Ram1500 EcoDiesel V6 revealed!

[fordmantpw]

I get that. I'm just saying most my weight is towed not loaded in the bed so at 450# payload ( tongue weight) still gets me 4500# of cargo down the road. I try and not get caught up in the pointy head numbers game.

It's not a 'pointy head numbers game', but a true look at the numbers. The tow rating is 8200 lbs, but the max payload is 490. How many folks are going to buy the truck thinking they can tow 8200 lbs, but be way overweight on the truck. Now, all manufactures do that to a certain extent, but I haven't see such a pitiful payload rating in a half ton before.

Heck, I stopped at the store and picked up 200 lbs of salt for the water softener on Saturday. With my wife, my 3 kids, and myself, we would have had that Ram overloaded. Just stop and think about that for a minute. 2 adults, 3 kids (the oldest is 10) and 5 bags of salt and this mighty half ton that can tow 8200 lbs is over loaded. That's just crazy! And that's not counting the 1000 lbs of wood pellets I had in the back as well.

 

[jejeosborne]

I get that. I'm just saying most my weight is towed not loaded in the bed so at 450# payload ( tongue weight) still gets me 4500# of cargo down the road. I try and not get caught up in the pointy head numbers game.

Not trying to be "pointy" but I got a sense you didn't understand payload ratings. In your example you would have to weigh 0 pounds as the driver or have a bunch of helium balloons in the cab and bed to offset your actual weight.

 

[jejeosborne]

Am I the only one who finds it strange that someone would defend a 490 pound payload capacity? I am hopefull that someone miscalculated or misquoted this value. I find it unbelievable and rediculous if true.

 

[MikePA]

Am I the only one who finds it strange that someone would defend a 490 pound payload capacity?

Nope, you're not. The only thing I can conclude is Dodge wants to corner the 'full sized, 1/4 ton' pickup market.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I don't know the last time I put big weight in the bed of my trucks. If I haul big weight its on a trailer. YMMV but this is my experience anyways.

Well, even with some of these Rams you can't do that. Remember you need 10 percent of your trailers wait on the ball. With many of the Rams that leaves you less than 5000 pounds for trailer and load. Pretty pathetic.

Chris

 

[Renze]

Nope, you're not. The only thing I can conclude is Dodge wants to corner the 'full sized, 1/4 ton' pickup market.

I dont see the point in a "full size" half ton pickup anyways. Here in Europe a compact commercial van already has 2000lbs payload capacity, at triple the fuel economy... What you guys would call a "compact" pickup like the Isuzu Dmax already has a 3.5 ton/7700 pounds towing capacity.... I said it before, this "ecodiesel" belongs in a Tacoma or Colorado or Ranger, with improved undercarriage up to par with their equivalents in Europe and Japan. Forget about the half ton "full size" truck altogether, the European equivalent (Mercedes sprinter 3 series, if they had imported it to the USA it would have been the 1500 Ram Sprinter but they were wise enough to dont) also is a useless thing, the soft suspension gives a sloppy ride in windy weather with a vehicle this size, it cant take any cargo but it does need the fuel to move...

 

[Fordman1981]

Well, even with some of these Rams you can't do that. Remember you need 10 percent of your trailers wait on the ball. With many of the Rams that leaves you less than 5000 pounds for trailer and load. Pretty pathetic. Chris

I just don't see the numbers in the article being correct. How can they claim an 8200 lb towing capacity without the payload to do so? I don't think the engineers designing the truck don't know about tongue weight. My hope for RAM is the Eco diesel is a big enough seller and there is enough demand for it that they increase the 1500's payload and towing. It can be done with coil springs. Either by air bags like on the 2014 2500 and 3500 to keep the comfortable ride or by putting bigger, stronger, stiffer coils in. Fiat is investing quite a bit if money in the ram lineup and I think they will get it right eventually in the 1500. Look at the ram hd's they are the strongest being produced right now.

 

[fordmantpw]

I just don't see the numbers in the article being correct. How can they claim an 8200 lb towing capacity without the payload to do so? I don't think the engineers designing the truck don't know about tongue weight. My hope for RAM is the Eco diesel is a big enough seller and there is enough demand for it that they increase the 1500's payload and towing. It can be done with coil springs. Either by air bags like on the 2014 2500 and 3500 to keep the comfortable ride or by putting bigger, stronger, stiffer coils in. Fiat is investing quite a bit if money in the ram lineup and I think they will get it right eventually in the 1500. Look at the ram hd's they are the strongest being produced right now.

They all claim towing capabilities that payload can't support. Usually not as bad as the Ram though. And the Ram with 490 lbs of payload already has the air suspension.

 

[Fordman1981]

They all claim towing capabilities that payload can't support. Usually not as bad as the Ram though. And the Ram with 490 lbs of payload already has the air suspension.

It doesn't have the right air suspension. The one on the 1500 is for ride not hauling or towing. This is proven by the payload and towing being less on all the air bag equipped 1500's. They have a great power train a great interior. Now they need to redesign or address the payload and towing of the 1500's. They just got done making major changes to the HD lineup. If ram would improve the payload and towing of the 1500 there is not a half ton that could touch them right now. However saying that I would not go the route of the F150. Over 10,000 lbs towing on a half ton is too much. Just give the ram 1500 a good payload a tow rating of 10,000 lbs and you're set. This is in another thread but when the big 3 adopt the standards for tow ratings I think the f150's rating will drop quite a bit.

 

[Diamondpilot]

They all claim towing capabilities that payload can't support. Usually not as bad as the Ram though. And the Ram with 490 lbs of payload already has the air suspension.

Who is they all? I know for a fact the F150, Tundra, and Titan all have enough.

Not sure about GM, don't pay any attention. Ram is the only ones with this issue.

Chris