My impression of the 6.7

[Coolslice]

I finally got some seat time in the new 6. 7/68rfe truck today.



IMO, there really is not much difference in the noise level or sound of the engine compared to the 5. 9.



The 6. 7 feels more powerful than my 5. 9, even with the TST.



My truck seems to fall on it's face under normal acceleration when it hits 3rd gear. It seems to have a flat spot. The 6. 7 seems to actually pull when it hits 4th gear to the point where I felt like I had to let of the pedal to stay under 55. I liked that. :-laf



The exhaust brake is awesome, period.



Perhaps the strangest thing I noticed was that this particular truck was made in Missouri. I don't keep up with all the news stuff, but I thought that all 2500 diesels were made in MX. I know mine was.



One thing I didn't like was the interior. Granted mine is a laramie, but this interior is about as uninspiring as it gets imo.

 

[Sasquatch]

My initial impression of the '07 (I'm a proud owner) was exactly the same as yours. The interior was a disappointment.

However, after the first 1000 miles, I'm thrilled with my new ride.

The fuel mileage is better than I expected; the handling is very good; brakes (exhaust and service) are stellar, and the 6-speed transmission and engine are very well suited to each other.

I traded my '97 2500 5. 9 with a quarter million miles on it, and I notice a big difference in the noise level between that truck and this one.

I also think this truck tracks much better than second-gen dodges; I can take my hands off the wheel of this 3500, and she will straddle the crown of the road and drive several miles with the steering wheel barely moving as the truck loads the steering gear on both sides of the crown, but stays in the middle of the road.

My '97 darted around like a retriever chasing a flock of ducks on opening day.

This is one hell of a truck.

 

[Grizzly]

Is the exhaust brake standard on the 6. 7? How do you like the new 6 speed auto transmission? Is the 6 speed auto the only auto trans available? Are you saying that the interior on the Laramie looks cheap?

 

[Coolslice]

Is the exhaust brake standard on the 6. 7? How do you like the new 6 speed auto transmission? Is the 6 speed auto the only auto trans available? Are you saying that the interior on the Laramie looks cheap?

FWIW, I don't own the 07... . yet. Yes, the exhaust brake is standard. However, even though you can still get the G56 I see no real reason for anyone to get it since you can manually select gears with the 68rfe, unless you pull real heavy on a regular basis.

I personally have not seen the new laramie interior but imo the 04. 5 interior puts the 07 to shame strictly in the looks dept, laramie or not.



I still can't believe thay are making them in America.

 

[gsbrockman]

unless you pull real heavy on a regular basis.

Odd thing is the following :



6. 7L 6-speed auto

350 hp @ 3000 rpm / 650 lb-ft torque @ 1500 rpm



6. 7L 6-speed manual

350 hp @ 3013 rpm / 610 lb-ft torque @ 1400 rpm



{straight from the 2007 sales brochure}



In years past, the auto's were typically de-rated. On the 6. 7L's, the manual's are now de-rated.



Greg

 

[FredMaryLou]

Just turned my first 500 mies on mine. I am very please with all aspects of the truck. The computer says it is aproaching 14. 0mpg with that low mileage. We are looking forward to towing our fifth wheel with the power and exhaust brake. This should be a great tow vehicle. Fred

 

[champspa]

FredMaryLou what rpm are you doing at 65 or 70 with the 4:10 ratio

 

[Sasquatch]

Fred,

I think you're right about the towing: Should be the ideal rig.

You have the low gears, so you're going to have a better hill-pulling rig, but I think you can expect better mileage, very soon.

Hand-calculate your next couple of tank-fulls of fuel, and check the accuracy of your overhead computer. Mine has been pretty close on a couple of fills, and off by over 1. 5 mpg on another.

With my gear-set -- and with mixed city/highway driving -- I'm averaging about 16 mpg, and that's holding the highway speed to 60 mph, for the most part.

I'm encouraged, because the worst I've done -- first week was all "stop-light to stop-light -- was 14. 2 mpg, and that's with my truck's normal compliment of tools, a heavy winch, bull-bars, and other weight and drag that most trucks may not have.

Also, we're still burning "winter fuel" up here in the "high and lonesome" of 8000' mountain-country Colorado.

I've got to believe that guys running their rigs at sea-level in the summer (with stock truck setup, in particular) should see high teens on the highway, and maybe even -- when fully broken-in -- some low twenties.

Considering all the EPA crap that's been hung on these vehicles, that's pretty darned good.

 

[PLanciers]

FredMaryLou what rpm are you doing at 65 or 70 with the 4:10 ratio

I've just driven mine back from Dishman Dodge to San Diego last week nearly 1500 miles... 1800rpm @ 65mph and 2100 @ 75mph roughly from what I recall.



Pete



You want your truck at the right price Oo. really don't pay more contact:



Adam Macomber



BusinessLink Specialist / TDR member representative

Dishman Dodge; http://www.dodge.com/commercial/

509-924-3250 / 877-568-3363/Cell 509-475-2480



Get your truck built the way you want it for $4. 5-5K under Invoice/FWP pricing...



You can pick it up in Spokane WA or have him drop ship it to a local dealer...

 

[LightmanE300]

Coolslice that 'flat spot' you're feeling is likely your truck running out of fuel Do you have a fp gauge? Thanks for the review though, sounds like the new engine runs very well!

 

[JACummins2500]

FWIW, I don't own the 07... . yet. Yes, the exhaust brake is standard. However, even though you can still get the G56 I see no real reason for anyone to get it since you can manually select gears with the 68rfe, unless you pull real heavy on a regular basis.

I personally have not seen the new laramie interior but imo the 04. 5 interior puts the 07 to shame strictly in the looks dept, laramie or not.



I still can't believe thay are making them in America.

Why get the G56? Two reasons:



1. $1000 less



2. I don't like automatics. To each his own but I prefer manuals. Manually shifting an automatic isn't the same.



Later

 

[AKaiser]

Why get the G56? Two reasons:



1. $1000 less



2. I don't like automatics. To each his own but I prefer manuals. Manually shifting an automatic isn't the same.



Later

I love my G56, :-laf except when I'm in stop and go traffic #@$%!

 

[Coolslice]

Coolslice that 'flat spot' you're feeling is likely your truck running out of fuel Do you have a fp gauge? Thanks for the review though, sounds like the new engine runs very well!

I wish. I removed all my performance mods because they gave me some trouble and I've started treating my truck like I plan to keep it for a while. After the TST started throwing codes that left me stranded I removed it and chucked it in the back corner of the garage. :-laf



It could be a fueling issue I suppose but I only notice it under very slow acceleration. Who knows? My truck still feels like a dog compared to the 6. 7, but it's a fair trade considering I guess.