3.21

[Fordman1981]

exactly why is was frustrated and surprised. In our area it is some foolish status symbol to have a fully loaded diesel with a lift and custom rims. When I buy a truck it will be basic in the cab, the only option I need there is crew cab and Bluetooth phone capabilities. But power train wise I will by the stoutest offering of whatever truck I decide on. The decision hasn't even been close to being made, driving the ram was the first stop on a long list. The trucks on my list are: F150 ecoboost max tow max payload Ram 3500 cummins and Aisin Chevy 2500 or 3500 with the duramax Ford F-350 diesel Ford F 250 gas Toyota Tundra with cummins diesel, if it ever is released.

I have a ram 5500 in my fleet with the aisin and 2 ram 2500s with the 68rfe. The aisin is a nice transmission now doubt but their is not a thing wrong with the 68rfe. My trucks tow often to max loads and get worked hard. I have had far better service out of the ram trucks than I have out of ford. I would suggest a ram 2500 or 3500 with the 6.4 and 68rfe. There is so little difference in price between a half ton and a 3/4 or 1 ton it is unlikely I will buy a half ton for myself again.

 

[Fordman1981]

Next year I plan to buy a new pickup, what used to be referred to as a "half ton." I would like to be able to tow a fully-loaded 7,000 lb trailer, which means the truck would need to be rated to tow about 8,000 lbs or more, since the advertised trailer towing load always assumes an empty truck, and my truck aint never empty. I don't really care much about what brand, other than I want to avoid Ford since I don't want the aluminum body. Chevy has such gimmicky pricing. So I have been looking at Dodges (yea, I am aware of the Ram name and all, but they are Dodges as far as I am concerned.) I noticed something; last year (2014) the dealers were all stocking 1500's with 3.55 axles ratios, which I assume was standard. The 2015's, however, all have 3.21's, which really cuts down on the towing capacity. A V6 Dodge with a 3.21 is rated for about 4,700 lbs or so, and if the truck has any kind of load that drops down to mid- to upper 3,000 lb range. I swear I just checked dealer websites for 200 miles around here looking for a 2WD with a 3.55 ( or better yet, a 3.92) final drive ratio and I did not see one (admittedly, I did not look at vehicles priced over $35,000.00) Buying out of dealer stock usually get's one a larger discount, but for the lack of a $50.00 option it is looking like I will have to order.

I would suggest you look at 3/4 ton trucks there is hardly any money difference now between the half, 3/4, and 1 ton trucks. The 3/4 ride better than 1/2 tons did a few years ago and you get much more truck.

 

[Diamondpilot]

We have a 2003 Ram 2500 on the farm that is still running strong not a single issue and not one spec of rust. It's spent its whole life in Iowa. It amazes me you have one truck that seems to have been a lemon and you write them off completely. I've had far more issues with many more fords than you did with your one ram.

When did I say I would wright off Dodge? I would buy again if they had what I want. They gave me very good service when I had issues. I had the heater controls replaced, rust after 3 years on the door bottoms, half the steering wheel controls replace, and the radiator cooling fan. But like I said the dealer and Dodge were good to me and took care of it all.

The only ones I've written off is GM.

 

[Fordman1981]

When did I say I would wright off Dodge? I would buy again if they had what I want. They gave me very good service when I had issues. I had the heater controls replaced, rust after 3 years on the door bottoms, half the steering wheel controls replace, and the radiator cooling fan. But like I said the dealer and Dodge were good to me and took care of it all. The only ones I've written off is GM.

Like I said I think you got a lemon it happens with all brands. I've heard you bad mouth your one and only ram many times before. The 2003 we have is not under powered especially for the year. It is on par or better than the offerings ford had that year. The 2003 we have at the farm is worked and worked hard every time it is used and has held up way better than the fords we have had from that era.

 

[breadtrk]

We are bordering on the Brand Bashing thing.


to the OP. Make the dealer order what you want to buy. Pull YOUR trailer with YOUR load on it, then decide. Do that with all the potential candidates you have. If the dealer won't play, spend the 5 bucks in gas and go to his direct competitor.

 

[Fordman1981]

We are bordering on the Brand Bashing thing. to the OP. Make the dealer order what you want to buy. Pull YOUR trailer with YOUR load on it, then decide. Do that with all the potential candidates you have. If the dealer won't play, spend the 5 bucks in gas and go to his direct competitor.

Who is close to brand bashing? Telling your honor experience is not bashing? Calling brands junk and stuff of that nature is.

 

[Monster5601]

I wouldn't own a Dodge without a Aisin Transmission. Had a 2500 that ate transmissions like candy.Chris

2003 2500 Ram. 1st time would not shift into reverse. 2nd time it slipped boiling the tranny fluid out the dipstick tube. Traded it at 68,000 miles on a 2004 F250 with it slipping again. Chris

So 68K miles with two issues (with the possibility of a third issue) equates to "ate transmissions like candy" sounds a bit dramatic.

The Aisin is a medium duty commercial transmission that offers a PTO, a bit more than what most of us need. The 68RFE is equivalent (allpar.com) with the difference in the clutch packs and has evolved nicely over the years, many satisfied users in the RV community. Just because the Aisin cost more ($3K versus $600) doesn't make it a better transmission, it is just a different use transmission. Also note the Aisin requires more frequent service and at a higher cost over the 68RFE.

 

[tcartwri]

It is absolutely worth your time to find an 8 speed truck.

 

[Milo]

I would not consider 3.21 in a truck unless you live somewhere flat like Florida or Kansas and seldom carry or haul anything. With the 6-8 speed transmissions I would go 3.55 or 3.73 gears, 4.10 is too low.

 

[Fordman1981]

I would not consider 3.21 in a truck unless you live somewhere flat like Florida or Kansas and seldom carry or haul anything. With the 6-8 speed transmissions I would go 3.55 or 3.73 gears, 4.10 is too low.

With the 8 speed if you don't tow a lot the 3.21 would be fine. I would not choose it but I'm sure the engineers at ram have done their job and it works fine for the trucks with the payload associated with those gears.

 

[tcartwri]

The tow limit on the 3.21 trucks are lowered because of the torque potential that the Hemi 8 speed is capable of producing. It is to protect the differential from being over stressed and not because of lack of power. They are a towing monster... an example of having too much available power for the job.

 

[Capricious]

I guess my main beef is that dealers (regardless of brand) stock trucks intended for suburban commuters making fashion statements, and it's difficult to find a simple, basic truck with heavy-hauling capability sitting on a dealer's lot.

I am sure that is because they make more money that way.

 

[Copperhead]

That's for sure. Most of those folks want a pickup for the macho effect, but they want mpg like their car. Not necessarily a bad thing, as I am all for consumer choice. But the dealers forget that some of us actually do need a pickup for more serious pursuits. I had to scour the internet of various dealer inventories to find what I wanted. Ended up going to a dealer that was 60+ miles away to purchase (didn't care for dealers near me). One can also have their preferred dealer get them the pickup they want. They can do the looking around for you and find what you want at another dealer and have it brought to their lot. I did that with the two previous purchases before this present one.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The tow limit on the 3.21 trucks are lowered because of the torque potential that the Hemi 8 speed is capable of producing. It is to protect the differential from being over stressed and not because of lack of power. They are a towing monster... an example of having too much available power for the job.

Sounds like they need better axles.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

I guess my main beef is that dealers (regardless of brand) stock trucks intended for suburban commuters making fashion statements, and it's difficult to find a simple, basic truck with heavy-hauling capability sitting on a dealer's lot.

I am sure that is because they make more money that way.

Thats why we order 95% of the time.

Chris

 

[Capricious]

Thats why we order 95% of the time.

Chris

The problem with ordering is that one doesn't get as good of a deal as one would get buying out of stock, assuming identical vehicles.

But if I want to avoid options I don't want, and don't want to pay for, then ordering is about the only option.

Of the (6) or so new vehicles I have bought, I ordered one and bought the rest out of stock.

 

[tcartwri]

Sounds like they need better axles.

Chris

It's the ring and pinion. Heavy trucks have discovered the same problem, as the trend over the last decade was to put low numerical gears in the diffs and use the tranny reduction and huge torque numbers to move the load. Then they started having premature pinion failures.

Think of having a 3 foot breaker bar on a half inch drive.... you know what's going to fail first.

 

[Diamondpilot]

It's the ring and pinion. Heavy trucks have discovered the same problem, as the trend over the last decade was to put low numerical gears in the diffs and use the tranny reduction and huge torque numbers to move the load. Then they started having premature pinion failures. Think of having a 3 foot breaker bar on a half inch drive.... you know what's going to fail first.

I understand that. Just put heavier better made running gear under it and problems solved.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

The problem with ordering is that one doesn't get as good of a deal as one would get buying out of stock, assuming identical vehicles. But if I want to avoid options I don't want, and don't want to pay for, then ordering is about the only option. Of the (6) or so new vehicles I have bought, I ordered one and bought the rest out of stock.

I always get a very competitive deal ordering as compared to pricing vehicles on the lot unless buying a model year older.

Chris

 

[Copperhead]

It's the ring and pinion. Heavy trucks have discovered the same problem, as the trend over the last decade was to put low numerical gears in the diffs and use the tranny reduction and huge torque numbers to move the load. Then they started having premature pinion failures.

Think of having a 3 foot breaker bar on a half inch drive.... you know what's going to fail first.

I would have to disagree with that contention. I am running a 500 hp 1750 torque Detroit in front of an Eaton 18 speed tied to 2.64 ratio drives. I just turned over 400K miles with this setup and it is doing great. Granted, I only pull up to a gross of 80K lb, but it does quite well. I primarily run in direct drive (16th) at regular cruise speeds. Transmission stays cooler and there is less parasitic loss related to the overdrives. Average mpg over that 400K miles has been 7.83 mpg, which is a little over 2 mpg better than the OTR trucking average. If there are problems with the taller ratios, it is usually the lack of competence by the driver.