Ram1500 EcoDiesel V6 revealed!

[Diamondpilot]

Egon, That article seems to agree with what I've been saying here:

Quote from review:
"It doesn稚 hurt that the Ram is slightly cheaper than the Ford or Chevy when comparably equipped. Toss in the first small diesel, the only 8-speed automatic, a load leveling air suspension system and you have quite simply the best tow vehicle in the half-ton segment."

We're not saying it's not a good combo, that is the interior, exterior (I don't care for but that's opinion), power train, and tranny. It's the chassis that is the issue. I don't care if they say it can tow 20,000# the lack of payload negates that. The tow rating as tested is in the 4,500# range when you put 10% on the hitch. With that pathetic payload it's not even on my "to consider" list. Give it 1,500# plus I will be interested.

I'm not hammering Ram here. This same issue has come up before. Take a GM 3/4 ton from around 2005. They had about 15,000# tow ratings but a pathetic 8,800# gvwr. A 4x4 diesel truck with a crew cab and short bed weighed about 7,300#. While on paper it leaves a 1,500# or 3/4 ton payload it did not leave enough to tow more than 10,000# with it. A 5th or GN needs 20% pin weight so about 10,000# for GN or 5er. BP was limited to 10,000# on these trucks so that's it...

Now put in 600# with 3 more guys and your tongue or pin weight is 900# left. Just doesn't cut it.

So it's more than just tow ratings.

Chris

 

[Midniteoyl]

I wanna see how much of the limiting factor is tires and pressures vs actual axle(s)/diff/spindles/bearings used..

 

[Diamondpilot]

I wanna see how much of the limiting factor is tires and pressures vs actual axle(s)/diff/spindles/bearings used..

My guess it's not the tires or axles. Springs and chassis is the issue.

Chris

 

[aczlan]

I wanna see how much of the limiting factor is tires and pressures vs actual axle(s)/diff/spindles/bearings used..

The limit is how Dodge rated the truck, legally speaking (ie: being able to legally tow a load) nothing else matters. I doubt that its tires as the F150 uses similar sized tires and it has a higher payload rating.

Aaron Z

 

[Midniteoyl]

Size doesnt really matter when similar sizes are compared.. the Load Rating does. As does PSI inflation. As does 'at what speed' is the rating (higher speed, lower rating unless accounted for)

 

[aczlan]

Size doesnt really matter when similar sizes are compared.. the Load Rating does. As does PSI inflation. As does 'at what speed' is the rating (higher speed, lower rating unless accounted for)

I understand tire ratings, but why would Dodge let a tire be the only thing keeping them from being able to claim "best in class payload" or "best in class towing"? rather than having "worst in class payload"?
Making a half ton truck with only 460# of payload in this day and age is just embarrassing...

Aaron Z

 

[Midniteoyl]

I understand tire ratings, but why would Dodge let a tire be the only thing keeping them from being able to claim "best in class payload" or "best in class towing"? rather than having "worst in class payload"?
Making a half ton truck with only 460# of payload in this day and age is just embarrassing...

Aaron Z

I know,, I was just wondering how much it was affected by it.. IE: in the RV world, its well known that most RV's are sent from the factory overweight for either the axle, tires, or both.

 

[Green Power]

It sure would be nice if they built these trucks with the beefier components so they could be best in class, or at least not last.

 

[Ford850]

I've never seen "Ram" and "ED" in the same sentence before.

Haha! I never though of that acronym when I typed ED. I was abbreviating EcoDiesel, but with the tiny payload I guess Erectile Dysfunction does fit too. I hope, for Rams' sake, the ED nickname doesn't catch on.

 

[Egon]

I'm wonder what is the payload on similarly equipped trucks?