EcoDiesel, A Maiden Voyage

[msb1766]

I do not know if this has been posted on here or not but here is a link about a guy buying a 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel and his drive
from Idaho to Alaska with a fully loaded trailer.

http://www.ramforum.com/f17/ecodiesel_maiden_voyage-45309/

 

[wmonroe]

Thanks for posting. He gave a pretty detailed report of his trip and the truck got pretty good mileage considering the conditions he was towing through. I might have to join that forum and subscribe.

 

[jejeosborne]

I noticed the lack of payload was a concern as I have mentioned in the past. I would own one in a heartbeat if they could get the darn payload numbers up.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I noticed the lack of payload was a concern as I have mentioned in the past. I would own one in a heartbeat if they could get the darn payload numbers up.

I have test drove/looked at all the 2014 trucks in the last week. I wanted to make sure I am making the right move replacing my Titan with a F150.

Nissan and Toyota, nothing new.

GM, much improved.

Ford, still the best overall package.

Dodge, lots of neat features.

I took a tape measure and me, uncle, dad, and salesman made the Dodge drop 3.5" more then the next closest truck. Payload is a issue. The guy in this article easily overloaded his rear axle way before ever getting near the tow rating.

I'll stick with the Eco Boost. It would easily turn in 13 to 14 mpg pulling the load he is and cost less per mile vs diesel.

Chris

 

[dfkrug]

I have test drove/looked at all the 2014 trucks in the last week.

Interesting you tested all the brands, Chris. Few truck owners have done that.

Do you factor in the reliability of each model? Of course, you have to research that for each one.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Interesting you tested all the brands, Chris. Few truck owners have done that. Do you factor in the reliability of each model? Of course, you have to research that for each one.

I actually did the same thin back in 2008 when I bought the Titan also.

Reliability is what? Last time I went off what the Internet said was reliable I bought a brand new 2005 Dmax 3500 4x4. In 9 months it had over 30 issues. I traded it in after 9 months on the dreaded 2006 F350 6.0L Diesel. It now has 120,000 miles and has only been in the shop once for a bad fuel gauge.

The honest fact is I pretty much knew I was buying a Ford. Just wanted to actually touch the other brands for myself.

From 08 to now the Nissan and Toyota has done nothing. Same basic trucks. I had a 07 F150 and this new one I'm getting is even better. Can't wait for the aluminum 2015's. The Dodges went down hill in looks to me but nice features. GM overall has made huge improvements. Back in 08 they were 10 years behind Ford and the imports and 5 years behind Dodge. Today they are on par every step of the way.

Chris

 

[dfkrug]

Reliability is what? Last time I went off what the Internet said was reliable I bought a brand new 2005
Dmax 3500 4x4.

The only large reliability owner surveys I am aware of that are not commercially conflicted are from
Consumers Reports, and I don't think they look at PUs over 1/2-ton. For bigger trucks, you only
have 3 manufacturer choices. I wonder when we will see bigger trucks from Nissan and Toyota.....

 

[HHR]

TrueDelta.com is a good reliability site.

 

[ruffdog]

The honest fact is I pretty much knew I was buying a Ford. Chris

No surprise there! Around here, some dealers are reluctant on taking in the EB on trade. Just like the dreaded 6.0 diesel that you were LUCKY with. I would have to say Ford is lagging in ride quality and interior noise.

 

[Diamondpilot]

No surprise there! Around here, some dealers are reluctant on taking in the EB on trade. Just like the dreaded 6.0 diesel that you were LUCKY with. I would have to say Ford is lagging in ride quality and interior noise.

I gave strong consideration to Dodge, Nissan, and Toyota but for the reasons I listed they didn't make the cut.


Not here. EB trucks used sell in a week.


I agree, they are behind in those areas but were 10 years ahead until this year. The new aluminum 2015 F150 will address this.


Chris

 

[fordmantpw]

Around here, some dealers are reluctant on taking in the EB on trade.

Those dealers must not be Ford dealers. Ford dealers know how easy it is to turn an EcoBoost truck.

 

[RollingsFarms]

I gave strong consideration to Dodge, Nissan, and Toyota but for the reasons I listed they didn't make the cut. Not here. EB trucks used sell in a week. I agree, they are behind in those areas but were 10 years ahead until this year. The new aluminum 2015 F150 will address this. Chris

I'm not sold on the '15 F150's styling just yet but the new features it's going to have are awesome! I'll have to see one in person to see if it grows on me some. Too much "Tundra" look to it for me right now. I don't know what it is that I'm missing about the RAM so. I just am not seeing what's so great about it. I don't like the styling, I laugh at the lack of capability due to the suspension, the interior is good for a Dodge but it's no better then anyone else's. I've really looked at them too and I'm just not seeing it. The RAM would be next to last on my list of trucks I would own in the full size market and that's where they ranked when I bought my new truck a few months ago. My decision was really Ford and Chevy neck and neck.

 

[roadhunter]

About time somebody built a 1/2 ton truck with a diesel engine. I would really like to see more of this including a smaller diesel pickup the size of a ranger/canyon/Dakota. Mahindra was supposed to release one a couple of years ago but it never went through.

I love how the thread turned into a EB and Ford based within just a few posts. Some people just like to talk about themselves I guess.

Will be interesting to see how this truck sells. It looks like more and more diesel vehicles are being brought to the US from other markets which is a good thing IMO.

 

[wawajake]

yes lets get back on topic ......the Ford owners that never ever intended to purchase anything else and just want to bash the other brands have many other threads to do that on.

I am curious to how many of these diesels actually are allocated to a dealer, so they can be test drove by us locals before considering. I love the concept imagine if Dodge also went with Aluminum body parts........a truck might last my lifetime !!!

 

[Monster5601]

I love the concept imagine if Dodge also went with Aluminum body parts........a truck might last my lifetime !!!

Starting in 2013, the RAM's hood is aluminum. It was done for weight reduction so says the sales brochure.

I also stumble across an interesting story about US automotive regulation and the costs associated. 21% of a vehicle's cost is what a manufacture pays to meet US regulation.

Federal regs for auto dealers costing US economy more than $10B, study says | Fox News

 

[mikehaugen]

Starting in 2013, the RAM's hood is aluminum. It was done for weight reduction so says the sales brochure.

I also stumble across an interesting story about US automotive regulation and the costs associated. 21% of a vehicle's cost is what a manufacture pays to meet US regulation.

Federal regs for auto dealers costing US economy more than $10B, study says | Fox News

Yes, but (at least in early 2000's) the production cost of a suburban was around $8k and they were selling for $40k. So I would imagine that 21% is based off the $8k figure, so about $1600 for a 40 thousand dollar vehicle.

Those numbers came from a guy I know that used to work for GM and that is supposedly what they told him... I can't promise 100% accuracy.

 

[mikehaugen]

I'm still curious as to why they have such a sad payload. If it was brakes, engine, drivetrain, they wouldn't put such a high tow rating on them. So that really just leaves suspension and tires, two of the cheapest things to improve. Seems stupid that they would cheap out there because I am sure it is costing them a lot of sales.

 

[Ford850]

I'm still curious as to why they have such a sad payload. If it was brakes, engine, drivetrain, they wouldn't put such a high tow rating on them. So that really just leaves suspension and tires, two of the cheapest things to improve. Seems stupid that they would cheap out there because I am sure it is costing them a lot of sales.

Agreed. And it seems like it would be easy to offer a Heavy Payload option with stiffer suspension if that is indeed the weak link. Driving a Ram loaded or towing would be an easy target for law enforcement.

 

[ruffdog]

Save $13k and get a '14 GMC with the new 4.3litre and have better tow numbers. Yes, the Ram would be good for someone that doesn't haul or tow much but puts lots of miles on their truck. But, $13k would buy lots of fuel too.

 

[Monster5601]

Save $13k and get a '14 GMC with the new 4.3litre and have better tow numbers. Yes, the Ram would be good for someone that doesn't haul or tow much but puts lots of miles on their truck. But, $13k would buy lots of fuel too.

I paid 43K out the door for my RAM Laramie, eight speed transmission, 3:21 rear axle ratio, 1,266 payload, and 7,750 towing ability. So I can get an LTZ that can tow more and for 30K?

The problem with tow ratings, there is no standard method used by the manufactures to rate towing ability. They are marketing numbers grabbed out of the air (usually the parking pawl's ability to hold weight on a certain incline) to look competitive.