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Old 07-20-2014, 04:26 PM   #21
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Nice! Everyone on the Ram forums seem to love the new ecodiesel, especially with towing.

Like you, I'm a GM guy, who has owned 3 f-bodys. We optioned out ours as well. After test driving a Silverado and Ford, I just fell in love with the Ram for a multitude of reasons.

The Ram suffers from a lighter payload because of the rear coil springs. Ford and & Chevy are still using leaf springs. But the Ram out handles and rides better than both when not towing.

We ended up with the Ram boxes, 3.92 LSD rear, 32 gallon tank, the leather heated/cooled seats and sunroof.




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.
THIS! I've been spending a lot of time in the towing sections on a few of the Ram truck sites, and it seems anyone who has had a run in with Dot has reported that they only ever cared about the axles.
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Old 07-20-2014, 04:35 PM   #22
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Bold Adventure:

"THIS! I've been spending a lot of time in the towing sections on a few of the Ram truck sites, and it seems anyone who has had a run in with Dot has reported that they only ever cared about the axles."

How, where, or why did a recreational camper have a run in with DOT?
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Old 07-20-2014, 06:17 PM   #23
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How, where, or why did a recreational camper have a run in with DOT?
I'm repeating and summarizing my own readings here, so it's all hearsay. But the pattern I've seen is in the North East and guys hauling loads. Don't know of anyone with a recreational camper per say.

But I'm sure a trooper would be within their rights to stop this guy if they saw this going down the road with a concern for public safety:

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Old 07-21-2014, 04:02 AM   #24
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2014 RAM 1500 EcoDIESEL has arrived!

Congrats on a very nice truck! With a cap on it you'll be maximizing on the advantage of a truck over a SUV. After pulling with gas motors for many years and a Cummings and Mercedes Diesel for the last 8 years I'll never go back!
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Old 07-21-2014, 08:46 AM   #25
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No cap for me, thanks!

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Congrats on a very nice truck! With a cap on it you'll be maximizing on the advantage of a truck over a SUV. After pulling with gas motors for many years and a Cummings and Mercedes Diesel for the last 8 years I'll never go back!
Thanks Mr. Carter.
I prefer the look of a truck without the cap. Probably very useful for some people, just not for me.

I'm looking forward to hopefully doubling the towing MPG from my Sequoia's 7-8 MPG.
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Old 07-21-2014, 04:15 PM   #26
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Congrats - that's a great looking truck with one hell of an engine & transmission!!!
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Old 07-28-2014, 12:06 PM   #27
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I'm looking forward to hopefully doubling the towing MPG from my Sequoia's 7-8 MPG.


The standard is A-B-B-A testng, A being the Sequoia and B being the Ram. Otherwise, close comparison of records in order of importance, for:

1] Truck Spec (list differences)

2] Climate (northern or southern US, for example)

3] Terrain (pavement only or farm & ranch work; mining or oil field, etc; mountains versus the sourthern Gulf Coast, etc. [this is where most vehicle-to-vehicle comparisons suffer]

4] Operator Skill (also, "Truck Use") (this is where most imagine they ARE skilled, they are not. The difference among professional drivers is one-third where in all other ways identical).

One must also account for the per gallon cost of fuel to arrive at an accurate cents-per-mile calculation. I did a close comparison of mine with a man who used his otherwise identical gasser version (but with auto vs my manual) and the above parameters were met . . and the difference was that so long as diesel did not cost more than 50-cents/gl higher than gasoline that fuel cost was a wash. Expected engine working life was the main factor in favor of the diesel.

A long way of saying that mpg is deceptive without analysis. One must also back into the purchase price, months of operation, miles, etc. EDMUNDS "True Cost to Own" gives a good enough starting point. Or, why a good used vehicle always outshines a new one given about 100k of use (when it would likely last 200k). Etc.

Bragging rights are fun -- most RV'ers are rather too polite to challenge that I can pull a 35' TT with a pickup at 15-mpg overall average. It's the details that make up the equation past truck & trailer spec (most are assuming I pull a square box behind a gasser, ha!), and records count most. But not for bragging (as, it ain't braggin' if you can do it) as best fuel burn numbers are the indicator of best vehicle use in an overall sense. Just as poor fuel economy is an indicator, so is tire and brake life of less than 70k miles. Etc. I wanted longest life at highest reliability with lowest operational cost as I imagine you do, and I added to that greatest working range.

Best fuel economy will be found by best mechanical baseline. Which is no brake drag or bad alignment on either vehicle, plus TT bearing pre-load. These must be verified, new or not. Nailing best TV tire pressure and WDH numbers is the pre-requisite. Operator skill is what will matter afterwards. And, why a VPP hitch and TT with disc brakes will reward the skilled operator with better mpg. It's an incremental climb.

http://www.trucktires.com/bridgeston.../WeighForm.pdf

Ron Gratz WDH Chart


Trip-planning for FE [fuel economy] for those long days out to somewhere-cooler-than-Texas has many aspects and, as it is beyond the scope of the thread, let it be said that it is much more than travel speed.

Truck looks great (hope you can garage it).

.
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Old 07-28-2014, 08:38 PM   #28
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Top Truck!! Nice !
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Old 07-28-2014, 09:27 PM   #29
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Congrats on your beautiful new truck! I still love my 2008 Tundra even though it is 6 years old. That is a good feeling. Sounds like you did your homework and bought your "Dream Truck".

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Old 07-29-2014, 04:29 AM   #30
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Nice truck - once you put some color on it, I like red ;-) I've been looking hard at the Ram 1500 with the EcoDiesel. Waiting to see that happens this Fall with Cummins and Nissan. Unless it's revolutionary, I'll be Christmas shopping at the local Dodge dealer.

Can't wait to here your first road report.
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Old 07-29-2014, 04:49 AM   #31
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Top,
Nice truck, love the Texas State on the seats!

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Old 07-29-2014, 06:49 AM   #32
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That's a very nice truck. I'm not a black truck guy, but it's really attractive.

I am so glad to see that someone has finally put a diesel in a half ton. This will surely prompt the others to do likewise.

I am really anxious to hear how it tows and what kind of fuel mileage it gets.

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Old 07-29-2014, 06:57 AM   #33
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We have a 2012 Dodge 1500 Hemi as well and we tow our 27'. The bed of the truck is loaded down with tools, etc. Worthless as a pick up truck because there is nothing that can be carried in the back! We recently returned from a 6000+ mile trip out west with absolutely no problem. You don't even know you are towing anything. My husband loves these trucks and they are a comfortable ride as well. Enjoy your new baby!


Let the good times roll! Laura & Tom
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Old 08-03-2014, 03:23 PM   #34
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Old 08-03-2014, 04:43 PM   #35
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Weights?

Sharp truck! I have a jet black Ram too and wouldn't want it any other color. Hey, you can play Federale~ with that color

I have a question for you guys that goes back to the late teens/early 20's posts about the axle ratings and DOT.

I see a lot of guys pulling 5th wheels that do just fine, but "by the book" (or owners manual if you prefer) they are over gross.

So let's say you are 2000lbs over gross combined vehicle weight, but you haven't busted the axle rating. Are you OK?

Is there a way you can increase the "legal rating" of your truck? For example, my Ram is rated to pull 13,200 lbs. My buddy's truck was about the same. He was pulling about 15,500 lbs. The truck pulled it just fine. He never had a bit of trouble. But I believe he was technically illegal.

If you add air bags or overload springs, etc. can you get the truck rerated?

I'm an engineer myself, and know full well I could add frame doublers (if it was really extreme), helper springs, etc. to up the capacity. But I think that legally it would make no difference to the cop if the paper said X and even though I'm set up for X+50000lbs and am really pulling X+2000lbs, I'd be up the creek.

Am I making a bigger deal out of these ratings than what they actually are?

Honestly, most 5th wheel guys I've ever seen are towing a trailer that's bigger than what their truck was originally rated for. But with all the beef up and hot rod stuff available aftermarket, the stock truck is basically a starting point.

Anyway, just wondering if you guys know "The Rest of the Story." on that.

Didn't mean to hijack your thread. Again, cool truck! I love my 3/4 ton Cummins, but man if they'd had this one way back when, I may have just jumped on it!

I wish you a million miles of uninterrupted Cummins Turbo Diesel fun!
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Old 08-04-2014, 07:31 AM   #36
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Upon inspection of the vehicle data plate on the door, the real important numbers for commercial operators are the axle and specified tires size load ratings. Typically, the axle ratings added together are higher load capacity than the suggested GVW of the vehicle. Also the total combined weights of the truck and trailer should not be exceeded.

Our 2012 Ram 2500HD has a 5,500 pound front axle rating and a 6,010 pound rear axle rating. My truck came with Michelin LT265/70R17E tires which are rated 3,195 pounds at 80 psi. Two of those tires at 60 psi are rated 5,520 pounds and two of those tires at 70 psi are rated 6,010 pounds. The two axle ratings together add up to 11,510 pounds load capacity while the label plate suggests 9,600 pounds GVW.

I removed all the factory springs and replaced them with air bags. The rear pair are rated 10,000 pounds.

I consider my weight limitation to be the axle ratings.

The other issue for me was the factory receiver that was rated only 1,200 pounds. The forum had reports of welds failing at the ends of the round support tube. My first Airstream had a tongue weight of 1,175 pounds camping ready. I cut off the factory receiver and replaced it with a Curt 15049 receiver rated 2,550 pounds tongue weight and a 17,000 pound trailer.

The trailer axles are carrying less than 8,000 pounds when loaded and the tire with the heaviest load is just over 2,000 pounds.

Our rig runs around 19,000 pounds when hitched together. I currently run the trailer and truck tires at 80 psi. Using the Dill TPMS information, I may step the trailer tires down to 72 to 75 psi.
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Old 08-04-2014, 08:04 AM   #37
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Always count on SWITZ for solid advice.
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Old 08-04-2014, 11:09 AM   #38
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Happiness is 15 mpg towing. Just shy of 13k GCW. I think this VM Motori 3.0L is very impressive.
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Old 08-04-2014, 11:24 AM   #39
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Top, keep us posted. This is a nice truck as a daily driver and to pull most Airstreams. We use a gas 1500 and like it but this is tempting. I'm just too cheap to go order one while the present truck is doing well. I did go test drive one though, comfy, smooth and quiet.
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Old 08-04-2014, 12:17 PM   #40
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Originally Posted by dkottum View Post
Top, keep us posted. This is a nice truck as a daily driver and to pull most Airstreams. We use a gas 1500 and like it but this is tempting. I'm just too cheap to go order one while the present truck is doing well. I did go test drive one though, comfy, smooth and quiet.
I feel the same way. Hearing A LOT of good things about these. We love our Ram. I don't know why I didn't buy one sooner. But I'll wait to upgrade till I can get a late model someone else already paid the depreciation on.
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