2012 vs 2018

[Rodetec]

Question Ram gurus. My ‘21 Ram 1500 5.7 got totaled. I need to purchase a used as the insurance co is dragging their feet. Looking at a ‘12 5.7, 6 speed bighorn with 61k and an ‘18 5.7 8 speed bighorn with 101k. Thoughts on the better pick. Both priced decently. Thanks

 

[crash68]

Although the '18 has 100K on it, it does have the nicer transmission and most likely nicer interior amenities like the 8.4 radio with AndroidAuto/CarPlay support.
Nothing wrong with the '12 other than it's an older vehicle. It does have fewer miles but either one should be able to turn over 200K.

 

[rzr6-4]

To go off what crash said, when I upgrade I'm sure it will be a 4th gen, so it will just need to be new enough to have the improved 8 speed. 2014+ maybe?

 

[Jeepwalker]

Ohhh...let's see:

2012: Last year before the 2013 mid-model refresh. So there's actually a lot of differences. Depends what those matter to you: Last yr for Hydraulic steering (No 2,500 dollar surprise!!!), Older front grill trapezoidal styling, More basic wiring (less crap to fail!), RFE 6-spd tranny with a REAL dipstick!!! and easy to service. Some have a REAL cable-run column gear selector. Not as many or good or current tech options ...if that matters to you. Trailer brake may or may not be integrated as well...depending on pkg. Seats wear out on bottoms. Easy to plug in your scanner and do things via OBD.

2018: Updated electric steering (so it's been reported), vs pre 2018 Rams (so it *should* be more reliable???), Cams/lifters are 'said' to be improved in 2018, 8-spd tranny, better and more current infotainment features. That could be good/bad...as LCD's and crap aren't forever, and at some point they'll stop updating those things. Most of the wiring bugs worked out vs 2013-2017 trucks. Need to use a secure gateway to access the OBD stuff. It's a hassle, not a deal-breaker.

Overall, b/c you live in CT, I would be more concerned about rust. Older Rams can rust like the dickens. Unless the 2012 has been heavily undercoated...which I doubt, or is from down S. I would expect it to start rusting like crazy soon.
More than likely the 2012 will need things like shocks/brakes, unless recently replaced ...and are the rear axle arm bushings still good?

Overall, I would lean towards the 2018 all else being equal...which in the real world things never are, lol . A 2018 is better than a 2014. But if the 2012 is real clean, and the above items fit into your wheelhouse, certainly nothing wrong with a 2012, esp if you do more of your own work and the tk is cheap enough. If you're a guy who just wants to drive and not do any work, expects the tk to look great for yrs to come, it's a no-brainer ...get the 2018 and get it undercoated...and if you can, maybe get a simple powertrain warranty to protect you from any cam/lifter surprises.

Best Regards

 

[Rodetec]

Edit: both trucks are at Ram dealers. I do tow a 35’, 7800lb travel trailer. I havent seen the 2012 yet but I will def slide under and check for rust. Im a former ASE master at a Dodge dealer. Went industrial 35 years ago. I do most of my own work. My formers were 07 1500, ‘18 1500 V6, ‘21 5.7.

 

[Jeepwalker]

....I do most of my own work. My formers were 07 1500, ‘18 1500 V6, ‘21 5.7.

Perfect! You know what you're doing. Then, you might appreciate the more simple nature of the 2012's. The shifting nature of the RFE's is over-stated IMO. But OTOH, the 2018's fixed a lot of bugs (most which were created in 2013!). The 2018 ought to give you more gear options towing, compare the integrated brake pkg of each truck...for your needs.

The 2018 should get overall better fuel economy. As an example, last week my 2012 on a trip to Bloomington Gold (IL) ...empty ...flat highway driving, netted 16.3 mpg (hand calculated). Which was no surprise to me. That's also my 'average' mixed-driving mpg too. Compare to what the 2018 is supposed to get.

But ultimately it has to come down to condition and value (and your pocketbook).

 

[Burla]

You didnt mention gear ratio on the 2012, if it is 3.92's imo a very special truck. I'd probably get the 2012 regardless of gearing, especially with towing. You can work on those rfe's and make them better, or even fix them when they go south. What is the asking price on both trucks?

Having the 6 speed was way better then the 5 speed, and it only happened on a low number of trucks as they went to 8 speed soon after. There was a huge difference in mpg's over the 545rfe, plus way better driving no low rpm issues. A more simple machine with less EPA garbage hanging off it. Less stuff to break overtime, in my opinion that specific year is the best truck ever made for 1500 series across brands.

If there are any downsides, I think that year might have the rare stub shaft issue and you need to upgrade the upper control arms as they can have ball joint issues over time.

 

[Rodetec]

The 14 has the 392 and is listed at $21k
The ‘18 has the 8 speed and 321 and is listed at $24

 

[Daw14]

the 18 all the way , those 6 years will make a large difference imo . Better mileage ,that eight speed will handle towing with that 321 without issues.

 

[crash68]

I do tow a 35’, 7800lb travel trailer.

If your towing this, the 8spd in the '18 will be a much better pick over the RFE in the '12, even if the '18 has the higher 3.21 gear set.
2nd gear of the 8spd is as low as 1st gear of the RFE. Also there is a more consistent gear stager with the 8spd where as the RFE has big jump between 3rd and 4th gears. The ZF 8spd is usually spot on with gear selection while towing, just hit the Tow/Haul button and the let the transmission do what it needs to, also don't be afraid to use the cruise control as the transmission will shift to maintain speed while descending hills.

 

[Wild one]

The 14 has the 392 and is listed at $21k
The ‘18 has the 8 speed and 321 and is listed at $24

The 8 speed with 3.21's will out grunt the 6 speed with 3.92's,you need damn near 5.00:1 gears behind the RFE to match the 8 speeds stump pulling 4.71:1 first gear and 3.21's. Also it's getting harder to find parts for the 2012,the 18 is still some what serviced as far as electrical components go

 

[Burla]

The 14 has the 392 and is listed at $21k
The ‘18 has the 8 speed and 321 and is listed at $24

Did you test drive both? I would think 6 years different truck would be more then 3k difference even with 40k miles to the bad, but in my opinion that should alert you to something. Google 2012 ram and awards and read up. BTW, any other year I wouldn't have said that, lol. You picked the one year ram that is sweet, and those 3.92's gonna tow for you and haul the mail.

 

[Burla]

Oddly imo that was the one year that should have won TOY over the 3 years right around it, ram TOTY 2010, 2013, 2014, but a lot of that was eco diesel and 2500 I believe. The 2010 was the same platform and I'm sure that was the only reason they didn't hand it out in 2012, because 2012 is night and day better then 2010 that won truck of the year.

 

[Sherman Bird]

Buy the one which you like the best. Drive both.... decide.... buy.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Is the older one a 2012? ..Or 2014? You said both..

 

[Burla]

Is the older one a 2012? ..Or 2014? You said both..

He said 6 speed so I think it was typo 14.

 

[Treburkulosis]

I had a 12 for 8 years and put over 100k on it. My neighbor bought it off of me and he is still driving it. It is one of the last good trucks I truly believe Dodge made. Maintain it and run good fluids in it and it wont give you one ounce of problems.

 

[crash68]

He said 6 speed so I think it was typo 14.

The 6 speed was still being put behind the Hemi even in 2018 usually in Canadian market trucks.

 

[Wild one]

The 6 speed was still being put behind the Hemi even in 2018 usually in Canadian market trucks.

They were still dumping the 6 speed RFE's on us Canucks even in 2019,aarrgghh

 

[rzr6-4]

They were still dumping the 6 speed RFE's on us Canucks even in 2019,aarrgghh

Our trash has to go somewhere.