4th Gen Options

[BIGNASTY]

I've been told by my Father-in-law & his associates that I'm to quit using my Dodge to preform work for them. So to do this they are GOING to buy a Dodge, Ram what ever they are called these days????? for my use.

They have contacted the dealer and it has several with the WB that I want and the Laramie has pretty much everything that I could want. There are a few questions about Gearing, Engine Brakes, and the DEF tank

It will need to be an Automatic, Any suggestions? Upgrades? The Question is, Out here in the West if you are doing the speed limit YOUR A ROAD HAZZARD we did a respectable 80, 85 MPH when conditions allow, what gear ratio with the auto would be best for that, and don't forget that we do have some hills to pull at times with pretty respectable loads that will only increase with the 5500 truck.

I also was wondering about Engine Brake rather than a Exhaust Brake? I ONLY PRAY I can get an Engine Brake????? no potato up the exhaust pipe is even close to it.

I REALLY HATE the idea of having to deal with DEF but such is life. Do they have BIGGER DEF tanks, its bad enough that I have to stop for fuel having to deal with another PITA thing is something that I want to deal with as little as possible.

I'm looking at Dodge/ Ram 5500, Its the one thing that I do want, at times I was running above what my 2500 was supposed to handle. I don't like the Ford the Chevy larger trucks look like the designers had a really bad hang-over when they drew up that abortion look.

I found that if registered in My Name with nothing but Normal Plates the DOT & Scales leave people alone. The ones that were registered as a Commercial needing ICC, PUC #'s : IE Hotshots, Livestock Haulers were pulled in for inspections. I went in and asked in every scale in every state we went through about needing to pull through scales? NONE said that they would be concerned with a guy hauling his livestock & there is really no need to pull into the scales unless directed to do so. I did run with a guy that was hauling livestock that had a Larger Ford F700 he was pulled in every time again he was a Commercial Registered Truck, we both thought that if the truck LOOKS COMMERCIAL its reason enough to pull them in.

This is another reason for the Dodge/Ram it really doesn't look much different than any 1 ton truck, lots of ranchers have the 4500 & 5500 trucks anyway. I just don't want to have to come up with an explanation why I didn't have a log book to record my 30 hours of driving and come up with any special BOL's for hauling livestock or equipment, building materials for anyone but just the Obtuse (learned a new word :-laf ) Farmer behind the wheel.

Any ideas are welcomed, I haven't kept up with the new trucks and really don't understand all that I do know about them.

BIG

 

[CBari]

You are correct that the exhaust break is no engine break but they are unbelievable compared to what they used to be. With that said Ram doesn't make a factory engine brake option, however BD does they call it the load lease. I can't comment good or bad about it other than every other product of theirs that I have had as been top notch. As to the axle ratio if you can get a 4:10 in the 5500 that would be the best for your needs and speed you want to achieve. I am not 100% sure but I believe the cab and chassis trucks all have the speed limited at 70 something. I know several companies have programmers that can turn that feature off. The def is really not that big of an issue. I go through 10gals during a 15k mile oil change window usually. I think the ones on the 5500 are bigger than the 3500 pick-ups too, so filling shouldn't be that often.

Everyone I know with the 4500 and 5500 say you better have something on the bed or a trailer hooked to it as the ride is unbearable empty. The ones I have rode in have always had trailer hooked to them.


Best of Luck shopping

 

[Bill Stockard]

You are correct that the exhaust break is no engine break but they are unbelievable compared to what they used to be. With that said Ram doesn't make a factory engine brake option, however BD does they call it the load lease.

As far as I know, the only real engine brake for a Cummins 6.7L engine is made by PacBrake and is called Load-Leash. It's designed to work with the factory installed exhaust brake to increase the engine's braking power. http://pacbrake.com/supplemental-brakes/p-67-load-leash-engine-brakes/

You are correct that the current factory installed exhaust brake is a huge improvement over the old add-on exhaust brakes.

Bill

 

[BIGNASTY]

Glad that I didn't buy it!!!!! what a POS this truck is. NO POWER what happened? my 04.5 has more than this has and I'm stock. I asked them to EXCLUDE me from any trips that need to use this truck to pull some supplies. I think that the Gooseneck trailer alone would be a bit much for it. HA HA HA HA HA HA

 

[TJJEEPER]

Something isn't right!

I went from an '06 to the '12 and the power difference is very noticeable. The 06 was a short box quad cab 2500 but it has the same 3.73 gears. I can pull grades between 5-15 mph faster than I could with the '06.
6 speed Vs 4 speed transmission? Maybe... but I wouldn't go back!

 

[RustyJC]

Something isn't right!

I went from an '06 to the '12 and the power difference is very noticeable. The 06 was a short box quad cab 2500 but it has the same 3.73 gears. I can pull grades between 5-15 mph faster than I could with the '06.
6 speed Vs 4 speed transmission? Maybe... but I wouldn't go back!

Well, Big was talking about a 5500. Between weight, a detuned engine and who knows what axle ratio, I have no idea how it would run compared to his 2500.

Rusty

 

[RVTRKN]

The C&C's are detuned, heavier and stiff riding if you go to the 4500/5500. Big, the 3500 C&C might be better in perceived power with the same ratings as the other two. But the new 3500 C&C will out perform your 04.5 if in stock form. Try driving one with the auto and 4:10 diff. If your willing to pull with the 04.5, then the 3500 C&C will be no issue. I went from a 04.5 2500 CTD to the 07 3500 C&C which has less HP at 305, it's slower but pulls great. Check my sig to compare the two trucks.

 

[mpaulson]

How about a "box off" optioned 3500 DRW pick-up with the Aisin and 4.10's. You'll get the best power and tow rating, and options list choices.

 

[Newsa]

Glad that I didn't buy it!!!!! what a POS this truck is. NO POWER what happened? my 04.5 has more than this has and I'm stock. I asked them to EXCLUDE me from any trips that need to use this truck to pull some supplies. I think that the Gooseneck trailer alone would be a bit much for it. HA HA HA HA HA HA

Your father inlaw bought it?

 

[BIGNASTY]

Your father inlaw bought it?

Gail's out for a few days riding his mules and camping in the Wilderness, so my answering this I hope wont disturb anyone.

My Father and his business associates bought a 5500 truck for Gail to use whenever he wants really, but the main reason was instead of putting miles on his own truck doing things for them. We went to Great Falls to pick up some building materials for a couple of projects using our gooseneck trailer, that was a terrible ride empty which Gail expected but even he said that it was far worse than he thought it should have been and he drove semi trucks for 30+ years.

Loaded the ride was not bad at all, I'm sorry but I don't know the weight of the supplies, with the amount of things on the trailer it was Plenty Heavy, Gail even said that this is going to be a Pretty big Grunt.

He wasn't overly impressed with the performance of the truck and thought that its fairly new and could get better with more miles.

It is a really nice truck in my opinion that's from a purely esthetic point of view, the truck is the top of the line with Gail's only desire being the gearing???? I'm sorry I don't know all this guy stuff.
When the truck came it didn't have a bed on it, an aluminum flatbed with two aluminum boxes on the sides were added.

Penny

 

[RVTRKN]

Yes, they are terrible in the ride without a load, and an aluminum flat bed, probably isn't enough weight to smooth it out without a load. Me and the wife drove to Chanute Kansas from Ontario Ca. without a bed on our 07 C&C when we first got it, to have a B&W flatbed installed. Even though it was only a 3500, the springs are stiffer than the regular 3500's, and it beat us to death on the trip, thank God the heavy B&W bed smoothed it out a lot. Because it has only 305 HP, it seems less capable, but with the higher torque (at the time) of the 5.9, it pulls great. That 5500 that your father bought is designed to last longer, they are derated mostly because it's an employee use truck, without the need to impress them, but to deliver long life of use. If Gail drives it enough, it might grow on him, after all it has more HP with newer C&C trucks, but not the full power the regular 3500's have.

Good luck
Steve.