Difference Between Laramie And Laramie Longhorn

[Cummins12V98]

Maybe 1500's.

 

[Newsa]

Wife is not happy with the drone in cab. She has not said anything about it for 15 years..now it is an issue. Truck is loud, especially with a load.

I love the sound of the 2nd & 3rd gens. Don't think I've heard any first gens. Just turn up the radio when you're traveling together.

 

[dfb]

To me, it the seats, dash, real wood, saddle bags, stitching, door will plates, ram grill, hub caps, ...

 

[schmeg]

I may have a little insight to add here. For starters, I pull a 43' 19K gross 3600 pin weight empty 5'er fairly regularly. So DRW was pretty much the only way to fly. I purchased this 5'er and a 2016 Tradesman 2WD G56 3.42 gear a year ago. We pulled 5000 miles last year and 1500 so far this year. 2 weeks ago I traded for a 2017 Laramie DRW 4x4 68RFE 4.10's .

With that qualifier aside I'll explain the differences as I see them. We traded because we were getting too beat up in the Tradesman on tow days. The seats aren't that comfortable on long days. The G56 creates a fair amount of chucking when shifting which can be a nightmare in traffic. We were exceeding the tow rating by a good margin. That pretty much necessitated a change.

Observations:
1. Don't try to compare rear end gearing between G56 trucks and auto's. My G56 3.42 tach'd 2000 RPM at 70MPH. My new 68RFE with 4.10's tach's 2000 RPM at 70. The internal gearing of the gearbox is different.
2. I was hesitant about getting the 68RFE. With the 4.10's its a really nice transmission. Its propensity to upshift early is countered by the low overall gearing. Most people complaining about the shift pattern of the 68RFE don't have 4.10's. Aisin is a different animal. There probably isn't a bad ratio you could get with that transmission. They all work. One thing is a given. The engine likes to tow at 1900-2100. Get much below that and it starts to lug. 4.10's and 70MPH puts you right ion the sweet spot in 6th with both auto's.
3. The Laramie trim was a huge upgrade to the Tradesman. Vented leather is unbelievable. Seating position is so much better than the 60/40 split bench. Back up camera is the only way to fly backing up a dually in tight spaces. I never thought I would like the creature comforts of the Laramie. They all add up to a much more comfortable truck.
4. The truck did not come with air ride. I wish I had it. Now I have to add aftermarket air bags. I ran Timbrens on the Tradesman. Big mistake. It rode way too hard.

So, get what is real important to you. These things are real expensive and trading like I did costs a lot. My trade cost me $9000 in depreciation of which I would have spent half that on lower gears and a dual disk clutch in order to better handle towing heavy. At a minimum I would opt for the Laramie trim, 4.10's on a 68RFE, 3.73 or 4.10 on an Aisin. Air ride. Im sure the Longhorn would add to the satisfaction level if your willing to spend that much more. Sorry for the long post. Jay.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Jay why do you think you need air bags? If it's just to improve ride I get it but that load does not require bags.

 

[schmeg]

The air ride on the 3500 is not a four corner system like the 1500 and the suspension is different from the 2500. The air ride on the 3500 is more of an "auto level" than anything. Think of it as an automated integrated airbag system. When dropping my 5'er on the 5th wheel, it sacks out the rear suspension by a good 2-3 inches. Im looking to level it back up when hitched up. It will tow just fine this way, albeit a bit "nose up".

 

[SnoKing]

I have around 3600 pin weight on my 2015 SRW 4x4 and do not feel a need to add air bags. I would think a leaf spring duallie would hold up to its RGAWR without help, as it is not a sagging Ford!

 

[SnoKing]

The air ride on the 3500 is not a four corner system like the 1500 and the suspension is different from the 2500. The air ride on the 3500 is more of an "auto level" than anything. Think of it as an automated integrated airbag system. When dropping my 5'er on the 5th wheel, it sacks out the rear suspension by a good 2-3 inches. Im looking to level it back up when hitched up. It will tow just fine this way, albeit a bit "nose up".

That is ballsie, telling our King of Rear Air how his system works.

 

[SnoKing]

The engine likes to tow at 1900-2100. Get much below that and it starts to lug.

Must be a SO vs HO difference. My SRW Aisin with 3.42 pulls good at 1750 and does not give a feeling that it is lugging.

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[Cummins12V98]

I have around 3600 pin weight on my 2015 SRW 4x4 and do not feel a need to add air bags. I would think a leaf spring duallie would hold up to its RGAWR without help, as it is not a sagging Ford!

Your truck looks good with a load on it. I ran 4,500# pin on my 11 HO Dually. Pic is with no bags. I did add bags for ride improvement with 30psi loaded, just enough air to do the job but not change ride height. LEVEL is GOOD!!!

 

[schmeg]

I am about 1 inch lower in the rear than the front with the 5'er on the hitch. I have a 2016 Keystone fusion 414 Toy Hauler that specs at 15.300 dry 1900 gross. Pin weight is advertised at 3600 empty. Im sure loaded its a good bit more. I don't have a picture with it hooked up yet. Here is one with my "old" truck. Its a big camper.

 

[Bug Out]

If you have a 4x4 and your towing a 13-17K trailer and backing up a hill, why not use 4low? I do whenever I have a situation that is on a hill, maneuvering in tight spots etc. campsites.

 

[fenderbender]

Well I traded in my 2007 Chevy 2500hd classic in on the 2017 Laramie Longhorn. I keep the 2011 Ram Dually with the G56 and 3:42.

 

[Newsa]

Must be a SO vs HO difference. My SRW Aisin with 3.42 pulls good at 1750 and does not give a feeling that it is lugging.

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Never had any lugging above 1450 rpms on my SO. Not even when pulling 14k+. But I was on pretty level ground. 1700-1900 rpm would have been fine for the hills.