Ordered a 2022 Ram 2500

[Monster5601]

Yeah but that's a pre-EPA screw-up Cummins. The 07+ diesels, regardless of brand, are getting 9-12 MPG towing.

I can't speak for all brands of diesel pickups but in 2013, the RAM Cummins combo removed all emissions (except EGR) from the engine and into the exhaust system. I have a 2015 3500 that routinely pulls a Montanna 3790RD fifth wheel RV, it comes in around 16,000 pounds wet. My fuel mileage can vary based on terrestrial conditions and wind loading, but getting 14 to 16 on flat wind calm days is common. The worst I ever got was 9 MPG driving into 30 MPH headwinds.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Let's get back on track here and discuss truck purchasing.

As I mentioned previously in the thread, I have two vehicles on order with no prospects of getting either anytime soon. The salesman I deal with is a nice guy. Since the factory allocates just so many new vehicles per dealership, he suggested I place "stock" orders for the same vehicles at other dealerships as well. A stock order means I am under no obligation to buy if and when the truck arrives.

I've been listening to all the dealerships in my city advertising pictures of new vehicles with phrases like "lowest prices guaranteed" and "huge inventory". I decided to take the salesman's advice and visited two other dealerships with the idea of placing orders there as well.

At both locations, I was told no new orders were being accepted. The "huge inventory" turned out to be used vehicles, some of which were 7 years old and of different brands! I got the sales pitch to buy used and "save" from both salesmen! To me, this is just bait and switch advertising.

It appears dealerships are turning into used car lots these days.

*** UPDATE***

I just received an email from GM that my 2022 GMC Sierra AT4 has been accepted for production. Delivery is estimated to be late spring. I'm optimistic that my 2 year search for a new truck may be near an end.

I should add that I probably could have found a truck earlier but I was very specific about the options I ordered. Unfortunately, many were affected by the chip shortage.

 

[BigBlue1]

*** UPDATE***

I just received an email from GM that my 2022 GMC Sierra AT4 has been accepted for production. Delivery is estimated to be late spring. I'm optimistic that my 2 year search for a new truck may be near an end.

I should add that I probably could have found a truck earlier but I was very specific about the options I ordered. Unfortunately, many were affected by the chip shortage.

Are there any 'normal' features that they have discontinued due to the chip shortage on your model? I've read that some manufacturers are reducing features to conserve chips.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Are there any 'normal' features that they have discontinued due to the chip shortage on your model? I've read that some manufacturers are reducing features to conserve chips.

About 6 months ago, the dealer called and said GM could build the truck I ordered if I deleted the heated seats, head up display, adaptive cruise control, advanced navigation package and a couple of other options. He said some, but not all could be added later when parts became available. The head up display, adaptive cruise control, and a couple of others which I really want, could not be retrofitted however so I declined.

The dealer said the the truck can now be built and / or retrofitted, with ALL the options I want. I paid a $100 fee to "reserve" the truck but it is refundable if I don't like what is delivered. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[BigBlue1]

Thanks. Most of that I could live without, but not heated seats (in MN!). Nice that you can now get what you want.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Thanks. Most of that I could live without, but not heated seats (in MN!). Nice that you can now get what you want.

I suppose I could do without them as well but at my age, since I tend to keep my vehicles a long time, this could be the last truck I buy. I've always wanted one with all the bells & whistles so it could be my last chance.

 

[Monster5601]

It seems to me ordering a new vehicle equipped with the feature you want is a duck shoot. Close to me is an old arena filled to the gills with GM pickups, so are the extended parking lots at Bishop airport in Flint, MI, stuffed with vehicles waiting on modules. I hear there same about Fords albeit not to the extent of GM.

So in November, I ordered a new RAM 1500, eight weeks later I'm driving it. What got me was ordering the options I wanted, like adaptive cruise and blind stop detection. The trim level came with heated/vented seating, heated steering wheel, etc. In order to get any options, I had to get them all in what RAM called their Level 1 Package and it included;

Adaptive Cruise Control w/Stop & Go
Surround View Camera System
Blind Spot & Cross Path Detection
Parallel & Perp Park Assist
LED CHMSL Lamp
Uconnect 5 Nav w/12.0" Display
Wireless Charging Pad
Ventilated Rear Seats
Pedestrian Emergency Braking
harman/kardon 19 Speaker Premium Sound
Power Running Boards
Head Up Display
Tailgate Ajar Warning Lamp
Auto Dim Exterior Passenger Mirror
Digital Rearview Mirror
Lane Keep Assist

All this came at a hefty price of $6,400 for the Level 1 option package. With all this technology, RAM was able to build and deliver the truck in 8 weeks (I live close to where it is assembled so no transport time). Why can't Ford and GM do the same? At least RAM didn't force me to take a sunroof.

 

[Blue Mule]

About 6 months ago, the dealer called and said GM could build the truck I ordered if I deleted the heated seats, head up display, adaptive cruise control, advanced navigation package and a couple of other options. He said some, but not all could be added later when parts became available. The head up display, adaptive cruise control, and a couple of others which I really want, could not be retrofitted however so I declined.

The dealer said the the truck can now be built and / or retrofitted, with ALL the options I want. I paid a $100 fee to "reserve" the truck but it is refundable if I don't like what is delivered. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

If they can build it at the factory, go for it. I would not rely on a retrofit. Those options would be very difficult to install at the dealership. Heating element in the seats, radar equipment in the front end, cameras and sensors around the vehicle, all the associated wiring and programming.... yeah the dealership isn't going to take that on. Not worth it.

 

[bdhsfz6]

If they can build it at the factory, go for it. I would not rely on a retrofit. Those options would be very difficult to install at the dealership. Heating element in the seats, radar equipment in the front end, cameras and sensors around the vehicle, all the associated wiring and programming.... yeah the dealership isn't going to take that on. Not worth it.

That's exactly why I decided to wait. Luckily, my existing 2012 Sierra 2500HD is running fine so I'm not in a great rush to get a new one.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I still pretty much live my 2022 Limited Longhorn.... but I'm itching to order a 2023!View attachment 734568

 

[bdhsfz6]

Re-reading a few posts in this thread has made me wonder if I'm making a mistake by trading my Sierra 2500HD 4WD for a Sierra 1500 4WD. I've never owned a 1/2 ton pickup before or one without 4WD. All six of my previous trucks were 3/4 ton.

I figure since I no longer plow snow or haul a 12K trailer, I have no further need for a 3/4 ton truck. I still haul an 8K trailer and need 4WD for the hills on my land but most of the time, I use the truck for hauling light loads on long distance trips.

I was lucky to get 14 mpg with the 2500 and the ride was quite harsh. I'm hoping the 1500 will get slightly better mileage with a considerably smoother ride.

An I missing something? Any thoughts?

 

[dodge man]

I own a 2017 F150, 5.0 v8. I’ve checked the mpg meter a couple of times, it’s within 0.5 mpg. It’s showing 19 mpg now. It’s gone as low a 17 mpg and as high as 24 mpg depending on circumstances. I probably average about 18.

The most I’ve towed is about 5000 pounds, it does fine with that. I have a little over 1900 pounds of payload, which is more than some older 3/4 ton trucks. Unless you are towing big, you’ll be happy with a 1/2 ton, just don’t get one with low payload numbers.

 

[BigBlue1]

Re-reading a few posts in this thread has made me wonder if I'm making a mistake by trading my Sierra 2500HD 4WD for a Sierra 1500 4WD. I've never owned a 1/2 ton pickup before or one without 4WD. All six of my previous trucks were 3/4 ton.

I figure since I no longer plow snow or haul a 12K trailer, I have no further need for a 3/4 ton truck. I still haul an 8K trailer and need 4WD for the hills on my land but most of the time, I use the truck for hauling light loads on long distance trips.

I was lucky to get 14 mpg with the 2500 and the ride was quite harsh. I'm hoping the 1500 will get slightly better mileage with a considerably smoother ride.

An I missing something? Any thoughts?

For sure you'll have a smoother ride with a 1/2 ton. I know moving from my Ram 1500 to 2500 was a harsher ride.

 

[deserteagle71]

Re-reading a few posts in this thread has made me wonder if I'm making a mistake by trading my Sierra 2500HD 4WD for a Sierra 1500 4WD. I've never owned a 1/2 ton pickup before or one without 4WD. All six of my previous trucks were 3/4 ton.

I figure since I no longer plow snow or haul a 12K trailer, I have no further need for a 3/4 ton truck. I still haul an 8K trailer and need 4WD for the hills on my land but most of the time, I use the truck for hauling light loads on long distance trips.

I was lucky to get 14 mpg with the 2500 and the ride was quite harsh. I'm hoping the 1500 will get slightly better mileage with a considerably smoother ride.

An I missing something? Any thoughts?

As stated above, make sure whatever you buy has the payload capacity you need. There should be a door sticker stating the capacity that you can look at. The sticker on my F150 says 1937 lbs or nearly a ton, and to me the truck rides really nice. But some of the really nice riding pickups ride on coil springs or air and the payload sticker on those is often less than 1000 lbs.

 

[Bearsixty7]

How smooth a ride do you need in a pickup??
Our 2019 F350 CC rides so much smoother than my 2006 F350 CC did and it rode so much better than my 2002 F250 SC did and that was night and day better than my old 97 F250 SC! All were Powerstroke longbed 4x4's.
I would think all 3/4 and 1 tons today ride as good as 1/2 tons from 15-20 years ago and modern day 1/2 tons' ride like Cadillac's or hovercrafts!
Honestly, our 2019 F350 almost rides too soft, since usually when we drive/use it, its pulling a trailer or hauling something and it squats in the rear much more than my '06 did. Airbags are on my wish list for it someday.

 

[BigBlue1]

How smooth a ride do you need in a pickup??
Our 2019 F350 CC rides so much smoother than my 2006 F350 CC did and it rode so much better than my 2002 F250 SC did and that was night and day better than my old 97 F250 SC! All were Powerstroke longbed 4x4's.
I would think all 3/4 and 1 tons today ride as good as 1/2 tons from 15-20 years ago and modern day 1/2 tons' ride like Cadillac's or hovercrafts!
Honestly, our 2019 F350 almost rides too soft, since usually when we drive/use it, its pulling a trailer or hauling something and it squats in the rear much more than my '06 did. Airbags are on my wish list for it someday.

I never had an older 3/4 or 1-ton but I have heard that modern HD pickups do ride much smoother than back then. Coming from a 2010 Ram 1500 which rode like a car my 2017 Ram 2500 is bumpier though. I've found though that if I add just a couple hundred pounds of stuff in the bed it smooths it out very nicely. Way less jouncy that way.

 

[bdhsfz6]

My 2012 GMC Sierra 2500HD had a harsher ride than my 2003 Chevy Silverado 2500HD. Both had the front suspension set up for plowing. I was pleasantly surprised with the difference on the 2012. GM did indeed make suspension improvements in later years.

I suppose I don't need and certainly don't expect a cushy ride in a pickup. I log many 5 to 6 hour runs in a year, a lot of it on back roads, and it would be nice to do so with a little more comfort.

I also liked the brakes on the GM 2500HD trucks. They handle heavy loads with ease and I hardly notice I'm towing a heavy trailer. My company pickup was a 1993 Chevy Silverado half ton and the brakes were awful. The fade and surge were always present and the company mechanic said all the GM half ton pickups were like that. I've heard others complain about the brakes on GM light duty trucks over the years as well. Others will likely disagree and I don't want to start a war over this. It could be just my personal experience and not the norm.

The dealer also admitted there was a brake problem on some earlier year GM half tons but insists it's since been fixed. Rather than take a chance, I ordered the branded brake upgrade on the new Sierra 1500. It was a $3K option and likely overkill but I figure it's a form of insurance.

 

[ning]

I never had an older 3/4 or 1-ton but I have heard that modern HD pickups do ride much smoother than back then. Coming from a 2010 Ram 1500 which rode like a car my 2017 Ram 2500 is bumpier though. I've found though that if I add just a couple hundred pounds of stuff in the bed it smooths it out very nicely. Way less jouncy that way.

My '97 F350 barely squatted down in the back with a pallet of concrete in it. The truck definitely has never had what you'd call a "smooth ride", but it's sure capable and when empty handles surprisingly well without wallowing in turns... also provides a good isometric core workout on bumpy roads.

 

[Monster5601]

if I'm making a mistake by trading my Sierra 2500HD 4WD for a Sierra 1500 4WD.

I was lucky to get 14 mpg with the 2500 and the ride was quite harsh. I'm hoping the 1500 will get slightly better mileage with a considerably smoother ride.

An I missing something? Any thoughts?

The smoothness of the ride, I think, is based on the quality of the roads traveled and your own subjective view on what constitutes a smooth ride. If you are looking for more of a "floating" feeling then look for a truck that has coils on all four corners. I run two pickups, one is a smooth-riding 1/2 ton with a 1,400-pound payload and an 8,000-pound tow ability, the other is a 1 ton with 4,000 pounds of payload and 18,000 pounds of tow capacity.

The 1/2 ton is four corner coils, the 1 ton is solid axles. The 1/2 ton has a more car-like ride and the 1 ton doesn't. Driving on paved well maintained roads, both trucks provide comfortable ride quality. That changes drastically on dirt roads and poorly maintained paved roads.

It would be worth your time to test drive the various brands comparing their ride qualities, there is a noticeable difference. It has already been said but, keep an eye on the vehicle's payload and tow capacities.

Both of my pickups are diesel-powered. The 1-ton averages 23 MPG unloaded, the 1/2 ton averages 31 MPG unloaded. For comparison, my 2013 1/2 ton gasser averaged 17 MPG unloaded winter fuel and 20 MPG unloaded summer fuel.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I'm in the process of buying this 2010 F-150 XLT 5.4L with 47k miles for my 16 year old son, $15,995 plus all the ******** for around $16,700 out the door. I think I'm getting a decent truck. View attachment 734944View attachment 734945View attachment 734946View attachment 734947View attachment 734949

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