Joined the Ranks of DRW owners

[Jumbo Jet]

Purchased my 5th CTD last week, a 2013 RAM 3500 DRW.



Order of ownership and what precipitated the change:



2000 2500 SWB - 5 speed manual (Traded 1997 Chevy 1500 350 gasser - pulling 5th wheel camper)



2002 2500 SWB - Automatic (Wife could drive manual but did not like the load sensing throttle)



2004 2500 LWB - Automatic (Bought Lance truck camper that fit LWB)



2008 3500 LWB SRW - Automatic (wanted the exhaust brake and 6 speed transmission)



2013 3500 LWB DRW - Automatic (91,000 on 2008 and seat was hard! Actually carrying a 4,000 lb. truck camper)



#ad

 

[UpstateNYoilburner]

Nice looking rig. What are your impressions so far?

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Nice looking rig. What are your impressions so far?

All good so far. I have 700 miles on truck.

Fuel mileage appears to be as good as the 2008, or just a tick better.

Ride is better because I had 14 ply 19. 5" tires and wheels on the 2008.

Cab interior has more room. There is extra storage inside plus cubby holes in the dash area.

Still getting accustomed to the digital information center for the gauges.

Handling with the camper loaded was noticeably improved. I did not carry it very far and fast, but was on some challenging roads here in NW Arkansas.

I had to add 3" underneath the camper jack legs so the truck could back under. The truck must be a little higher in the rear than the 2008.

The overload springs need to engage just a little sooner, thus the Torklift Stable Loads being added.

It is quieter, but I expect noise to increase some as it ages.

I like the hood being detached from the grill, but there was advantage to having that space on the 2008.

Tailgate removal is OK, but getting everything in place to plug the camera connection back in is a PITA.

The fuel filler flap seems like a cheap option that could allow dirt and water inside the tank.

It came with the gooseneck setup and connection points for a fifth wheel adapter. I purchased the Reese Elite Pop-In ball kit for the gooseneck. I don't intend to haul a 5th wheel, but you never can tell.

 

[Bill Stockard]

All good so far. I have 700 miles on truck.

Fuel mileage appears to be as good as the 2008, or just a tick better.

Ride is better because I had 14 ply 19. 5" tires and wheels on the 2008.

Cab interior has more room. There is extra storage inside plus cubby holes in the dash area.

Still getting accustomed to the digital information center for the gauges.

Handling with the camper loaded was noticeably improved. I did not carry it very far and fast, but was on some challenging roads here in NW Arkansas.

I had to add 3" underneath the camper jack legs so the truck could back under. The truck must be a little higher in the rear than the 2008.

The overload springs need to engage just a little sooner, thus the Torklift Stable Loads being added.

It is quieter, but I expect noise to increase some as it ages.

I like the hood being detached from the grill, but there was advantage to having that space on the 2008.

Tailgate removal is OK, but getting everything in place to plug the camera connection back in is a PITA.

The fuel filler flap seems like a cheap option that could allow dirt and water inside the tank.

It came with the gooseneck setup and connection points for a fifth wheel adapter. I purchased the Reese Elite Pop-In ball kit for the gooseneck. I don't intend to haul a 5th wheel, but you never can tell.

Nice truck! My color too. Welcome to the dually world! I've been there since 1992.

Do the covers for the factory in bed gooseneck hitch interfere with the flat floor in the truck bed as far as hauling the camper?

Thanks for the comparison. I've been wondering how a '13 dually with 14,000-lb GVWR handles a heavy slide-in truck camper. I've been wanting a Cummins powered truck with the GVWR comparable to the original Ford F450 for along time. It appears we have that now.

IIRC, isn't your Lance a model 1055 that you purchased somewhere in AZ?

Bill

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Do the covers for the factory in bed gooseneck hitch interfere with the flat floor in the truck bed as far as hauling the camper?
IIRC, isn't your Lance a model 1055 that you purchased somewhere in AZ? Bill

I loaded the camper without my usual sheet of blue foam and did not notice anything unusual. I need to check the bottom of the Lance to see if those hole covers left imprints. I ordered a DualLiner for the truck bed and I am sure it will eliminate any concerns with the covers. I will have to cut some holes in the liner (not looking forward to that, but it is a must because I pull a gooseneck trailer often).

That is a Lance 1050S that I purchased in Phoenix June 2011. I traded in a 1055.

I weighed the truck and camper Saturday morning, 12,640 lbs. total.

 

[AH64ID]

I weighed the truck and camper Saturday morning, 12,460 lbs. total.

Good looking setup!

I am surprised you aren't heavier than that. My dad's 06 2500 SRW with a 2012 Lance 850 loaded for camping weighs in at 12,200.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Good looking setup!

I am surprised you aren't heavier than that. My dad's 06 2500 SRW with a 2012 Lance 850 loaded for camping weighs in at 12,200.

I transposed a couple numbers - 12,640 not 12,460.

I weighed with a full tank of fuel and the camper full of water and goods. Dry weight listed is 3. 030 lbs. Weight off truck was 4,185 lbs.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I transposed a couple numbers - 12,640 not 12,460.

I weighed with a full tank of fuel and the camper full of water and goods. Dry weight listed is 3. 030 lbs. Weight off truck was 4,185 lbs.

WOW! You are heavier than I thought considering your Lance has an aluminum frame and being constructed with more lighter weight non-wood materials. My '03 dually truck and Lance 1121 (approximately the same size as yours) loaded and ready to travel is 12,200-lbs. which is over the truck's GVWR, but well within each GAWR. A Lance 1050S like yours would be our choice if we ever traded which isn't in our plans since the newer model Lances are taller overall and it wouldn't pass through my 12-ft. door where I park it inside.

Bill

 

[SSteilow]

Purchased my 5th CTD last week, a 2013 RAM 3500 DRW.



Order of ownership and what precipitated the change:



2000 2500 SWB - 5 speed manual (Traded 1997 Chevy 1500 350 gasser - pulling 5th wheel camper)



2002 2500 SWB - Automatic (Wife could drive manual but did not like the load sensing throttle)



2004 2500 LWB - Automatic (Bought Lance truck camper that fit LWB)



2008 3500 LWB SRW - Automatic (wanted the exhaust brake and 6 speed transmission)



2013 3500 LWB DRW - Automatic (91,000 on 2008 and seat was hard! Actually carrying a 4,000 lb. truck camper)



#ad

Like i remarked on the other forum. Really Nice Ram 3500 DRW.

Is there not a better filler flap, maybe a good aftermarket filler flap, to replace the cheap option, to prevent dirt and water in.

Looking into the Ram Dodge 3500 DRW myself, looks good so far.

Scott

 

[NickSullivan]

Weight off truck was 4,185 lbs.

You mean: 8,143 lbs. , right?

 

[AH64ID]

WOW! You are heavier than I thought considering your Lance has an aluminum frame and being constructed with more lighter weight non-wood materials. My '03 dually truck and Lance 1121 (approximately the same size as yours) loaded and ready to travel is 12,200-lbs. which is over the truck's GVWR, but well within each GAWR. A Lance 1050S like yours would be our choice if we ever traded which isn't in our plans since the newer model Lances are taller overall and it wouldn't pass through my 12-ft. door where I park it inside.

Bill

That's not too heavy, and right were my dads 850 is which has about 1000lb lower weight from Lance.

It's interesting how much they actually vary on weight.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The factory filler door has a seal and does a pretty good job. However, you can buy a $3 ABS plumbing cap in nominal 1. 5", chamfer the top edge and cut down the depth some. It makes a perfect fit over the factory fill neck and when modified does not hold the filler door open any.

 

[Kirwin]

Or you can get a plug set up from Geno's that works quite well for a about $5. 00. I bought it and it works great! Ken Irwin

 

[rrl989]

Hello Jumbo, nice setup for the TC. I'm still hauling my AF, as well as a previous Lance on my 98' 3500.
I hope to have a new ride for the next camping season ! Good luck with the new Ram 3500 DRW.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Or you can get a plug set up from Geno's that works quite well for a about $5. 00. I bought it and it works great! Ken Irwin

The plug from Geno's was the first "upgrade" I purchased and installed yesterday.

So far have purchased to add:

Fuel filler plug
DashMat dash cover
Reese Elite Pop-In ball kit
Torklift Stable Loads
DualLiner bed liner
Locks for the in-floor storage compartments

 

[MJWenrich]

Not having seen one but hearing the complaints about filling up with diesel, what has changed on the filler neck? Is there no longer a cap and just a flap? And putting an ABS mod on it? I am a long way from a dealer and cannot imagine what is being discussed and whether the filler neck could be changed out for one that will take the high speed big rig nozzles. Someone please enlighten me.

 

[Bob V]

The plug from Geno's was the first "upgrade" I purchased and installed yesterday.

So far have purchased to add:

Fuel filler plug
DashMat dash cover
Reese Elite Pop-In ball kit
Torklift Stable Loads
DualLiner bed liner
Locks for the in-floor storage compartments

Might want to check the rear springs before you get the Stable Loads. There was a post recently about a 4th gen owner putting on some stable loads, turns out the his truck had the them (similar) from the factory

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Go to Home Depot and get a cap for the black sewer pipes; it is acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymer. You won't find that big a size generally in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) white pipe.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Might want to check the rear springs before you get the Stable Loads. There was a post recently about a 4th gen owner putting on some stable loads, turns out the his truck had the them (similar) from the factory

I did check them. I had the short bump stops.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Not having seen one but hearing the complaints about filling up with diesel, what has changed on the filler neck? Is there no longer a cap and just a flap? And putting an ABS mod on it? I am a long way from a dealer and cannot imagine what is being discussed and whether the filler neck could be changed out for one that will take the high speed big rig nozzles. Someone please enlighten me.

The big rig nozzle will still fit. My first fill-up I had a little trouble with the back pressure shutting the nozzle off. No problem the second time around.