Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
AH64ID
TDR MEMBER
Based on the insane used vehicle prices last fall I started contemplating a new truck order. I visited a couple dealerships in September but a couple of the options I wanted were not orderable, so I put the thought on the back burner. There was nothing wrong with the 2018 so I didn't need to order a truck without everything I wanted. I spoke with two local dealerships and Dave Smith. Dennis Dillon of Caldwell, ID had the best price, by a bit, and the best people to work with so I worked with them.
Fast forward to December and the options were better for ordering. I had been waiting on Towing Technology Group B and Laramie Level A (Level C didn’t have power folding mirrors). I couldn’t order two-tone like my 2018 but that just forced my hand on the Night edition, which I really like!
The truck is very similar to the 2018, both are Laramie Crew Cab 8’ bed HO’s with auto-level, 5th wheel prep, aux switches, cab lights, protection group, and cold weather group. New for the ‘22 is the Towing Tech Group B (360° camera), tow mod digital rearview mirror and extra camera, trailer TPMS, dual alternators rated at 440A, bed utility group, 50 gallon tank, and the Night Edition. The ’22 has the Laramie Level A package which is all things I had on the ’18 but the options were separate, plus a remote tailgate release.
I placed the order on December 24th and was told to expect 12-16 weeks, it took 35 from down payment to getting the keys. The last couple weeks was on me as I was out of town for work.
During those two weeks the dealership had time to install the tint, clear bra, and hood accent so it all worked out.
Overall I am very impressed with the truck and the differences from ’18 to ’22. I put the first 500 miles on the odometer in preparation for Labor Day weekend and hooked the 5th wheel up at 501.4 miles.
Peak torque to the wheels can be as much as 25% higher than the ‘18 due to the gearing changing to 3.73 and the additional 145 lb/ft of torque but I honestly didn’t expect to feel a big difference at low rpms and partial throttle but I can. Below 1500 rpms there is more power, no clue if it’s more related to the gearing or programming. The power is smooth throughout the rpm range. I don’t have my CTS3 installed yet so I am not sure if it’s gone WOT to hold speed on hills where the ’18 would but it didn’t feel like it last weekend.
I never had any of the Aisin programming issues on my ’18, but the ’22 is simply programmed better. Shifts are crisper and timed better, both in and out of TH on both up and downshifts. The transmission will now downshift going downhill in CC when the speed goes above the set point and the EB needs another lower gear. There is also a big change to the downshift schedule when not using TH but have a trailer hooked up which allows for much improved engine and exhaust braking.
Inside the cab the changes aren’t huge but I am liking the digital rear view mirror and look forward to getting the camera mounted on the back of my 5th wheel. Unfortunately Ram only puts the tow mode camera plug in the bumper, but with a 1’ Fakra cable extension it’s possible to relocate the plug to the bed near the 7 pin connector, which I will do. Both the CHMSL and tow-mode camera have their own dedicated connection to the mirror so they cannot be viewed on the Uconnect and the Uconnect cameras cannot be viewed on the digital rear view mirror.
The 360° camera is pretty cool and has good resolution/coverage. I am really excited to see how it works when I’m turning around on tight back roads this upcoming hunting season. Because I got the 360° camera the truck is also wired for an additional aux camera, which can either be a single camera or the trailer surround view camera system. They connect to the truck thru a 12 pin connector that is adjacent to both the bed and bumper 7 pin connector; however, only one of the plugs is connected from the factory. The bed plug is wired and I’ve read that Ram designed the wiring to allow it to be easily moved from the bed plug to the bumper plug. Not sure if I will use this feature or not as Ram is proud of the camera systems.
Uconnect5 is different but I am getting used to it. It doesn’t allow for the shortcuts on the menu bar to be changed so there is a little more button pushing for certain apps but you can create shortcuts. I opted for the non-Nav 8.4” screen. Wireless CarPlay is great and seems to work well.
I like how there are more selectable gauges in the dash and ECT/oil psi aren’t dedicated gauges so I can turn off the fake oil psi gauge.
With aux switches on my ’18 I only had soft keys for the heated/vented seats and steering wheel. With the center stack redesign the ’22 has hard/soft keys for them, which is a lot nicer.
There are aux reverse lamps in the mirrors that are brighter than I expected but they only work when in Park or Reverse and you have to turn the cargo light on to activate them. The cargo light switch in the bed won’t activate them, just the one in the cab.
The quality of the OEM bed liner appears to be as good as the Line-X on the ’18, and I like the OEM bed step over the AMP I had on the ’18.
There is certainly other improvements but those are the highlights. Ram continues to impress me with their new trucks (thou I am glad I went with a ’22 as there are some changes for ’23 I’d rather not have).
Only downfalls so far are Ram is only supplying 1 of the foam door inserts, but luckily I noticed intime to grab the passenger side one out of the ’18. The truck was also built without auto-dimming high beam control even thou it was supposed to get it. Dennis Dillon is looking into that for me. Lastly I cannot find wheel to wheel steps that work with the 50 gallon tank. The only black wheel to wheel steps I can find for the 8’ bed don’t work with the DEF plumbing on the bigger tank, so it looks like I’ll be going with cab length steps and an AMP BedStep2 to reach the 5th wheel hitch and stuff in the bed.
I am still trying to decide if I will keep the Dennis Dillon extended warranty or cancel it (I have 60 days) and go with Mopar Maximum Care.
And with that novel now it’s photo time…
Fast forward to December and the options were better for ordering. I had been waiting on Towing Technology Group B and Laramie Level A (Level C didn’t have power folding mirrors). I couldn’t order two-tone like my 2018 but that just forced my hand on the Night edition, which I really like!
The truck is very similar to the 2018, both are Laramie Crew Cab 8’ bed HO’s with auto-level, 5th wheel prep, aux switches, cab lights, protection group, and cold weather group. New for the ‘22 is the Towing Tech Group B (360° camera), tow mod digital rearview mirror and extra camera, trailer TPMS, dual alternators rated at 440A, bed utility group, 50 gallon tank, and the Night Edition. The ’22 has the Laramie Level A package which is all things I had on the ’18 but the options were separate, plus a remote tailgate release.
I placed the order on December 24th and was told to expect 12-16 weeks, it took 35 from down payment to getting the keys. The last couple weeks was on me as I was out of town for work.
During those two weeks the dealership had time to install the tint, clear bra, and hood accent so it all worked out.
Overall I am very impressed with the truck and the differences from ’18 to ’22. I put the first 500 miles on the odometer in preparation for Labor Day weekend and hooked the 5th wheel up at 501.4 miles.
Peak torque to the wheels can be as much as 25% higher than the ‘18 due to the gearing changing to 3.73 and the additional 145 lb/ft of torque but I honestly didn’t expect to feel a big difference at low rpms and partial throttle but I can. Below 1500 rpms there is more power, no clue if it’s more related to the gearing or programming. The power is smooth throughout the rpm range. I don’t have my CTS3 installed yet so I am not sure if it’s gone WOT to hold speed on hills where the ’18 would but it didn’t feel like it last weekend.
I never had any of the Aisin programming issues on my ’18, but the ’22 is simply programmed better. Shifts are crisper and timed better, both in and out of TH on both up and downshifts. The transmission will now downshift going downhill in CC when the speed goes above the set point and the EB needs another lower gear. There is also a big change to the downshift schedule when not using TH but have a trailer hooked up which allows for much improved engine and exhaust braking.
Inside the cab the changes aren’t huge but I am liking the digital rear view mirror and look forward to getting the camera mounted on the back of my 5th wheel. Unfortunately Ram only puts the tow mode camera plug in the bumper, but with a 1’ Fakra cable extension it’s possible to relocate the plug to the bed near the 7 pin connector, which I will do. Both the CHMSL and tow-mode camera have their own dedicated connection to the mirror so they cannot be viewed on the Uconnect and the Uconnect cameras cannot be viewed on the digital rear view mirror.
The 360° camera is pretty cool and has good resolution/coverage. I am really excited to see how it works when I’m turning around on tight back roads this upcoming hunting season. Because I got the 360° camera the truck is also wired for an additional aux camera, which can either be a single camera or the trailer surround view camera system. They connect to the truck thru a 12 pin connector that is adjacent to both the bed and bumper 7 pin connector; however, only one of the plugs is connected from the factory. The bed plug is wired and I’ve read that Ram designed the wiring to allow it to be easily moved from the bed plug to the bumper plug. Not sure if I will use this feature or not as Ram is proud of the camera systems.
Uconnect5 is different but I am getting used to it. It doesn’t allow for the shortcuts on the menu bar to be changed so there is a little more button pushing for certain apps but you can create shortcuts. I opted for the non-Nav 8.4” screen. Wireless CarPlay is great and seems to work well.
I like how there are more selectable gauges in the dash and ECT/oil psi aren’t dedicated gauges so I can turn off the fake oil psi gauge.
With aux switches on my ’18 I only had soft keys for the heated/vented seats and steering wheel. With the center stack redesign the ’22 has hard/soft keys for them, which is a lot nicer.
There are aux reverse lamps in the mirrors that are brighter than I expected but they only work when in Park or Reverse and you have to turn the cargo light on to activate them. The cargo light switch in the bed won’t activate them, just the one in the cab.
The quality of the OEM bed liner appears to be as good as the Line-X on the ’18, and I like the OEM bed step over the AMP I had on the ’18.
There is certainly other improvements but those are the highlights. Ram continues to impress me with their new trucks (thou I am glad I went with a ’22 as there are some changes for ’23 I’d rather not have).
Only downfalls so far are Ram is only supplying 1 of the foam door inserts, but luckily I noticed intime to grab the passenger side one out of the ’18. The truck was also built without auto-dimming high beam control even thou it was supposed to get it. Dennis Dillon is looking into that for me. Lastly I cannot find wheel to wheel steps that work with the 50 gallon tank. The only black wheel to wheel steps I can find for the 8’ bed don’t work with the DEF plumbing on the bigger tank, so it looks like I’ll be going with cab length steps and an AMP BedStep2 to reach the 5th wheel hitch and stuff in the bed.
I am still trying to decide if I will keep the Dennis Dillon extended warranty or cancel it (I have 60 days) and go with Mopar Maximum Care.
And with that novel now it’s photo time…
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