2013 Ram, high hours idling

[RamDriver]

And, since I just got the truck back, I finally got the turnover ball installed. Tomorrow, I'll see how it handles a trailer.

 

[RamDriver]

The truck tows like a champ. I've put another 600 miles on it since the last trip to the dealership for repairs. Still holding at 1,084 idling hours, and I've put about 3,500 miles on it since I bought it a couple months ago. I towed this fifth wheel about one hundred miles, and was happy with the way the truck performed. In tow mode, it never went for top gear, holding fifth at 55 MPH, the speed limit on the highways I drove. The exhaust brake did perform better with the trailer attached. It would downshift and I'd have effective exhaust braking if I stayed on the brakes. If I just let off the throttle without braking, eventually the torque converter would unlock, and I'd just be coasting- somewhere around 45. Fuel consumption doubled, from over 20mpg on the highway, to about 10mpg on the same roads with the trailer behind it. Did I mention I've been getting over 20 mpg on long highway trips? I can't complain about that. That is calculating the mileage, not going by the truck's mileage calculator. That's really good mileage for a big, four wheel drive pickup.

 

[AH64ID]

Are those Bristol Bay boats in the background?

 

[RamDriver]

Those are Cook Inlet gillnetters. Just a little longer than the 32' Bay boats. That was in Kenai.

 

[RamDriver]

Now the rear differential is bad. 24,000 miles, and the warranty runs out in a week. In three months, I haven't had it in my possession for more than a week or two, before another problem comes up. The truck's in Anchorage, 200 miles away, and I can't tow or haul anything in this little Jeep they gave me to drive. Parts are backordered, so they couldn't even tell me when they'll be able to fix it. Also, the new front tires are cupping the outside treads on both sides. I have nothing good to say about Ram trucks. It's a piece of junk, and nothing but.