2012 Specs - when???

[TFabian]

Anyone care to guess when the specs for 2012 will be released? It is my understanding that ordering a truck now will get a 2012 but the Dodge/Ram Truck site build tools haven't been updated yet. I know the trailer towing ratings went up with the HO. I am interested in seeing if the payload increased along with that.



Looking to finally "retire" my 96 2500 and pick up a new 3500 dually crew cab. Looking to pick up a slide-in camper next year. seems like they keep getting heavier every year.

 

[RonD]

First half of August

 

[HBarlow]

Anyone care to guess when the specs for 2012 will be released? It is my understanding that ordering a truck now will get a 2012 but the Dodge/Ram Truck site build tools haven't been updated yet. I know the trailer towing ratings went up with the HO. I am interested in seeing if the payload increased along with that.

Looking to finally "retire" my 96 2500 and pick up a new 3500 dually crew cab. Looking to pick up a slide-in camper next year. seems like they keep getting heavier every year.

I realize that many want the highest horsepower and torque ratings available and don't care for the appearance but if you're going to buy the truck primarily to haul a heavy slide-in truck camper you might consider a Ram 4500 or 5500 quad cab and chassis.

The Ram 4500/5500 have serious commercial grade frame and suspension under themt and the engine and transmission are spec'd for that kind of hauling. One of those trucks, fitted with a service body or custom bed, would make an outstanding camper hauler that would give you many years of reliable service.

I haven' owned a truck camper in many years and haven't kept up with the products but I believe the really good ones like a big Lance can weigh 5,000 lbs. or even more when loaded with options and ready for travel.

A Ram 4500 or even 5500 has the suspension and GVWR for loads like that. They don't ride like a luxury car when loaded but they're perfect for that kind of service.

 

[Superglide]

The smallest Arctic Fox has dry weight of 1,303 lbs and a gross dry weight of 2,873 lbs. Carries 45 gals of water.

The largest AF has a dry weight of 1,523 lbs. and a gross dry weight of 3,358 lbs. Carries 55 gals of water.

 

[TFabian]

Believe me, I have been entertaining a 4500/5500. Don't really cherish paying $50K plus for a new truck then having to go through the expense of having a PU body mounted to it. May have to go this route though. Thanks for the info. Would be sweet if Dodge would offer a 4500 pickup from the factory. Got excited when I saw the Long Haul posted here, but it would have to be offered in 4WD.

 

[TFabian]

The smallest Arctic Fox has dry weight of 1,303 lbs and a gross dry weight of 2,873 lbs. Carries 45 gals of water.

The largest AF has a dry weight of 1,523 lbs. and a gross dry weight of 3,358 lbs. Carries 55 gals of water.

The two that my wife and I have been looking at/lusting after - Okanagan and Host are well over 4K dry. Doesn't leave any room for passengers and gear or a safety margin.

 

[Austin Diesel]

Ram 2012 2500/3500 Updates:



Some newer color options,gadgets change, electro/hydraulic trailer controller,max tow gear options,radio,back up sensors,minor cosmetics, and short bed ram box



This is a scan from a recent dealer release sheet :



This first sheet has data from 1500 series, names new colors,carryovers etc, to 2500/3500:



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[rrl989]

Anyone care to guess when the specs for 2012 will be released? It is my understanding that ordering a truck now will get a 2012 but the Dodge/Ram Truck site build tools haven't been updated yet. I know the trailer towing ratings went up with the HO. I am interested in seeing if the payload increased along with that.



Looking to finally "retire" my 96 2500 and pick up a new 3500 dually crew cab. Looking to pick up a slide-in camper next year. seems like they keep getting heavier every year.

Unfortunately the payload remains the same. If I owned anything larger than the truck camper that I have now, I'd consider the new GM. My camper is 4000 lb empty. It sits well on my 98, surely it would be better on a 2012 Ram.

 

[rrl989]

The smallest Arctic Fox has dry weight of 1,303 lbs and a gross dry weight of 2,873 lbs. Carries 45 gals of water.

The largest AF has a dry weight of 1,523 lbs. and a gross dry weight of 3,358 lbs. Carries 55 gals of water.

You should recheck your numbers, they are too low !!

 

[HBarlow]

Believe me, I have been entertaining a 4500/5500. Don't really cherish paying $50K plus for a new truck then having to go through the expense of having a PU body mounted to it. May have to go this route though. Thanks for the info. Would be sweet if Dodge would offer a 4500 pickup from the factory. Got excited when I saw the Long Haul posted here, but it would have to be offered in 4WD.

Dodge/Ram is very unlikelyto offer the 4500/5500 trucks with a pickup bed and a Class 3 truck, meaning Ram 3500/Furd F350/GM3500 is never going to be more than barely adequate for the larger, heavier slide in truck campers.

Personally, I would buy a Ram 4500 and have a welder install a 1/4" or 3/8" sheet steel plate on the frame rails to mount a slide-in on before I would sway and wallow down the highway with a 3500 dually with inadequate suspension and brakes for the load.

My Ram 3500 C&C has stiffer and better suspension than a 3500 pickup and I would not haul one of the big slide-ins on it.

 

[Bill Stockard]

It would be nice for us heavy slide-in camper haulers if Ram would build a truck like the early Ford F450 pickups and would get me interested in a new truck; however, since we are "small numbers" in the overall pickup market, I doubt it will happen.



My truck is a bit over the GVWR on the scales ready to travel, but well below the GAWR, and with the suspension modiffications I have installed, handles our large heavy slide-in camper very well.



Bill

 

[TFabian]

Thanks for all of the feedback, keep it coming. If the Long-hauler does by chance become a reality, I wouldn't even want to guess what it would cost out the door. This will probably be the last truck I purchase before I retire down the road. Really want something that will work for us for years to come. Pulling a trailer or 5th wheel doesn't work for us since a lot of the places we go in the Rockies I couldn't pull a travel trailer with me on tight, rough trails. Many places, I tow my built Jeep and ATVs in order to get into remote areas. I spend a lot of time in the back country year-round.

 

[Superglide]

You should recheck your numbers, they are too low !!

Okay, forget the "dry weights" as they were in kgs. The gross dry weights were taken from Northwood's website and listed as lbs. I agree with you, they do seem rather low.

 

[rrl989]

The weights are low because they don't include the 600 lb "Mandatory Option Pkg", add propane, a battery, A/C, and a few more options, it makes an advertised "3010 lb" AF 990 easily 4000lbs dry. They did not always play with the numbers, it's all about marketing. They are no heavier than a comparably equipped Lance.

 

[Bill Stockard]

This will probably be the last truck I purchase before I retire down the road. Really want something that will work for us for years to come.

Yep, that's what I said when I bought our '92 D350 CC CTD and retired in '93; however, I traded for three CTDs since then... "ate" my words. :-laf



Bill

 

[EGroeneveld]

My Arctic Fox 1150 weighs about 5200 pounds when we are ready to camp.

 

[HBarlow]

That is the only weight that matters! That is the weight the truck will feel.

When a prospective owner wastes his own time calculating dry weights or worse, dry weights of a sripped camper without battery, a/c unit, etc. he is engaging is a useless exercise in fooling himself.

 

[hogsty]

Sorry to dig up an old thread. What is the deal with the transmission change? I thought the HD already had a 6 speed, both manual and auto. Am I mis-understanding something?

 

[PVanderlugt]

Sorry to dig up an old thread. What is the deal with the transmission change? I thought the HD already had a 6 speed, both manual and auto. Am I mis-understanding something?

The new 66rfe replaces the 545rfe behind the Hemi gassers in the 2500-3500



Pete

 

[hogsty]

Ok, wasn't thinking about gassers. Thanks for clearing that up.