The dark side had cookies...
11-02-2013, 11:56 AM
#51
One Clean Machine
iTrader: (5)
11-02-2013, 03:21 PM
#53
On more meds than ymeski
11-02-2013, 04:25 PM
#54
Senior Member
The Rambox is neat but it sure does shrink the width of the bed a lot.
Congrats on the new truck. It looks really sweet. I had a 2001 Ram 2500 with the 24v Cummins and a 5 spd. It was a good truck. Slow, loud, not too comfy, but lots of character and I still miss it after 5 years.
Congrats on the new truck. It looks really sweet. I had a 2001 Ram 2500 with the 24v Cummins and a 5 spd. It was a good truck. Slow, loud, not too comfy, but lots of character and I still miss it after 5 years.
11-22-2013, 11:19 PM
#55
Flatlander
Thread Starter
Well, here's the report back that was asked for. I have about 1900kms on the clock now, so I have a good feel compared to the F150 I had.
The good:
Power. Just gobs of it on tap all the way through the tach. I drive this truck by gently waving my big toe over the pedal. I had driven a '12 with the 6 speed a while ago, and it didn't feel nearly as punchy as this. That might have to do with the 8 speed and 3.92 rear axle.
The 8 speed is a real pleasure to drive. They got it right. As advertised, it is almost impossible to feel it changing gears when cruising around town. It piles through gears and you don't even know it. My 6 speed in my F150 would race for the highest gear it could, as fast as it could, even around town. This 8 speed will hold gears nicely, doesn't lug, but doesn't race unless you tell it to. The extra two gears from my understanding are actually 1st and 2nd for a better range from a stop.
It is surprisingly quiet inside save for a random wind noise I get above 60km/h. That warrants some investigation, as well as a weird rattle in the back passenger area. When you get into the go-pedal it is tough to appreciate until you hear it. It's like... the devil laughing. It's just awesome. The whole cabin is just in a roar from that Hemi.
Cabin storage is abundant. Compartments everywhere. More than I think I will use. Rambox is what I was hoping for. I no longer have my dirty window scraper messing up the carpet in the back, all my straps and other tools are tucked away in the Rambox keeping them away from my clean interior.
Uconnect has been painless for me, but I have read some real horror stories about it from others. I will avoid updates unless I absolutely have to. The voice recognition works as advertised and the sound system is crisp and clear for OEM. The surround sound really sounds good! I opted out of the Nav. I have lifetime updates on my Garmin.
Fit and finish is really nice. Lots of room front and rear. My 6' 220lbs kid is comfortable with room to spare. This is the complete opposite experience than the '12. The dash is well laid out. My TBC, tow/haul, rotary shift, and transfer case selections are right at my finger tips conveniently. Steering wheel selections for manual gears are a PITA though. Too small and not convenient on an already too small steering wheel.
The ride is amazing. Stock components in my F150 didn't ride this good on the best day. Maybe they've improved since my '10. Don't know. The rear coils in this are amazing for ride quality.
I have a lifetime engine warranty provided I follow the maintenance routine my dealer lays out. Oil every 5000, tire rotation every 10 at that dealer or one of the sister dealerships across western Canada. I get one oil change out of that dealer group per year and still retain this warranty in case we go on extended trips. Might seem excessive to some, but thats the routine I followed with my F150 so it's not out of norm for me.
Transfer case shifting- almost impossible to notice. I am trying to find out if it is a similar Borg Warner that the F150 has, but I am getting mixed results. I believe it is.
The bad or not so good:
After some seat time, I will miss those big comfy seats in my Ford. Maybe these will break in a bit. Who knows. They are firmer. Still comfortable, but not as comfortable.
I miss having a big steering wheel. This one is noticeably smaller. It feels like a car. I have some big mits, so the steering wheel controls are a bit awkward.
I got a mysterious Dodge rattle right out of the gate
but I was prepared for that. It will just take some investigating to find it and fix it.
The coils are a double edged sword. Smooth as hell daily driving, but not as stout as a leaf. You give up a bit of payload in the Ram if you option it up. I will be installing airbags to help that out since that is the limiting factor. When I am hitched and loaded for a camping trip I will be hitting or exceeding the payload rating, but nowhere NEAR my GAWR or GCWR. Rams numbers don't add up. The numbers make sense on the F150 and GMs. Not the Ram, so best I can think of and somewhat confirmed by a Dodge tech- it's the coils. Don't kid yourself though. Just two days ago I had 700lbs in the box and it sat as nicely as my F150 did with similar weight. I guess in hindsight, after adding skid plates and all that extra audio gear and other components I wanted in the F150, it had roughly the same available payload left. So six in one...
I have driven the Ecoboost. Having said that, the Hemi doesn't give anything up to it power wise. BUT... huge but... the ecoboost kills the Hemi in unloaded economy, but we all knew that. The city mileage in this is dismal. It's a relatively new engine, so I am hoping to see a little improvement. It's really tough to guage though. We had a good cold snap combined with winter fuel... almost single digits. Highway though, hand calculated, 19MPG with the cruise set at 110km/h with 3.92 gearing. So it's inline with my 5.4 for fuel mileage. Eco or 5.0 gets better for sure. I have to admit I was a *tad* disappointed. Hope it improves. I have to readjust my driving habits though. The same amount of throttle used to get that 5.4 rolling would have this one wound right up like a gut shot cat. So this may be self induced.
At 110km/h cruising 1900RPM. My own doing- 3.92 gears. I will be staying in the right lane.
26 Gal tank. I can pass everything but a gas station. The larger (32 I think) was tempting, but would further reduce payload for what I thought to be minimal gain. I might just have to strap a 10 gal "oh ****" tank to the back of the TT.
89 octane is recommended. I always follow recommendations. That might suck after a while.
The helical LS is way sketchier than the clutch style I had. Really likes to kick it's *** sideways when it's slippery.
The Electronic Stability Control is not as fine tuned as Ford's. My F150 righted itself promptly without drama. The Ram is a bit more oafish. It will take some getting used to.
This one is not Ram specific because I felt this way test driving a newer F150 too. I hate that electric assist steering. I miss my pump and rack. It is the times though, so I guess I have to roll with it.
Big test will be when I hook the TT to it. I have almost perfect 50/50 split when I talk to people. Some prefer the Ram for towing, others the Ford, and some have traded either way because of a bad experience with one or another.
One other thing I miss- F150forum. The Ram forums aren't as populated. At least not in the sections I like (such as towing/ hauling) but they seem to be way more active in the tuners sections and modding. I am keeping her stock. So if it's all the same to you guys, I think I will stick around here too. Lots of information and topics that aren't brand specific
Anyways, I realize this is a long read, but I like to follow through. In my humble opinion, both these manufacturers are making top notch trucks now. This time around, I am taking the Ram. The Eco is awesome technology- just not my cup of tea right now. Next time... who knows. These are things I noticed in the first couple thousand.
Anyways- a little OT... I can't be the only one who can hardly wait to go test drive the new 'Stang when it hits the lot, am I?
The good:
Power. Just gobs of it on tap all the way through the tach. I drive this truck by gently waving my big toe over the pedal. I had driven a '12 with the 6 speed a while ago, and it didn't feel nearly as punchy as this. That might have to do with the 8 speed and 3.92 rear axle.
The 8 speed is a real pleasure to drive. They got it right. As advertised, it is almost impossible to feel it changing gears when cruising around town. It piles through gears and you don't even know it. My 6 speed in my F150 would race for the highest gear it could, as fast as it could, even around town. This 8 speed will hold gears nicely, doesn't lug, but doesn't race unless you tell it to. The extra two gears from my understanding are actually 1st and 2nd for a better range from a stop.
It is surprisingly quiet inside save for a random wind noise I get above 60km/h. That warrants some investigation, as well as a weird rattle in the back passenger area. When you get into the go-pedal it is tough to appreciate until you hear it. It's like... the devil laughing. It's just awesome. The whole cabin is just in a roar from that Hemi.
Cabin storage is abundant. Compartments everywhere. More than I think I will use. Rambox is what I was hoping for. I no longer have my dirty window scraper messing up the carpet in the back, all my straps and other tools are tucked away in the Rambox keeping them away from my clean interior.
Uconnect has been painless for me, but I have read some real horror stories about it from others. I will avoid updates unless I absolutely have to. The voice recognition works as advertised and the sound system is crisp and clear for OEM. The surround sound really sounds good! I opted out of the Nav. I have lifetime updates on my Garmin.
Fit and finish is really nice. Lots of room front and rear. My 6' 220lbs kid is comfortable with room to spare. This is the complete opposite experience than the '12. The dash is well laid out. My TBC, tow/haul, rotary shift, and transfer case selections are right at my finger tips conveniently. Steering wheel selections for manual gears are a PITA though. Too small and not convenient on an already too small steering wheel.
The ride is amazing. Stock components in my F150 didn't ride this good on the best day. Maybe they've improved since my '10. Don't know. The rear coils in this are amazing for ride quality.
I have a lifetime engine warranty provided I follow the maintenance routine my dealer lays out. Oil every 5000, tire rotation every 10 at that dealer or one of the sister dealerships across western Canada. I get one oil change out of that dealer group per year and still retain this warranty in case we go on extended trips. Might seem excessive to some, but thats the routine I followed with my F150 so it's not out of norm for me.
Transfer case shifting- almost impossible to notice. I am trying to find out if it is a similar Borg Warner that the F150 has, but I am getting mixed results. I believe it is.
The bad or not so good:
After some seat time, I will miss those big comfy seats in my Ford. Maybe these will break in a bit. Who knows. They are firmer. Still comfortable, but not as comfortable.
I miss having a big steering wheel. This one is noticeably smaller. It feels like a car. I have some big mits, so the steering wheel controls are a bit awkward.
I got a mysterious Dodge rattle right out of the gate
but I was prepared for that. It will just take some investigating to find it and fix it.The coils are a double edged sword. Smooth as hell daily driving, but not as stout as a leaf. You give up a bit of payload in the Ram if you option it up. I will be installing airbags to help that out since that is the limiting factor. When I am hitched and loaded for a camping trip I will be hitting or exceeding the payload rating, but nowhere NEAR my GAWR or GCWR. Rams numbers don't add up. The numbers make sense on the F150 and GMs. Not the Ram, so best I can think of and somewhat confirmed by a Dodge tech- it's the coils. Don't kid yourself though. Just two days ago I had 700lbs in the box and it sat as nicely as my F150 did with similar weight. I guess in hindsight, after adding skid plates and all that extra audio gear and other components I wanted in the F150, it had roughly the same available payload left. So six in one...
I have driven the Ecoboost. Having said that, the Hemi doesn't give anything up to it power wise. BUT... huge but... the ecoboost kills the Hemi in unloaded economy, but we all knew that. The city mileage in this is dismal. It's a relatively new engine, so I am hoping to see a little improvement. It's really tough to guage though. We had a good cold snap combined with winter fuel... almost single digits. Highway though, hand calculated, 19MPG with the cruise set at 110km/h with 3.92 gearing. So it's inline with my 5.4 for fuel mileage. Eco or 5.0 gets better for sure. I have to admit I was a *tad* disappointed. Hope it improves. I have to readjust my driving habits though. The same amount of throttle used to get that 5.4 rolling would have this one wound right up like a gut shot cat. So this may be self induced.
At 110km/h cruising 1900RPM. My own doing- 3.92 gears. I will be staying in the right lane.
26 Gal tank. I can pass everything but a gas station. The larger (32 I think) was tempting, but would further reduce payload for what I thought to be minimal gain. I might just have to strap a 10 gal "oh ****" tank to the back of the TT.
89 octane is recommended. I always follow recommendations. That might suck after a while.
The helical LS is way sketchier than the clutch style I had. Really likes to kick it's *** sideways when it's slippery.
The Electronic Stability Control is not as fine tuned as Ford's. My F150 righted itself promptly without drama. The Ram is a bit more oafish. It will take some getting used to.
This one is not Ram specific because I felt this way test driving a newer F150 too. I hate that electric assist steering. I miss my pump and rack. It is the times though, so I guess I have to roll with it.
Big test will be when I hook the TT to it. I have almost perfect 50/50 split when I talk to people. Some prefer the Ram for towing, others the Ford, and some have traded either way because of a bad experience with one or another.
One other thing I miss- F150forum. The Ram forums aren't as populated. At least not in the sections I like (such as towing/ hauling) but they seem to be way more active in the tuners sections and modding. I am keeping her stock. So if it's all the same to you guys, I think I will stick around here too. Lots of information and topics that aren't brand specific
Anyways, I realize this is a long read, but I like to follow through. In my humble opinion, both these manufacturers are making top notch trucks now. This time around, I am taking the Ram. The Eco is awesome technology- just not my cup of tea right now. Next time... who knows. These are things I noticed in the first couple thousand.
Anyways- a little OT... I can't be the only one who can hardly wait to go test drive the new 'Stang when it hits the lot, am I?
Last edited by smurfs_of_war; 11-23-2013 at 12:04 AM.
The following 6 users liked this post by smurfs_of_war:
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11-22-2013, 11:42 PM
#56
One Bad MoFoMoCo Owner
Thanks for the comparison? Did you see the Top Gear comparison. The Dodge takes around 30 yards more distance in the 0-60-0. That's with the 8 speed. So, it may feel faster due to the rocking back of the soft suspension, but it's in your head.
Good luck finding that rattle! Just when you find that one another will show up.
Good luck finding that rattle! Just when you find that one another will show up.
11-22-2013, 11:54 PM
#57
Flatlander
Thread Starter
Thanks for the comparison? Did you see the Top Gear comparison. The Dodge takes around 30 yards more distance in the 0-60-0. That's with the 8 speed. So, it may feel faster due to the rocking back of the soft suspension, but it's in your head.
Good luck finding that rattle! Just when you find that one another will show up.
Good luck finding that rattle! Just when you find that one another will show up.
I steer clear of all of those so called "comparisons" or "shoot outs". Most are decided by whoever writes the larger sponsorship cheque as far as I am concerned. If Volkswagen brought more money to the table, I am sure that the Golf would be the 2015 pickup of the year.
11-23-2013, 01:12 AM
#58
Confused Member
Appreciate the update!!! Glad you are enjoying the truck for the most part.. That ram box has to be the greatest.. Keep popping back in here every now and then!!
The following users liked this post:
smurfs_of_war (11-23-2013)
11-23-2013, 02:35 AM
#59
Senior Member
Nice looking truck. The only ram I could ever see trading for would be a power wagon. No practical reason, just thought they look cool, lol
11-23-2013, 03:52 AM
#60
Senior Member
Nice of you to come back, it is a great forum ha ha. Even with the occasional annoyingly nit picky responses to some peoples posts. We all got to live with something right?
I appreciate the perspective and since I have been hanging around here a while I understood your reasons for the switch. I'm glad it has worked out for you and that your happy with the choices you made.
See you around!
I appreciate the perspective and since I have been hanging around here a while I understood your reasons for the switch. I'm glad it has worked out for you and that your happy with the choices you made.
See you around!
