Get rid of '05 for a new '13???

[BILLUA]

You will not be disappointed getting rid of the 05 with its crappy seats! I know, I had one.

As far as gear ratios, listening to someone saying " my 3. 42's tow fine" without offering the type of terrain and and elevations that they tow in is useless.

As in, towing in the mountains out west with our high density altitudes, I love the 4. 10 / 68rfe combination.

As to the rest of the truck, except for the emissions which are pretty much worked out now, the 4th gen is better in everyway. I still smile when I open the door to my 12.

Good luck! A new truck is really a life's treat.

 

[UpstateNYoilburner]

Thanks everyone, I found a Dually Laramie Longhorn with the Aisin & 4:10's today and drove it. I like it alot (except for the price) but man it felt like I was in a new Escalade or something. I appreciate everyone's input. I think I'll stick with the 4:10's as I know they work well with what I currently have. The 3:42's just thru me for a loop when I saw them. Hopefully the Aisin will treat me as well as the NV56. Now I just need to convince the wife we need all that horse saddle looking stuff

 

[Wayne M.]

Yes. Good luck in the search. Nows the time to buy! A new truck is indeed a treat in the biggest scale!

 

[RVTRKN]

I am not clear how 3:42s make more stress on the drivetrain. The double overdrive auto trans is VERY happy towing in 5th gear in the mountains, on the flats to gentle rolling it tows in 6th at a very efficent engine rpm. Again I would much rather pull steep hills in direct gear (4th) than use 4:10s and pull hills in double overdrive. The AAM differential has NOT been a weak link.

Leverage is where the problem is and is the disadvantage, and basic force that it takes to turn the ring gear is why there is more stress, its just a fact that you can't change and will wear faster. Like I posted before, I don't have a horse in the race, I didn't intend to change the subject. Upstate, that is a good choice for a truck and hope you enjoy your new ride, that 05 with the NV5600 is worth a lot to hot shot-ters, so make sure you hold out for a good price and don't trade it in. I could have gotten 26K for mine, but family wanted to buy it.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

You will not be disappointed getting rid of the 05 with its crappy seats! I know, I had one.



As far as gear ratios, listening to someone saying " my 3. 42's tow fine" without offering the type of terrain and and elevations that they tow in is useless.



As in, towing in the mountains out west with our high density altitudes, I love the 4. 10 / 68rfe combination.



As to the rest of the truck, except for the emissions which are pretty much worked out now, the 4th gen is better in everyway. I still smile when I open the door to my 12.



Good luck! A new truck is really a life's treat.

I tow exclusivly in the mountain passes of the west (Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Nevada and California. My 04 has 3. 73s and has towed HARD (25,000# combined weight or more) for all of its 130,000 miles. I have removed the diff cover every 30,000 miles to change oil and have never seen any wear on the ring or pinion, just a very smooth polished surface. I would expect no less with the 3:42s just better fuel useage.

 

[DogramTD]

If you are planning on a new one, get a 2013, definitely, over any left over 2012. QUOTE]



Why do you say this Joe?



I was just about to pull the trigger on a new "left over 2012" Laramie limited. Trading in my '05 for it; I specifically looked for the 2012 to avoid the DEF...



I just about got up the nerve to get rid of my '05 then I read your statement.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

There are alot of upgrades and mileage improving changes for 2013, such as the better frame on the 3500s and the front axle disconnect. The DEF technology is now proven and mature and you will get a lot better fuel mileage with this system instead of the old emissions strategy of spraying diesel into the exhaust and leaking it into the engine oil at the same time. Furthermore, the 2013 3500 is the first opportunity to get the excellent Aisin transmission in a Ram pickup. It all added up to a no decision for me from 2004. 5 through 2012 and a yes in 2013. Instead of Ram and Cummins just trying not to let the trucks get worse and worse due to our legislators and EPA, now we have another pinnacle year like the 215 HP 12-valve and the 2003-early 2004.



By the way, right now the rebates are good on the left over 2013s, $2500 or $3000 depending on geographical location and $1000 of that depends on financing at least $10k through Chrysler Capital.

 

[TDEvans]

We traded out 05 dually 4x4 in last year for a new 12 dually 4x4. I love the new truck with max tow,410 gears,68re trans,no it doesn't get the mileage my 05 did,but does it flatten the hills out here in the west,our Fiver weights 16000 plus,and I love the exhaust brake which my old one didn't have. And yes the truck builders kept adding new treats every year. I personally didn't want to deal with the DEF. Yes DEF gets better mileage but you need to factor in DEF costs. Just my thoughts.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I am now coming back home from a towing trip to Utah, just turned 5000 towing miles. VERY happy with the truck uphill and down.

 

[MChrist]

I can't imagine it would hurt the trans to tow heavy loads in 5th gear, so why wouldn't a person get the 3. 42 gears, drop to 5th when needed and keep the fuel economy for all the miles you aren't towing super heavy uphill?
If I was in the market for a new personal truck, I think a person would have to try really hard to talk me out of a 3. 42 with an Aisin automatic.
Just my opinion. .

 

[HBellmyer]

Traded my 05 G56 for a 2012 3500, Auto, 4:10 rears for hauling my 40ft 5th wheel. Gave up alot of fuel mileage, 05 18mpg around town versus 2012 gets 12mpg. Heard the 2013s might be getting better milage but need DEF. Recorded 12 MPG towing with the 05 but around 9-10mpg with the 2012. Like the 2012 truck but miss the 05... .

 

[DogramTD]

Thanks for the info Joe. I read about all the upgrades in TDR issues but I was under the impression that the Aisin trans would only be available in the DRW models; glad to see it is in select SRW as well. The trans is one of the main reasons I am looking to upgrade; 4" lift, 35" tires w/3. 73's, a 4 speed trans and a short box wasnt a very good recipie for towing 14K # out west (and eventually across all the states). I did a lot of trans upgrades but was tired of the hard shifts, shuttle shifts and occassional flaring between shifts. I wasnt very excited about the 68RFE but was accepting it for the 2 extra gears. I am stripping all the goodies off of my '05 as we speak and looking for a '13 Ram.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The supply of 2013s is dwindling. You can build and then check inventory on www.ramtrucks.com choosing the display for 50 per page, distance for 200+ miles, and your zip code. You will get matches for up to 1000 miles. You can change your zip code to search other parts of the country. Be careful because as you change zip code, the selections get wiped out; go back into those windows and re-check the items that are important to you. For example, I want the best matches on the Cummins, Aisin, crew cab, etc. You will find that some combinations are scarce now, some colors hard to find. Unfortunately, some things aren't search-sensitive like interior color. Others are iffy like the Aisin; you will pull up a lot of 68RFE trucks. It amazes me still, how dealers order a bunch of fluff that can be seen and sells, but shortchange their more ignorant buyers (who rely on their advice and are more likely to buy off the lot whatever the salesman says is sufficient). They choose insufficient HD options for the likely use of the truck. Check tomorrow on ramtrucks because rebates might get even better for September. To be sure, you need to point the cursor to the right of the price in the "summary" on the build. Right now, there is $500 more rebate in the west than in the midwest/east.

 

[lawdog1]

Thanks for the info Joe. I read about all the upgrades in TDR issues but I was under the impression that the Aisin trans would only be available in the DRW models; glad to see it is in select SRW as well. The trans is one of the main reasons I am looking to upgrade; 4" lift, 35" tires w/3. 73's, a 4 speed trans and a short box wasnt a very good recipie for towing 14K # out west (and eventually across all the states). I did a lot of trans upgrades but was tired of the hard shifts, shuttle shifts and occassional flaring between shifts. I wasnt very excited about the 68RFE but was accepting it for the 2 extra gears. I am stripping all the goodies off of my '05 as we speak and looking for a '13 Ram.

DogramTD... depending on how good a deal you get on a 2012 I would not pass it up if it has the options you want (or can live with. ) I bought a 2012 in May 13, and my reasons are layed out here. I don't doubt the 2013 gets better fuel mileage and has some new goodies, but the '12 is plenty beastly and if you can keep $10K in your pocket over a '13... makes one wonder. https://www.turbodieselregister.com...urchase-of-a-remaining-2012-2500-Big-Horn-4x4

 

[Steve Martin]

Hi fellows... . I hate to butt in, but I also have a 2013 4x4 mega cab with I believe the 68rfe (not sure) and for some reason I can’t find the max tow rating for the 13’ with the 68rfe... . Does anyone know for sure what the max I can tow with my truck??? I think it’s either 14,000 lbs or 17,000 lbs cant remember..... AClayton what does your triple axle weigh all loaded up??? I tow a 24’ foot travel trailer now that weighs about 5,500 lbs (don’t know it’s back there) and was thinking about getting a bigger trailer next year. Thanks guys, love to read all these forums... .

 

[Bug Out]

you should be fine towing up to 17K or 25 K GCVW, that being both vehicles . Keep in mind axle weights too.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Depends on differential ratio, etc. Data are on www.rambodybuilder.com

 

[Steve Martin]

Thanks Guys!!! I looks like my truck with 3:42's should pull about 16,600..... thanks you!!

 

[MelvinPierce]

Thanks Guys!!! I looks like my truck with 3:42's should pull about 16,600..... thanks you!!

As noted above though, if you have SRW, and a 5th wheel, you almost ALWAYS run into rear axle overload limits BEFORE you reach maximum tow rating.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Payload on a SRW 2013 3500 is about 4000 lb. It would take an enormous, extremely unusual, pin weight on a fifth wheel trailer to exceed that!