Ram1500 EcoDiesel V6 revealed!

[Renze]

Presumes an operator that knows what to do, but I thought of it when you mentioned the tail-wagging-the-dog situation.

At my previous employer we also built haywagon style highway trailers, with the first axle mounted under a slewing ring. That eliminates all wagging and you never have to worry about weight distribution (you dont need tongue weight) but with most vehicles available in Europe that are allowed to pull a heavier trailer ( vans and jeeps) you dont see a darned thing of the trailer when backing it up.

 

[3930dave]

At my previous employer we also built haywagon style highway trailers, with the first axle mounted under a slewing ring. That eliminates all wagging and you never have to worry about weight distribution (you dont need tongue weight) but with most vehicles available in Europe that are allowed to pull a heavier trailer ( vans and jeeps) you dont see a darned thing of the trailer when backing it up.

Some of the most desireable trailers I've come across were hay-wagons that tracked well at high speed. Funny you mention that.... I was thinking of that type of layout recently.

Am I picturing this correctly, the slewing ring/bearing allowed you to use a solid front axle with no steering knuckles ?

Rgds, D.

 

[Renze]

Am I picturing this correctly, the slewing ring/bearing allowed you to use a solid front axle with no steering knuckles ?

Yes. My previous employer developed a lever system which transferred the surge brake action by levers that touched in the center of the slewing ring in a vertical movement so the brake action was independent of the slewing ring steering angle in 1986, when the law was changed so that small drivers license trailers were allowed as two axle (as opposed to mid mounted tandem) Axle manufacturer Knott later took this idea into production because it worked better with pullrods than with long bowden cables, because standard brake springs werent strong enough to pull multiple bowdens back after the brake is released.

This is the website of my previous employer with a three axle wagon style. (he started again as a one man business after the bankruptcy)
http://www.do-wa.nl/multi-transporter.html

 

[dhagood]

saw a youtube clip of a ram trucks guy stating that the 2014 ram 1500 ecodiesel engine will be a $2850 price premium over the 5.7 hemi gas engine. it will be very interesting to see what the epa fuel mileage and the towing specifications turn out to be. the spokesman also stated that the v6 diesel is mated to the 8 speed automatic. here's hoping the engine proves to be reliable...

 

[jejeosborne]

Here is one of its first test drives. Lots of torque but too little HP even with the quick 8-speed to return a good 0-60 time.


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lPGECr...op_uri=/watch?v=lPGECrBvnS4&feature=youtu.be#

 

[dhagood]

from the video, the laramie longhorn edition with the 3 liter diesel is $55,205. for a 1/2 ton pickup truck. i have absolutely no interest in anybody's pickup truck at that price, regardless of how much leather is in the interior or what fuel the engine uses. that's just ridiculous, and all the pickup truck manufacturer's are guilty of this nonsense.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I wonder how it will sell when Nissan and Toyota have diesels with 100 more HP and Ft Tq? Might be a tough sell.

Chris

 

[94BULLITT]

I bet the Hemi will out tow the diesel.

 

[3930dave]

from the video, the laramie longhorn edition with the 3 liter diesel is $55,205. for a 1/2 ton pickup truck. i have absolutely no interest in anybody's pickup truck at that price, regardless of how much leather is in the interior or what fuel the engine uses. that's just ridiculous, and all the pickup truck manufacturer's are guilty of this nonsense.

Many of us who hold a vehicle longer than 3 years are not impressed with all the bling and high cost associated with North American light trucks.

Most of the rest of the world has access to basic work oriented light trucks, diesel powered. Jason started a great thread a while back:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/288903-compact-diesel-trucks-we-cant.html

I'd be taking a serious look at any of those Nissan, Toyota, and VW offerings if we had them here. Not discussed in that thread, but also performing well in non N. American markets is the current Ford Ranger diesel.

I want to see all new diesel offerings do well in North America, as it's high time we made better use of them. I hope this Ram does well, and that they get their pricing back in line with what they were originally talking about. Longhorn is probably part of the spec/price problem. Last I heard (USA may be different), Canadian customers will be able to get this diesel in the base truck.

Rgds, D.

 

[Monster5601]

Here is one of its first test drives. Lots of torque but too little HP even with the quick 8-speed to return a good 0-60 time.


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lPGECr...op_uri=/watch?v=lPGECrBvnS4&feature=youtu.be#

Keep in mind it is being billed as ECO. If I was shopping for a diesel, 0 to 60 times would not be in my top ten wants. I would be more interested in its towing abilities in stop and go traffic, the type of driving a contractor would being doing with and without a tow load.

The same powertrain in the Grand Cherokee has a 30 MPG rating, I believe my son told me that was combined mileage .