First test drive of a '05 CTD DRW G56

[FATCAT]

Well, I finally got a chance to test drive a new '05 3500 DRW 325/610 4X4 with the G56 6-speed transmission.



Boy, the ride difference is amazing, very smoth. Good breaks and the transmission shifts smothly. I spend about 5 minutes shifting through the gears before taking it out for a drive in order to loosen it up. I had to keep thinking of what gear I was in ("... where am I, 4th, 5th, no 6th ... ").



Anyway it was nice, except for one thing ... MAN THAT THING WAS A DOG!

It felt like it could not get out of its own way. I'm like "come on baby come on" trying to get it to go faster. Steping on it while in 5th and shifting to 6th I thought my foot sliped off the accelerator, but it didn't. I felt like I was in slow motion. I don't think I could have passed a Civic if I needed to.



Oh well, the real big disapointment was (1) the payload capacity of the the DRW and (2) you can not put a flatbed/dump body on the back without voiding the warranty ... NO CHASSIE CAB OBTION.



The salesman was bumbed cause he saw "another" sale walk out the door. He said I was the 3rd guy in 10 days that walked from the sale becuase of the low payload and inability to put a contractor's body on the back.

As usual he said he has not heard anything about a Chassie Cab option coming down the road. He is loosing sales and watching them drive right across the street to the Ford dealer (within 200') where there are a ton of 350/450/550's with stake bodies, dump bodies, etc... lining the front of the dealership ... all in the dump position and ready to work.



This stinks! I hate to say it but I am feeling the bug for a new truck, but will resist ... but I will not wait 5 years or so for Dodge to do something. I really believe that Dodge does not want to be in the business of selling HD trucks. If thats the case, they should discontinue their relationship with Cummins and let Ford or GM have it ... I know that sounds like sacralidge, but I gotta say I really wish that would happen.

 

[JUeckert]

i feel your pain about the cab and chassis thing,and the ability to put a bed on one. although this does not really interest me,i know others have the need. a 450 or 550 dodge would be a option worth having also. dont know if they would sale that well,gm has the option,but ford outsells them by a great margin. as for payload capacity,id bet the dodge could handle just as much as the ford,i have a 02 ford and a 05 dodge,both dually's ,i have loaded both these trucks to past there payload capacity day in day out,both handle the chore very well. all my previous trucks were treated[some still are] the same way,so other than the possible legal standpoint,the little differences in payload among models is of little concern to me. power wise i have no complaints about o5 dodge or the 02 ford for that matter,maybe you drove one that had a problem..... ??

 

[FATCAT]

power wise i have no complaints about o5 dodge or the 02 ford for that matter,maybe you drove one that had a problem..... ??

I don't think there was a problem. The truck was quiet as a wisper and the throdle response was precise. It idled smoth as well. I just feel that my current old buck-o-rust could run circles around it all day.



As for the payload capacity, I am sure the new DRW can handle more than the stated 4800 lbs in the back, but the one time you do overload it and there is an accident, you will wish you never saw the truck. You'll be paying lawyers and fines like you've never seen. I just don't want that ever happening ... especially if I make a deliver of wood/dirt/etc... to a customer.

 

[jlasich]

As for the payload capacity, I am sure the new DRW can handle more than the stated 4800 lbs in the back, but ...

What's the payload on an equally spec'd Ford truck? Maybe a couple hundred pounds more? And people are walking from the Dodge with the best available drivetrain and going to the Ford store for a couple hundred pounds and perhaps the worst diesel engine to come out of detroit since the 5. 7l GM. I guess I just don't understand.



Why can't a flatbed be put on it? Around here in Wyoming, there are many flatbed Dodge's running around. Is there really something in the owner's manual that states that a flatbed cannot be put on the truck without voiding the warranty? I'll have to look in my manual tomorrow.

 

[FATCAT]

What's the payload on an equally spec'd Ford truck? Maybe a couple hundred pounds more? And people are walking from the Dodge with the best available drivetrain and going to the Ford store for a couple hundred pounds and perhaps the worst diesel engine to come out of detroit since the 5. 7l GM. I guess I just don't understand.

I guess what the dealer said was that people were going over to the ford place for the (1) 450/550 and/or (2) the ability to have a dump body installed on the truck (or trucks that already have them), without warranty issues that come with drilling/welding on the frame.

 

[Tim]

The Ford F350 DRW has a 12,000 lb GVWR. What is the Dodge? 10,500?

 

[Tomeygun]

The Ford F350 DRW has a 12,000 lb GVWR. What is the Dodge? 10,500?

From the towing site:

http://www.dodge.com/towing/D/home.html?



Quad Cab cummins Dually 4x4:



With 3. 73 Axle Ratio You Can Tow 13450 lbs

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = 12200 lbs

Payload = 4807 lbs

Curb Weight = 7393 lbs

Curb Weight Front/Rear = 4372 / 3021 lbs

GAWR Front/Rear = 5200 / 9350 lbs

Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) = 21000 lbs







With 4. 1 Axle Ratio You Can Tow 15450 lbs

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = 12200 lbs

Payload = 4807 lbs

Curb Weight = 7393 lbs

Curb Weight Front/Rear = 4372 / 3021 lbs

GAWR Front/Rear = 5200 / 9350 lbs

Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) = 23000 lbs

 

[FATCAT]

I guess, before we get off topic, the issue I have is the inability to "warranty-wise" install a dump bed ... and two, the lack of availibility in a Dodge, to have a 8,000 lb payload capacity (not including the dump bed). I guess my other comment about the lack of power in the new truck compared to my old '97 could be solved with upgrades ... but my next truck will be stock only!



I would like to dispense with my 10K dump trailer and just keep my flatbed. But I need to be able to have a dump bed that can hold 2 cord of wood, 3-4 yards dirt/stone/etc. .



TomeyGuy is there ANYTHING in your crystal ball about a 5500 Dodge coming soon?

 

[pcarlson]

The F350 SRW is 12,000 and I would think the DRW is more.

 

[Tomeygun]

TomeyGuy is there ANYTHING in your crystal ball about a 5500 Dodge coming soon?

Sadly no, Just the usual "ON AGAIN/OFF AGAIN" that has been the case for the last 7 years

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

Tom,

What about the warranty being voided with a flatbed. On the build and price, you can delete the bed for $400?

 

[jlasich]

I guess what the dealer said was that people were going over to the ford place for the (1) 450/550 and/or (2) the ability to have a dump body installed on the truck (or trucks that already have them), without warranty issues that come with drilling/welding on the frame.

I understand. Dodge really needs a 4500/5500 series. There's someone on this site, "PGianossa", that supposedly works in the Body-on-Frame division of Dodge, I think, that says the 4500/5500 series are coming for MY '07. I have also heard the same from some at allpar.com. We shall see. So FATCAT, just hang on for another year if you can.

 

[FATCAT]

I understand. Dodge really needs a 4500/5500 series. There's someone on this site, "PGianossa", that supposedly works in the Body-on-Frame division of Dodge, I think, that says the 4500/5500 series are coming for MY '07. I have also heard the same from some at allpar.com. We shall see. So FATCAT, just hang on for another year if you can.

I definitely will hang out for another year. My old bucket of bolts will last another winter or two. We'll see what Dodge pulls out of the Top Hat next year. Otherwise a FL or International 4300 Lo-Pro look VERY nice ... just would miss having 4X4.

 

[DGFoster]

I got a chucle this morning when I read in 4 Wheeler mag. that there choice for a diesel would be the 6. 0 International because it had the low end grunt of the Cummins and the high rev of the DMAX,boy for these guys to call themselves pros they sure don't know squat about diesels or the unreliability of the 6. 0.



And FWIW,my Dodge took every bit of the 10000 miles to feel loose and torquey,this first 10000 was BORING as hell,but now I love it.

Same went for my 2000 I had,it was a dog for the first 10000.

 

[Tomeygun]

Tom,

What about the warranty being voided with a flatbed. On the build and price, you can delete the bed for $400?

It has more to do with how you modify the frame...

I have a few customer with flatbeds on the trucks. . But we still warranty the truck... Honestly not enough people have flatbeds to mess with the red tape (we just warranty it anyway)

PS - $400 for no bed, what a rip off

What's the payload on an equally spec'd Ford truck?

From edmunds.com - 5300lbs on a DRW crew cab 4x4

 

[Grizzly]

Well, I finally got a chance to test drive a new '05 3500 DRW 325/610 4X4 with the G56 6-speed transmission.



Anyway it was nice, except for one thing ... MAN THAT THING WAS A DOG!

It felt like it could not get out of its own way. I'm like "come on baby come on" trying to get it to go faster. Steping on it while in 5th and shifting to 6th I thought my foot sliped off the accelerator, but it didn't. I felt like I was in slow motion. I don't think I could have passed a Civic if I needed to.



Oh well, the real big disapointment was (1) the payload capacity of the the DRW and (2) you can not put a flatbed/dump body on the back without voiding the warranty ... NO CHASSIE CAB OBTION.



YOUR SICK! My DRW is rated at 4840 and it will take all of it without any strain on the engine or suspension. What's wrong with that? Last wekend I had a load of that much weight, or more. of retainer wall block, so I know it handles fine. It also handles my camper of 4500 lbs loaded just fine. I would call it a dog. You really are a sick man, go buy a furd.

 

[MMeier]

Oh geez, here we go again !!! Nothing a lil' ol electronic box or two can't fix!!

 

[jtsandbird]

i just bought my new truck a week ago and boy is it far better than my 01 !!!

 

[FATCAT]

Boy ... I thought this thread was dead last week. Now its back to life.

Like I said in the beginning of this thread ... the new '05 truck is very nice compared to my old 12 valve, its just it was a dog compared to mine when going up the road. It just didn't have any snap to it when punching it in 4th, 5th, and 6th.



Jtsandbird, good luck with the new truck!

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

Jtsandbird was there tonight when I installed my new hitch in the 06... . Yes thats right, and 06 4x4 dually! I love my truck but his color is much better. The trans is great, short throw like a short shift, smooth engaugment, and this truck has tons of power. Yes, the KORE suspension is next, then the wheels and tires.

What a sick man I am... ...

Greg