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Old 07-19-2014, 06:57 PM   #1
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2014 RAM 1500 EcoDIESEL has arrived!

Hey y'all!

I picked up my new RAM 1500 EcoDiesel on Tuesday, 15 July 14. I ordered it on 2 June 14 from Mac Haik in Temple Texas. I wouldn't say I got the best deal, but it was a fair price. Here is the build sheet.
My RAM build sheet.pdf
It is a SLT Lone Star 4X4 Crew Cab, 6'4" bed, Katzkin leather, sunroof, tow mirrors, ITBC, Back up camera. It is a sweet truck!
Some pictures-
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This truck rides like a dream. It is so quiet and smooth I just can't tell you how impressed I am with it.
It is a pretty heavy truck. I took it to the CAT scales today for a weigh in. Here is the truck full of fuel with my wife and me on board.
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Here are the door stickers-
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So as you can see, I don't have a truck configured with a huge available payload. It isn't a problem for me. I tend to travel light.
The GCWR is 14,500. The maximum towing is listed at 8,700.
Currently the EVIC is showing an average of 22.8 MPG for the 480 miles the truck has been driven since it rolled off the line in Warren Michigan on the 25th of June.
It will probably be a few weeks before we tow our Ambassador with the new truck. I'm posting this to help my fellow Airstreamers. I'm not starting any arguments, or making the case for anything. I'm just sharing. If this truck will work for you, that is just awesome! If not, there are plenty of trucks that will meet your needs. We all have different needs and desires.
Happy Streamin!
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Old 07-19-2014, 07:07 PM   #2
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What's curious is the two axles have a 3,900 lb rating, for a combined total of 7,800 lbs, yet the sticker limits the truck to a 6,950 lb GVWR.
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Old 07-19-2014, 07:21 PM   #3
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What's curious is the two axles have a 3,900 lb rating, for a combined total of 7,800 lbs, yet the sticker limits the truck to a 6,950 lb GVWR.

That's how it is for any vehicle I have checked: the maximum payload is less than the available loading capacity of front axle + the rear axle.


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Old 07-19-2014, 07:28 PM   #4
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Automotive math

Quote:
Originally Posted by kscherzi View Post
What's curious is the two axles have a 3,900 lb rating, for a combined total of 7,800 lbs, yet the sticker limits the truck to a 6,950 lb GVWR.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rostam View Post
That's how it is for any vehicle I have checked: the maximum payload is less than the available loading capacity of front axle + the rear axle.


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Yep. They are all like that.
FAWR+RAWR ≠ GVWR
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Old 07-19-2014, 07:30 PM   #5
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Or FAWR + RAWR > GVWR


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Old 07-19-2014, 07:37 PM   #6
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Very nice truck, and it's BLACK!

I had a black truck once.....

Too much work to keep clean for me now, but I'm eager to hear how it handles and tows your trailer.
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Old 07-19-2014, 07:42 PM   #7
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You can only have 700# tongue weight? More than that, and it looks like you will be over your rated GVW. Unless I miscounted, again...
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Old 07-19-2014, 07:43 PM   #8
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Hey Lance,

Great post! Your happiness with your purchase comes thru without a hint of prejudice. I feel the same way about our new 2014 Silverado.

Best wishes,

John S.
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Old 07-19-2014, 07:46 PM   #9
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Thanks Steve.
Yes, black! You aren't the first Texan to call me crazy about the color.
My first car was a black 1981 Trans Am. My third car was a black 1993 Trans Am. I've longed for a black car/truck since I traded the '93 in on a pos green Chevy minivan!
Yes, more work for sure but, wow!

Edit: I'm looking forward to the first tow as well. I'm sure it will be super!
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Old 07-19-2014, 07:50 PM   #10
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Yeah, that's pretty close.

Quote:
Originally Posted by overlander63 View Post
You can only have 700# tongue weight? More than that, and it looks like you will be over your rated GVW. Unless I miscounted, again...
#670 actually. I'll keep a look out for the payload police
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Old 07-19-2014, 07:57 PM   #11
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Nice truck!
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Old 07-19-2014, 08:20 PM   #12
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What's the hitch rated for?


Nice truck. Mine's black too. :-)
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Old 07-19-2014, 11:59 PM   #13
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I may not have been the first Texan to look askance at your color choice but I'll bet I was close. The sheet metal will only burn your hands on summer afternoons. Looking forward to a demonstration soon.
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Old 07-20-2014, 05:01 AM   #14
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DOT only cares about the axle and tire ratings. As long as the tire ratings are equal to or greater than the axle ratings and neither axle is overloaded, no issues about being overloaded.

However, if close to an axle max weight, you might weigh each wheel to be sure no one tire is overloaded.
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Old 07-20-2014, 06:53 AM   #15
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Reveiver

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What's the hitch rated for?


Nice truck. Mine's black too. :-)

Hi Steve,
Thanks. I love black trucks!

The receiver is a class IV rated for 10,450lbs max trailer weight, 1,045lbs max tongue weight.
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Old 07-20-2014, 08:49 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by switz View Post
DOT only cares about the axle and tire ratings. As long as the tire ratings are equal to or greater than the axle ratings and neither axle is overloaded, no issues about being overloaded.

However, if close to an axle max weight, you might weigh each wheel to be sure no one tire is overloaded.
I'm always confused by the reference to DOT as though weights are a legal requirement enforced by them for recreational campers. What is the issue as far as DOT is concerned?
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Old 07-20-2014, 09:03 AM   #17
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Personally, I wouldn't be too worried about the weight ratings, as long as it doesn't get WAY out of hand.

I have a friend here, who has always used Diesel 3/4 ton trucks in the past to tow his goose neck horse trailers (he's in the horse business), but decided because of the cost of operating the big Diesel truck when not towing, has gone to a 1/2 Dodge like Top's except he has the hemi engine.

He has added air bag overloads to the rear of his truck, and simply adds air when towing the heavy horse trailer, and says it works great. He's been doing this for about two years now with no issues, but like Top, I suspect he does not tow that many miles each year.

I considered going to a 1/2 ton truck for the same reasons last year, but because of weight I'm towing, and the number of miles a year we tow, the numbers just did not work. We were talking last night, and since we got our '34 we have towed it over 15,000 miles, and have at least another 3,000 planned this year.
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Old 07-20-2014, 09:39 AM   #18
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We use a 2012 Ram Hemi for our 25' FC, ProPride hitch. This spring our trailer was heavily loaded (unusual for us) with our collections from 7 months touring, the truck bed a light load as usual.

We weighed the rig on the way home finding the truck and trailer axles were all under their ratings. There is so much fuss over trailer tongue weight on this forum, but I believe what matters is the weight of the rig when it's hooked up and weight distribution applied.

Our Ram payload sticker says 1360. Okay, that's a reference that is useful so when I hook up the trailer I keep the load in the truck light. When I haul home concrete blocks I can put about a thousand pounds in the bed, and drive more carefully than when towing because I don't have the advantage of a weight distribution hitch. I try to be reasonable and use common sense.
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Old 07-20-2014, 12:39 PM   #19
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VERY nice Sir.

Sharp!

RamBox?
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Old 07-20-2014, 02:21 PM   #20
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Thanks 7Gen,
No, no RAMBox. They look handy, but I don't know. Just not something I felt I needed or wanted.
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