Ask TFLtruck: Chevy HD 6.0L V8 or Ram HD 6.4L V8? Which one to Buy?

2017 chevy silverado 2500 hd ford f250 ram gas v8 hemi
Chevy vs Ford vs Ram HD gas V8s

Which gas V8 truck to buy: Chevy HD or Ram HD? Zac H. recently sent us this question.

Can’t seem to come to a conclusion. Looking to buy a newer truck 2015+ non-diesel. I like having a 2500 just so that I’m capable of pulling anything I like. I definitely need a crew cab 4wd 4.10 gears. Interior is not an issue. I mainly pull a 7,500 lbs boat in Florida, so no hills usually. I’m kinda stuck between the 6.0L V8 Chevy and the 6.4L HEMI V8. Is the 6.4L V8 worth the extra money over a 5.7L HEMI? I would consider the 6.2L Chevy 1500, but they only offer in LTZ and high country. That is too expensive. What do y’all consider best for my needs?

If looking at the Ram 2500 HD, the 6.4L HEMI V8 is better suited for the towing needs. It simply has a bigger power reserve, it will not be working as hard as a 5.7L HEMI under a load.

The choice between the Chevy 6.0L V8 and the Ram HD 6.4L V8 is a tough one. Both of these truck did well on our World’s Toughest Towing test. However, the Ram 6.4L V8 and 68RFE 6-speed automatic transmission tends to pull back power when pushed near its limit. The Chevy engine/transmission combination does not exhibit this. The final decision may come down to the purchase price, but I would lean towards to the Chevy 6.0L V8, as it has proven to be a good combination in our testing.

Here is our towing run with the Chevy Silverado 2500 HD 6.0L V8.

In comparison, here is a Ram 2500 HD 6.4L V8 truck towing a similar weight up the same Ike Gauntlet™ mountain.