2019 RAM & 2020 Duramax IKE roadtrip

[JR]

Did anyone watch this video? Not to get off subject, but does anyone see the piston/ ring package in this? There can't be much durability in that!

Looks like they're trying to make up for the longer stroke in the redesign. You'd think after all these years Ford would have gotten some real diesel engineers on board. With a proven inline engine they would crush the competition. The rest of the truck is top notch IMO.

 

[Wayne M.]

Looks like they're trying to make up for the longer stroke in the redesign. You'd think after all these years Ford would have gotten some real diesel engineers on board. With a proven inline engine they would crush the competition. The rest of the truck is top notch IMO.

Oh no! Don’t let Gillott see this!!!!

 

[SnoKing]

Oh no! Don’t let Gillott see this!!!!

Lets see:
Ford pluses >
Transmission is top notch
Tow Mirrors - AKA Mr. Potato Heads
Score two positives

Ford Minuses >
Weak spring packs, most bag them
Cost
History of not supporting customers, who remain loyal despite failures
Score three negatives

 

[JR]

Oh no! Don’t let Gillott see this!!!!

I'd give up some good odds J never buys a Ford diesel.

Lets see:
Ford pluses >
Transmission is top notch
Tow Mirrors - AKA Mr. Potato Heads
Score two positives

Ford Minuses >
Weak spring packs, most bag them
Cost
History of not supporting customers, who remain loyal despite failures
Score three negatives

Not too sure where the weak spring pack rumor comes from, alot of guys use them in the oil fields and (especially) Ag around here and they hold up well.

Cost doesn't seem to be a factor either if buying a work truck. No idea on upper trim levels.

As far as dealer support, we've bought two Fords from dealerships and they are by far my best car buying experience. Not the actual purchase but the service support. Much better than my experiences with FCA so far.
I've told this story before but when our 08 Merc was a year old it developed an electrical gremlin in the AWD system they couldn't figure out. We ended up with a brand new SUV for a few days shy of 3 months (that's not a typo) until they figured it out. We even had to take it in for its first 7500 mile service which was also free of charge.

 

[Wiredawg]

Just my two cents.... we have a great engine with the Cummins and a great transmission with the Aisin.... just need two to four more gears to make Ram better. We have an 8 spd in our 1500 and it works great.

I don't have the latest and greatest from Ram, but I'm more than happy with towing with my 2017 Ram 5500. I likely will never own another
tow rig as I don't trade happy to glad. If anything ever happened to my current truck though, I would buy another Ram, even if with just 6 spd transmission.

TESTING. For me, flooring it up a hill means little... i have cruise control set and my truck keeps up with it. Even better on the downhill... I'm very conservative on the downhill, so tend to go slower down than I came up. I never floor my truck. Not sure how many of you heavy tow owners do eirher.

I have Ford and Chevy diesel owners who are my lifelong friends over every Fri night rotating cooking steaks and yapping about everything. We're all pretty much live and let live, so that means we all like TRUCKS. I'm happy they're happy and me too.

So, as to the video.... I like strong competition from Chevy... keeps Ram on thier toes to deliver better power, economy, and capacity. My observation seeing the hotshotters here in TX, to me looks like Ram has 70 to 80 percent of that market, so that tells me something from some of the heaviest duty cycle these trucks see. Ram is tough and it shows.

Looking forward to seeing Ram, Chevy, and Ford do a 3500 showdown. But, I don't care if Ram were to come in dead last, its reliability and brand loyalty for me.

Some dissertation on such a small subject, huh?

Cheers, Ron

 

[TFucili]

So far Duradud gets a chunk of the grocery getter market, but when you get to 10K and up GVW they are nowhere. And Ram is neck and neck with Ferd, sometimes slightly ahead.

 

[jgillott]

So far Duradud gets a chunk of the grocery getter market, but when you get to 10K and up GVW they are nowhere. And Ram is neck and neck with Ferd, sometimes slightly ahead.

I watch pretty closely the equipment that others have in the campgrounds we visit. There may be 5 or 6 Fords and Rams for every 1 GM product.

I don't remember the last time I've seen a GM 1/2 ton in a campground. A few Rams here and there but mostly Ford Ecoboost trucks in that segment.

 

[TFucili]

Fresher Data:

 

[Cummins12V98]

Have you ever driven a 2 spd. powerglide with a 216 ci inline 6? If 3 is better than 2, 4 better than 3, 6 better than 4, why wouldn't 8 be better than 6?

Explain why the lighter combined load withy two less tires didn't walk away???

 

[Cummins12V98]

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2018/12/2020-silverado-hds-allison-transmission-isnt-really-an-allison/

I like how they say "Allison Branded"

 

[Cummins12V98]

If it won't make a difference, then your Aisin with lower 1st gear over the 68 don't mean nothing either

In real world applications more gears will help. Especially on fuel economy when one drives it like he owns it rather than like he stole it.

Supposedly the rAM had better economy. Now what you say?

 

[Cummins12V98]

Lets see:
Ford pluses >
Transmission is top notch
Tow Mirrors - AKA Mr. Potato Heads
Score two positives

Ford Minuses >
Weak spring packs, most bag them
Cost
History of not supporting customers, who remain loyal despite failures
Score three negatives

This guy was not impressed with Ford mirrors!

 

[Cummins12V98]

Fresher Data:
View attachment 113841

Thanks I can read that!

Go to the Full Timers campgrounds, not many Fords anymore. A few GM's and mostly RAM's.

Look at the independently owned RV/HotShot hauler market it is DOMINATED by RAM.

 

[Wiredawg]

I saw a new 2019 (or is it 2020?) Chevy 2500
4x4 crew cab HD dark blue, pretty truck until you see the big DEF box hanging way low behind the passenger right front tire. If anyone buys one, absolutely need the low hanging side steps to hide it. Looks like Chevy may be offering taller tires, always seemed too short and didn't fill the narrow and tall wheel wells.

Just my observations.

Cheers, Ron

 

[TFucili]

I saw a new 2019 (or is it 2020?) Chevy 2500
4x4 crew cab HD dark blue, pretty truck until you see the big DEF box hanging way low behind the passenger right front tire. If anyone buys one, absolutely need the low hanging side steps to hide it. Looks like Chevy may be offering taller tires, always seemed too short and didn't fill the narrow and tall wheel wells.

Just my observations.

Cheers, Ron

For 2020 they finally moved the DEF tank and put the fill in the fuel filler door.

 

[Wiredawg]

For 2020 they finally moved the DEF tank and put the fill in the fuel filler door.

Thanks!

Ok, so must have been a new prev gen Chevy. I don't keep up with Chevy or Ford and if it weren't for being a member of the TDR, I would know much about new Rams. I only spin up on studying specs when I'm getting ready to buy a new one. I did this 6 months out on determining I wanted a Ram 5500 and I watched the truck I actually bought for 3 months on line before they discounted it to the range I wanted, Then it was how much for my trade 09 4500. It was on the lot less than two weeks before it sold.

So, interesting reading and happy folks keeping it and me honest.

Cheers, Ron

 

[JR]

Supposedly the rAM had better economy. Now what you say?

Ram also had better fuel economy before. Try comparing a DMax 6 speed to a 10 speed for better comparison.

Have you compared mpg in your Ram towing the same routes in 5th and in 6th? I have, and 6th nets better economy in most instances...until you get into the hills. The final OD would likely be comparable but its the extra splits in between when pulling hills that would make all the difference, as would starting out, low speed towing (pulling wagons out of fields) etc.

 

[NIsaacs]

Explain why the lighter combined load withy two less tires didn't walk away???

90 lbs. less torque. It is hard to compare trannys without using them in the same truck.

Now answer my questions.

 

[jgillott]

I can't say enough about the 10-speed auto in my F150. And as we have discussed here before, knowing that GM and Ford developed that unit from their joint venture, I have a feeling that their new HD trans options will not disappoint.

For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to drive a vehicle equipped with that trans, stop by your local dealer and take one for a test drive.

 

[TFucili]

70 lbs. less torque. It is hard to compare trannys without using them in the same truck.

Now answer my questions.

I think it's 90 ft/lbs, but who's counting