2014 Ram 3500 SRW...6.4 HEMI saga

[JLandry]

John, that would be cool. Put it in drive and it would give you 15-20 seconds of a forward view!!!!

You laugh Chris, but apparently there is a front park sense system (sensors mind you... not a camera) available on some trucks. The owner's manual makes reference to it as an option...

PARKSENSE® FRONT AND REAR PARK ASSIST — IF EQUIPPED

[snip]

The six ParkSense® sensors, located in the front fascia/ bumper, monitor the area in front of the vehicle that is within the sensors’ field of view. The sensors can detect obstacles from approximately 12 in (30 cm) up to 47 in (120 cm) from the front fascia/bumper in the horizontal direction, depending on the location, type and orientation of the obstacle.​

My truck has it in the rear and wish it had it in the front.

John L.

 

[Sticks]

There was a couple trucks equipped with the backup camera that did make my final cut, but the dealerships were not willing to come down anymore on the pricing (all trucks MSRP were within $1500 of each other).

I suppose I could install that backup camera and monitor I have to the license plate. Don't know where I would mount the monitor. Not thrilled about putting holes in the dash, and the windshield is way up there for a suction cup. Too bad you can't plug in an aux video to the U-connect radio, at least on the 5.0 system. One could do the same with the front.

 

[KIKER]

I will be following your saga as I, too am now the owner of a SRW 3500 standard cab, 4x4, 6.4 hemi. When you are broke down on the side of the road, and you make your living with your truck, is not a good time to call a truck salesman and divulge all your secrets!

 

[Sticks]

Filled up again yesterday morning. 13.68 MPG hand calc. EVIC showed 15. I'll update the post header when I get to work with the usual mileage update. The mileage might actually be better, I worked a little harder to get that last couple gallons in after the nozzle clicked off. Hard to get a consistent fill level when you can squeeze in 2 or 3 more gallons.

However...

It's like a switch got thrown when I crossed over the 1200 mile mark. My driving habits/methods have not changed, nor has my daily commute and errand running. Either the EVIC is broke, or the mileage has jumped 2 mpg. I noticed right away when I was heading to work yesterday that it was averaging 22mpg while on the highway, and by the time I got to my office shack, it had dropped to 19. The commute home still sucks, lots of stop and go and I only dropped to 17.2. Normally it is in the low 15's after the first day ~ 65 miles. As it was I stated my last drive home before the fueling at 14.0 and it climbed up to 15 when I got home.

I'm getting more in tune with the truck and the engine, and can now hear when it drops to 4 cylinder mode. One feature that I wish it had, that Chevy does, the EVIC tells you when it's in economy mode, and what the current gear is.

The transmission must have gone through most of it's learning now, and no longer does the harsh double downshift I noted earlier when climbing a slight rise either in Cruise or by my foot. The 4cyl mode even stays active for some of them instead of kicking in all 8....Does anybody know if the new Cummins drop any cylinders/have an economy mode when maintaining speed and load? That would be interesting.

Might have mentioned this earlier - Blind spots with the long bed are HUGE. I normally adjust my side mirrors so I can barely see the edge of the bed when I fully turn my head to look at the mirrors, and normally have the spot mirrors (much better on these than the 2nd gen towing mirrors - no I don't drive with them flipped up) set so I can see the rear wheel. This usually has any vehicle coming up on me at least show up in the spot mirror when it leaves the rear view, and show up in the side mirror when it leaves the spot mirror, then see it out my window when it leaves the side mirror. Not so much with these. I will lose a Jeep Cherokee on the drivers side, and 4 door sedans on the passenger side (can't see them through the side glass) gods help the compacts. I really had to twist the spot mirrors out which is kind of a drag, I like to see my rear wheels when backing up to line up with, well, anything as a point of reference.

 

[DonFitzwater]

"One feature that I wish it had, that Chevy does, the EVIC tells you when it's in economy mode, and what the current gear is."

My wife 1500 tells you in the EVIC. I believe it was in the setup menu to enable/disable. You might scroll through that. (Hopefully I'm not confusing the 1500 with the Challenger)

 

[Sticks]

EVIC Mileage to date 14.2. Hand calc 14.175 - 1219.8 miles

Last fueling; 15.0 on the EVIC (started out at a solid 14 before my trip home), 368 miles on that tank, 27 gallons of gas - 13.69MPG hand calc. After yesterdays nearly 200 miles of driving, and 100 of that city surface streets, I am still holding 16.4 on the EVIC. Creepy.

I looked in the limited settings, no option on mine to turn on any other features like what gear you are in, economy mode, ect.

 

[RVTRKN]

My trip to Kansas in 07, as stated before, was close enough comparing the evic over hand calculated, that I now reset the evic to see what I'm getting while on the HWY, or to see if I'm in regen, and have not hand calculated since the trip in 07. While on the road, I pay more attention to mileage left on the tank and try to fill up where its cheaper when I get under 200 miles left. Because it can vary so much due to regen and the grades here in SoCal, in just about any direction you travel, and on short trips the need to climb a grade, I reset the evic to see MPG and for the recalculation of the Distance To Empty miles when running flat HWY.

My 2nd Gen, 94 2500HD 360 Gasser, and yes there was a difference in 94 between a Heavy Duty and a regular 2500, I never checked the MPG because it was so poor when towing, but it was only 230HP and struggled while climbing grades, even with my small 20' boat.

 

[RVTRKN]

I found the post on MPG back in 07, here it is.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...-pics-as-promised/page2&highlight=Kansas+trip

 

[Sticks]

Well, I had a long post griping about the mileage I've been getting written yesterday morning, but never hit submit. Would have been some egg on my face.

I had to take a 250 mile round trip Thursday, (in a snow storm) and topped off (a little more than half a tank) before I left with the EVIC showing 15.6 and hand calc came in at 13.6.

First half of the trip was through 2"+ of slush or 5" of really wet snow turning into snowpack and ice (snow plows had not hit the highways yet), which prompted me to go into 4wd for about 60 miles once I hit the ice/saw the 4th car spun out and in the median. Did my tooling around at my destination, sat in the truck idling for about 20 minuets to warm the cab up at one point while I made some calls and then headed home with 20 mph headwinds and wet roads. Spent the rest of the tank driving errands, and was getting a bit heavy on the throttle from the stoplights and highway on ramps (I had been going easy - no jackrabbit starts).

Last nights fueling Evic showed 15.6, hand calc....


Wait for it...


15.00 mpg. Makes no sense to me. It should have been equal or worse than the previous fillups.

 

[RVTRKN]

Are you resetting the EVIC, it averages over time, unless you reset it.

 

[Sticks]

Oh yeah. I reset Trip A and the Fuel Economy option as soon as I roll out of the station. Trip B is staying as the lifetime mileage that I compare to.

 

[Sticks]

Well, yesterday was odd.

Left the house and everything was normal. Got to work and the outside temp was 30* according to the dash (started at 28* at my house, halfway to work it was 36*). 9:00 rolled around and it was time for me to cruise the job site and I am still showing 30* in the dash. Huh. I turned off the truck, go back to key on and still 30*. Definitely warmer outside than that.

Throughout the day and several more trips out and about and still 30* when it is 70* outside. I call a dealership to see if this is a common issue/seen this before and try to find out where the sensor is. The response is what I expected - "We can schedule you for sometime next week to drop it off and have us take a look at it. Probably a software problem". Yeah......., no. Not going to drop off my truck for a couple days for an incorrect outside temp reading. It's going to wait until the service comes due. This is exactly why I wanted as few bells and whistles as possible. No quick fix or DIY. Gotta have the darn dealer scan tool to do anything.

I was going to try the Microsoft repair (pull the battery and re-boot) but on the way home is decided to start working again.

I guess this is bug report #1.

 

[mwilson]

Well, yesterday was odd.

Left the house and everything was normal. Got to work and the outside temp was 30* according to the dash (started at 28* at my house, halfway to work it was 36*). 9:00 rolled around and it was time for me to cruise the job site and I am still showing 30* in the dash. Huh. I turned off the truck, go back to key on and still 30*. Definitely warmer outside than that.

Throughout the day and several more trips out and about and still 30* when it is 70* outside. I call a dealership to see if this is a common issue/seen this before and try to find out where the sensor is. The response is what I expected - "We can schedule you for sometime next week to drop it off and have us take a look at it. Probably a software problem". Yeah......., no. Not going to drop off my truck for a couple days for an incorrect outside temp reading. It's going to wait until the service comes due. This is exactly why I wanted as few bells and whistles as possible. No quick fix or DIY. Gotta have the darn dealer scan tool to do anything.

I was going to try the Microsoft repair (pull the battery and re-boot) but on the way home is decided to start working again.

I guess this is bug report #1.

Have you noticed the dome lights mis-behaving like the third gens do when they need the reboot? It would be about right if that software bug carried into the fourth gens.

My guess on your increased fuel mileage during the ice/snow event is a result of driving slower even if you were in 4WD. I always get better fuel mileage when driving in those conditions UNLESS the road has not been plowed at all.

Mike.

 

[EGroeneveld]

My 2011 does the same thing on the outside temp. Short 5 mile trips in town it will not update. It needs to be a longer drive to adjust. But once it updates it will move around as I drive up and over passes, etc...

 

[TFucili]

IIRC my '05 would not update until the truck topped 40(?)mph. It was annoying, but I learned to live with it.

 

[Sticks]

Mine I no longer trust to be accurate. It used to show changes within a mile, and it's 2.5 miles before I can get to a point to go over 35 mph. I know Colorado temperature swings during the day, and even in the areas of the city, and what it was telling me over the last two days is not right. Of course the only way to verify that is to have an independent thermometer to compare against. Just a mild annoyance. A feature that I have never had, is now just a best guess. It's not like I have to rely on it for anything.

It's one of three things. Freakin hot, good enough to go without a coat, or freakin cold. Wind is the big factor. It can be 40* outside and sunny, and so long as the wind is not blowing, you can go without a coat. 60* and a breeze or cloudy, you want to have a jacket, at least I do.

 

[Sticks]

Thought I'd give an update.

Up to 4300 miles now. Mileage still averaging in the mid 13's. Putting on about 110 miles a day.

I did do the back seat modification to make the back fold down to access the area behind the seat (had to install a 2 way radio - large unit ). Pretty simple, just cut off 1/2" ish off the hooks on the seat and it folds down when you raise the bottom.

Still working on getting the axillary IP switches retrofitted (factory says it can not be done after factory) but after having the center console apart, it appears that all the wiring is there, I just need the switch module that goes in the dash. Lots of room back there. I need part numbers off a truck that has it equipped, and I doubt a dealership is going to let me pull a center dash apart on a new truck. Only thing online is 2013 - which is different. I may abandon this and just drill holes in the replaceable panels that are blank and install some little switches, and spend the $40 on the axillary PDC.

Providing this truck holds it's value well, in 2016/2017 I'll trade her in and ORDER one to my specs...with a Diesel. Lots of lessons learned here. It's one thing to cruise the lots looking at the best choice, another to find all you need.

Work truck must haves -

Carpet delete
Fifth wheel prep
Spray in bed liner
Backup camera (Okay, getting lazy but these crew cab long beds are looooong)
Aux I/P switches
Ambulance prep (neat little module that you can do a lot of customization with your lighting and other options)
Built in power inverter
If they made a Ram Box in a long bed I'd be in heaven
60/40 split rear seat.
Get my loan for an extra $3k for title, seat covers, tinted windows, and a few other aftermarket customizations.

 

[TFucili]

Thanks for the update, Sticks. I am with you as far as spec'ing out a truck exactly the way you need it. You did go on to say... with a diesel, so I assume you are not digging the 6.4? I am still debating which way to go. I sure miss my CTD, but I'm not sure the math works out...

 

[maple2]

Hi Sticks, I have been following your saga very closely! Because I have been in the market for a new 3500 also. I just signed the papers on a new Ram dually C & C this week with a 6.4 in it. It will be about two more weeks before I get it because of the dump box being put on. Why do you wish you went with the diesel? Any problems with the 6.4? To me looks like your gas mpg has been pretty good so far considering the size of your truck. The truck I traded in was 1999 Chevy 3500 with a gas 454. Good truck, but you just could not keep any gas in it! I am hoping for the same power, with a little bit better gas mpg!

 

[Sticks]

Up until last night I have not towed or hauled anything in it. My reasons for a diesel are plain and simple - The diesel will not fall on it's face with a load or in the mountains....and EXHAUST BRAKE!!! Tow/Haul mode in a gas burner is a joke for engine braking.


Having said that...


I brought home a load of road base (class 6 recycled concrete) last night for one of the wife's yard projects. The load capacity of the truck as built is somewhere in the neighborhood of 6K#. My bed is full, as in 6'x6'x2' (less the 2' for the tool box) so rough math is putting me at 3.9 tons - 7800# - a little over loaded. I was 1/2" off the bump stops when I was done. My drive home is only 25 miles so I was not to concerned with it. FWIW the truck did better than I would have expected on the drive. Handled fine, was not grossly squatting in the back like I have seen some trucks that get weighed down hard in the bed, and the only real incline that I had do deal with was an on ramp, and I was able to get up to the speed limit in a perfectly acceptable amount of time, actually surprisingly fast (long ramp), but even a short one I would have made it.

I set the cruise control at 60, turned on the Tow/Haul mode and she held the speed all the way in 5th (A few minor hills that even unloaded she will drop out of 6th into 5th). Still had plenty of power when I needed it (passing/lane change). The only thing that got hot was the tires. I started out with them showing 76# in the rears, and when I got off the highway they were up to 95#, but dropped back to 86# after 5 minutes on surface streets.

Now I lack the desire to take it for a quick jaunt into the mountains (20 minuets from my home *) to see how it will really do with this much weight, and I don't want to push my luck being overloaded like this. I suspect that it will hold 60mph well enough. Towing a loaded trailer is a whole 'nother ball game. I'd be scared to see the mileage on that one too...shudder... 3rd gear if not 2nd @ 60mph... shudder.

SO - I will give this gas burner my "Pass" for hauling with a loaded bed.

*Floyd Hill - steep grade, tight corners and design speed. Over this approximately 9 mile stretch, I-70 west bound raises in elevation roughly 4,000 feet (to an altitude of 10k), and then drops nearly 6,000 feet at the approach to U.S. Highway 6 (exit 244) and Clear Creek.