Finally took delivery of 3500 Megacab 4x4 6.7ctd today

[IStoilkovich]

After 4 months the dealer called me today, my 3500 Megacab 4x4 SRW 6. 7 w/ auto finally hit the dealer. I immediately drove to San Diego to pick it up (from Los Angeles about 140 miles from where i live). Having never owned a Dodge before, I can only compare it to my 2004 Ford F250 6. 0l powerstroke and 2005 GMC Sierra 2500 with 6. 6 Duramax/Allison. The drive home was a combination of stop and go driving and cruisng on the Freeway at 70 to 80. Cruising at 73 the motor turns around 1700 rpms. Overall the motor has a good sound and is very quiet. The trans shifts well although compared to the GMC the transmission keeps the engine at a lower RPM so when you go up hills it tends to feel a little sluggish. If you use the manual gear selector buttons there is a lot of lag when it shifts, but that is par for the course for manual gear selectors so no surprise. I think it will come in handy when towing downgrade and you want to stay in a lower gear. The truck ride is very comfortable for a 3500. It is definitely smoother than the Ford F250 and comparable in comfort to the GMC 2500. The only thing I didn't like about the ride was it tends to dive a bit going into turns, but nothing that some better shocks won't cure. All the bells and whistles worked great, especially the UConnect. Was able to sync up my bluetooth phone easily and it works great The overhead computer said I averaged 16. 8 mpg for the 140 mile trip home. When I fill it up I will post the real mpg for the 1st tank. By the time I got home it was dark so I didn't get to take any pics. The only other thing I wasn't totally stoked on was the Chrome Clad wheels that it came with (Laramie), they basically look like a cheap chrome cover has been put on the wheels. Other than that the truck is great, and for the money it better be. For those of you still waiting my truck left Mexico on March 1st and arrived at the Distribution Ceneter in Southern California on March 10th. From there it took basically 11 days to get processed and shipped to the dealer. Good Luck. If anyone knows when it is cool to start towing with a new vehicle I would appreciate some help. The dealer said 500 miles, but I need to pick up a trailer tomorrow and not sure what to do.

 

['strokeThis_'07]

Congrats on the new truck-I testdrove one the other day and loved it; I gotta have one! Maybe next year... keep us posted on the truck as it racks up the miles-everyone is waitin to see how these trucks compare to 5. 9s

 

[Grizzly]

Congratulation on your new truck, sounds great. As far as when to tow. follow the recommendations in the owners guide. Beware of what the dealer says because he or she will tell you whatever you want to hear.

 

[RVTRKN]

I pick up my C&C tonite and had a little less time in the Rail yards but the dealer is basicaly next to it. I'm curious Istoilkovich, How do you compare the power with the 68RFE to the Allison as per the Torque management on the allison? Mine is the G56 and wont be able to compare it to the 05 Allison I drove, and hated the torque management when trying to pass. I,m sure the Ford was a dog compared to the Ram and Sierra but what is your opinion and did you test drive a 08 F250?

 

[PLanciers]

C O N G R A T S !

Congrats IVAN! Mine is being built this week Oo. ... What rear axle did you get the 4. 10 or 3. 73?



Pete

 

[TKeeler]

Congradulations on the new truck. I was set on getting the 6 speed manual until I heard about the new 6 speed auto. Guess I am getting too old for manual shifting. I can't complain about the 4 speed auto in the 98. 5, it has done well. And when I heard how quiet the new 6. 7 was even with the hood up I knew I had to have one.



Hopefully I can get ours ordered today with Adam at Dishman Dodge.



3500 SRW LB QC 4X4 Laramie

6. 7 w/ 6 Speed Auto

Mineral Gray

Trailer Tow Mirrors

Power Sunroof

Anti-Spin rear Diff.

UConnect

4. 10 axles

Trailer Tow Grp

Side Air Bags

Protection Grp

 

[IStoilkovich]

i will definitely keep posting the trucks progess. i got the 3. 73's. My main complaint with the Alsion trans in my GMC was that when driving on the Highway the transmission kept the motor at 2200 RPM's at 65 which always felt like it needed to shift into another gear that wasn't there. Now with the 6sp when cruising it is great, however because the transmission generally keeps the motor turning at lower RPM's when going up a grade you need to put your foot in it a little more to get it to downshift and accelate. Whereas the '05 Alison you were already turning a higher RPM so it accelarated easier up a grade. Having said that I also rented one of the 6sp Alison Chevy trucks and it felt very similar to the new 6sp dc transmission. I think it will just take a little getting used to.

 

[RVTRKN]

How is the difference in passing between the Allison & 68RFE on level surface and 65 MPH? Just curious for others, information does't pertain to me due to G56.



TKeeler, I don't want to seem negitive on the auto but I don't believe in auto's behind the high torque numbers of our Diesels and the ability to shift when I chose. Let us know how it goes when you put some miles on it.



DB, how is your Aison holding up after 30K and do you still like it over the G56?

 

[HLewallen]

I am real curious bout those "buttons" for gear selection and how they work. I don't even know where they are, as I haven't seen a picture. If you get a chance, a picture of those buttons would be appreciated. It is too bad this is your first Cummins - I am also curious how that new VGT affects the response of the engine.

 

[TKeeler]

I am real curious bout those "buttons" for gear selection and how they work. I don't even know where they are, as I haven't seen a picture. If you get a chance, a picture of those buttons would be appreciated. It is too bad this is your first Cummins - I am also curious how that new VGT affects the response of the engine.

Some where in one of the posts there is a picture showing the switches on the steering column arm but I'll be darned if I can find it again. I got the same type of selector for the automatic transmission in our PT Cruiser and it works pretty slick. As long as you are within the RPM range that wont damage something you can up and down shift to whatever gear you want. I found it the most usefull for slowing down thus saving on the brakes a little.

 

[gthiessen]

Istoilk as far towing and breakin, best thing you can do is hook up a trailer and tow the heck out of it. you can't hurt these cummins engines it seats the rings faster. I've always told my customers to not baby truck and drive it like you stole it and just use common sense.

 

[EB]

DB, how is your Aison holding up after 30K and do you still like it over the G56?

I guess you are talking about me, EB, when you mentioned 30k. I have had zero problems with the truck. Transmission, engine, rear end, brakes ect are all working just like they should. My mileage is averaging a little over 10 mpg, about 1 mpg less than my 03 did pulling the same loads. I had the NV5600 in that truck, not the G56. I don't miss the 6-speed stick a bit, especially backing up a hill under a load. It probably does hurt the fuel mileage a little, but the drivability makes it worth it.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Some where in one of the posts there is a picture showing the switches on the steering column arm but I'll be darned if I can find it again. I got the same type of selector for the automatic transmission in our PT Cruiser and it works pretty slick. As long as you are within the RPM range that wont damage something you can up and down shift to whatever gear you want. I found it the most usefull for slowing down thus saving on the brakes a little.

HLewallen & TKeeler, here you go:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177100


Dash picture (warning - it's HUGE) #ad

 

[Jeff Knight]

I don't know how to post a thread. The picture of the gear shift for the auto is under the thread name Do you know when. Jeff

 

['strokeThis_'07]

The pic of the dashboard that Vaughn posted doesnt have the button shifter on the column like the 68RFE trucks do- and it shows PRDN321 in the pic, but on the trucks it just shows PRND and then when you shift it manually it shows which gear you are in... wish I had a pic but I dont maybe I can go to the dealer tomorrow and snap one real quick

 

[BBeck]

Picture of 6sp auto

Here is the picture from the thread "anyone know when". It is in response #11.

 

['strokeThis_'07]

Thanks Bbeck, thats the one

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

The pic of the dashboard that Vaughn posted doesnt have the button shifter on the column like the 68RFE trucks do- and it shows PRDN321 in the pic, but on the trucks it just shows PRND and then when you shift it manually it shows which gear you are in... wish I had a pic but I dont maybe I can go to the dealer tomorrow and snap one real quick

Ah OK. . . I assumed they were the same, I was wrong

A little switch on the shifter seems kinda dorky, I'd rather have the P R N D 3 2 1 with OD/tow-haul button, or
P R N OD D 3 2 1 on the shifter with tow-haul button.

 

[TKeeler]

I don't know how to post a thread. The picture of the gear shift for the auto is under the thread name Do you know when. Jeff

Here is the thread with a very good picture of the shift arm showing the switch... . Same picture as above.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178004

 

[IStoilkovich]

Here are the first tank numbers. Drove 461 miles and it took 31. 5 gallons of fuel for an average of 14. 6. I ended up towing my trailer (about 7,000 pounds) for about 75 miles (thanks for the advice). Overall the truck runs great with no problems. To answer a few questions, at 65 mph on level ground passing is no problem. I wil say that before I got my truck, I had read a couple of testimonials of people that had drove the new engine and had characterized it as super fast with the ability to spin the tires in third gear (or something like that). I will characterize the engine as a good, strong, smooth engine, but it isn't a barn burner. When towing you definitely can feel that you are towing something. With the 6sp auto when traveling between 20 and 40 the transmission keeps the engine at super low RPM's and it makes the truck bog sometimes, especially when gowing uphill in traffic. If you use the tow/haul mode the truck shifts much better. The exhaust brake works great, and when towing in tow/haul mode the truck downshifts great going downhill. The brakes work better than any other truck I have driven.