Engine output?

[Newsa]

Ever tow, or climb grades with an auto?

Last time I did that with an automatic was 25 years ago in a 1977 Buick Electra with a 440 Cubic inch gasser. It was loaded down with all my belongings moving from Illinois to Florida. The mountains were the Appalachians (near the Smokies). It picked the right gear on every hil.

I have read that some of the autos in the Rams upshift and lock the torque converter so that the truck shudders (due to engine lugging)? But I will stop talking about the Ram auto's because the only auto Ram I've ever driven was a 1500. And that was a rental. And I know that when I have disdain for automatics, I upset people who love their automatics. Don't want to raise any Ire here. Just talking about what others have posted on this forum.

 

[Bob4x4]

Every mfg builds vehicles for the masses.Therefore..........we all the know phrase you can please some of the people some of the time......


wasn't the buick built with a 401 (refered to as a nail head)not 440

 

[EDankievitch]

I have used the up down shift buttons to drop down a gear. However when using the Tow/Haul mode I just let the truck do it's thing. It almost always finds the right gear on it's own. And will give the best fuel MPG when I let it do the thinking. Even when I think it's lugging. One thing that always surprises me is how this truck pulls. even when I think it's lugging, it will maintain speed uphill with out down shifting. I miss my manual but have to say this 68RFE does work well. I have never had the dead throttle issue.

 

[Lynx0849]

Do your self a favor, get a 3500 SRW Cummins/Aisin with 385HP and 900TQ and the factory rear air ride suspension. *Oh and the 5er prep. *You WILL thank me!

That's pretty much what I want for my next. I worry about the air ride though from a future maintenance view. Something expensive to fix?
Thoughts?

 

[Bob4x4]

That's pretty much what I want for my next. I worry about the air ride though from a future maintenance view. Something expensive to fix?
Thoughts?

It does use some electronics..........

 

[Newsa]

Every mfg builds vehicles for the masses.Therefore..........we all the know phrase you can please some of the people some of the time......


wasn't the buick built with a 401 (refered to as a nail head)not 440

My mistake. I beleive it was a 455 cubic inch Buick. I was confused because the olds cutlass 442's had either a 350 ci (possibly 351 ci?) with a 4 barrel or a 400 ci (possibly a 401 or 403 ci?) with a 4 barrel. It was 25 years ago..... so.my memory isn't perfect.

Once i got a tow because my starter died. The tow truck had the same engine as the buick. Lol

 

[Newsa]

I One thing that always surprises me is how this truck pulls. even when I think it's lugging, it will maintain speed uphill with out down shifting.

I am always amazed at the low end torque as well. I don't wind up my engine to very high RPM's.

 

[Newsa]

I promote the manual trannies, because i don't want Ram to stop offering manual trannies. They are the only one left making a full size pickup with a manual transmission. And because i really like driving mine.

But i agree, to each.... his own preferences.

 

[Ram4Sam]

That's pretty much what I want for my next. I worry about the air ride though from a future maintenance view. Something expensive to fix?
Thoughts?

....Yes......leaf springs don't leak........:-laf

Sam

 

[Cummins12V98]

That's pretty much what I want for my next. I worry about the air ride though from a future maintenance view. Something expensive to fix?
Thoughts?

No idea, mine has been trouble free with over 6K pushing down on it.

Reasons for the 3500, *AISIN, more HP and TQ, more capable truck so you don't have to up grade when you want a larger RV. *

 

[Cummins12V98]

....Yes......leaf springs don't leak........:-laf

Sam

Do you have any reports of failures? *I have 120K of warranty that they will be covered under. *If a bag or the system fails it will NOT strand you.

 

[Newsa]

Do you have any reports of failures? *I have 120K of warranty that they will be covered under. *If a bag or the system fails it will NOT strand you.

I think the system is too new to have any or many reports of failures. I'm guessing the rubber in the system (and fittings/hoses) holds up well to road chemicals and oxygen degradation.



Aftermarket systems (just about all of them) have performed well and have a longer warranty than RAM unless you buy the Max Care extended warranty.


Here is a video that is interesting. They show the bilstein shock attached to the rear axle or rear differential. I don't have the shock absorber attached to the rear suspension. I think that came about in 2014.

I do have the power hop that this shock is supposed to control when accelerating on a bumpy road. I don't think everyone gets the bilstein? But I have seen pictures on this forum that show the rear suspension shock that is mounted laterally and attached to the differential housing or the axle near the differential.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSgsVDPBGU4

 

[kthaxton]

The "kicker" shock comes on Hemi trucks only.

 

[Ram4Sam]

Do you have any reports of failures? *I have 120K of warranty that they will be covered under. *If a bag or the system fails it will NOT strand you.

No......but then I don't spend too much time worrying about options I don't have
But whether or not the air system turns out to be a bonanza or a bust.......leaf springs will never leak.

Sam

 

[Bob4x4]

The "kicker" shock comes on Hemi trucks only.

No they are also on manual trans Cummins

 

[Bob4x4]

Do you have any reports of failures? *I have 120K of warranty that they will be covered under. *If a bag or the system fails it will NOT strand you.

If one side fails it will tilt by about an inch and a half when empty

 

[kthaxton]

No they are also on manual trans Cummins

Dang, I was misinformed. I will no longer trust the internet!

 

[Newsa]

No they are also on manual trans Cummins

That's what I thought i saw posted a couple of years ago on here (this forum). I believe it started in 2014. My 2013 doesn't have it. Probably on 2500''s, It came with the frame upgrade (my guess).

 

[Bob4x4]

Carli suspension did some testing on the use of a singe lateral mounted shock at one time.It was not enough to control all the wheel hop under the worst conditions for the price so they never went into production.Back in the 80's I was installing lateral mounted shocks on Ramchargers and 1/2 tons to help with wheel hop on lifted units.On the factory mount a stiffly valved high dollar shock would help.

 

[odinjunior]

So to bring this back on topic..... You can get yer engine configured one of three ways.. The Manual drive line must be really weak..:-laf

Manual________365 HP...660 Torque
Chrysler auto__375 HP...800 Torque
Aisin auto______385 HP...900 Torque