Ram1500 EcoDiesel V6 revealed!

[fordmantpw]

One word for you Explorer. Do you know all the things they did wrong that caused that fiasco.

And many (not all) of those issues were traced back to owners not keeping their tires inflated. And, part of that fiasco could have led to the exact thing DP was referencing...keeping lawyers away. Build in an extra safety factor knowing that customers aren't always the sharpest knives in the drawer and don't pay attention to load limits.

 

[Fordman1981]

And many (not all) of those issues were traced back to owners not keeping their tires inflated. And, part of that fiasco could have led to the exact thing DP was referencing...keeping lawyers away. Build in an extra safety factor knowing that customers aren't always the sharpest knives in the drawer and don't pay attention to load limits.

You need to do some research. To make an outdated platform compete with its competitors redesigned vehicles. Ford strong armed firestone to remove some belts from the tires they supplied. They removed spring leafs to give the explorer a softer ride and on top of those two they lowered the pressure the tires were to be inflated to in the door placard.

 

[terryknight]

You need to do some research. To make an outdated platform compete with its competitors redesigned vehicles. Ford strong armed firestone to remove some belts from the tires they supplied. They removed spring leafs to give the explorer a softer ride and on top of those two they lowered the pressure the tires were to be inflated to in the door placard.

i like ford, but the explorer fiasco was ford's fault.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You want to bet your families life and everybody else's family on the road with that theory?
Everything is built to minimum spec to save weight and money. To just make it a few hours and days past warranty if used to spec.
If it's rated for 10,000 lb then it rated for 10,000lbs.

We disagree!

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

One word for you Explorer. Do you know all the things they did wrong that caused that fiasco.

It all came down to competition. The GM SUV's had independent rear suspension and the Explorer could not match the ride. They took the cheapest route and lowered the tire psi to 30 when Firestone warned against it. Some tire modifications, suspension tweaks, and there you have it. It would have been fine but as the tire pressure lowered due to improper tire inflation and blow outs roll overs occurred.

Long story short Ford took the cheapest route and Firestone should have refused to sell tires to them. And now we all have TPMS.

Chris

 

[Fordman1981]

It all came down to competition. The GM SUV's had independent rear suspension and the Explorer could not match the ride. They took the cheapest route and lowered the tire psi to 30 when Firestone warned against it. Some tire modifications, suspension tweaks, and there you have it. It would have been fine but as the tire pressure lowered due to improper tire inflation and blow outs roll overs occurred. Long story short Ford took the cheapest route and Firestone should have refused to sell tires to them. And now we all have TPMS. Chris

This is your spin on anything ford does wrong.

http://youtu.be/yiJ9fy1qSFI

I have a hard time believing engineers that made the explorer so dangerous would over build the F150 by "50% to 70%". We will just never see eye to eye in this. A half ton does not need to be reared above 10,000 lbs due to safety. They are just too light.

 

[tcartwri]

To this day you can't rent from U-Haul if you own an Explorer.

 

[Ford850]

This is your spin on anything ford does wrong.

Mythbusters Polishing a Turd - YouTube

I have a hard time believing engineers that made the explorer so dangerous would over build the F150 by "50% to 70%". We will just never see eye to eye in this. A half ton does not need to be reared above 10,000 lbs due to safety. They are just too light.

We'll find out when they start using the SAE towing standards later this year.

 

[fordmantpw]

To this day you can't rent from U-Haul if you own an Explorer.

Unless you have the new model (2011+).

You need to do some research. To make an outdated platform compete with its competitors redesigned vehicles. Ford strong armed firestone to remove some belts from the tires they supplied. They removed spring leafs to give the explorer a softer ride and on top of those two they lowered the pressure the tires were to be inflated to in the door placard.

Yes, Ford shares blame for a lot of Explorer fiasco, but some does fall at the hands of customers not keeping their tires inflated. Had they kept the tires inflated to the recommended 30 PSI (granted, that is low, but not unsafe), many fewer accidents would have occurred. Problem is, when you lower the safety threshold from say, 10 PSI to 5 PSI (picking numbers to make a point), that leaves a much smaller margin for error on the customer's part. I'm not saying Ford isn't to blame, I'm just saying that if customers would have followed the recommendations, the fiasco would not have been near as bad.

Also, I have seen numerous tests done by magazines TRYING to get an Explorer to roll with a blowout, and they couldn't make it happen. Part of the issue was also folks not knowing how to drive top-heavy vehicles when the SUV craze was well underway. A tire blowing out doesn't spontaneously cause a vehicle to roll. Making the wrong maneuver when it blows does.

We'll find out when they start using the SAE towing standards later this year.

Yup, and I'm willing to bet lunch that Ford's numbers do not go down.

 

[Diamondpilot]

This is your spin on anything ford does wrong.

http://youtu.be/yiJ9fy1qSFI

I have a hard time believing engineers that made the explorer so dangerous would over build the F150 by "50% to 70%". We will just never see eye to eye in this. A half ton does not need to be reared above 10,000 lbs due to safety. They are just too light.

You reasoning then is if a 1/2 ton weighs 5000# empty it should only pull double it's weight right?

Then a 1 ton is limited to 15000# since they weigh 7500# empty.

Oh yea, a semi should only tow 30000# since the tractor is about 15000#

Sound reasoning.

Chris

 

[Fordman1981]

You reasoning then is if a 1/2 ton weighs 5000# empty it should only pull double it's weight right? Then a 1 ton is limited to 15000# since they weigh 7500# empty. Oh yea, a semi should only tow 30000# since the tractor is about 15000# Sound reasoning. Chris

Hmmm I guess you would think it would all move up equally like that huh. 1 ton trucks has stiffer suspension dual tires as an option for the highest payload and towing and many more things a half ton can't compare to. A semi has how many tires in the ground? Yeah I see you direct correlation to just weight. By your reasoning there should not even be a 3/4 or 1 ton truck the half ton Eco boost can do it all. I had two 1 ton fords back to back have the ball joints go out before 100,00 miles. They were used within there specified limits that ford set. You know what the dealer and the regional rep told me with the back to back failures? That I was working the trucks to hard. I said they have never been past what they are designed to haul or tow. They replied yes but I use the trucks in its upper limits day in and day out and increased failures in that type of use is common. I've had many many more problems from the fords and get the same type of line no matter what it is. I understand if you work equipment hard that stuff can wear out quicker but HD 1 ton trucks should not need ball joints every 100,000 miles. I'm running HD rams now and the only issue I've had is with mine and I caused it. I ran too high of tune on my programmer and was over powering the clutch. I chose to replace the clutch with a performance south bend instead if reducing the power and using the stock clutch. I rambled quite a bit but my point is ford can post numbers all they want about the F150 can tow this and pull that but when you start having issues they'll say yeah it can do that but expect failures if you do.

 

[dodge man]

Yeah, Dodge can't build a truck and if wasn't for Cummins................ Is that why they were named truck of the year the last 2 years? You guys still don't get it do you? The truck could be rated for a load of 200 lbs or 2000 lbs, people don't care. They will use the thing how ever they feel like it. Look at the thread about people towing or hauling something wrong.

Most of the people on this board are more informed, they are more likely to actually tow something or haul something. Most of America just uses it like a car with a big bed in back.

 

[sd455dan]

I agree Dodge is as capable as Ford or Gm in building trucks.
but it doesn't make a lot of sense to me that they broke the mold on the new Hd 2500-3500 and then (for whatever reason ) stick the 1/2 ton with such pathetic payload ratings, Dodge has to know that this will really hurt their new 1/2 ton sales for people that do compare ratings.

Perspective buyers are going to want competitive ratings on the payload....BEFORE laying down $30k + if this is about ride quality most would give up some ride plushness for more payload, - now if the reason is something else, I hope they deal with it post haste...

 

[Renze]

I Maybe the safety nannies in the EPA will being to limit HP in vehicles for "our own good"? They eliminated CO, HC and NOX. Surprise manufactures solved that challenge. The EPA discovered diesel particulates and regulated those too. Alas those pesky engineers solved that problem too. Now the EPA has had to dream up CO2 as a problem to justify their empire. The epa has to find another crisis to regulate.

What you refer to has a name: http://www.spunk.org/texts/places/germany/sp000711.txt

 

[DarkBlack]

It all came down to competition. The GM SUV's had independent rear suspension and the Explorer could not match the ride. They took the cheapest route and lowered the tire psi to 30 when Firestone warned against it. Some tire modifications, suspension tweaks, and there you have it. It would have been fine but as the tire pressure lowered due to improper tire inflation and blow outs roll overs occurred.

Long story short Ford took the cheapest route and Firestone should have refused to sell tires to them. And now we all have TPMS.

Chris

You contradict yourself

 

[Diamondpilot]

You contradict yourself

How is that? Ford was behind the eight ball and had to do something to compete. I admit it was a blunder. No contradiction there.

Chris

 

[DarkBlack]

There's a lot of "unique" posters on this site. It's kind of amusing to see some people here post their own specific tweaky personal preference for what's important in a truck, and to post it in such a tone as if 300 million people across the country share the same views and wants.

 

[DarkBlack]

How is that? Ford was behind the eight ball and had to do something to compete. I admit it was a blunder. No contradiction there.

Chris

A corporate decision to cheap out on a product and risk lives is, just that.
"Competition" is competition is just that, and in the hands of high morale companies and people- promotes excellence and quality.

 

[tcartwri]

ANYWAYS.... Ram sells out initial production run of the ecodiesel in 3 days.

www.autoweek.com

 

[terryknight]

Yeah, Dodge can't build a truck and if wasn't for Cummins................ Is that why they were named truck of the year the last 2 years? You guys still don't get it do you? The truck could be rated for a load of 200 lbs or 2000 lbs, people don't care. They will use the thing how ever they feel like it. Look at the thread about people towing or hauling something wrong.

Most of the people on this board are more informed, they are more likely to actually tow something or haul something. Most of America just uses it like a car with a big bed in back.

ANYWAYS.... Ram sells out initial production run of the ecodiesel in 3 days.

www.autoweek.com

just proving Dodge man's point

and i don't believe a 1/2 is a substitute for a 3/4 or 1 ton. the axles and suspension are beefier in a larger truck. and if you are towing 10K day in and day out would you want to be doing it near the upper end (or over) of the ratings (1/2 ton) or slightly more towards the middle (3/4, 1 ton)?