Feedback from 2013-14 Ram owners

[bigdog 616]

I also have the Cummins diesel 2014 Chrysler is aware of that third brake light leaking water I also found a leak but otherwise great truck rides like a Cadillacgetting 19 miles a gallon towing my 7000 pound trailer average speed 60 around town 16 to 18 I have had lots of trucks this is my first diesel very impressed


Sent from my iPad AIR using Forest River Forums

[bigdog 616]

Yes we all know it's a ram truck lol


Sent from my iPad AIR using Forest River Forums

[MickeyD]

Originally Posted by ependydad

MickeyD, I've gotten to the point where I just shut it down for drive thrus. Nonsense trying to shout over it!

This is Texas in a black truck. I am NOT turning off the AC! I will take my chances with whatever they think that I ordered.

[Salt Shaker]

I love the ride of my 14 2500 4x4...coils on the back with fitestone air bags. Did I say I love the ride? I loe the ride.


Salt

[bigdog 616]

my ride


Sent from my iPad AIR using Forest River Forums

[KenHwy61]

Nice looking set-up! Everyone seems to like the new 2500 coil suspension but does anyone know how the 3500 rides unloaded? I'm looking at a left over '14 3500 SRW with the Aisin transmission. I don't need that much capacity but here in Minnesota the license plate fees are flat $120 a year for a 1ton but a 3/4 ton fees are based on vehicle worth. The first several years on a 3/4 ton will average over $700 a year for a 40to50K vehicle. By buying the 1ton, I will save enough money in renewal fees to pay for the upgraded transmission. Crazy!

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by bigdog 616

I also have the Cummins diesel 2014 Chrysler is aware of that third brake light leaking water I also found a leak but otherwise great truck rides like a Cadillacgetting 19 miles a gallon towing my 7000 pound trailer average speed 60 around town 16 to 18 I have had lots of trucks this is my first diesel very impressed

Yep, my dealer talked about it being common when they had to look at mine and replay a gasket. I had one day that my headliner was wet back in the corner of the truck.

Originally Posted by MickeyD

This is Texas in a black truck. I am NOT turning off the AC! I will take my chances with whatever they think that I ordered.

LOL, fair enough!

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by MeepMeep

I would caution against some of the "optimistic" mpg numbers that you've been presented here. My fuel log (for our 2013 RAM 3500 6.7L dually) over the past 17,000+ miles indicates a real mpg of 15/16 under normal driving and 11-12 when under load. The fuel "average" you see on the driver information center is woefully inaccurate as it shows us getting upwards of 17.5 - 19.... Miles driven divided by gallons consumed will net accurate mpg

+1 Really the only way to know for sure is to keep a log. Most guys that check it for one tank baby it around in order to inflate the number. And, like you stated, the computer is usually off.

[IHC]

Hello,

I have the 2013 Ram 2500 CTD Longhorn and tow the Crusader 351 REQ.

A couple points to help you out:

The 2013 and 2014 Ram 2500's are a bit different. The 2013 has the previous year's leaf spring system and the 2014 the coils, yet both have the updated engine, interior, etc. I have spoken to guys that have the 2014 with the coils who tow. I have been told by 3 guys that they felt the coils felt just a little bit "spongy-slight sway" compared to leafs. I do not know personally, but can tell you that one of these guys is a service manager where I bought my truck, and he likes to camp. I would think he knows!

The 2013 is an odd duck year for the 2500 because it was the transition year to the new frame. The 2500 used the "older" set-up and the 3500 had the new frame in that year. As I said above, the rest of the truck was all updated for that model year.

I owned nothing but chev trucks since I bought my first one in 1992...........and I will never go back. When I bought mine, chev was dated in design and I was not impressed in build quality. My next door neighbor is a senior exec with Ford Canada, and when I asked him about the Ford diesel his advice was.....buy the Ram. Too many problems with the Ford diesel and he knows from a very unique perspective!

Please remember what you are getting with that Cummins: a farm tractor engine!! It was designed with/for Case Corporation and went into production in 1984. It was known as the 5.9 then, and is the 6.7 now. It is designed to work and the torque is amazing. It is not going to win a speed race, as it WAS NOT designed for that. GM & Ford engines are V8 diesels that mimic a V8 gas engine response, so they have more "pep" from the start line. My thoughts to buying the truck I did was to tow and not race. Just a reminder (in case you were not aware) what that Cummins is....

As for guys that complain about the 68 RFE transmission, you'll find that once you get to the truth the engines have been tuned up by those complainers. That Cummins is a monster on torque and remember......a farm tractor engine! From factory, you'll have no issue. If you juice that engine up, beware.......it's a farm tractor engine!!

My tow and rating specs for my 2500 are near max for the trailer I tow. But with just my wife and I, I'm good with that. We went to Cape Code last fall and gave the truck a good work out. It was great on fuel and could that truck pull!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really like the engine brake and going up hill the engine just kept to where it needed to be. If you've ever driven a farm tractor (I grew up on a farm) it was the same response if you were plowing a field from a sandy spot to heavy clay: lots of torque. Going up a grade? No problem - the engine stays right with it.

My point in this is that the 2500 with CTD and the 68RFE are a great combo when the engine is STOCK. My personal opinion only: as the big 3 keep upping the HP wars, you'll see both the 2500 and 3500 go to the Aisin. The 68RFE (according to my Ram service guy who I referenced above) is near max right now given it's design.

You will love the interior of this truck and how stable it rides. I drove the truck at times with "2 fingers". It's that stable and a real puller.

I bought this truck to keep for the next 10 to 15 years. I looked at the 3500, but the licencing and registration laws in this province (I'm in Canada), make a difference per year in ownership. The 2500 was the answer to this. Speaking with many of my American friends in different states, some states are the same as we have here.

Please take the coil opinion as just that. A test drive of both is always best. I simply passed on the above to help you out so that you can have all the best information possible to make your decision.

Best of luck to you.........and you will really like the Ram!!

[KenHwy61]

Thanks for the all feedback. For several years, I drove a 2 1/2 ton truck with a International inline 6 cylinder turbo diesel and always loved the way it pulled. That is probably I am partial to the Cummins now that I am looking at diesel trucks. I also think that the Aisin transmission will as some point be offered on the 2500 if the Big Three power race does not end at some point soon. 1000 ft. pounds of torque seems right around the corner. I personally would like to see more engineering focus on the further increasing of clean diesel reliability and the reducing of very high repair costs instead of increasing the power even further.

[bigdog 616]

I have the 2014 Cummins 2500 4 x 4 it pools my trailer like it's not even their rides like a Cadillac very stable I too am a master technician and for pulling my trailer I love itand towing my trailer averaged 19 miles per gallon going uphill and flatlands


Sent from my iPad AIR using Forest River Forums

[goduc]

Originally Posted by bigdog 616

I have the 2014 Cummins 2500 4 x 4 it pools my trailer like it's not even their rides like a Cadillac very stable I too am a master technician and for pulling my trailer I love itand towing my trailer averaged 19 miles per gallon going uphill and flatlands


Sent from my iPad AIR using Forest River Forums

Really doubt you got 19 towing.

[bigdog 616]

Just asked Wife she said no it was 16.3 according to the computer on the truck don't know how accurate the computer is that's not bad


Sent from my iPad AIR using Forest River Forums

[goduc]

Originally Posted by bigdog 616

Just asked Wife she said no it was 16.3 according to the computer on the truck don't know how accurate the computer is that's not bad


Sent from my iPad AIR using Forest River Forums

If you're towing the TT in your sig pic, no way did you even get 16.3. The EVIC mpg readout is close but generous. It really depends on how you use it. I have a 12 2500 CTD and tow a 9000lb 5er and the best I got was 12.3 running on mostly flat at 58mph for a whole tank. No 2500-3500 CTD even with 3.42 gears towing a TT/5er will ever get close to 16.3.

[Jim34RL]

How about from a new (March 2015) member who has an 2008 6.7L Cummins with the 68RFE auto in a Ram Mega Cab with 81,000 miles on the OD.


Would I buy a new 2013.5 and up truck in a heart beat. But I would not purchase a 3/4 ton I would go for the 1 ton SRW truck simply because it can tow a lot more that a 3/4 ton and will ride the same.

Now as far as fuel mileage after 20,000 miles the truck engine was starting to improve in mileage took that long to brake the diesel in. I routinely get between 11 and 13 MPG when towing my old 5er a 2010; 318SAB Cougar. I have seven years of data to back this claim up. The newer trucks should get better fuel mileage do to the use of DEF since the truck will be using less fuel for regening purposes. But this will not happen for a couple thousand miles until the engine is broken in.


I am also a member of TDR1 since Nov 2007 my handle is Jim W.

[bigdog 616]

My trailer 5800 pounds there again my comment is it 2014 Cummings just driving around town I'm getting 14 to 15 mpg diesel DEF 4000 miles and mileage is increasing when not towing I've gotten 23 miles per gallon


Sent from my iPad AIR using Forest River Forums

[Iwannacamp]

I don't have a dog in this fight... Please don't "tell someone no way". Man there are all kinds of variables. My 4:10 geared 6spd G56 transmission will go from 25+ at 55 to less than 20 on highway no trailer and 70 mph. Plus 10% and better fuel mileage with fuel treatment.

Based on trip computer, but @6500lbs I ain't mad.

Toyota v6 won't do better.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[CTGREG]

This is my 3rd Ram that I have owned, and so far the best. It is a Ram 2500 Megacab with the cummins diesel. mileage around town is about 17. on highway with only a load in the short bed about 20 mpg. Towing my CedarCreek 38 CK gets about 10-11. Power is great, Comfort is awesome. I am planning on a trip to SD in June for about 5-6 weeks. My only concern is that i want to average a 450-500 mile per day, but I am thinking I will need to get fuel after 450 miles.