3.21

[Capricious]

"..I don't think your looking at 1/2 ton trucks with Toyota and Nissan..."


Oh, certainly true. The prices on Tundra/Titan make Fords look cheap. Plus around here the dealers have next-to-no selection on those models. I mean, a dealer may have one or two, maybe three at the most, and always "loaded." No, if I am going to be limited to the 6000 lb towing range then I would consider a Frontier.

Concerning Rams, the 8-speed auto trans has been mentioned. What I am seeing is dealers that stock V8's, but in order to lower the price a bit, they get 6-speeds (which are about $1500.00 cheaper than the 8-speed) but then spend the money on "appearance group", "popular equipment group" and "convenience group" packages, which I don't want.

If they would at least get the $50.00 3.55 ratio I could live with the V8 & 6-speed, but the V8/ 6-speed / 3.21 combination is only slightly better than a Frontier with V6, which I can get a bit cheaper.

 

[kevinwak]

".. Concerning Rams, the 8-speed auto trans has been mentioned. What I am seeing is dealers that stock V8's, but in order to lower the price a bit, they get 6-speeds (which are about $1500.00 cheaper than the 8-speed) but then spend the money on "appearance group", "popular equipment group" and "convenience group" packages, which I don't want. If they would at least get the $50.00 3.55 ratio I could live with the V8 & 6-speed, but the V8/ 6-speed / 3.21 combination is only slightly better than a Frontier with V6, which I can get a bit cheaper.

I sure know what you mean here. I was at the local dodge dealer and test drove a Ram 3500 SLT with the cummins. The had about fifteen of the Hd Rams with cummins in stock, but not a single one with the Aisin transmission. I asked why. His answer, "everybody knows it's better, but nobody wants to spend $2000 on a power train option, they would rather have sunroofs, or blackout grills etc"

 

[s219]

When I was shopping last year, Rams fell off the list simply because all the crew cab models I saw on lots were duded up and cost $60K or more (and without exception, they all had the tiny bed which is worthless to me). They didn't have any equipped the way I wanted and I wasn't going to order one sight-unseen. I passed on Toyota because of the poor gas mileage. At the time Nissan hadn't introduced their new truck and their offerings were very stale. It came down to Ford and GM. I had previously been leaning to Fords, but the GM model refresh put them ahead in a few areas I cared about, and I ended up with a GMC as it was a little nicer equipped than Chevy at equivalent trim levels.

I wouldn't be concerned about the new 2015 F-150 at all -- the aluminum is a non-issue to me. To me it should be on the shopping list of anyone in the market for a 1/2-ton. The new Nissan looks like a winner too. I might still go with GMC if I had to shop all over again, a year later, but these other two would be on my short list.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I sure know what you mean here. I was at the local dodge dealer and test drove a Ram 3500 SLT with the cummins. The had about fifteen of the Hd Rams with cummins in stock, but not a single one with the Aisin transmission. I asked why. His answer, "everybody knows it's better, but nobody wants to spend $2000 on a power train option, they would rather have sunroofs, or blackout grills etc"

I wouldn't own a Dodge without a Aisin Transmission. Had a 2500 that ate transmissions like candy.

Chris

 

[Copperhead]

I couldn't justify diesel, and I really despised the 2013 Silverado 1500 I had with 3.42 and the 5.3L. And all the AFM cylinder shutdown stuff they have going on that, if it decides to act up, can be a real problem. I just finally decided to ditch the 1/2 ton idea and go with 3/4 ton. Prices are similar anyway. I got a 2015 2500HD with the 6.0L gas. That motor has an outstanding track record for durability and reliability and the 6L90 6 speed behind it has shift points much better to my liking than the 1500 did. I don't pull that often, but I needed a little more hauling capacity than the 1/2 ton pickups. And the 6.0L in this pickup is no slouch. It snapped a knot in the 6.4L 8 spd Ram 3/4 ton on the Ike Gauntlet pull test. It beat the Ram up the mountain by over a minute. And the Ram had 60 more HP and 50 more lb of torque! The Chevy 2500HD 6.0L took the Golden Hitch Award for the best pulling gas 3/4 ton. Yeah, I eat a little on mpg, but mine isn't that bad. I get around 16 mpg on road trips, empty, and overall 13 mpg for all miles including hauling, gravel roads, off road, highway, etc.

Selection Process: 2015 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD 6.0L Wins Gold Hitch Award [Video] - Truck News, Views and Real World Reviews

 

[kevinwak]

I wouldn't own a Dodge without a Aisin Transmission. Had a 2500 that ate transmissions like candy. Chris

exactly why is was frustrated and surprised. In our area it is some foolish status symbol to have a fully loaded diesel with a lift and custom rims. When I buy a truck it will be basic in the cab, the only option I need there is crew cab and Bluetooth phone capabilities. But power train wise I will by the stoutest offering of whatever truck I decide on. The decision hasn't even been close to being made, driving the ram was the first stop on a long list.

The trucks on my list are:
F150 ecoboost max tow max payload
Ram 3500 cummins and Aisin
Chevy 2500 or 3500 with the duramax
Ford F-350 diesel
Ford F 250 gas
Toyota Tundra with cummins diesel, if it ever is released.

 

[Monster5601]

I wouldn't own a Dodge without a Aisin Transmission. Had a 2500 that ate transmissions like candy.

Chris

What year, how many transmission, and what was the cause of failure for each?

 

[Diamondpilot]

What year, how many transmission, and what was the cause of failure for each?

2003 2500 Ram. 1st time would not shift into reverse. 2nd time it slipped boiling the tranny fluid out the dipstick tube. Traded it at 68,000 miles on a 2004 F250 with it slipping again.

Chris

 

[Kryton619]

Haha....saw the title 3.21 and I immediately thought of my old 100 gram bar.

 

[Fordman1981]

2003 2500 Ram. 1st time would not shift into reverse. 2nd time it slipped boiling the tranny fluid out the dipstick tube. Traded it at 68,000 miles on a 2004 F250 with it slipping again. Chris

We have a 2003 Ram 2500 on the farm that is still running strong not a single issue and not one spec of rust. It's spent its whole life in Iowa. It amazes me you have one truck that seems to have been a lemon and you write them off completely. I've had far more issues with many more fords than you did with your one ram.