4Th Gen impressions

[EDankievitch]

Ok, so I took the plundge bought a new truck, a 2012 reg cab slt 4x4 with the G56 transmission. Don't ask why I had to it's a long story that has a divorce involved. So far the truck is nice a pleasure to drive. QUIET is the best word. The 05 had 179,000 miles, had a clutch and injectors done. still had alot of life in it. Would average about 550-650 miles on a tank. This 12 got 356 miles the first tank... . WTF? I know the new regen system uses fuel but almost 200 miles less a tank? Buty it's my truck now... so here goes nothing I started with a free spin hub kit from Spyntec they now offer a stubby kit that is about almost 2" shorter than the old kit. It is about even with the stock hub caps. Ok, so I added the MOPAR leveling kit at the same time. I'll say they stiffened the springs up quite a bit on these 4 th gen trucks, I had about 1,000 lbs in it and there was no squat at all. Still I had the firestone air bag spring kit from the 05, it was just installed into the 05 back in march. The kit came with the stuff needed to install it into a 4 th gen. I don't think I'll ever need it but it's there... I just up sized to 285-70-17 tires and had the speed-o reset. Things are looking up I now can get almost 500 miles on a tank... still way short of the 05. The power is good with this engine just it comes on slower than the 05 but when it does watch out the truck will be sideways before you can back off. The E brake is awesome. Dodge, OOPS Ram made a nice truck I hope it lasts and the MPG getts better after break in. I know a guy that bought a 2012 GMC with the DURACRAPS he loves the truck, it never getts dirty he says... . It's never out of the dealer's shop. He's had the truck for 6 months and has yet to be able to drive 500 miles with out it shutting down. He says it's really fun when it dies on the interstate with his trailer you loose steering assist and breaks. Just what I want out of a new truck. Think I'll keep my poor MPG at least it runs. I almost bought a FORD but they don't offer a manual transmission. But they did offer free spin hubs and the club cab... ... Wake up RAM you need more choices and options... .

 

[Bug Out]

I traded my 05 1 ton dually NV5600 with 100k on the clock. I got 20-22 empty if I kept it at 2000rpms=62 mph. I'm lucky if I get 13MPG when new with the new truck. I will say I picked up at least a solid 1 mpg by a long free-way run 800 miles each way running at 75-80. I now average 14. 5 mpg. I have a hard time leaving it in 6th gear(auto) as it seems like its lugging, but the best mileage around town comes from the 1000-1400rpm zone. . I have almost 6k on it now. She gets her first real towing test this weekend. I'm hoping it does better then the 05 dually.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I traded my 05 1 ton dually NV5600 with 100k on the clock. I got 20-22 empty if I kept it at 2000rpms=62 mph. I'm lucky if I get 13MPG when new with the new truck. I will say I picked up at least a solid 1 mpg by a long free-way run 800 miles each way running at 75-80. I now average 14. 5 mpg. I have a hard time leaving it in 6th gear(auto) as it seems like its lugging, but the best mileage around town comes from the 1000-1400rpm zone. . I have almost 6k on it now. She gets her first real towing test this weekend. I'm hoping it does better then the 05 dually.

You will have a smile stuck on your face after towing!

 

[Bug Out]

Cummins12V98, I sure hope so!!!! LOL

 

[wyosteve]

Just wanted to bring this to the top to see how Bug Out did with his tow. I finally drove a 2012 3500 SRW Longhorn yesterday and it looks like we're too far apart on price to get it, but wanted other impressions from those who've gone from a 3rd gen. to the 4th. I only took a short drive, but like others have said, it sure was quiet and comfortable. Lots or electronic goodies that I can live without since I've done it for so long on my '04.

 

[Bug Out]

Wyosteve, it was good! I was kinda hoping to be able to pop wheelies with the 800torque motor, but she was only going to tow great for me! All kidding aside, it did very well. The power was enough to keep it at freeway speeds with traffic except for the hard uphills 6%+, dropped down to 40 once. The most impressive part( and important to me) was how well the exhuast brake and truck slowed the 17K 5th down behind me without touching the brakes at all. I was usually puckered up with the last truck(2005 CTD 3500-6spd 4x4 pac-brake 4:10 gear), 4th gear on 6% downhill grades and even then had to feather the brakes. . this truck, keeping it in 5th would keep me at 50mph and or slow me down to where I needed to accelerate to keep folks behind from trying to pass on blind hills etc. The tow haul feature was programmed very well. It did everything I would have done driving with my load. Downshifts are a little jarring, but thats to be expected with a auto transmission playing truck driver for you. . The trans never got over 210 degree's, and would go right back to 190-195 with lock up. The motor would zip around from 195-220 and back, but I never had to put the heater on inside to pull heat from the engine to get the temps down. . All in all, excellent truck for towing my unit, scaling at 17K. Truck and trailer are both about 25K. I am very happy with the purchase now... ... . Only down fall if it was one, 8-10 MPG towing 17K... . My 05' 5. 9 got the same MPG towing 17K with no smog or EGR. Thumbs up to Dodge and Cummins and I'd love to see what the 6. 7 would do WITHOUT all the junk its blanketed in. . Ed

 

[wyosteve]

Thanks much Bug Out, good write up. The most I've been towing is 14k, so sounds like no problem with the new one. Still on the fence since I love my current truck and it only has 123k miles on it and is set up w/ goodies.

 

[Bug Out]

my 05' dually was great when I had a 13-14K 5th. When I upgraded to 17K is when the slowing down on its own issue came into play.

 

[EDankievitch]

So... I've got 6200 miles on the 2012 now MPG is still around 16. 5-18. 2 mixed driving city and highway. One thing you do not want to do is let it idle or sit in stop and go traffic. It will go into regen almost instantly if left top idle for any length of time when it does the MPG goes all to hell. I've found that it gets the best MPG on Biodiesel 20% belnd and for what ever reason will regen much less often. The truck is nice and quiet, a real pleasure to drive. The springs are much stiffer than the 05 was, there is almost no squat with 1800 lbs in the bed. The engine break is awesome, shift so that the engine rpm's are above 1500 and the truck slows really fast scary fast. They should have the break lights come on when the engine break comes on. I have yet to trailer anything heavy or for any distance but if is anything like my 05 was it will pull awesome. Oh last thing that I noticed at 5000 mile mark the engine came alive, Maybe there is a "break in" program that keeps the engine cut back for the first few miles?

 

[EDankievitch]

Ok, So now pushing 8500 miles. Just did a road trip and was able to get 19. 9 mpg on the highway. It went into the re-gen cycle only once in over 6. 5 hours of driving. This truck HATES STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. It seems that if you let it idle any more than about 2 to 3 min it puts it into a re-gen cycle and there goes any Mpg you might have built up for the tank. I have yet to do any long distance towing but the few short hauls have proved it blows away the 05 that it replaces. The low end torque is almost scary. I forgot to release the parking break when hauling my sisters boat up a ramp the engine never noticed the break or the weight of the boat it just crawled up the ramp. Only other thing that I don't like aside from the poor around town Mpg is the electric controlled transfer case. it seems to not want to shift into or out of the low range... . All in all it is a pleasure to drive... Ok ram come out with a re- flash for better Mpg.

 

[Bug Out]

I've got the ST model with the shifter for the transfer case. No issues thus far. Was a little stiff in and out of 4x4 under 1000 miles but is ok now. I can't tell when re-gen is going on... I wish a light would come on. Most of my driving is stop and go city stuff. Now that its below 95 often here(Phoenix) with no A/C on driving "Normal" I get 14-15 MPG around town... ... . Now thats when I am not into the throttle feeling the torque pull me like a rocket sled here and there or having to pass slow pokes or showing the "ZIP-ZIP" cars they cannot out run a 9000Lb Dodge diesel... The looks on those Kid's faces(18-25) when they look over and see this Silver "Aircraft Carrier" size Dodge pickup truck nose to nose with them when they race off from the red light thinking nobody is next to or can keep up with them. . Its priceless...

 

[Cummins12V98]

Ok, So now pushing 8500 miles. Just did a road trip and was able to get 19. 9 mpg on the highway. It went into the re-gen cycle only once in over 6. 5 hours of driving. This truck HATES STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. It seems that if you let it idle any more than about 2 to 3 min it puts it into a re-gen cycle and there goes any Mpg you might have built up for the tank. I have yet to do any long distance towing but the few short hauls have proved it blows away the 05 that it replaces. The low end torque is almost scary. I forgot to release the parking break when hauling my sisters boat up a ramp the engine never noticed the break or the weight of the boat it just crawled up the ramp. Only other thing that I don't like aside from the poor around town Mpg is the electric controlled transfer case. it seems to not want to shift into or out of the low range... . All in all it is a pleasure to drive... Ok ram come out with a re- flash for better Mpg.

I am sure this is a dumb question, are you stopped in neutral when going in and out of 4 low?

 

[EDankievitch]

Yes stopped in nutral. still will not shift from high to low or low to high unless you roll the truck a bit but then it will slam into the other gear.
As for knowing when the truck goes into the Re-gen cycle... If you watch the instant Mpg bar graph you will see it drop down to around 10-14 mpg erach time it goes into re-gen. When driving on level ground at a steady speed and load. On my truck it will read between 18 and 28 mpg with out a load and on level ground when not in re-gen. The re-gen cycles seem to last between 10 and 25 min... When they happen you can watch the fuel gauage drop like a stone.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Yes stopped in nutral. still will not shift from high to low or low to high unless you roll the truck a bit but then it will slam into the other gear.
As for knowing when the truck goes into the Re-gen cycle... If you watch the instant Mpg bar graph you will see it drop down to around 10-14 mpg erach time it goes into re-gen. When driving on level ground at a steady speed and load. On my truck it will read between 18 and 28 mpg with out a load and on level ground when not in re-gen. The re-gen cycles seem to last between 10 and 25 min... When they happen you can watch the fuel gauage drop like a stone.

Sounds like a trip to the dealer!

Only time I notice anything is aometimes at an Idle it will run slightly rough. Never goes into forced regen. I know that is not the correct word.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Yes stopped in nutral. still will not shift from high to low or low to high unless you roll the truck a bit but then it will slam into the other gear.

As for knowing when the truck goes into the Re-gen cycle... If you watch the instant Mpg bar graph you will see it drop down to around 10-14 mpg erach time it goes into re-gen. When driving on level ground at a steady speed and load. On my truck it will read between 18 and 28 mpg with out a load and on level ground when not in re-gen. The re-gen cycles seem to last between 10 and 25 min... When they happen you can watch the fuel gauage drop like a stone.

Sounds like a trip to the dealer!



Only time I notice anything is aometimes at an Idle it will run slightly rough. Never goes into forced regen. I know that is not the correct word.

 

[crispyboy]

I have the electronic shift. It seems to work best to engage 4wd low at a complete stop but disengaging works best rolling 1 or 2 mph. I would much rather have a lever.

 

[MAllen1]

Y'all are scaring me with these MPG's. I have a '99 with a 5 speed and 3. 55's and 285 tires. I am getting around 14-16 in the city and aroud 20 on the freeway while doing around 70. The truck has been great (except for lift pump). I've thought about trading up, not because it has 285k, but more so because I towing on the upper end of what the 2500 can handle. The "junk" that the government makes the manufacturers put on these trucks gives me the ebby jibbys. I don't see how these emissions are suppossed to clean the environment when you burn more fuel!!!

 

[Cummins12V98]

Y'all are scaring me with these MPG's. I have a '99 with a 5 speed and 3. 55's and 285 tires. I am getting around 14-16 in the city and aroud 20 on the freeway while doing around 70. The truck has been great (except for lift pump). I've thought about trading up, not because it has 285k, but more so because I towing on the upper end of what the 2500 can handle. The "junk" that the government makes the manufacturers put on these trucks gives me the ebby jibbys. I don't see how these emissions are suppossed to clean the environment when you burn more fuel!!!

Awesome trucks, use one as intended and you won't have any issues.

Agree not as good of mileage but they can do so much more.

My 98 12V 2500 towing a combined load of 20,500# I averaged 10. 5 hand calc.

Same course with the new truck with nearly 28K combined 9. 5 hand calc. I am very happy with that!

 

[Bug Out]

If your 99 runs/looks good and does the job, no sense in taking on a new payment. I have to admit the new smog stuff has me concerned too. The truck is great, but the smog stuff sucks.

 

[EDankievitch]

Ok, So here I am at the 10,000 mile mark..... Truck runs great is still a pleasure to drive. That's where it ends. Operating costs are this truck's biggest down fall. I know that there were a few write ups on this topic saying how the use of DEF fluid would be so much more costly. Well I can't speak for a truck that uses the DEF emmissions system but I can give you real world costs compared to trucks that I have owned in this case a 2005 Ram 4x4 quad cab with the G56 transmission. and 3. 73 rear end and free wheel hubs. If you read my start of this thread you know that my 12 is almost the same truck with out the back seat. So real world numbers. The 05 would average about 550 miles on 30 gal of B20 BioDiesel week in week out it did this for the 185,000 miles that I owned it. The 2012 averages to get 400 miles on the same 30 gal of fuel. My commute is a mix of highway and back roads about 475 miles a week. While 150 miles less per tank does not sound like much lets project it out it works out to 1500 miles less for each of the 300 gal that I get at my bulk fuel drop. add in the extra oil changes this truck requires ( every 2300 miles) at 10,000 miles this truck has cost roughly $700 more to run than my 05 did. And if I hold on to it for the same 200,000 miles that I planed to that number grows to around $14,000 all for the conveience of not having to use DEF fluid and cleaner air. This is real world numbers.
I don't know about you but that is alot of money. There is a thread on here "Meet the new 2013 Rams" in the promotional vid. they talk about how the DEF system will give much better MPG and extended oil changes up to 15,000 miles. Ok, Lets see DEF fluid is selling here for $6 a gal and you use about 1 gal per 1,000 miles so at 200,000 miles the cost would be $1,200 that's a lot less even if you add in oil changes it's a lot less than the system the 12 uses. Ok, enough said when can I order a 2013? anything has to be better than this truck's operating cost. Any Dealers taking per release orders? Want to take my 12 in on trade?