So I Went and Test Drove a 4Th Gen...

[Wingate]

I've been having that "itch" for something new recently... .

I stopped at the local dealership and climbed into a new 2011 Ram 2500 4x4 Laramie Longhorn.

First impressions, WOW. . the interior is absolutely stunning! heated AND COOLED seats!!!. . buttons, switches, touch screens, cameras for hooking to trailers. . , exhasut brake, intergrated brake controller, and it has the badge on the tailgate to let everybody know it was an 800 engine... window sticker was $60,945. . If that gives any idea of how loaded it was.

Things that concern me and that the salesman had no clue how to answer. .

Front suspension, is the steering/Death Wobble issue remedied on the new trucks? I realize that it has the updated stuff that my truck got, but some trucks experienced DW even after the update, so is it fixed?

The HVAC doors, do they still fall off/break??? A/C compressors, do they still grenade with low miles? Rear door wiring? Steering boxes?

Basically, all the incomplete/incompetent designed 3rd gen stuff, did Dodge actually correct the problems, or just put it in a new wrapper???

 

[AEdelheit]

I know a guy with a 2011 that has DW so its not "fixed". But, its also not the black and white. I have never seen a case of DW that couldnt be fixed and it will allways be a possibility on any vehicle especially with a solid front axle and coil springs, just how the geometry works. I do know the steering gearbox shaft is larger but dont know if there failure rate has decreased.

 

[Wingate]

Thats true... its not simply fixed... but it seems that the Dodges have always been more prone to it with fewer miles/less wear on the suspension.

I really don't like the fuel mileage penalty, but, for the extra power and interior comforts, some trade-offs could be made. I don't drive my current truck very much, and this one would be no different... . about 6K a year...

 

[RustyJC]

Thats true... its not simply fixed... but it seems that the Dodges have always been more prone to it with fewer miles/less wear on the suspension.

I really don't like the fuel mileage penalty, but, for the extra power and interior comforts, some trade-offs could be made. I don't drive my current truck very much, and this one would be no different... . about 6K a year...

With a 2WD, death wobble is a non-issue for us. We put about 6K miles a year towing our 5th wheel on our trucks, and the 2011 has been great. It's only been back to the dealer for routine service since we've owned it.



Rusty

 

[AEdelheit]

Hmmm, I want to say that it IS technically possible to have DW on a 2wd IFS just very very rare, I think! As far as the Dodges being more prone to it I honestly believe it comes down to poor quality control from the factory on front end components like Ball Joints, steering, steering stabilizers, unit bearings and such. Its usually something fairly simple to solve even though the dealers seem to struggle with it, so Yes you may have to upgrade a few part prematurely but I guess thats the price to pay for the Cummins. I have heard the new Fords DW issues as well

 

[RustyJC]

Hmmm, I want to say that it IS technically possible to have DW on a 2wd IFS just very very rare, I think!

Yes, it's possible to have caster wobble on an IFS, but it's extremely rare. I've been driving 2WD Dodge duallies since 1996 and have never had a death wobble problem.



Rusty

 

[AH64ID]

I have nothing to do this weekend, so will be "shopping"...

As far as DW it amazes me how some trucks have it and some don't. I am on my 3rd set of different tires, to include the deraded BFG brand and have never had a hint of poor steering, in fact it's as good or better than any IFS truck I have owned. I have also had a 2" or 1" level on it since day 1.

 

[LBARTLETT]

my son just bought a 11' crew cab 4X4, I haven't ridden in it, I'm afraid to. I did sit in an 11' yesterday and it made me want to drive it but I was afraid to. People have told me if you drive one you'll want one!!!



son is getting 13. 5 mpg on his new truck, my wife is on a trip and just sent me a text she got 14. 6 mpg with our 08 stock megacab with 98k miles.



I'm keeping my 06' 2-wheel drive dually. It's a consistent 17. 5 to 19 mpg on the highway.



Sure wish I had the 11' seats!!!

 

[mhsmith57]

Went in for my oil change on my (bought used) 2005 3/4 ton 2wd QC 3. 73 G56 transmission with 81K, and while I waited, drove the new '11 2wd mega cab 2500 w/ the "800" torque monster in it. What a sweet ride, all the bells & whistles except the DVD in the back cab. It was the Laramie Longhorn edition. Drove like a big sedan. They were running a special, only $42,400 for this truck, listed like $58+. It was also my first time driving the auto 6-spd; effortless and smooth. I was at 73mph and the tac was around 1700... probably had the 3. 54 rear end.

All said and done, if I was looking for a new rig, I would most definitely buy the new Ram. But I still owe $8K on my '05 and I'll keep it. It pulls our 34' 5er (14K lb max) just fine and it will be paid off soon. Glad to see Dodge building and competing with the other 2 US big truck manufacturers. Isn't capitalism great!

Mark

 

[MisterBean]

Well, this week I finally experienced DW for myself. At work, driving a Furd F-250 SuperCrew 4X4 at probably THE worst possible time... While responding to an emergency, running lights and siren, on a flat, straight-away accelerating hard at about 50mph, it hit and it hit HARD!!! HOLY CRAP!!! I had to totally back-off the throttle completely and slow to about 30mph before it would stop. Finally, it subsided and I was able to kick it back in the bulls and get there! SCARED THE CRAP OUTTA ME!!! REALLY hoping to NEVER have to experience this on my CTD!!!

 

[gtoli]

I've experianced DW on my Scout II, certainly not something you forget!

 

[Bill Stockard]

Yes, it's possible to have caster wobble on an IFS, but it's extremely rare. I've been driving 2WD Dodge duallies since 1996 and have never had a death wobble problem.



Rusty

Yep, I too have been driving 2-wheel drive Dodge CTD duallies since '92 and never a hint of the death wobble.



Bill

 

[Wingate]

so what about the HVAC system... the dreaded blend doors... ???

 

[Wingate]

son is getting 13. 5 mpg on his new truck, my wife is on a trip and just sent me a text she got 14. 6 mpg with our 08 stock megacab with 98k miles.



I'm keeping my 06' 2-wheel drive dually. It's a consistent 17. 5 to 19 mpg on the highway.



Sure wish I had the 11' seats!!!

13. 5 vs. 19 on my 06 model... . man thats a hit. .

The seats in the 3rd gens really leave alot of room for improvement... I would LOVE to have the Longhorn interior in my 06 as well...

 

[Wingate]

and it will be paid off soon.

"paid for" is so nice. . Thats another issue I am dealing with... my truck has been paid for several years. The idea of actually going back to making payments is something else that has to be considered.

 

[RustyJC]

I'm keeping my 06' 2-wheel drive dually. It's a consistent 17. 5 to 19 mpg on the highway.

My 2002 2WD dually got about 17 MPG running empty at 75 MPH on the Interstate with the NV5600 and 4. 10 gears. The 2011 2WD dually gets about 16. 5 MPG with the double overdrive 68RFE and 4. 10 gears. Considering all the emissions gear on the 2011, I can live with a loss of 0. 5 MPG - that's about the same difference I see between the 2 trucks when towing our 16K lb GVWR 5th wheel RV as well.



Rusty

 

[bheiting]

My '07 is still worth what I paid for it (or close to it) new - the '08s had just come out. How often does that happen? The pre '08 tow in death wobble problem is not supposed to happen on the new ones. I wouldn't drive off the dealer lot without having the front end aligned. No American manufacturer seems to spent the time to do it right at the factory. I noticed in the winter if I start the truck with the defrost on, once in a while there is a hell of a bang when the A/C clutch engages. It hasn't blown up yet, but now I turn the fan off before starting. The new front end looks cheap to me compared to the 3rd gens, but the interiors are beautiful. Guess you'll have to decide whether the power, lower mileage, quiet, & bells and whistles are worth it.

 

[AEdelheit]

The pre '08 tow in death wobble problem is not supposed to happen on the new ones.

Eh, the whole 08+ steering didnint really help much with DW, Ive seen the new style steering DW just as much as the older style and the older style didint have near the recalls and issues with tie rod ends breaking that the new ones have.

 

[Regcabguy]

Eh, the whole 08+ steering didnint really help much with DW, Ive seen the new style steering DW just as much as the older style and the older style didint have near the recalls and issues with tie rod ends breaking that the new ones have.

I'm inclined to agree with you. Don told me the '08. 5 upgrade was not a fix,just an improvement with the fixed toe-in especially with my camper. My friend's got an '05 w/85K and never experienced the dw. I told him to just buy the tre's and keep the old one.

 

[Wingate]

My '07 is still worth what I paid for it (or close to it) new - the '08s had just come out. How often does that happen? The new front end looks cheap to me compared to the 3rd gens, but the interiors are beautiful. Guess you'll have to decide whether the power, lower mileage, quiet, & bells and whistles are worth it.

Its funny you mention that, the dealer I stopped at seemed to be more interested in my truck than I was about their truck... Had the salesman, the used car manager, and the new truck sales manager all three asking if I was interested in selling it/trading it in...

I jokingly explained to them that the original window sticker was in the glovebox, and I was offering a 5K rebate if they purchased today. .



I think I have about decided to just keep my truck... Think I'm gonna get back into fixing it up. . maybe a little more power, go ahead and build up the trans, and do something with the cloth interior. .