Meet the new 2013 RAM HD Trucks...

[EDankievitch]

Wow your getting 200 miles between Re-gen cycles..... I'm lucky if I get 60-75 miles between cycles. My commute is average 45 min 20 min on highway with lights (I hate lights) and 25 min of back roads with only a hand full of lights. I average 45 mph for the trip. This truck, when new use to Re-Gen once a day for about 15- 20 min. Nowwith 10,265 miles on it will re-gen twice a day. If you let it idle more than 3-4 min it goes right into re-gen. If I hit the lights wrong or get stuck at the train tracks it'll re-gen. This thing spends more time in re-gen than anything else. I have an apointment with the dealer to see if something stupid is going on with it tommrrow. The last oil change the lube was loaded with fuel. It has no codes and aside from always going into re-gen runs great. So I'm doubtfull that they will find anything wrong. My use of this truck is so far removed from it being a grocery getter that I can't see how or what these trucks were ment to be used for in order to keep it from re-gening all the time. The people that I have ran intowith the Ford 6. 7 say that they get between 16-19 mpg doing the same work/ driving that I am. And their DEF lasts aroung 1000-1500 miles per gal. The guy that is getting 16mpg has 35" Nitto's with a 6" lift and 4-11 gears. The guys with normal trucks and the 3. 55 or 3. 73 gears do much better. I just can't bring my self to speak ford just yet... ... Been a Dodge man for 25 years now don't want to change but this truck really sucks MPG wise It's over 1/3 more opperating costs from the last 3 that I owned. thats not a small increase!

 

[HBarlow]

It's easy to achieve the same fuel mileage your Furd owner friends do - just lie. That's what they do.

 

[Regcabguy]

I believe the mileage with stock tires but 35's?

 

[EDankievitch]

I know these Ford guys they own their own businesses they know where every penny goes and what their truck cost to run one guy has a log book with actual miles and gallons and the dates and locations the fuel was purchased. If these guys say they are getting 17 MPG they have the facts to prove it. Just Like I have the facts to prove what all my trucks would give.

 

[rwitt]

Wow your getting 200 miles between Re-gen cycles..... I'm lucky if I get 60-75 miles between cycles. My commute is average 45 min 20 min on highway with lights (I hate lights) and 25 min of back roads with only a hand full of lights. I average 45 mph for the trip. This truck, when new use to Re-Gen once a day for about 15- 20 min. Nowwith 10,265 miles on it will re-gen twice a day. If you let it idle more than 3-4 min it goes right into re-gen. If I hit the lights wrong or get stuck at the train tracks it'll re-gen. This thing spends more time in re-gen than anything else. I have an apointment with the dealer to see if something stupid is going on with it tommrrow. The last oil change the lube was loaded with fuel. It has no codes and aside from always going into re-gen runs great. So I'm doubtfull that they will find anything wrong. My use of this truck is so far removed from it being a grocery getter that I can't see how or what these trucks were ment to be used for in order to keep it from re-gening all the time. The people that I have ran intowith the Ford 6. 7 say that they get between 16-19 mpg doing the same work/ driving that I am. And their DEF lasts aroung 1000-1500 miles per gal. The guy that is getting 16mpg has 35" Nitto's with a 6" lift and 4-11 gears. The guys with normal trucks and the 3. 55 or 3. 73 gears do much better. I just can't bring my self to speak ford just yet... ... Been a Dodge man for 25 years now don't want to change but this truck really sucks MPG wise It's over 1/3 more opperating costs from the last 3 that I owned. thats not a small increase!

If you are only getting 60 to 75 miles in between regens then something isn't right. I have the Edge Insight on my truck so I know when it is in the regen cycle. A regen cycle usually lasts about 30 miles. As far as what the Fords are getting for mileage, the one I drive gets 12 to 13 mpg. It is an F350 SRW 4x4 Utility Bed with 3. 73 gears that weighs in at 11k daily. The one you mentioned as getting 16mpg with 35's and 4. 11's, unless he's changed the gearing, 4. 11's are not available in any of the 2011 and newer diesel pickup models, only the chassis cabs. The diesel SRW pickups get 3. 31 or 3. 55's, with the F350 Dually Diesels getting 3. 73's, and the F450 pickup getting the 4:30's. From what I've read they do seem to get pretty good mileage empty when driven at the speed limits, but load them heavy or at high speeds, the mpg falls off just like anything else. I've driven this F350 for 2 years and 45,000 miles now, and there's no way I would own one. I work for a company that has a very large fleet of them, and I've seen too many issues with them.
Rich

 

[RonD]

Just to clear the water a little, first, DEF in bulk at the pump Flying J etc is about 3 bucks a gal, next, there was that Truck Trend driving test done a year or so back, I didn't get anything out of it, but I suspect the MPG reading thay posted on the Ram, GM, and Ferd were all very close, I think the Ferd was number one by maybe 1 MPG at best, those who think a new Ram with DEF will all of a sudden get great MPG are dreaming, it takes fuel to move 8-9000 pounds of steel down the road, my 12 gets 10. 5 towing, and 16 highway empty, I am very happy with those numbers, I think some people buy these Cummins Diesel Rams, and if one doesn't use the truck as intended, should have and would be better with a Gas powered truck.

Wow your getting 200 miles between Re-gen cycles..... I'm lucky if I get 60-75 miles between cycles. My commute is average 45 min 20 min on highway with lights (I hate lights) and 25 min of back roads with only a hand full of lights. I average 45 mph for the trip. This truck, when new use to Re-Gen once a day for about 15- 20 min. Nowwith 10,265 miles on it will re-gen twice a day. If you let it idle more than 3-4 min it goes right into re-gen. If I hit the lights wrong or get stuck at the train tracks it'll re-gen. This thing spends more time in re-gen than anything else. I have an apointment with the dealer to see if something stupid is going on with it tommrrow. The last oil change the lube was loaded with fuel. It has no codes and aside from always going into re-gen runs great. So I'm doubtfull that they will find anything wrong. My use of this truck is so far removed from it being a grocery getter that I can't see how or what these trucks were ment to be used for in order to keep it from re-gening all the time. The people that I have ran intowith the Ford 6. 7 say that they get between 16-19 mpg doing the same work/ driving that I am. And their DEF lasts aroung 1000-1500 miles per gal. The guy that is getting 16mpg has 35" Nitto's with a 6" lift and 4-11 gears. The guys with normal trucks and the 3. 55 or 3. 73 gears do much better. I just can't bring my self to speak ford just yet... ... Been a Dodge man for 25 years now don't want to change but this truck really sucks MPG wise It's over 1/3 more opperating costs from the last 3 that I owned. thats not a small increase!

 

[Wingate]

true true... my trucks doesnt get used every day, but when it does... typically, its loaded/overloaded and running 30+ psi boost!... True diesel engines like ours are made to work and are happiest when they are pulling hard... TBH. . the new Ford and DMax offerings make me think of a big block gas engine more than a diesel. That type of diesel DOES ahve a place, just not in my driveway... DEF will help, but the truck will still have to be set up properly to get max. fuel efficiency... . buying a 3500 4x4 DRW with 3:42 gears and trying to tow a 15K 5er will NOT net good fuel efficiency. Problem is, dealership lots here in Texas are usually full of 2500-3500 with 3:42 gears!!. (3:31 for Ford!)

 

[Cummins12V98]

true true... my trucks doesnt get used every day, but when it does... typically, its loaded/overloaded and running 30+ psi boost!... True diesel engines like ours are made to work and are happiest when they are pulling hard... TBH. . the new Ford and DMax offerings make me think of a big block gas engine more than a diesel. That type of diesel DOES ahve a place, just not in my driveway... DEF will help, but the truck will still have to be set up properly to get max. fuel efficiency... . buying a 3500 4x4 DRW with 3:42 gears and trying to tow a 15K 5er will NOT net good fuel efficiency. Problem is, dealership lots here in Texas are usually full of 2500-3500 with 3:42 gears!!. (3:31 for Ford!)

Not sure what you think is good mileage. My combined load of 28K west coast towing I average hand calc 9. 5. I think that is pretty darn good with 18K on the clock. 3:42 gears to boot!

 

[Wingate]

Not sure what you think is good mileage. My combined load of 28K west coast towing I average hand calc 9. 5. I think that is pretty darn good with 18K on the clock. 3:42 gears to boot!

Thats pretty impressive!. Does your truck typically stay in top gear and T/C locked while on the open highway? or does it seem to downshift regularly? Are the highways mainly flat or hills?
Im from the old school of thought, give me all the rear gear I can get... 4:10- 4:56, 4:88... I will take the slight mileage penalty vs. having the transmission constantly unlocking/backshifting.
the 3:31 reference in my previous post is due to a friends new F250 4x4... pulling their TT or mine, it constantly backshifts the transmission to try and keep up with me on the highway. We have been blaming this condition for his horrible fuel mileage when towing.

 

[grabinov]

I read about the Front Axle Disconnect too. So... . Does that mean with the right control of the electronics I can have 2-Wheel-Low back like I had in my second gen truck? If the ECU can in fact dosconnect the front axle to save fuel, can't it do the same in low gear to give me two wheel low?

Like a lot of folks here, I'm thinking: Do I spend $4k to put free-spin hubs and an exhaust brake on my '04, or do I just buy a truck that gets me both? Particularly if I get not only the free-spin mileage improvement but also the free-spin 2-Wheel-Low!

Thanks good link.

They go to urea on all models.
Axle disconnect up front comes back.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Thats pretty impressive!. Does your truck typically stay in top gear and T/C locked while on the open highway? or does it seem to downshift regularly? Are the highways mainly flat or hills?
Im from the old school of thought, give me all the rear gear I can get... 4:10- 4:56, 4:88... I will take the slight mileage penalty vs. having the transmission constantly unlocking/backshifting.
the 3:31 reference in my previous post is due to a friends new F250 4x4... pulling their TT or mine, it constantly backshifts the transmission to try and keep up with me on the highway. We have been blaming this condition for his horrible fuel mileage when towing.

On flat ground I drive in 6th. If the terrain is hilly or some head wind I run in 5th, I could run 6th but the mileage is better in 5th. I manually downshift when I know it will if I wait for the computer, by doing it manually it gives better mileage because it is not trying to play catch up. In 5th gear at 60 my rpm's are a bit higher than if I had 4:10's in 6th. With 6 speeds the only big advantage of having 4:10's is starting on a steep hill.

There are a lot of 6% grades along I-5 between Wa and SoCal, I hold 55 or more on those grades. There are two short stretches one in Oregon at Grants Pass and Ashland pass going north from CA to Or that I hit 52mph.

The truck had all the options I wanted except 4:10 so I figured I would change gears but after having the truck for over one year I probably will stay with the 3:42. Dave Smith Motors said they would swap gears for $1,500, a great deal.

Trans temps are around 170 at 90 outside temps.

 

[NIsaacs]

If it is not a typo, my new Truck Trend Magazine says the 2014 will go on sale the first quarter of 2013. If thats the case the 2013 will have a really short life. They also say there is no indication the new Ram's tow ratings will be to the J2807 standards.

Nick

 

[Matt_L]

If it is not a typo, my new Truck Trend Magazine says the 2014 will go on sale the first quarter of 2013. If thats the case the 2013 will have a really short life. They also say there is no indication the new Ram's tow ratings will be to the J2807 standards.



Nick

There is also no proof Ford is following the standards either... . They wait for the competition to release their numbers, sprinkle some fairy dust on their truck and/or engine and come out wih a higher rating... Either way I'm happy Ram is finally appearing to be stepping up to the plate with their overall package.

 

[Cummins12V98]

If it is not a typo, my new Truck Trend Magazine says the 2014 will go on sale the first quarter of 2013. If thats the case the 2013 will have a really short life. They also say there is no indication the new Ram's tow ratings will be to the J2807 standards.

Nick

The big wigs from Chrysler last year at May Madness said they meet the J2807 standards.

 

[RonD]

Ram is looking for a bigger section of market share, there still way back in last place with the HD trucks, I just finished a 9000 mile coast to coast trip in October, from what I saw on the road Ford had ten times the trucks that Ram had, a shame, but that is what I saw, Ferds everywhere

If it is not a typo, my new Truck Trend Magazine says the 2014 will go on sale the first quarter of 2013. If thats the case the 2013 will have a really short life. They also say there is no indication the new Ram's tow ratings will be to the J2807 standards.

Nick

 

[Cummins12V98]

Go to the campgrounds where the full timers go. Rams and GM's about the same, very few Fords.

 

[Task125]

I have an 06 duramax now,I am very close to pull the trigger on a 2013 ram. dont know if I want to have all that emisions crap.

 

[S.Morris]

Lot of emission crap on whichever brand you pick. At least the engine is still visible on the RAM, and you don't have to take the cab off , or engine out to work on it. They do all work well when they are working right.

 

[CUMMINZ]

HB is trying to have 15K posts!

I looked in Webster under 15k posts and nothing said about 15k = smart, intelligent, wise !!

 

[Road Dog]

Ram is looking for a bigger section of market share, there still way back in last place with the HD trucks, I just finished a 9000 mile coast to coast trip in October, from what I saw on the road Ford had ten times the trucks that Ram had, a shame, but that is what I saw, Ferds everywhere

It depends how you count. In Canada this year Ford F-series is number one overall with 92,000. RAM is second with 57,000 (ahead of the Honda Civic's 53,000). So much for people moving to smaller cars. GMC is 36,000 and Silverado is 31,000 but if you think they're the same truck then GM would be number one at 67,000. RAM claims to be the number one Diesel pickup but I don't have any numbers to back it up.