Meet the new 2013 RAM HD Trucks...

[rwitt]

The '02 2500 4x4 that I had also had the 245 tires labled on the trucks GVWR plate, but it had the optional 265 tires on it, and it showed it on the options list on the trucks window sticker when I bought it new.
Rich

 

[rwitt]

Sorry, double post.

 

[HBarlow]

I guess I either didn't know that or didn't remember. I was studying the 3500s not 2500s and may have ignored or missed it.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Several years ago when Ford came out with 450 pickup it had 19. 5s but last couple of years they went back to 17". DC probably will stick with 17"s.

 

[NIsaacs]

I guess I either didn't know that or didn't remember. I was studying the 3500s not 2500s and may have ignored or missed it.

Harvey, yes you were always a dually guy



But yes, my '01 sticker tag rates the rear axle at only 6084 lbs with 245's (2x3042lbs), 265's are 3415 each and my 285's are 3750 each. I don't think Ram pays any attention to optional tires, snow plow or camper packages... . like I do



Nick

 

[AClayton]

Harvey, yes you were always a dually guy

But yes, my '01 sticker tag rates the rear axle at only 6084 lbs with 245's (2x3042lbs), 265's are 3415 each and my 285's are 3750 each. I don't think Ram pays any attention to optional tires, snow plow or camper packages... . like I do

Nick

I always thought my 01' towing numbers were conservatively rated due to the anemic 47RE. The 6spd trucks had a GCWR of 22k and the auto were 16k. I have an upgraded transmission and better tires also and my truck feels perfectly safe towing well over what Dodge says it should. My truck had the stock 245's when I bought it from my BIL at ... . get this... . 94k miles. Those stock Michelins were very good tires and were not completely bald even at over 90k miles.

I'm looking at a new truck again also. The 2013's sound good but I love my 24V mileage. As long as my truck is holding value like it is, I will probably wait a couple model yrs for the DEF to prove itself in the Ram's.

 

[HBarlow]

Apparently so. Ram should have updated the VIN sticker to reflect the greater carrying capacity.

It's unfortunate that tire manufacturers have not offered additional sizes and greater capacity tires for the 17" wheels that have equipped Rams for ten years and thousands of trucks since summer of 2002.

The only choice SRW truck owners have for increasing capacity is going to aftermarket 19. 5" wheels and tires or adapters and 19. 5s off Ram 4500/5500s since late 2007. Either choice is pretty costly.

 

[rwitt]

Harvey, yes you were always a dually guy



But yes, my '01 sticker tag rates the rear axle at only 6084 lbs with 245's (2x3042lbs), 265's are 3415 each and my 285's are 3750 each. I don't think Ram pays any attention to optional tires, snow plow or camper packages... . like I do



Nick

Yeah, never did understand Dodge's thinking with having the factory upgraded tires and camper package, and not adding it to the RAWR

But it's not just Dodge, my Dad's 2000 F250 has the camper package and 265 tires, no RAWR to show for it over the standard 235 tires.

 

[rwitt]

I guess I either didn't know that or didn't remember. I was studying the 3500s not 2500s and may have ignored or missed it.

As much as you know about these trucks, ya gotta leave a little for the rest of us to have the answer to once in a while And I do mean that as a compliment to your input on this site



Rich

 

[HBarlow]

Rich,

Much of the reason I respond to lots of posts is old guys like me wake up early in the morning and don't go to work any longer so we have lots of time to waste on the TDR site.

 

[rscurtis]

That time is spent, not wasted.

 

[HBarlow]

Well said, Curtis. You should be a paid commentator for TDR. I agree that most of our time spent here is beneficial to all of us. We all learn and help share that learning with others.

 

[HPSimpson]

Ok so is trying to have 16K posts!

 

[rwitt]

Rich,

Much of the reason I respond to lots of posts is old guys like me wake up early in the morning and don't go to work any longer so we have lots of time to waste on the TDR site.

Oh I know that Harvey. But as said by Curtis, your time here has not been wasted but well spent. I have learned so much here over the past 10 years that the $35 per year has had a great payback. Enjoy your retirement, you've earned it!

 

[HBarlow]

Thanks, Rich.

I didn't know much more than diesel engines used a funny kind of fuel in 2001 when I bought my first Cummins-Ram. What I have learned came mostly from TDR.

 

[NIsaacs]

I saw a picture of a '13, 1500 dash and it looks like the ignition switch is on the dash, it's been a long time since I have seen that

PS: The new 8 spd shifter is also on the dash, just a nob, like a heater control, looks kinda yukky:-laf

Nick

 

[RonD]

I was at the market yesterday, on the rack was the current copy of Truck Trend, they had the new Ram HD on the cover, so I looked the write up over, and the photos. What did I see the 2013 has that my 2012 does not?, well, the DEF is new, time will tell how that works out, mine is 99% for towing, so I doubt the towing MPG will get any better with DEF, the new HP and Torque numbers are nice, but mine has all the power I can use , so that isn't anything , a coupe things, why did they have to stick those huge RAM logo's on the front doors, and tailgate, they must be the size of a dinner plate, also I noticed the new 8" GPS screen, they removed all the hard buttons from the sides, and made them soft key touch buttons on the screen, that I do not care for, Ford has the same thing, there a pain, my Wife has an Edge with that, other than that it looks the same, the frame and front ends are bigger, but I don't need bigger,

 

[Wingate]

Fuel efficiency with DEF when loaded will increase... Of course, you have to weight out the costs of the fuel savings vs. the price of DEF. . but it should come out to the good when compared to the current configuration engine. The savings in oil change costs will add to that factor as well since the DEF engine has the ability to go 15K on an oil change interval.

 

[EDankievitch]

If you check out my thread "4 gen impressions" I have posted real world pooerating costs of an 2012 RAM as compaired to a 2005. My feeling is that if they can reduice the ReGen cycles by just half the MPG's will return back to almost the same as the 05 that I had. Even with the cost of the DEfluid at $5-$7 a gal you'll be way ahead with a 2013. I've been in contact with Ram to see if something can be worked out so I can trade this 12 in... Now averaging 14 MPG each week and loading the lube up with fuel this 12 just doesn't cut it. As the DEF system having to prove it self the Chassie Cab truck's have had the system for a few years now and it seems to just work.

 

[rwitt]

If you check out my thread "4 gen impressions" I have posted real world pooerating costs of an 2012 RAM as compaired to a 2005. My feeling is that if they can reduice the ReGen cycles by just half the MPG's will return back to almost the same as the 05 that I had. Even with the cost of the DEfluid at $5-$7 a gal you'll be way ahead with a 2013. I've been in contact with Ram to see if something can be worked out so I can trade this 12 in... Now averaging 14 MPG each week and loading the lube up with fuel this 12 just doesn't cut it. As the DEF system having to prove it self the Chassie Cab truck's have had the system for a few years now and it seems to just work.

I don't think you'll see half as many regens as you have now, but a better tuned engine with less EGR that can deliver better mpg. I drive a 2011 F350 with the 6. 7 diesel for work. It regens about every 200 miles, my truck in signature regens about every 200 miles. A tank of DEF lasts about 7000 miles, which is the amount of time it goes when an oil change is required. It all depends on how the trucks are driven and the weight they are hauling as to how long the DEF will last. The 450's and 550's are not going as far on a tank of DEF from what I've seen with the fleet of trucks I'm around.
Rich