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06-10-2015, 09:11 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,162
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Upgraded My Tow Vehicle to 2015 Ram 3500 6.7L DRW
Bought my Ford F350 Lariat 7.3L SRW new back in 2001 and it had served us well towing all these years, but after getting our new Palomino Columbus 3650TH it seemed to be a little to much for the truck on steep hills. Loaded the new Columbus weighs in at 17,000 to 17,500#. We shopped around and investigated Chevy, Ford and Dodge Ram dually's and there tow ratings with different axle and tranny setups and also watch a lot of videos of the tests on the 2015's. We settled on the 2015 Ram 3500 Crew Cab Long bed 6.7L diesel 4X4 dually with the 3.73 axle with the Aisin transmission (which is another $2995 option) so we could get the full 385HP and 865 ft/lbs of torque out of it. It has a GVWR of 14,000#, payload of 5680#, GCWR of 32,300# and a max trailer weight of 23,510#. We picked it up Thursday the 4th and drove it all weekend to put some miles on it totaling 550 miles. The truck is smooth and quiet and the diesel mileage averaged 16.8MPG and we seen it get to as high as 18.8MPG, but I think unloaded non towing 16.5MPG will be about it. Time will tell. I haven't hooked the truck up to the RV yet, but will be doing that this Friday and see how it does towing to our camping sight then I'll report back and let you know how much better it is at towing. Our old F350 we just didn't feel it would be able to take the long trips thru the mountains so that was our only reason for the up grade. I'm hoping it tows as good as all the reports and tests show. Here's a few pics of it and I'll take a few with the Palomino behind it this weekend and post back with my review of its towing capabilities.
2015 Ram 3500 Crew Cab Long Bed 4X4 6.7L DRW
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2014 Palomino Columbus 3650TH
435AH 12V VMax Charge Tanks, 520 watt Monocrystilline Solar Array, Morningstar MPPT TS-60 CC,Morningstar Remote,Cotek True Sine Wave Inverter,Cotek Remote Controller,50amp Progressive Hardwire Surge Protector
2015 Dodge 3500 6.7L 4X4
2011 CanAm Commander XT 1000
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06-10-2015, 09:44 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: West Jordan, UT
Posts: 877
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Awesome! I love the look of the newer Dodges! I have a 2012 I picked up at the end of last year. I couldn't be happier, enjoy it!
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2018 XLR Nitro 36T15
2015 GMC 3500 6.6/Allison
Nights Camped (2018-16) (2017-16) (2016-13) (2015-13)
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06-10-2015, 09:53 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,162
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SuicideSaints
Awesome! I love the look of the newer Dodges! I have a 2012 I picked up at the end of last year. I couldn't be happier, enjoy it!
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Thanks SuicideSaints I'm excited haven't had a new truck since 2001. Technology has definitely advanced but I don't know about this DEF stuff.
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2014 Palomino Columbus 3650TH
435AH 12V VMax Charge Tanks, 520 watt Monocrystilline Solar Array, Morningstar MPPT TS-60 CC,Morningstar Remote,Cotek True Sine Wave Inverter,Cotek Remote Controller,50amp Progressive Hardwire Surge Protector
2015 Dodge 3500 6.7L 4X4
2011 CanAm Commander XT 1000
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06-10-2015, 09:56 AM
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#4
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,890
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I'm so jealous!
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06-10-2015, 10:07 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: West Jordan, UT
Posts: 877
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mud yapster
Thanks SuicideSaints I'm excited haven't had a new truck since 2001. Technology has definitely advanced but I don't know about this DEF stuff.
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I am jealous as well! I wish mine was new when I bought it, but it only had 6000 miles so pretty close. That dually though...... Love it!
__________________
2018 XLR Nitro 36T15
2015 GMC 3500 6.6/Allison
Nights Camped (2018-16) (2017-16) (2016-13) (2015-13)
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06-10-2015, 10:17 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 3,188
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Ahhhh.... A real man's truck. Good for you
Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums
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Tom & Renée
Durham, NC
2021 Jayco Class C model 27U
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06-10-2015, 10:23 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,162
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5er_tom
Ahhhh.... A real man's truck. Good for you
Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums
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Have to have a real man's truck to pull a real mans 42' 5er
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2014 Palomino Columbus 3650TH
435AH 12V VMax Charge Tanks, 520 watt Monocrystilline Solar Array, Morningstar MPPT TS-60 CC,Morningstar Remote,Cotek True Sine Wave Inverter,Cotek Remote Controller,50amp Progressive Hardwire Surge Protector
2015 Dodge 3500 6.7L 4X4
2011 CanAm Commander XT 1000
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06-10-2015, 11:48 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 142
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That truck will more than do the job. I actually purchased my 2013 F-250 6.7 in late 2013 brand new with intentions of towing a larger trailer. I actually didn't buy a larger trailer until about 1 1/2 years after the truck but knew it would do everything I needed and man it did. Although not quite as heavy and dually not needed for our 37' 5th wheel it pulls it beautifully. No doubt your moose power ram will pull your rig easily down ( & up) the road. You'll be amazed at the power these newer diesel trucks can put out. I'm constantly impressed mile after mile.
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2015 Palomino Puma Unleashed 351-THSS 37' Toyhauler
2016 F-350 Platinum DRW 4x4 w/ Curt Q24 hitch and Air Lift rear air ride
"Just put that hammer down and give it hell" -Jerry Reed
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06-10-2015, 12:14 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,162
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pauls Toy Hauler
That truck will more than do the job. I actually purchased my 2013 F-250 6.7 in late 2013 brand new with intentions of towing a larger trailer. I actually didn't buy a larger trailer until about 1 1/2 years after the truck but knew it would do everything I needed and man it did. Although not quite as heavy and dually not needed for our 37' 5th wheel it pulls it beautifully. No doubt your moose power ram will pull your rig easily down ( & up) the road. You'll be amazed at the power these newer diesel trucks can put out. I'm constantly impressed mile after mile.
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Thanks for the info that's exactly what I keep hearing. The thing sure rides smooth being empty so towing 18k should ride like a Cadillac. LOL
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06-10-2015, 01:07 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Washington Illinois
Posts: 132
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Hi mud yapster, You choose a good truck. You will like the pulling power. I Had a 98.5 Ram 3500 6.9 L, and it was a work horse. We used it for 17 years pulling 2 different 5th wheels. We had to upgrade in 2014 so we got a 2014 Ram Laramie Longhorn 3500 DRW Megacab Short bed 6.7 L 2x2 with Aisin tranny 4.10 rear end. Night and day difference in pulling. Our you familiar with site called TDR it's all things Ram Did you buy truck off the lot, was wondering why you didn't get a 4.10 rear end.3.73 is good but way more torque for the mountains. here's mine
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06-10-2015, 01:48 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Oswego, NY
Posts: 293
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Mud - my previous TV was a '12 Ram 3500 (with 4:10 gears) nearly identical to yours towing a KZ Stoneridge 42' toy hauler. Your're going to love the way it tows and stops especially with the exhaust brake. Only thing I found was my pin weight was enough to compress the rear springs to the point where the helper springs were just barely engaged. Even small bumps would result in a po-go like bounce. I added air lift bags and inflated them just enough to keep the suspension off the helpers and the ride was noticeably better. I don't know about Texas, but in New York I had to get an "R" endorsement on my driver's license since the GVWR of the truck and trailer was over 26,000 pounds. The test was not hard, but they did make me parallel park a 42' trailer!
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2015 Rockwood Ultra Lite 2604 WS. Rear LR, large street side slide with small wardrobe slide in BR.
2014 Ram 1500 Eco Diesel Laramie Quad Cab.
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06-10-2015, 02:10 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Dunn, NC
Posts: 1,199
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That thing would pull your "house"
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06-10-2015, 03:05 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,162
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I'm going to find out how good it does on Friday. Looking forward to the tow.
__________________
2014 Palomino Columbus 3650TH
435AH 12V VMax Charge Tanks, 520 watt Monocrystilline Solar Array, Morningstar MPPT TS-60 CC,Morningstar Remote,Cotek True Sine Wave Inverter,Cotek Remote Controller,50amp Progressive Hardwire Surge Protector
2015 Dodge 3500 6.7L 4X4
2011 CanAm Commander XT 1000
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06-10-2015, 05:17 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 194
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Good looking truck.
That Cummins will still be running when the rest of the truck has
gone to the junk yard.
Have a good time camping.
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MK Clark
2014 Silverado
2819VS Windjammer
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06-10-2015, 05:40 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,162
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Thanks MK. I just seen the weather forecast and they are say possible heavy rain and thunder storms. Tired of the flooding but we may just go anyway it's hilly where we want to go.
__________________
2014 Palomino Columbus 3650TH
435AH 12V VMax Charge Tanks, 520 watt Monocrystilline Solar Array, Morningstar MPPT TS-60 CC,Morningstar Remote,Cotek True Sine Wave Inverter,Cotek Remote Controller,50amp Progressive Hardwire Surge Protector
2015 Dodge 3500 6.7L 4X4
2011 CanAm Commander XT 1000
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06-10-2015, 06:05 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 396
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Looks like our BART (Big Ass Red Truck)...ours is a 2014 with the same options but doesn't have the Aisin transmission. It towed our son's 2014 Windjammer 3025w and DH said he couldn't even feel it behind him. Then went on our shakedown cruise towing the 2015 Coachmen Chaparral 360IBL which isn't as big as yours, but BART handled it without a blink. We really like the truck in all aspects, especially mileage, and look forward to hearing about your adventures.
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2015 Coachmen Chaparral 360 IBL
2014 Ram 3500 Turbo Diesel 6.7 4wd Crew Cab Dually
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06-10-2015, 06:22 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: N FLA
Posts: 138
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Sweet ride! I have a 2010 Ram 2500 Laramie mega-cab 4X4 with 6.7 and have been very happy with it. Pulls 38' Wildcat very well and get about 10 mpg and 15 when not towing. Mine uses fuel for re gene not DEF. So your mpg should be better than mine. I think you will be very happy with your truck.
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1967 Barracuda fastback
2015 Wildcat MK 333
2010 Ram 2500 Mega-cab
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06-10-2015, 06:47 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,162
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Thanks guys nice TV you all have also. I just put my iPod in it and that works. I'm ready LOL
__________________
2014 Palomino Columbus 3650TH
435AH 12V VMax Charge Tanks, 520 watt Monocrystilline Solar Array, Morningstar MPPT TS-60 CC,Morningstar Remote,Cotek True Sine Wave Inverter,Cotek Remote Controller,50amp Progressive Hardwire Surge Protector
2015 Dodge 3500 6.7L 4X4
2011 CanAm Commander XT 1000
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06-10-2015, 08:05 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 215
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Very NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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2015 Tracer ultra light executive edition 3200bht
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins 6.7, Dually, crew cab, long bed
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06-10-2015, 08:17 PM
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#20
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5
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Very nice unit. I have a 2010 Laramie 4x4 2500 installed air bags. It tows great and you will love the engine brake in the mountains. Enjoy!
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2010 Dodge Laramie 2500HD 4X4 6.7 Cummins
06 33LCDTS SilverBack 5TH Wheel
Curt Q5 20K Sliding Hitch
Firestone Airbags
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