Retired my faithful 2001 and bought a 2014

[AlFischer]

RAM!

Picking it up this morning. Dealer here in Clovis Ca made a sale yesterday. I THINK I made a good PURCHASE! Time will tell.
Got a 2014 SLT CTD of course with more feature that a body needs. Will be an interesting first trip towing my 29 ft travel trailer. I expect it to be a smoother, quieter ride with better fuel economy and more power.

Started looking for the standard service manual. NOT happy about what I am seeing. Looks like plan is to keep me in the service dept and out from under the truck!
Looked at Techauthority and by selecting RAM got nowhere. Hopefully I will not need the book, as the warrantee looks pretty decent. (THOUGHT it was OK on my 2001 and we all know about that!!)

I pick up the truck about noon today. Needed prep and wheel to wheel steps added. Will post my first impressions soon.

Anybody have any suggestions?

 

[gtoli]

Just enjoy the new truck Al, I think you will be very happy when you pull your trailer. And post a couple pics.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

You will like the new truck. Come to May Madness next year and the factory reps can answer your questions and help with any issues. Yes, some things will be harder to work on, but with a 5 year, 100,000 mile warranty on the entire powertrain, you should not have any big worries. I'd like to add you to the list of May Madness attendees who bought new Rams.

 

[AlFischer]

Thanks for the invite Joe. Just might go. So far as the warrantee, I also paid $2300 to extend he whole thing to 8 years. The dealer doesn't understand why I turned down his oil change offer. Said 'YOU STILL DO YOUR OWN WORK?'. Told him the that way I knew it was done and done right!
Figure I am 73 and 8 years that somebody else fixes what breaks. I only hope that Chrysler makes a 100% profit on the extended contract!

My biggest challenge right now looks like getting familiar with all the neat goodies it comes with. the 8.4" display looks impressive. Bluetooth, Uconnect, etc. Just the dash panel is WILD!
Looks like I may need a class in Computer Science!

Planning on taking the trailer on a trip in 2 weeks, so I first have to drive 500 miles quickly. I plan to break it in reasonably hard. I understand it needs to work. I do have a problem with the idea of not exceeding 50mph with the trailer for another 500 miles. I don't want some 18 wheeler to run over me on Hwy 99!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I had more than 500 miles on mine before towing, but didn't even know about that recommendation of keeping under 50 when first towing. With 3.42s, I didn't have any issue, but I expect them to run cooler than 4.10s anyway. The pinion teeth get hottest because there are fewer than ring gear teeth, and the latter get a full bath in the oil half the time. With more pinion teeth on 3.42s, they shouldn't get as hot.

 

[Ram4Sam]

I would love to see a thread, with this title, that says "started by Ram4Sam"......

Sam

 

[AlFischer]

Well, get out yer checkbook and head for a dealer! They will do ANYTHING to help you...

 

[JSoloman]

I just upgraded from my '01. That rig was loaded in its day. The '14 is like sitting in the aircraft pilots seat. Enjoy it!

 

[AlFischer]

Well, my first reaction was it was a Boeing 747! Lotta buttons to learn!

 

[Dieselnerd]

I got past my first 500 miles towing several days ago. Staying at 50 or under on a 75 speed limit Interstate isn't easy or safe. I did take it easy but I exceeded 50 mph many times. I kept track of my average speed on one of the trip odometers for the first 500 towing and I did keep my average at 52 mph. I ran it up to 65 and back to 50 or less depending on traffic. My average towing speed is about 68 mph since I passed the 500 mark.

The engine seems a little stronger each day I travel, I still have about 600 miles to go before this trip ends.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Ram4, I haven't seen such good discounts on leftovers before. You can get a 2013 for around 10k under list. If you need help, I can check inventory for you to help you find what you want.

 

[AlFischer]

I got my 2014 for 40k plus the 2001. The 2001 got $9500. (The 'boss' started with $2500 because 'nobody wants a truck with 128k on it'. SURE>
I felt it was a good deal or I wouldn't have bought it. (I am pretty frugal (CHEAP). Got up to walk out and wife thanked the salesman for his time! The 'boss' finally yielded. I hate negotiating that way, but don't think there is any other way in a car dealership.

Came filled with diesel and DEF. Good service all around from the salesman. I promised to give him a good survey. They don't understand that I STILL do my own service and don't want their free oil change!

 

[JSoloman]

I was able to get $11k off list plus the $2k discount offer. I was lucky enough to sell my '01 to a buddy for $16k. Trading was not an option. Seems that's when the dealer considers your rig as a POS.

 

[AlFischer]

I doubt he considered it a POS. Just wanted to convince ME that it was a POS! Didn't work. I really didn't want to deal with trying to sell it myself. the economy here is really bad and we live about 20 miles out of town and nobody wants to come this far. Even hard to get a contractor to come for work. Strange mindset. But THAT'S Fresno.

I figure the truck was worth more but I was tired of getting beat up by the suspension and deafened by the noise. Getting old and soft! Besides I wanted a NEW RAM!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I have found that new Ram disease is pretty easy to cure. It takes about $50k to do it, lol.

 

[Dieselnerd]

I have found that new Ram disease is pretty easy to cure. It takes about $50k to do it, lol.

Yeah, big bucks but I wouldn't go back even if I could. I've had mine about 6 weeks and I still can't stop smiling!

 

[Ram4Sam]

Ram4, I haven't seen such good discounts on leftovers before. You can get a 2013 for around 10k under list. If you need help, I can check inventory for you to help you find what you want.

Joe, I thought you might say that......Thanks for the offer, it sounds so good but unfortunately my wife has some very serious long term health issues that must be dealt with right now. Hopefully, this kind of discounting will happen again with the 2014's when the 2015's come out.

Sam