New here a few questions about a new 3500 DRW.

[vipers95]

I can say I have never owned a RAM truck. Always had GMC or Ford. Looking at getting a 2017 Ram 3500 crewcab Dully. Is there anything big problems with the 2017. Most window stickers are for the Larmie 75000 to 77000. The limited is 78000 to 83000. Most dealers in Eastern Pa. will drop 10K on the Laramie with no trade. And 11k to 12K on the limited. I have for the weekend to try out a Laramie loaded all options from Keller Bros in Lititz. It seems like a great truck it tops out at 104. Has 4.10 gears. It does ride rougher than the GMC does.
Have a 2011 GMC Denali. Most of the time it is just my big car, But sometimes I will haul my Komatsu Excavator which weighs in at 19800 and the trailer is 7800 empty. It is a bumper pull not Gooseneck. The GMC always pulled it no problem.

I dont see any difference besides the seat quality in the Laramie to the limited for 5 k more. Drove both, both are quiet and all the ones I drove have the air bags installed on the back axle.
drove one last week with 3.42 gears I think could be 3.41 dont remember. That top speed was 98. wonder why a 4.10 would top out at 104 and the 3.42 only 98. Should be the opposite.
Are people getting better discounts than 10 to 12K off of sticker. Thanks

 

[jhenderson]

A lot of dealers will knock off 17-20% from sticker on ordered trucks because they don't cost the dealer to stock on spec. They have no money tied up in floor plans and a couple of $thousand deposit will show your serious. You can also check online at Kernersville Ram as well as Dave Smith and Dennis Dillon among others for price comparisons.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Invoice minus incentives is a good deal. Lower the rear tire pressure to 35 leave the front at 80 the ride will be much improved. If it has an AISIN and towing 28K combined or less I would highly recommend the 3.42's. Anything over 4.10's are the ticket. My 4.10 tops at 103-104, my 11 HO Dually was similar with 3.42's. Look at the Laramie then LongHorn/Limited. I will take the LongHorn any day!

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[Newsa]

I That top speed was 98. wonder why a 4.10 would top out at 104 and the 3.42 only 98. Should be the opposite.
Thanks

These trucks are supposed to have an electronic governor that prevents them from reaching too fast of a speed that is consisted unsafe?

Was the 98 mph one a 4x4? And the 104 mph one 2×4? I noticed the 4x4's sit a bit higher and may have a different programed top speed. If a truck has a higher profile, it will be programmed with a different "safe" top speed.

 

[RustyJC]

Maximum speeds are generally a function of the speed rating of the OEM tires.

Rusty

 

[vipers95]

Got a limited in Pearl white, Will be ready to go Tuesday afternoon.
Insurance was cheaper than the GMC with Travelers. 664.00 a year for the Ram the GMC was 890.00 Im 70 and never had a ticket in 8 years and Knock on wood never an accident in 30 years.

 

[Cummins12V98]

^^^^^ Nice truck! You will like the rear air, run it in the alt ride position. 35psi rear tires unloaded and 80 front ALL the time. Do your self a favor and take the truck to a competent alignment shop and tell them to set the toe to 1/32". If you don't let me know how your front tires look at 5K.

This is how they come from the factory, yes it is at the top end of their spec.

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[vipers95]

Thanks, I will see how the tires ware . I do not like the Chinese tires on it. Was always a Firestone tire lover.

The truck they gave me for the weekend had air ride also, when i pressed alt ride position button it said you have no load on the vehicle.

 

[vipers95]

Is that 1/32 in or out.

 

[SnoKing]

Thanks, I will see how the tires ware . I do not like the Chinese tires on it. Was always a Firestone tire lover.

The truck they gave me for the weekend had air ride also, when i pressed alt ride position button it said you have no load on the vehicle.

My FS Transforce AT at about gone at 30K. Michelin LTX Defender M&S before June 25th to get Costco's $100 off. SNOKING

 

[mnSteve]

I recently purchased a 2017 Ram 3500 Laramie Long Horn, CC, DRW, Aisin, 4.10, LB, air level

I do not have any experience with a diesel or a dually. Previously I owned a Ram 1500, CC, Hemi, srw, sb.

I only have about 500 miles on it and will be picking up a new fifth wheel shortly which is why I bought it. The truck has been running great. I had one glitch right when I picked it up in that it threw an electronic throttle error after about 2 miles on the way home. I researched this, right here on the forum, and I think I might have caused it by having some left foot brake pedal applied without the gas pedal being completely released. The dealer read the codes and there was nothing wrong.

Price: I bought it for about 19% under msrp, which seems right in there with what folks say.

Other than that one false start, I've been pretty pleased with the truck. I have the air leveling suspension and with the truck not under load, I run the rear tires at @55psi, and the fronts at 80psi. The ride is not much different than my 1500. I did drive a 3500 without the air bags and just the springs, and it was really a kidney breaker with the truck unloaded. I think the GM has a more civilized ride unloaded unless you have the air bags on the Ram.

Regarding the 4.10 rear end. I chose this because I want to run at @62mph. With the 4.10 that puts me at about 1700-1800 rpm which was the torque sweet spot when I looked at the Cummins charts. I also want the cooling fins on the differentials. The draw back is if it was an every day driver, you pay in gas mileage if you want to run 75-80. This has no bearing on me though because if the truck is doing some miles, there's an Arctic Fox behind it. Some folks say they get the 3.42 and run in 5th gear when they're towing.

I see the fifth wheel prep package on the sticker, which I also got. I just installed a B&W RVK3600 hitch and it was a piece of cake. Everyone on my RV owners forum (Arctic Fox) tells me I will love towing with the Ram. Don't have any first hand to give you because I don't have the 5w yet. I can tell you that I love the exhaust brake. Make sure your sales rep shows you the full on and auto modes. The folks on the Arctic Fox forum tell me you can drive the mountains towing and seldom touch the brakes.

In regards to the duallys, a lot of folks said they were a major hassle. I haven't found that to be true though. I've driven in rush hour, crowded parking lots, drive through windows, etc. Didn't seem to be any problem to me. Mirrors clear... back fenders will clear.

All in all I'm very happy with the truck.

 

[vipers95]

Price: I bought it for about 19% under msrp, which seems right in there with what folks say.

Wow the best I could find was 12.9 % under MSRP. I went to at least 20 dealers in a 200 mile range.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Is that 1/32 in or out.

Toe in. My 11 HO Dually was set to 1/4 also and at 5K the outer edges were "stepping".

 

[Cummins12V98]

I recently purchased a 2017 Ram 3500 Laramie Long Horn, CC, DRW, Aisin, 4.10, LB, air level

I do not have any experience with a diesel or a dually. Previously I owned a Ram 1500, CC, Hemi, srw, sb.

I only have about 500 miles on it and will be picking up a new fifth wheel shortly which is why I bought it. The truck has been running great. I had one glitch right when I picked it up in that it threw an electronic throttle error after about 2 miles on the way home. I researched this, right here on the forum, and I think I might have caused it by having some left foot brake pedal applied without the gas pedal being completely released. The dealer read the codes and there was nothing wrong.

Price: I bought it for about 19% under msrp, which seems right in there with what folks say.

Other than that one false start, I've been pretty pleased with the truck. I have the air leveling suspension and with the truck not under load, I run the rear tires at @55psi, and the fronts at 80psi. The ride is not much different than my 1500. I did drive a 3500 without the air bags and just the springs, and it was really a kidney breaker with the truck unloaded. I think the GM has a more civilized ride unloaded unless you have the air bags on the Ram.

Regarding the 4.10 rear end. I chose this because I want to run at @62mph. With the 4.10 that puts me at about 1700-1800 rpm which was the torque sweet spot when I looked at the Cummins charts. I also want the cooling fins on the differentials. The draw back is if it was an every day driver, you pay in gas mileage if you want to run 75-80. This has no bearing on me though because if the truck is doing some miles, there's an Arctic Fox behind it. Some folks say they get the 3.42 and run in 5th gear when they're towing.

I see the fifth wheel prep package on the sticker, which I also got. I just installed a B&W RVK3600 hitch and it was a piece of cake. Everyone on my RV owners forum (Arctic Fox) tells me I will love towing with the Ram. Don't have any first hand to give you because I don't have the 5w yet. I can tell you that I love the exhaust brake. Make sure your sales rep shows you the full on and auto modes. The folks on the Arctic Fox forum tell me you can drive the mountains towing and seldom touch the brakes.

In regards to the duallys, a lot of folks said they were a major hassle. I haven't found that to be true though. I've driven in rush hour, crowded parking lots, drive through windows, etc. Didn't seem to be any problem to me. Mirrors clear... back fenders will clear.

All in all I'm very happy with the truck.

Know your weights and use the weight/inflation chart for your tires. I am willing to bet 55 psi is enough for the pin weight of your 5er. I run 65 psi with full RAWR. 35 psi is PLENTY of air for 4 tires on an unloaded rear axle.

 

[mnSteve]

Price: I bought it for about 19% under msrp, which seems right in there with what folks say.

Wow the best I could find was 12.9 % under MSRP. I went to at least 20 dealers in a 200 mile range.

It was a special order, and not a stock purchase. I also had several good incentives avail to me. Dealer gave me invoice - incentives - holdback.

 

[mnSteve]

Thanks. That what the other folks with my 5er and a Ram 3500 say they run the rears at... 55psi. I don't have my tire pressure vs load chart right now. I have to find it. I might try that 35psi although the truck rides real nice right now at 55psi unloaded with the front at 80.

 

[CLynch]

I've only had my 3500 dually for 3 weeks but I can say it is way better than my '06 2500.

 

[vipers95]

I lowered the rear tires to 40 PSI and it does ride better. Put the heavy trailer on and lowered the ride height. Took the trailer off and now it rides even better. On the dash the light shows ALT trailer ride which is lit all the time. Does not bother me never look at the dash anyway.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Try 30-35# still plenty of air. I run Alt Ride ALL the time!!!

Always 80 front.

 

[Redemption]

After reading all the above, I have a couple questions! With my 2017 dually I was told to run 80 psi in the rear as well as in the front because I am usually hauling my 39 ft 5th wheel...15,000 lbs worth. Should I be running with less air? Someone mentioned a chart which gives information on how much air to run in the tires in relationship to my trailer wt.? Where do I find such a chart?
Thanks!