Drove 03 srw 3500 yesterday

[RGardner]

Yesterday, I stopped by the local dodge dealer and drove an 03 srw qc 3500 laramie. It had all the bells and whistles but the heated seats. Very nice truck, very quiet, nice handling but I was not very impressed with the power. It was an HO with the six speed transmission. I have a 01 5 speed with an edge ez and 4 in exhaust. Maybe it is the way the gears are split but my 5 speed seemed much more responsive. Maybe with the edge ez I am close in power to the o3 but I didn't think so. I guess I expected more in the way of seat of your pants power. Any one else with a similar experience?

 

[Chris N5CWM]

I have driven three 2003 HO Rams. I had the same impression, basically Where's the BEEF?



Maybe they have to break in after a few thousand miles? I dunno. Could be modern computer technology too. It is possible today for manufacturers to techically "detune" an engine VIA the onboard computer until a set mileage is met then the engine will run at 100% rated power. Some of the guinea pigs over at the Duramax site feel that way about their diesel.



Any 2003 HO Ram owners here have a lot of miles yet?

 

[Mathew Clausen]

Unplug your EZ, drive for a while (if you can stand it), then re drive the 03. I think you have forgotten what your stock motor felt like - there is a big difference that you sort of get used to after a while. The EZ's really boost the low end (or at least did in my 01 6spd) when compared with stock. You might notice that there is a little haze or even visible smoke when you get on it with the EZ in the lower end - not so with the stock motors which makes them feel not so responsive but better emmissions for sure.



Dodge gets the big HP number by letting it pull on the top end more - if you rev out the '03 (say 2000 to 3000 rpm) I think it pulls well. My problem is I like to run at 1200 to 2000 or so and I will be adding a box as soon as they are available! My 01 HO with EZ was perfect for me as it felt strongest at ~1500 rpm.



Also - my '03 QC weighs 300lbs more than my '01 QC did.



Mathew

 

[Mathew Clausen]

One other comment - "seat of the pants power" is really torque divided by weight (gives acceleration) that you feel (as long as you are in a similar gear). Put both rigs in direct (4th for you, 5th for 6spd) and nail it. The one with the higher TORQUE/weight will "feel" stronger. 01's with EZ's make ~650 ft-lb and are lighter than the '03 HO @555 ft-lb.



Mathew

 

[Chris N5CWM]

I don't have an Edge EZ. I have an Edge "3 light (LED) box with

settings for OFF, LOW, MED, HIGH. Same as their current EZ Pulse I guess. The one I have is one of the original boxes from Edge, almost 2 years old.



So, I can turn it off while in the cab for stock power, which is where I've been running lately since my stock clutch isn't happy anymore.



I took the salesman for a ride in my 01. 5 right after we drove the HO and he was amazed how much faster my truck was than the HOs. That's all I have done too, no injector swap (yet).



I'm gonna say it now. . I'm not bashing the new 2003 HO.



Just posting the fact that I have same post-testdrive impression as RGardner.

 

[rogerblind]

I also drove an '03 SRW 3500 HO 6-speed. It felt noticeably less powerful than my 02, which of course does not have an EZ box, due to potential warranty problems.

 

[Mathew Clausen]

Hey no offense taken!



You know I really never had a chance to drive mine back to back because I sold the '01 a few weeks before the new one came in - but my impression is that the '03 and '01 HO's were similar in the lower rpm, with the '03 definately pulling harder and longer in the upper revs. I would have thought an 01 SO would feel a bit down on power compared to an '03 HO.



I will definately agree that it doesn't feel like a hot rod by any means.



Mathew

 

[Chris N5CWM]

I'm looking forward to the new Edge boxes for the 2003+ ISB-e's.

Just hope the new 48RE can handle it without major mods.



Anybody know what the latest HP & Torque figures are from the aftermarket Gurus?



The Pickuptruck.com diesel test was a bit disappointing. I was hoping the new ISB would be stronger in real world use than the DMax. Of course the development of the new PSD was delayed so they could tweak it to outperform both GM and Dodge (for now).



Sure is cool though to be in the middle of the diesel truck brand wars though isn't it!



Latest rumor I heard about GM was a higher rating from the DMax in 2004.

 

[Prairie Dog]

After about 3500 miles they have a lot more bottom end torque and much better throttle response. Things just keep getting better and better on this truck!

 

[LM6000]

I have to agree with Prairie Dog. Mine has just over 7000 miles on it and it just keeps getting better everyday. The mileage does seem to be getting better, but I'm running 305/70 MTRs so it throws the odo off- guessing around 18. 5 all around. The problem is- I can't quite driving that d__n thing!

 

[ntenna]

Drove eight '03's before I picked one.



Five were SO's, varying results on same test run, but mostly slow.



Three were HO's, two were lame, one made the sales guy grab for the handle!



Guess which one went home?



Hope I didn't get one already broken in!



Funny thing though, truck had only 8 miles, but motor run time was over 4 hours... ... QC machine, maybe?



Jh

 

[mimprevento]

Test Drive

Based on this thread I test drove a 3500 SRW 3500 HO 6 speed. I did not feel 70 more horses and almost 100 lb feet of torque anywhere in the powerband. I do not understand it but my 2002 3500 auto doesn't feel that different. Perhaps with an auto it might have felt more responsive. I also noticed that outside the truck there was noticeably less noise but inside my ears did not detect an "85%" reduction in noise. I am still getting one later this year to sit in the driveway next to Big Green but this was not the revolution that I thought 3G would bring. I did see a V-10 2wd 3500 Dually that was handsome- maybe a gasser to go along with the ISB.

 

[crebelein]

Re: Test Drive

Originally posted by mimprevento

Based on this thread I test drove a 3500 SRW 3500 HO 6 speed. I did not feel 70 more horses and almost 100 lb feet of torque anywhere in the powerband. I do not understand it but my 2002 3500 auto doesn't feel that different. Perhaps with an auto it might have felt more responsive. I also noticed that outside the truck there was noticeably less noise but inside my ears did not detect an "85%" reduction in noise. I am still getting one later this year to sit in the driveway next to Big Green but this was not the revolution that I thought 3G would bring. I did see a V-10 2wd 3500 Dually that was handsome- maybe a gasser to go along with the ISB.

if you look in the current TDR issue @ the article about the 03 and how quiet it is you will find out why you don't detect the 85% difference... something in the way our ear precieves sound... it's kind of interesting actually...

 

[DIESELMAN]

Originally posted by Jheimerl

... . Guess which one went home?.....

Funny thing though, truck had only 8 miles, but motor run time was over 4 hours... ... Jh

Thats because it was idled so much the oil is dilluted with 90% diesel fuel from cold cylinder washdown and the lowered viscosity allows the parts to move faster resulting in higher perceived power output... ...



Just messin' with you!!! But I would change the oil right away, it has been idled a lot on the lot at 4 hours, and you know its only 5 minutes at a time. The oil is probably blacker than a democrats heart on April 15th.

 

[chunter]

The thing I have noticed about my new truck, is that the power does not come until about 2100 RPM, but it pulls strong up to 3000 RPM. My 2001 with the ETC/5 speed and Edge-EZ, pulled from 1700 - 1800 RPM up to around 2500 RPM.

 

[ntenna]

Originally posted by DIESELMAN

Thats because it was idled so much the oil is dilluted with 90% diesel fuel from cold cylinder washdown and the lowered viscosity allows the parts to move faster resulting in higher perceived power output... ...



Just messin' with you!!! But I would change the oil right away, it has been idled a lot on the lot at 4 hours, and you know its only 5 minutes at a time. The oil is probably blacker than a democrats heart on April 15th.

Hey, Dieselman, you've got something there!



The oil is 2/3rds down the dipstick, and while not as black as that , it is more sooty than I would expect for 500 miles.



Got some Stratoprores on the way from Geno's right now, and as soon as they get here, it gets changed.



Thanks!



John H.

 

[turbojet]

Guys you want seat of the pants accel, get the Hemi.



If you don't have a lot to pull that is. I got two cycles to pull, and by big butt, that's it.



tj

 

[mimprevento]

Hemi

I have been thinking about the Hemi with a five speed- what is real world mpg with it?

 

[Duck]

Just to echo jheimerl's post:

I also test drove a couple trucks, 2 HO longbeds, before ordering my HO SB. One of the LB's was a real slug. I was sorely disappointed. The 2nd one was much better, and convinced me to go ahead with my order.

Luckliy when mine arrived it fits into the "not-a-slug" category.

 

[turbojet]

Re: Hemi

Originally posted by mimprevento

I have been thinking about the Hemi with a five speed- what is real world mpg with it?

I've just turned 3000 mi with my dually and the best I'm getting is 11. 5. It's still breaking in. The manual says after about 8000 you should be broken in. It started at 9. 6mpg.



I think the best you'll see is 11-12 town, and 13-14 HWY.



Of course I didn't buy it for mileage. I used to have a V10 at 8mpg, this is like a vacation.