or Ram) would be roomy for a 6' person. But the rear seat room in the GM CC is really spacious. Loads of foot room or space to put stuff with the seats folded up. I do miss my folding flat floor from my Ram though.

I agree about the room. I'm not tall, but I appreciate the rear leg room in my new truck (especially compared to the smaller quad cab in my old 2004.5 Ram). My neighbor has a 2019 Ram 2500 Mega Cab. It has an elongated cab, but they put the extra space behind the rear seat for storage instead of expanding the leg room. It seems like a missed opportunity to me.

2020 LT with both convenience 1 and 2 packages. All four doors have them. I don't use the rears often. But, when I do, they're very nice.

Not sure about 2021 models, but the 2020 LT did not have LED headlights/taillights if that's important to you.

Two things influenced my decision between a new Ram and the GM: First was price. At the time I bought (summer), Ram dealers had little to no inventory and wouldn't deal. The best I could get was about $4K to $5K off MSRP including incentives (which were paltry at the time). Since I qualified for Family First GM discount, I was able to get over $10K off MSRP with incentives. Second was the CP4.2 fuel pump in the Ram. There were already reports of failures (though not widespread) in the 19-20 model years where this pump is used. There are folks saying that the mid-year 21 models have gone back to the CP3. As a bonus, the Allison/GM transmission in my Chevy shifts like butter and tows like a dream. The Aisin has a great reputation for reliability and towing but many owners report clunky shifting when unloaded. Either would have been a nice upgrade from the 48RE transmission I had in my previous truck - 2004.5 Ram 3500. As far as problems, I had a couple of leaks fixed (one oil and one DEF) and there's a buzz in the dash when the truck is cold. It goes away after about a minute of driving. It's a known issue that I'll have corrected at my next service.

Figuring 20% of trailer GVWR as pin weight (which is an accepted rule of thumb for 5th wheels), that trailer would practically max out my 3500's payload rating. So, your 2500 is going to be 500-600lbs overloaded BEFORE your hitch, stuff in the bed, passengers, dog, etc. You're going to have to hit the scales to see what the actual weights are before you'll know for sure where you are. Air bags are for leveling and ride and don't change your payload capacity. One thing that could help is a light weight hitch. I have the Andersen Ultimate which only weighs 40lbs. But, that's only going to get you 100-200 pounds - at the most - depending on what hitch you have or are contemplating. For me, it was a big change from my Pullrite Superglide that required a hoist to get in and out.

In 1450 miles of ownership: I had a slight DEF leak. They replaced the DEF injector and while in the service bay, they noticed and fixed an engine oil leak at the oil filter adapter. They replaced the adapter. No leaks now. My only remaining issue is a rattle in the dash when first started up (cold engine). It goes away in about a minute of driving. I haven't taken it in for that one yet. It's a known issue (on the Duramax forum).

Not sure what you mean by "adapter". If you want to adapt the OEM pucks to an existing hitch, check out the options on etrailer.com or contact your hitch manufacturer. If you mean the entire hitch, then I have the Andersen Ultimate Hitch. It's aluminum and weighs only about 40lbs. My truck came with the gooseneck ball set (I think it's made by Curt). The AUH connects to the gooseneck ball mounted in the OEM puck center hole. It tows my 12K lb fifth wheel like a dream. My previous truck (Ram 3500 short bed) had a Pull-Rite SuperGlide hitch which was so heavy that it required me to use a hoist to get it in and out. The slightly longer GM standard bed and additional offset from the cab that you get with the AUH made it unnecessary for me to go with a slider hitch.

I had this problem when I picked up my truck new from the dealer. The salesperson said she didn't think it was supposed to open. I told her it has a latch. It has to open. I didn't want to break it by forcing it. So she called someone over from the service department and he fussed with it for several minutes and finally got it to open. It hasn't been a problem since.

I don't have either of those packages. But I do have an LT with the leather option. It's very nice. If you're ordering either of these special editions, they may not include the Convenience 2 package. I saw a review of an All Star Edition on YouTube and he was lamenting some of the features it was missing because it didn't have the Convenience 2 package. I have the Convenience 1 and 2 packages. The only options my truck DIDN'T come with that I wish it had (I didn't order it) are the bed camera and front/rear parking assist.

Some of the parts in your truck (fuel system and emissions related stuff) that lose coverage under the basic GM warranty (at 3yrs/36K) are extended under the Federal Emissions Warranty (5yrs/50K). And if you're in one of these states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington), then you get the California Emissions Warranty (7yrs/70K) on another list of parts (like the turbocharger, diesel fuel injection pump, diesel fuel injectors, DPF, etc.). You can see a list of all the extended coverage parts and which warranties apply to them in your Limited Warranty and Owner Assistance Information booklet.

I don't know ... maybe it's just me. There's something comforting in being able to pull 12K lbs up a 6 degree incline at the speed limit and still have throttle left. Even if a medium sized diesel that would marginally tow my trailer were offered, I'd still probably opt for the big gun. That said, I admit I am biased because my truck is not my daily driver.

Have you had the dealer look at it? I don't drive it enough to be bothered that much by it since the truck is mostly used for towing my 5th wheel. I haven't taken it in yet for its first oil change because I only have 1400 miles on it. If it doesn't get any worse, I'll probably ask them to deal with it when I get my complimentary oil change (which could be late in 2021 if I don't start driving it more :).

I have no idea what Ford's or GM's reasoning is. I can only speculate. I do recall from the Ram 3rd Gen forums that there were at least as many folks with 4.10 gearing wanting to swap out to 3.73 to improve fuel economy as there were with 3.73 wanting go the other way (myself being in the latter group). As I said, it's always nice to have more choices.

Am I reading this right? The upgrade will include navigation? "For vehicles without HD radio, the upgrade will also enable it. For the cost, WAMS will also upgrade your infotainment to include navigation as well." For me, I'll stick to Waze via CarPlay. But for many, that might help justify the price tag.

I think the answer lies in the 10 speed Allison. The Ram trucks have only 6 choices to find the right ratio. I suppose the GM engineers feel that, even with the 3.42 axle, our trucks can easily get a load moving with the lower gears and, once rolling, can always find the sweet spot in the higher gears. Unloaded on the highway, the 3.42s help the fuel economy. All that said, it's always nice to have more choices.

910lbft is already 150% of my previous truck's 600lbft (2004.5 Dodge Ram Cummins 5.9) - not to mention an increase of 120hp. With the Allison transmission and the added HP and TQ, this truck tows my 12k fifth wheel so much more comfortably than my Ram. At some point these TQ wars will have to top out. Downstream components (transmissions, rear ends, axles, etc.) have already become limiting factors. What good is all that power if you have to dial it down via torque management to keep from grenading the rest of your powertrain?