Dodge ram

[greif]

I am thinking about getting a new ram 1500, deals are great right now. What are goods and bads about them as I have never had a Dodge.
Any advice about undercoating them?
Thanks

 

[Monster5601]

I've got a 2013 1500 Laramie, so far problem free with 60,000 miles. I replaced my 2003 Tahoe (300,000 miles) with the RAM. The Tahoe was also trouble free outside of wearing out parts due to the milage. As far as good and bad, nothing stands out over a Ford or GM outside of the interior. I think, and it is subjective, the RAM's interior and comfort exceeds the others.

I've never undercoated my vehicles and see no reason to do so. Driving in Michigan where salt is used on the roads, I've worn out the trucks before corrosion claimed them.

 

[mcfarmall]

I'm not sold on the idea of coil spring rear suspension vs. leaf spring. For towing and heavy payloads, I think leaf springs are better "for the long haul." I had a '95 Ram 1500 and had to replace the tranny @ 122,000 but other than that it was a "Dependable Dodge."

Undercoating? In Wisconsin as in Michigan, your truck will rot fast anyway with or without undercoating. I think undercoating will provide more sound deadening benefits than corrosion protection.

 

[rhunt]

The Dodge name no longer appears on the Ram trucks, only Ram. Bob

 

[greif]

Thanks guys
I know the old ones rotted out fast around the rear wheel wells but I have a bunch of co-workers that have this newer model and say that is not a problem anymore. I am in Wisconsin and My 98 gmc just started rusting about 2 years ago. But I keep vehicles long so would want corrosion protection.
A co-worker said with the hemi you are supposed to run mid grade gas in them, is that true? Although here mid grade is cheaper then regular since it is 15 percent alcohol
My hardest part is spending that much money.

 

[Msamt]

I have a 2014 Ram 1500 big horn 4x4 v6 with 55k on it. It replaced a 2010 chevy Silverado 1500 4x4 with the v8.
Goods - ride with rear coil springs is far superior to the leaf springs on the chevy, fuel economy is outstanding (21mpg around town, 24 on the highway), the radio, Bluetooth, gps, and customizable displays blow away the chevy (when it works -see bads), the front/rear park assist and camera are impeccable, and make parking/maneuvering a breeze, outward visibility is also fantastic and a bit bette than the chevy.
Bads - Dealer support in my area sucks, and when there are issues I have to drive 40 miles south to have a competent shop service it. Gps has been inoperative and unable to locate my position since the vehicle was in warranty, the dealer and manufacturers solution was to wait for new software, for a year. When the new software was available and pushed over the air to my truck it didn't fix the problem and made it worse. So now the truck is out of warranty, the manufacturer says it is covered but the dealer who sold the vehicle won't touch it. The next dealer (40 miles away) will fix it, but I have to pay them and be reimbursed by the manufacturer. This tells me the dealers have a problem getting paid by fiat. Since the place that sold me the vehicle has a 2 star rating on yelp and dealer rater, and changes personnel every day I'm not surprised, but having a warranty problem that a dealer won't fix and earn their keep as a middleman between a consumer and a manufacturer shows ram is not going to ever make it while their dealer network is so poor. I can't even get fiat customer service to give me the contact information for the area rep who is an employee of fiat, so again it shows they have huge problems.
This is my 1st 1500, but I've had 3 dakotas previously, never had a problem.
I do think this will be my last Ram, it's just too hard to get things taken care of, I do think it's a better truck, but my Silverado had zero problems in 100k miles, but my service experience with the chevy dealers was always so much better than Ram.
MT

 

[greif]

Wow you get 21 in the city, sticker shows 16 city for v6

 

[prichard]

I have a 2016 1500 hemi and love it. Mileage not great about 19, but that's a big v8 so maybe not so bad. Ride and ride noise are outstanding. Doesn't seem to matter if empty, loaded need or trailer always smooth. It never has that light rear end feel that pickups often have.

Never had an issue with the GPS.

 

[plowhog]

I believe Dodge is the only manufacturer offering a diesel engine in a 1500 payload. Are you looking at gas or diesel? I have not investigated the Dodge 1500 diesel but it's the first engine I would consider in that truck.

 

[greif]

Gas, originally thought about small diesel but an extra $4500 and that takes a lot of milage to justify the extra charge. Also not too many of those sitting on dealer lots since deals are on 2017's. Saleman said they have seen some of the small desiels coming back in with problems, he was not sure what the problems as he just heard it from service scheduler.

Anyone else have the v6, do you like it? Average mpg?
Thanks

 

[prichard]

A friend of mine loved the power and mileage from the diesel for pulling his travel trailer. His only issues were a stupid dealer. But like you said need lots of miles to pay off.

 

[LouNY]

I have a 2015 RAM Eco Diesel, I've got about 45,000 miles on it.
I like my truck and my overall mpg is around 21-22 mpg, highway it's 24, I've gotten as high as 29 on trips when under 60.
The torque the little engine puts out is fantastic.
I do have one major issue with RAM and the 1500's depending on the trim level the transfer case is different, if it has an auto function on the
transfer case switchs RUN, it is not a conventional type of transfer case it uses an electrically applied clutch to engage the front axle when the computer
tells it to, the rear has to slip or spin before it calls for the front it does not provide engine braking to the front and disengages in park.
It is almost worthless and a safety hazzard as far as I'm concerned, if all you want front wheel assist when a computer thinks you need it, it works.

 

[BigBlue1]

I bought a Ram 1500 4x4 Hemi in mid-2010. It was a wonderful truck for me for 120k+ miles. No real issues that I can recall. Powerful, capable, lots of luxury features. Rode like a car. Pulled a 8500# enclosed trailer through the mountains out west with no issues. Liked it so much I bought another when I decided it was time to part ways with it while it still had good value. Got myself a 2017 Ram 2500 4x4 Hemi now. Every bit as nice as the 1500 except this one doesn't ride like a car. :-( The Hemis are great engines if you can stomach the MPG. I hear they do better now with the 5.7L on the 1500 than back in 2010 due to different transmissions. Heck, the 6.4L in my 2500 gets better than my 2010 did.

My 2010 did start to form a bubble in the paint on one of the rear wheel wells. Was there for 3 years or so and never proceeded beyond a bubble about the size of a pencil eraser. But you know the cancer was in there. That said, the old habits of rusting out bad are way, way better because I hardly ever see a 4th gen Ram (2009+) with anything noticeable (and I tended to look since mine did that little bit).

Rob

 

[greif]

Co-worker told me hemi has dual sparkplugs that needs to be changed every 30k. Is that true?

 

[BigBlue1]

Co-worker told me hemi has dual sparkplugs that needs to be changed every 30k. Is that true?

It does have dual plugs per cylinder. As for change interval, the manual for my 2017 2500, which is listed as covering "1500/2500/3500" models indicates 100,000 mile spark plug change interval for all. Back on my 2010 1500 they wanted you to change the plugs more often (30k?) but most folks went with more like 50,000 mile intervals.

Rob

 

[Zick]

Got a new 2017 1500 Ram Laramie. Just about 3K miles so still pretty new.
Coil spring does give it a nice ride but seems to squat a bit more than other trucks w/ leaf springs. Might just put on some air bags and call it day.
Sounds like your looking for a v6 where I have the v8 and mpg is ok, gets an avg of 16 (mostly 20 miles back/forth to work on 25-60mph roads). Did get around 19mpg on the interstate for a multi hour drive.

So far no issues, just minor quirks like the downshifting when coming to a stop (bumping feeling). Might be a 8-spd tranny, I think the v6's get the 6-spd?
Bed is slightly shorter than other 6-1/2' beds, can't put a 8ft 2x4 in fully at an angle anymore.
Radio is sometimes slow to react when it's really cold (only for about a couple mins).

I'm using fluid film to undercoat for rust. Time will tell how well it works but others swear by it (do have to re-apply each year though).

I was going back and forth between the Ram and F-150. I really wanted an F-150 as I liked the styling, engines, gadgets, and alum body better than the Ram but to get comparable to what I got in the Ram it was going to cost almost 10K more.

I do have one major issue with RAM and the 1500's depending on the trim level the transfer case is different, if it has an auto function on the
transfer case switchs RUN, it is not a conventional type of transfer case it uses an electrically applied clutch to engage the front axle when the computer
tells it to, the rear has to slip or spin before it calls for the front it does not provide engine braking to the front and disengages in park.
It is almost worthless and a safety hazzard as far as I'm concerned, if all you want front wheel assist when a computer thinks you need it, it works.

Mine has the Auto 4wd transfer case. I noticed this truck (if using cruise control) will downshift (a lot on steep grades!) to try and hold the speed.
Are you saying that if I'm using Auto 4wd and cruise and go down a snowy/icy/wet hill that it might still downshift but only apply power to the rear wheel and if they start slipping or whatever that it will not apply power to the front to try and keep the truck under control!?!
What about using the non-auto 4wd function?

 

[BigBlue1]

So far no issues, just minor quirks like the downshifting when coming to a stop (bumping feeling). Might be a 8-spd tranny, I think the v6's get the 6-spd?
Bed is slightly shorter than other 6-1/2' beds, can't put a 8ft 2x4 in fully at an angle anymore.

Does this bump thing happen when your fuel tank is around 3/4 full? Do you have the larger tank? That's a longstanding issue due to problems with baffling in the tank. At roughly 3/4 of a tank it sloshes when you come to a stop and makes a bump feel. Not the transmission.

Rob

 

[Msamt]

Wow you get 21 in the city, sticker shows 16 city for v6

To be fair I have little "city" mostly rural to a small "city" (and no traffic to speak of), and only with summer blend, and driving sensibly. When I don't drive as easy, using the winter blend gas we have up here, more like 18. But again I'm usually driving in the most efficient speed for the vehicle (35-50).

A huge difference on the highway between driving 60-65 and 75-80 and that goes from 24 down to 21-22.

In comparison my 5.3 v8 Silverado (same conditions and habits) got 15 and 19.
MT

 

[Msamt]

Does this bump thing happen when your fuel tank is around 3/4 full? Do you have the larger tank? That's a longstanding issue due to problems with baffling in the tank. At roughly 3/4 of a tank it sloshes when you come to a stop and makes a bump feel. Not the transmission.

Rob

I had the bump, but had the transmission (power control module) reflashed and it went away.
MT

 

[LouNY]

Got a new 2017 1500 Ram Laramie. Just about 3K miles so still pretty new.
Coil spring does give it a nice ride but seems to squat a bit more than other trucks w/ leaf springs. Might just put on some air bags and call it day.
Sounds like your looking for a v6 where I have the v8 and mpg is ok, gets an avg of 16 (mostly 20 miles back/forth to work on 25-60mph roads). Did get around 19mpg on the interstate for a multi hour drive.

So far no issues, just minor quirks like the downshifting when coming to a stop (bumping feeling). Might be a 8-spd tranny, I think the v6's get the 6-spd?
Bed is slightly shorter than other 6-1/2' beds, can't put a 8ft 2x4 in fully at an angle anymore.
Radio is sometimes slow to react when it's really cold (only for about a couple mins).

I'm using fluid film to undercoat for rust. Time will tell how well it works but others swear by it (do have to re-apply each year though).

I was going back and forth between the Ram and F-150. I really wanted an F-150 as I liked the styling, engines, gadgets, and alum body better than the Ram but to get comparable to what I got in the Ram it was going to cost almost 10K more.



Mine has the Auto 4wd transfer case. I noticed this truck (if using cruise control) will downshift (a lot on steep grades!) to try and hold the speed.
Are you saying that if I'm using Auto 4wd and cruise and go down a snowy/icy/wet hill that it might still downshift but only apply power to the rear wheel and if they start slipping or whatever that it will not apply power to the front to try and keep the truck under control!?!
What about using the non-auto 4wd function?

correct, that transfer case will only engage the clutch when the rear wheelspeed exceeds the front, does almost the same in auto 4, high 4 lock and low 4 lock the hi and low lock positions are not locked. To see find a good sized parking lot or a field drive in a circle and engage the auto 4wd, you will not feel and crow hopping or twitching in the steering wheel while doing this go ahead and hit the button for Hi 4 lock it will not change. In fields on wet grass the rear has to spin just a bit before the front end engages and pulls so if its a good sidehill you'll kick down hill a
bit before it'll pull out. I have an extremely steep driveway, I have stopped going up it to pick up limbs or debris when it has been icey or packed snow covered come to a complete stop sitting with the brake on and staying in place, put it in park, release the brake and start to step out and the truck is slidding back down the hill in 2 wd, not a pleasant feeling.