Nick's new Ram 2500

[AH64ID]

You only get digital HVAC controls on trucks where you set the temp in degrees. Nicks truck is a good old fashioned blue/red knob.

Personally I’m not a huge fan of the “temp set” and auto mode. They work well 60% of the time, but the rest I’ll take old school... especially in the cold. I know it’s not an issue with mine as dads ‘17 works identical to mine.

 

[gsbrockman]

You only get digital HVAC controls on trucks where you set the temp in degrees. Nicks truck is a good old fashioned blue/red knob.

Personally I’m not a huge fan of the “temp set” and auto mode. They work well 60% of the time, but the rest I’ll take old school... especially in the cold. I know it’s not an issue with mine as dads ‘17 works identical to mine.

That’s correct....most any HVAC controls through an 8.4 or 12 would be one in a Laramie or better....that has dual climate controls as well as the AUTO mode.

 

[NIsaacs]

Maybe where it says "CONTROLS" on the right end of the screen buttons.
And, do you still have the peel off protector on the screen, is that what that blue strip on the right side is?

And, I guess they uprated the receiver on the newer trucks, mine is like 18K rated.

The controls button on the screen just pulls up the back up camera and something else, I forget, but it's not for HVAC.

Yes, protector is still on

 

[NIsaacs]

Yesterday, with 1000 miles on it now, I hauled 3 loads of cow manure, about 25k loaded and 14k empty, the display said 10.5 mpg, doing the math 10.57 so the display is real close. On this same haul, same loads, my '01 gets 11.5 so I am well satisfied with the mileage.

Truck has good power, about the same as my '01 on level 3, Edge Juice. On two 5% grades it shifted to 5th with cruise set on 68 mph. With my gears and that speed it is down on RPM's, so also down on power. It seems to like about 2k rpm, then the power is there. I tried the longest hill at 75 mph and it stayed in 6th at 73 mph.

The truck drives and rides way better than the '01. There is a really bad stretch on I-40 in Holbrook, ruts and heaves. With my '01, I hug the steering wheel with tunnel vision and hope I can stay in my lane. The new one is like it is on a rail and the suspension just soaks it up.

 

[JR]

That is a perfect example of why they ditched the 3.42's. I think the 6.7 pulls better at lower rpm's than the 5.9 but the 3.42's are just too tall when you get up into those weights. The lower the speeds the more obvious it becomes.

 

[Cummins12V98]

That is a perfect example of why they ditched the 3.42's. I think the 6.7 pulls better at lower rpm's than the 5.9 but the 3.42's are just too tall when you get up into those weights. The lower the speeds the more obvious it becomes.

100% disagree. I towed 29k combined for 65k with my 11 DRW with 3.42's and other than starting on grade performed very well. To do it again I would get the 3.42's in my 15 with AISIN towing 34-35k.

 

[DHayden]

100% disagree. I towed 29k combined for 65k with my 11 DRW with 3.42's and other than starting on grade performed very well. To do it again I would get the 3.42's in my 15 with AISIN towing 34-35k.

What took you so long? I knew who and what the next post would be and say since 4:55am

 

[JR]

100% disagree. I towed 29k combined for 65k with my 11 DRW with 3.42's and other than starting on grade performed very well. To do it again I would get the 3.42's in my 15 with AISIN towing 34-35k.

Yes I know. You loved them so much you got 4.10's the next go round

We can agree to disagree, but your experiences are largely related to Interstate towing. I rarely hit the freeway, mostly local hauling at lower speeds with weights similar to what Nick posted above. 3.42 works but not as well as lower gears and obvously the engineers agree.

 

[Wiredawg]

What took you so long? I knew who and what the next post would be and say since 4:55am

I started my egg timer when I saw OP post. only 10 min left on it.

 

[Tuesdak]

The new one is like it is on a rail and the suspension just soaks it up.

Get some better tires on it and the ride will be even better. It's night and day ride difference with the Cooper Discoverer ATP II (Discount Tire house label.) vs. the TrashForce tires. They will wear out fast enough in less than 20K miles. I wouldn't even rotate them due to the risk of a radial pull after doing so. Even with running the spare and one new TrashForce it still had a pull. New Coopers and pull is GONE.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

Get some better tires on it and the ride will be even better. It's night and day ride difference with the Cooper Discoverer ATP II (Discount Tire house label.) vs. the TrashForce tires. They will wear out fast enough in less than 20K miles. I wouldn't even rotate them due to the risk of a radial pull after doing so. Even with running the spare and one new TrashForce it still had a pull. New Coopers and pull is GONE.

I got over 80K out of my original trans force HT's, and about the same with the second set I put on.
Now, the AT's seem to wear a lot faster, must be a softer rubber compound.

 

[AH64ID]

I got over 80K out of my original trans force HT's, and about the same with the second set I put on.
Now, the AT's seem to wear a lot faster, must be a softer rubber compound.

My HT's were 50% worn in 10K miles. I do lots of dirt road towing thou.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

My HT's were 50% worn in 10K miles. I do lots of dirt road towing thou.

Well, you know I run like 99.99% highway, the most off road I do is in and out of the yard where the trailers are stored, gravel driveway and grassy fields.
All contributing factors as to the longevity of my truck and it's tires.

 

[NIsaacs]

Humm, this looks good, probably a fluke but I didn't do anything different that I am aware of. Hauled three more loads today, display 11.2, math 11.07. Then I took a nap dang truck is hot, wore me out.

When do you guys with new trucks, change oil the first time around? I was thinking 5k but sooner is fine too, don't want to go longer. 1347 miles now and going to need some DEF soon, on half a tank.

 

[JR]

Cummins says no break in oil changes necessary but a lot of guys do anyway.
Just make sure you have a good assortment of oil filter wrenches for the first one. You'll need one of 'em

 

[AH64ID]

Humm, this looks good, probably a fluke but I didn't do anything different that I am aware of. Hauled three more loads today, display 11.2, math 11.07. Then I took a nap dang truck is hot, wore me out.

When do you guys with new trucks, change oil the first time around? I was thinking 5k but sooner is fine too, don't want to go longer. 1347 miles now and going to need some DEF soon, on half a tank.

As JR mentioned they aren't required, but I am one of those guys that likes to do them. I did my first change at around 4500... that filter was ridiculous to remove.

 

[Tuesdak]

First oil change may be on FCA as they sent me an offer for a oil change via the selling dealer. I made the dealer throw in an oil change as well so I got 2 free oil changes.

My first oil change and sample at 5798 miles (6 months) and changes at 6 month intervals since. You can see what's up around 5K miles. Looking at viscosity the dealer likely (Regardless of what is on the work order receipt.) used xW-30 oil as it's right to left: factory oil, dealer, dealer, Known 15W-40 Delvac. The 12.2 is 30 weight range. I have seen this (loss of viscosity and fuel not flagged) before using B99 on other post injection diesels, but, should only be seeing up to B5 that AZ spikes their diesel with now.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

Humm, this looks good, probably a fluke but I didn't do anything different that I am aware of. Hauled three more loads today, display 11.2, math 11.07. Then I took a nap dang truck is hot, wore me out.

When do you guys with new trucks, change oil the first time around? I was thinking 5k but sooner is fine too, don't want to go longer. 1347 miles now and going to need some DEF soon, on half a tank.

I didn't do the first change until a little over 11K, and only did it then because it was convenient and free through the dealer. Every other one after that has been at or very near to the owner's manual suggestion of 15K. And, so far it seems to be working fine.
Also, your fuel economy will get better after a few thousand miles as the engine loosens up.

 

[SnoKing]

Yes I know. You loved them so much you got 4.10's the next go round

We can agree to disagree, but your experiences are largely related to Interstate towing. I rarely hit the freeway, mostly local hauling at lower speeds with weights similar to what Nick posted above. 3.42 works but not as well as lower gears and obvously the engineers agree.

I would say the 68RFE works better with the 3:73's, the Aisin HO trucks worked fine with the 3.42's. Then again I only towed at 24.5K combined. Loved the 3.42's bobtail also!

 

[Cummins12V98]

Ltngdrvr

Have you done an analysts to see if you can extend changes?