New 2016 3500 DRW

[orhusky]

Well Laura and I just traded in our 2012 Ram for a new 3500 DRW Laramie 4X4 DRW Crew Cab AISIN 3.73. I knew that a lot had changed in the last 4 years but can't believe what a different truck this is! More Power, great transmission, and the bell and whistles are mind blowing! Dropped the truck off at the Line-X dealer for the bed liner early Friday morning and no key drop so we locked Laura’s fob in the truck using my fob and when they called about getting into the truck I sent the truck a unlock code from my Uconnect app on my phone. We had a 600 mile drive back from the dealer and registered 18.3 mpg on the way over 2 mountain passes. We never came close to that # with our 2012. Love the truck and can’t wait to make our first pull next week! Couldn’t be happier.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Hopefully it has the factory hitch prep. I highly advise a B&W RVK3600.

Beautiful truck!!!!!!!! I agree we went from a 11HO dually to a 15 HO dually with factory rear air ride, no comparison!!!

 

[RustyJC]

Congratulations on the new truck! We just made the leap in May, going from an early 2011 350/650 3500 DRW to the truck in my signature below. I hope you have many enjoyable miles of towing with the new one.

Rusty

 

[orhusky]

Hopefully it has the factory hitch prep. I highly advise a B&W RVK3600.

Beautiful truck!!!!!!!! I agree we went from a 11HO dually to a 15 HO dually with factory rear air ride, no comparison!!!

It does have the factory prep pk and on Monday we get the new B&W base for our companion.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I assume you are buying the base only since you already had a Companion before. I had the 18K Companion in my 11 Dually and sold it for $500 and started off new since I had the old one for 11 years or so and wanted it all to look new.

 

[RustyJC]

When we bought the 2014.5 Mobile Suites in May 2014, I upgraded my Companion to the 20K-rated RVB3500 base from the original 18K rated Companion, but kept the head that I had been using since 2001. I went ahead and bought the RVK3600 with a new head for the new truck as the old head worked perfectly but was quite weather-worn after 15 years of service.

Rusty

 

[Deleted member 995608]

What dealer in Oregon did you buy from? I tried buying from Smolich in the Bend area earlier this year. Really good pricing there.

 

[orhusky]

Yes, I have a companion already, it's only 6 years old and in good shape as I keep it covered when towing.

 

[orhusky]

What dealer in Oregon did you buy from? I tried buying from Smolich in the Bend area earlier this year. Really good pricing there.

Dave Smith in Kellogg ID, made us a great deal!

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Dave Smith in Kellogg ID, made us a great deal!

Copy that. We ended up buying from DS also, only we had our shipped to us. I'll buy from them the next go round also.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I gave DS a try on my 15 that I ordered since I bought my 11 LongHorn from them. DS and AutoNation in Seattle were the exact same price, the kicker AS gave me 4K more on trade for my 11 HO Dually.

 

[Eagle6.7L]

Your gonna enjoy the upgrade,it is worth every penny,when towing long distance's.I have knock down 15hr days in mine.And it will tow a house.Nice choice on the 3:73 ratio,she will run the grades with no sweat.With 950ft pounds of torque...One must ask,has nirvada struck you.That Dave Smith is really a price buster, with a inventory level of 214 wow.He beat my price here in Texas by 2000.00 dallors.

 

[RustyJC]

With 950ft pounds of torque....

Whoa, I must have missed that upgrade. :--) My truck has the 385/900 Cummins - that's what comes with the Aisin AS69RC and the 11.8" AAM rear axle. I actually found mine on a dealer's lot in Daphne, AL, so I made a quick run from the Houston, TX area to trade for it. I'll just say that, due to a Priceline appraisal error on my 2011 that they stood behind (they guarantee their appraisal values), it was a deal that I literally could not turn down.

For those who might be looking for a 385/900 Cummins, Aisin AS69RC truck, you might check the inventory at Chris Myers Automall in Daphne, AL. They say that they try to keep 1 or 2 of these trucks in stock. I literally could not find one in Texas with the 4.10 axle ratio.

Rusty

 

[zzollwalk]

is there anyone on this thread that has had drive shaft issues on their 2016 ram 3500 dually?? specifically a drive line rubble when taking off loaded??

 

[RustyJC]

"Launch shudder" has been a common characteristic of Ram duallies ever since I've owned them starting with my 1996 Ram 3500 dually. It's a function of pinion and driveshaft angle, with spring wrap contributing to a change in this angle. These parameters can be adjusted to minimize launch shudder when loaded, but it will make it worse when unloaded. The factory shoots for the best compromise for all conditions with the standard settings. Launch shudder isn't harmful in and of itself - I minimize it by keeping a light foot on the accelerator pedal until the truck is rolling at 10 MPH or so when towing our 19K GVWR 5th wheel.

Rusty

 

[zzollwalk]

Thanks for that Rusty..I traded 2007.5 Cummins 6.7 that I used for towing my car hauler..that truck had a 1 piece aluminum dtive shaft and I never had a shutter issue.. this new truck has air bags and a two piece shaft.. I have installed a kit that lowers the carrier bearing and that has made it better but not completely gone..I have a drive shaft shop close by and am thinking about having a one piece shaft made but only if I was sure that would resolve the issue.. I just think a 70k truck that was made for pulling heavy loads should do just that without sounding and feeling like something is coming apart..

 

[gsbrockman]

Well Laura and I just traded in our 2012 Ram for a new 3500 DRW Laramie 4X4 DRW Crew Cab AISIN 3.73. I knew that a lot had changed in the last 4 years but can't believe what a different truck this is! More Power, great transmission, and the bell and whistles are mind blowing! Dropped the truck off at the Line-X dealer for the bed liner early Friday morning and no key drop so we locked Laura’s fob in the truck using my fob and when they called about getting into the truck I sent the truck a unlock code from my Uconnect app on my phone.

Looks great !!!

 

[RustyJC]

Thanks for that Rusty..I traded 2007.5 Cummins 6.7 that I used for towing my car hauler..that truck had a 1 piece aluminum dtive shaft and I never had a shutter issue.. this new truck has air bags and a two piece shaft.. I have installed a kit that lowers the carrier bearing and that has made it better but not completely gone..I have a drive shaft shop close by and am thinking about having a one piece shaft made but only if I was sure that would resolve the issue.. I just think a 70k truck that was made for pulling heavy loads should do just that without sounding and feeling like something is coming apart..

Yes, I can certainly understand that. I may have left a mistaken impression that I've experienced launch shudder with the 2016 Ram. I haven't - yet....but the truck has less than 1000 miles and has only been out towing on relatively level ground. The only times I would encounter launch shudder in my previous 3500 duallies was when taking off from a stop heading uphill on a relatively steep grade while towing. I haven't encountered those conditions yet with the new truck when towing, so we'll see... Anyway, good luck and I hope you get this resolved to your satisfaction.

Rusty

 

[Cummins12V98]

is there anyone on this thread that has had drive shaft issues on their 2016 ram 3500 dually?? specifically a drive line rubble when taking off loaded??

Fill in your signature. What trans???? What gear ratio??? If you have the 68RFE with 3.42's yes you will have axle wrap is how I would describe it. I tow 33K combined, I have 4.10's and Aisin. I can take off even on a grade without any shudder. My 11 HO Dually had it since I towed 29K combined with the 68 and 3.42's.

 

[Cummins12V98]

"Launch shudder" has been a common characteristic of Ram duallies ever since I've owned them starting with my 1996 Ram 3500 dually. It's a function of pinion and driveshaft angle, with spring wrap contributing to a change in this angle. These parameters can be adjusted to minimize launch shudder when loaded, but it will make it worse when unloaded. The factory shoots for the best compromise for all conditions with the standard settings. Launch shudder isn't harmful in and of itself - I minimize it by keeping a light foot on the accelerator pedal until the truck is rolling at 10 MPH or so when towing our 19K GVWR 5th wheel.

Rusty

I am betting with your new combo you don't have it anymore.

Now I have read more I see you have not had it. I have taken off on some pretty steep grades without any shudder. It's great I just push down on the go pedal and it simple takes off!

Great reason for the Aisin and it's lower starting gears.