2 time Tundra owner. Hate to say it, but Toyota probably won't be my next pickup. If you own a new(ish) Ram with the TT Hurricane, I'd like to hear your experience. Electronics, batteries, thermostats, towing etc.

Curious as well. In the past I wouldn't touch a Dodge truck but since GM, Ford, and now Toyota are experiencing so many problems with their drivetrains I think I'd give Dodge a close look. I understand the ZF 8-speed transmission is a very good one but I haven't heard much about the hurricane I-6.

No experience with the hurricane, but they brought the hemi back after less than a year...

quote:

Originally posted by MRBTX:
2 time Tundra owner. Hate to say it, but Toyota probably won't be my next pickup. If you own a new(ish) Ram with the TT Hurricane, I'd like to hear your experience. Electronics, batteries, thermostats, towing etc.

Curious why you're abandoning Toyota? I'm in the market for another full size pickup truck but not sure what to buy. My 2010 Tundra has served me well and I've only had to perform basic maintenance except for a air pump that went bad that set me back 1300 bucks to have fixed. There is rust forming on the frame but the truck is 15 years old and we have to deal with salt/brine solution in the winter.

My biggest concern with any vehicle purchase is longevity since I'm retired and its no longer in my budget to buy a new vehicle every 4 or 5 years so whatever I buy needs to last me 10 years and well north of 100000 miles without spending a ton of money on repairs.

Here's a good article in car and driver comparing the top 10 pickup trucks for 2025.

https://www.caranddriver.com/ram/1500

https://www.motortrend.com/new...-pickup-lexus-lx-suv

The big# engine recall/replacement that's going on. If I'm gonna leave the v8 platform, I want to get the best bang for the buck. I don't have a need for a super duty, and sadly any GM product is not on my radar.

Didn't Toyota abandon the v8 for the Tundra, and an I4 for the Tacoma, ram found out quickly that truck owners want a V8.

Toyota trucks looks good, and the V6 I-Force makes good power, but Imagine the loss of the v8 and V6 for Taco might change things.

quote:

Originally posted by MRBTX:
https://www.motortrend.com/new...-pickup-lexus-lx-suv

The big# engine recall/replacement that's going on. If I'm gonna leave the v8 platform, I want to get the best bang for the buck. I don't have a need for a super duty, and sadly any GM product is not on my radar.

I heard about the Tundra issue and Toyota replacing engines from 2022/23 Tundras vehicles which doesn't overly concern me since Toyota is replacing every engine. My biggest concern is even though Toyota went from a V8 to a V6 mileage is still poor and getting no where near what's advertised on the windows sticker. I haul my motorcycle cross country once/twice a year so good gas mileage is a concern.

I've bought my last two 5.7 Hemi Ram 1500s from a neighbor who owns multiple dealerships including CDJR* and Ford. These were his personal vehicles that he was about to turn in after owning them for four years (2013 and 2019 respectively), and they were show-room ready when I bought them. He now owns a Ram 1500 with the 3.0 Hurricane, and in his own words "I didn't like it at first, but now I love it." He tows a 22' enclosed trailer with his race car, tools, and spare sets of tires with this truck and has no complaints about the Hurricane's towing ability. Based on his experience I trust this man's opinion.

We recently purchased a Wagoneer with the Hurricane motor and I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I like it. Our journey to Wagoneer ownership started with the intent to buy used, and we drove drove three different year models starting with the 5.7 Hemi. Same motor as my Ram 1500 with the commensurate performance which was no surprise and with no complaints. The next two test drives were in models with the 3.0 Hurricane. I was very surprised at how much more responsive to gas pedal input the vehicle was. And while I can't quantify or prove it, this Wagoneer felt comparatively more nimble and maneuverable. The highway gas mileage is far better than the 5.7 Hemi as well. My Ram consistently turns in 16-17 mpg with a tonneau bed cover while the 3.0 Wagon is doing 23-24 mpg.

We ended up buying new because the price difference wasn't that much more and having a full factory warranty is nice. I can't speak to the electronics, batteries or thermostats that you asked for, but I researched the heck out of this Wagoneer and do not remember seeing any adverse comments about these items related to the 3.0 Hurricane.


* Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram

I'm on my 4th Ram. 1 4.7 V8, 2 5.7 HEMIs, and my current Eco diesel so I don't have any first hand experience with the I6 hurricane.

I looked briefly at the V6 in a Ram and I quickly decided I wanted a V8. From what I've read, the I6 hurricane has overheating issues, needs a turbo or 2 to make the power and I think it has less towing capacity. I'm of the opinion that when an engine has to work harder, it will fail sooner. Add in extra complexity like turbo chargers and the odds of failures go up.

As someone who has towed a boat from Florida to Canada and back, twice, a 6cyl in a full sized truck for towing is not an option.

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:
<<snip>>
I'm of the opinion that when an engine has to work harder, it will fail sooner. Add in extra complexity like turbo chargers and the odds of failures go up.

As someone who has towed a boat from Florida to Canada and back, twice, a 6cyl in a full sized truck for towing is not an option.

I was about to make this same point. Though I do not have a dog in this fight, I do have an issue with car makers going with smaller engines, then making them work harder by adding complexity; i.e., turbos or superchargers to get the power back up!

ANY mechanical device that has to work closer to its maximum limit with wear out quicker, or fail catastrophically sooner. Added complexity only adds to the frequency of repair, and the cost! Before my current family issues happened, I was thinking of replacing my 2013 Jetta with another one that was newer and nicer. Unfortunately VW had discontinued the decades-old 2.5L inline 5-cylinder which most VW mechanics considered "bullet proof", and replaced it with a smaller 4-cyl engine that needed a turbo to match the 2.5L's power and torque. I didn't want a smaller engine working harder, and sure as heck didn't want to add the complexity and cost of a turbo, so I'll just keep my 2013 Jetta until it can no longer be repaired!

My opinion, 6 cylinder turbo in a truck is a NOGO. Many of these turbo 6 cylinders are not lasting long as V8's. God Bless

TFL Truck compares and tests both engines in Ram 1500s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4g33PyYssI

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:
...

I'm of the opinion that when an engine has to work harder, it will fail sooner. Add in extra complexity like turbo chargers and the odds of failures go up.

As someone who has towed a boat from Florida to Canada and back, twice, a 6cyl in a full sized truck for towing is not an option.

This is my stance also. I am getting ready to sell the 225,000 mile, 2007 Tacoma with V6, for something which can tow safely (think 20' to 25' camper) and reliably last for at least 100,000 miles. A turbo-6 working its ass off all the time time does not fit the bill

I wouldn’t. By all reports it is very smooth and powerful and is mated perfectly to the transmission. Impressively so. But I would wait a while longer if I had to go Ram inline 6. Too many reported issues with the Hurricane. Ram recently brought back the 5.7 Hemi platform in the 1500’s. I own two Ram 1500’s (2010 and a 2022 ordered without e-torque) and would buy a 3rd in a heartbeat. Older tech yes, but proven and reliable.

that'd be my 3rd choice, after the GM I6 Diesel and the new Sierra/Silverado EV.

I bought a Hurricane powered Laramie Crew Cab online last night; pick-it up at the Idaho dealer (Dave Smith) on Friday am.

Coming from a 2014 RamSport with the hemi - I've had a lot of issues with the hemi and hope the Hurricane is better. In 2026 Ram upped the powertrain warranty to 10 years/100K miles.

I6 Hurricane is very similar to the twin turbo I6 in our BMW X3 M40 - it's been a great engine.

quote:

Originally posted by bronicabill:

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:
<<snip>>
I'm of the opinion that when an engine has to work harder, it will fail sooner. Add in extra complexity like turbo chargers and the odds of failures go up.

As someone who has towed a boat from Florida to Canada and back, twice, a 6cyl in a full sized truck for towing is not an option.

I was about to make this same point. Though I do not have a dog in this fight, I do have an issue with car makers going with smaller engines, then making them work harder by adding complexity; i.e., turbos or superchargers to get the power back up!

ANY mechanical device that has to work closer to its maximum limit with wear out quicker, or fail catastrophically sooner. Added complexity only adds to the frequency of repair, and the cost! Before my current family issues happened, I was thinking of replacing my 2013 Jetta with another one that was newer and nicer. Unfortunately VW had discontinued the decades-old 2.5L inline 5-cylinder which most VW mechanics considered "bullet proof", and replaced it with a smaller 4-cyl engine that needed a turbo to match the 2.5L's power and torque. I didn't want a smaller engine working harder, and sure as heck didn't want to add the complexity and cost of a turbo, so I'll just keep my 2013 Jetta until it can no longer be repaired!

Here's your answer. Good mechanics will tell you the same. Combine this with low-tension piston rings, small displacement, turbo chargers, plastics where they clearly don't belong, and cheap plastics where they do, and those engines will not last. So if you want a durable engine that lasts a long time, any truck with those engines aren't it. I don't know how long it will take for makers stop ruining truck powertrains in this way, but it can't come soon enough.

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:

quote:

Originally posted by bronicabill:

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:
<<snip>>
I'm of the opinion that when an engine has to work harder, it will fail sooner. Add in extra complexity like turbo chargers and the odds of failures go up.

As someone who has towed a boat from Florida to Canada and back, twice, a 6cyl in a full sized truck for towing is not an option.

I was about to make this same point. Though I do not have a dog in this fight, I do have an issue with car makers going with smaller engines, then making them work harder by adding complexity; i.e., turbos or superchargers to get the power back up!

ANY mechanical device that has to work closer to its maximum limit with wear out quicker, or fail catastrophically sooner. Added complexity only adds to the frequency of repair, and the cost! Before my current family issues happened, I was thinking of replacing my 2013 Jetta with another one that was newer and nicer. Unfortunately VW had discontinued the decades-old 2.5L inline 5-cylinder which most VW mechanics considered "bullet proof", and replaced it with a smaller 4-cyl engine that needed a turbo to match the 2.5L's power and torque. I didn't want a smaller engine working harder, and sure as heck didn't want to add the complexity and cost of a turbo, so I'll just keep my 2013 Jetta until it can no longer be repaired!

Here's your answer. Good mechanics will tell you the same. Combine this with low-tension piston rings, small displacement, turbo chargers, plastics where they clearly don't belong, and cheap plastics where they do, and those engines will not last. So if you want a durable engine that lasts a long time, any truck with those engines aren't it. I don't know how long it will take for makers stop ruining truck powertrains in this way, but it can't come soon enough.

I think the Hurricane is going to be a legendary engine over time. The I6 is a naturally balanced engine and is super smooth. They had plenty of time to study the legendary 2JZ and BMW’s now legendary B58 the latter which is credited with the big increase in reliability BMW has had.


There are a lot of benefits to I6 engines that I won’t get into here and everyone saying a smaller engine working harder is kind of old school thinking to a point. These Turbo engines are built with much better forged parts knowing that the cylinder pressures will be higher than a larger NA engine so some of that is just not true. In the typical use of most people trucks the Hurricane won’t even be breathing hard. It’s a super stout piece. They’ve already done a crate Hurricane that makes 1500hp. With that said there is more parts on an all new engine so potentially more problems. If I was buying a Hurricane equipped vehicle I would probably get an extended warranty which I’m normally totally against.

The very first Hurricanes had issues with the thermostat housing design but that has been remedied. I haven’t really heard of any other issues and everyone who buys one absolutely loves them. I would take a turbo inline 6 over any turbo V6.

Neighbor across the street has had one for about a year. His previous 2 trucks were hemi's. He owns a roofing/siding business and often tows a dump trailer.

So far he's a really happy with it.

I'm just about to pull the trigger myself on the new RAM - currently in a 2019 Rebel with 5.7 e-torque.

The turbo 6 is a beast - blows the 5.7 away in basically every category. Is it new, yep, but as someone mentioned earlier 10 yr/100K mile power train warranty.

The other 1500 trucks don't hold a candle to RAM's interior and ride quality.

At least in Northern IL, there are some pretty hefty discounts right now