laramie longhorn 3500HO

[zb39]

I will be getting a 3500DRW HO. Dealer said I could order sometime in March, not sure when, they are waiting for prices. Wife and I were looking over the weekend at trucks. She like the longhorn stuff. We only saw a 1500 truck with it. Is the shifter on the column or center console on a 3500, auto of course. I am OK with the bucket seats but worry the big console would get confining. If you have buckets, do you like them and how is the console. I had made up my mind for the 40/20/40 seat untill she saw the longhorn. This would be a crewcab truck... Please let me here your thoughts

 

[RustyJC]

I will be getting a 3500DRW HO. Dealer said I could order sometime in March, not sure when, they are waiting for prices. Wife and I were looking over the weekend at trucks. She like the longhorn stuff. We only saw a 1500 truck with it. Is the shifter on the column or center console on a 3500, auto of course. Column. I am OK with the bucket seats but worry the big console would get confining. If you have buckets, do you like them and how is the console. Unless you need room for a 6th passenger, I'd highly recommend the buckets and console arrangement. The console has lots of storage, power outlets, etc. and is very useful. We have the buckets (heated & cooled) with console and really like them - much better than the 40/20/40 seat and flip-down armrest/console we had in our 2002. I had made up my mind for the 40/20/40 seat untill she saw the longhorn. This would be a crewcab truck... Please let me here your thoughts

See comments above in Red.



Rusty

 

[Tryingit]

I owned several pickups all without the center console. This 2010 truck has the full center console and I love it. I never liked have a person in the front middle seat that is very uncomfortable on longer trips. I don't find it confining at all. Of course I'm of average size and weight. Not sure how it would be for a larger person.

 

[zb39]

OK, you guys are convincing me the big console will be OK. I just thought it would be confining. I really don't want a 3rd person up front either. Are there 2 different versions of the longhorn interior? I see the pics of 1 and the truck I saw was different. Seems like one has extra stiching and the other doesn't. IAgain I have only seen 1 truck with the longhorn and it was a 1500. I wish my dealer had more info.

 

[DEM123]

zb39... you are correct. Only the Bark Brown interior has the western style stiching (etching). The other color, which they call Russett, does not, and is matched with a grey interior. Both of them have contrasting piping on the seats and both do look good. I have the Brown and the leather is excellent quality.

 

[DHuffman]

I had the console in my '08, and I made sure I got the console in my '11. Much better setup for daily use.



The shifter on the HDs is on the column. The interior of the standard Laramie is nicer (in my opinion) than the Longhorn. I looked at both and was not impressed by the Longhorn package.

 

[zb39]

D123, I would love to see pics of your truck, in and out...

 

[zb39]

I am glad the shifter is on the column...

 

[Simplysmn]

Well I will add a point of view from the Tall side of the Ladder {7 ft 360 lbs}I had the split seat's in the 08 and they Stunk we now have the bucket's and center console and love it the center is really deep has 1 12 volt hook up inside and 1 in the side pocket plus has 110 in dash great thing to have if you have more then 1 cell phone to charge at 1 time . as for room it fit's pretty good due to having bad knee's I drive without my shoes on long run's and so far it;s good

 

[zb39]

Simplysmn, If you don't feel squeezed, I prob won't. Ok, I am convinced on the buckets. How well does the cooling system work on these seats, ventilated or whatever they are?? Maybe some kind of fan or something?? Also I think you can get rear heated seats with the buckets, any thoughts on these and how well they work. After this winter it might be a good idea. .

 

[RustyJC]

The front seat cooling and rear seat heaters work fine. The front seat cooling is effective in preventing you from sweating and sticking to the leather (which can be a real problem down here on the Texas Gulf Coast on hot, humid days), but you really don't feel that it's blasting cold air up your posterior.



Rusty

 

[rrl989]

Dodge updated their build area of their web site yesterday, has the Longhorn addition now.

 

[zb39]

SWEET!, I wish they would update the engine specs and options. Yesterday another dealer told me they are waiting for prices. But it would be on the next update. Anyone work for a dealer who knows.

 

[zb39]

OK, my dealer buddy just called me. he is the owner, they just got some info on the new engine and towing stuff. He says, high output is only available on the 3500 and the 30,000 GCVW has to have 4:10 gears. the only price he had was max towing package will be about $500. He read the package and it was a lot of stuff. He knows I am waiting for pricing and when can you order, He thought 3/9/11 to order or sooner. we will see, can't wait.

 

[rrl989]

That would be a show stopper for me, I don't want max tow pkg with 4. 10 ratio. Hopefully this is just an interim offering and the 800 will be available as the standard engine for the 2012 MY.

 

[RustyJC]

The 4. 10 ratio is very easy to live with due to the double overdrive ratios in the 68RFE. With a 0. 61:1 ratio in 6th, 60 MPH in my truck with 4. 10s is 1612 RPM. The same truck with 3. 73s is 1466 RPM at 60 MPH. My 2002 HO/6-speed with 4. 10s was 2000 RPM at 60 MPH.



Rusty

 

[zb39]

989, may I ask why 4:10 are a show stopper? 1600 rpm at 60mph, isn't that where the 800 ft lbs is at? Or is the gearing to low for high speed?

 

[rrl989]

989, may I ask why 4:10 are a show stopper? 1600 rpm at 60mph, isn't that where the 800 ft lbs is at? Or is the gearing to low for high speed?

I want the 800, I've been waiting for the upgrade, but I've been holding back replacing my daily driver 98 12V because I'm reading so many low mpg claims with the 6. 7. As I only occasionally haul my heavy camper between May-Sept, I'll need the 3. 73 or 3. 42 to get the highest empty hwy mpgs. I get 18 now, sounds like I can expect 16 hwy empty with the 6. 7. Interesting followups on the rpm's at speed, but the lower the better for hwy empty cruising, so I'd pass on the 4. 11's as they will lower my mpgs for the type of driving I do. I'll admit, I really wanted a CTD back in 97, just now sure yet these days.

 

[zb39]

I think you can get the 800 without 4:10's. You just can't get the max tow package. The 6. 7 is a great engine but it doesn't get the mileage the 12 v did. I'm not sure we can have our cake and eat it to. But it would be nice!

 

[RVTRKN]

The 4. 10 ratio is very easy to live with due to the double overdrive ratios in the 68RFE. With a 0. 61:1 ratio in 6th, 60 MPH in my truck with 4. 10s is 1612 RPM. The same truck with 3. 73s is 1466 RPM at 60 MPH. My 2002 HO/6-speed with 4. 10s was 2000 RPM at 60 MPH.



Rusty

Rusty, does Dodge with the 68rfe, recommend that both overdrives (5th & 6th) be turned off when towing? I know most don't do that, but when pulling grades should you be in forth, what would your RPM's be with that gear?