Ram 1500 EcoDiesel

TheGoose · Dec 24, 2016

This truck has been on my radar for awhile. Looks like I may try to order one. Anybody hear that Ram is having trouble with the EPA certifying diesel engines for 2017? Word is that you cannot get a 2017 ED 1500 Ram. I'm looking to custom order one because I cannot find one rigged out the way I want with the Ram Box Lone Star Edition.

Monster5601 · Dec 24, 2016

What I have read on the various RAM forums is the ECODiesel had to re-go the emissions certifications brought on by the VW SNAFU. Haven't hear more than that, seems it is all on the hush for the most part.

Diamondpilot · Dec 24, 2016

No word. We have 3 of them at work. They ride nice and have been dead reliable but everyone who uses them says they like the 5.0L F150 or the 5.3L GMC trucks we have in our fleet for towing.

They do turn in mid 25ish MPG overall for just running around checking or job sites.

Steve1300 · Dec 24, 2016

Diamondpilot said:
No word. We have 3 of them at work. They ride nice and have been dead reliable but everyone who uses them says they like the 5.0L F150 or the 5.3L GMC trucks we have in our fleet for towing.

They do turn in mid 25ish MPG overall for just running around checking or job sites.

If this chart is correct, it appears that the Ram eco-diesel is not really made for towing.

buickanddeere · Dec 24, 2016

Why bother with a small diesel in a light duty application ? This is 2017 with Tier IV diesel emissions and diesel fuel costing as much as gasoline per gallon. Gelled fuel filters in winter too. It's not 1974, today's gassers are direct injection not carburated, no point ignition systems , no cross over vales, no distributer cap and wires.
Save yourself a load of money and liability and purchase a gasser. A pickup truck is not a semi truck tractor.
Only reason diesels exist in Europe and 3rd world countries in light vehicles is because gasoline is luxury taxed much per expensive per liter than diesel and diesel does not evaporate away as fast as gasoline.

rankrank1 · Dec 24, 2016

Some of the Ram 1500's have pathetically puny payload numbers and I think the diesel version is one of them in certain configurations. Make sure you have enough payload to cover whatever you weigh over 150 lbs, any passengers you haul, and tongue weight for the trailer. Even with a totally empty bed payload can go fast as some of the Ram's are like only 900 lbs payload which is puny even by compact truck standards let alone modern 1500 series

TheGoose · Dec 24, 2016

I own a F250. If I need to tow heavy I've got it covered. The most I'll ever tow is my 35 HP tractor around 5-6k and a two horse trailer.

Looks like the RAM will do about 8k towing and about 1500 payload. Good enough for what I need. I'm gonna hold up the horse trailer loaded and see how it squats.

TheGoose · Dec 24, 2016

buickanddeere said:
Why bother with a small diesel in a light duty application ? This is 2017 with Tier IV diesel emissions and diesel fuel costing as much as gasoline per gallon. Gelled fuel filters in winter too. It's not 1974, today's gassers are direct injection not carburated, no point ignition systems , no cross over vales, no distributer cap and wires.
Save yourself a load of money and liability and purchase a gasser. A pickup truck is not a semi truck tractor.
Only reason diesels exist in Europe and 3rd world countries in light vehicles is because gasoline is luxury taxed much per expensive per liter than diesel and diesel does not evaporate away as fast as gasoline.

We don't have much winter here. 70* and sunny. 45*F is about as cold as it gets.

The ED is a $3k option over the hemi. I think it would be great for a daily driver.

sdef · Dec 24, 2016

I can only speak to what was available in 2015 and would think my overall experience would transfer to 2017 except for the new technology. While I was looking for heavy duty half ton trucks in 2015 for heavy towing, >= 10,000+ pounds, only GM and Ford could cover this. I decided HD halfs for my load wants/needs just would not provide the security I wanted with chassis/suspension/braking strength. I then decided to go diesel 3/4 ton and went with the Ram 2500 after driving gas and diesels.

No comparison with diesel torque in any manner. Mine has ~ 350 HP and 800 pounds of torque at 1500 RPM. In my testing, the gas engines ran out of breath with hard acceleration at ~ 65 MPH unloaded, while the diesel just kept pulling. I average ~ 19 - 20 MPG in decent weather with an 8500 pound truck running the speed limit in continuously hilly areas, especially two lane, back highways. When passing slower vehicles on winding, hilly back country highways, the acceleration will sit one back in the seat. Brings a smile to my face

. Not many straight, level areas around here. I imagine the straight line, level fuel mileage would be noticeably better. Love my RAM. All said and done it cost ~ $10k more than the HD half ton, gasoline engined trucks I was looking at.

25 MPG in a daily driver, full size 1/2 ton truck that would not need to pull heavy loads would be pretty attractive to a lot of folks, I would think; most trucks I see are not loaded and seem to be more of a family vehicle with a HD, open bed. In 2015 no gas trucks with any kind of abilities came close to 25 MPG.

Dennisfly · Dec 24, 2016

If you do a search, there is some traffic on the internet about cam sprocket bolt failures that trash the whole engine. I'm leery about a FIAT (fix it again Tony) engine with not much operating history.

Copperhead · Dec 24, 2016

Well, a lot has to do with location. Diesel in my area is hovering around $2.58. E10 regular is around $2.18. So a 40 cent spread. If the Ecodiesel averages 25 mpg, then a gasser that only averages 20-21 mpg is a break even on cost per mile. And I know a lot of folks who get that type of mpg from their gasser 1/2 tons. Factor in the cost difference between the Ecodiesel and a gasser, and the associated emissions nonsense with the diesel and potential problems. I don't really see any appreciable advantage for the Ecodiesel. Maybe cool factor to woo those that think diesel is equivalent to testosterone.

vvanders · Dec 24, 2016

We have one for farm chores here, pretty new to us so far but we've seen ~28mpg mixed city/highway which is a large part in why we got it. Gets better mileage than our previous car and tows enough for what we need. We looked at Ford/Chevy/Dodge but couldn't find anything else that came close in terms of fuel efficiency.

No complaints so far, drives plenty fine and is a nice fit for us.

TheGoose · Dec 24, 2016

I avg 13-15 in my f150 3.5 Ecoboost. I don't know of anyone that drives one that gets that kind of mileage(18-21).

TheGoose · Dec 24, 2016

I did hear about the failures. If you look around you can find similar info about almost any truck including Toyota.

Dennisfly said:
If you do a search, there is some traffic on the internet about cam sprocket bolt failures that trash the whole engine. I'm leery about a FIAT (fix it again Tony) engine with not much operating history.

ClaySlayer · Dec 25, 2016

TheGoose said:
I avg 13-15 in my f150 3.5 Ecoboost. I don't know of anyone that drives one that gets that kind of mileage(18-21).

I knock down 18-19mpg (hand calculated) in mine all the time...2016 F150, 3.5 EB, 4x4, 3.55s. I can get more if I baby it but what's the fun in that? I get about 12-13 towing my ~3,800lb Fish & Ski and no clue what I get towing my L3301 and implements (7,300lbs)...probably 10 or less.

Steve1300 · Dec 25, 2016

OK, I'll join in here. I have found on my Titan XD with the Cummins 5.0L turbo diesel that I drive to work and back at nearly 20 MPG, but that drops to near 18 with excursions into town where the lights are many. Towing a loaded trailer (11,000 lbs) in "tow mode," I get 11 MPG. While I am in Florida, we still have lots of uphill and downhill sections. I don't know what it would do if I were driving in Kansas.

I love the torque on this little 5-liter. It is just what I need.

Since this is the first year that this truck has been offered, check back in a few years to see how wise this purchase was.

check · Dec 25, 2016

Steve1300 said:
OK, I'll join in here. I have found on my Titan XD with the Cummins 5.0L turbo diesel that I drive to work and back at nearly 20 MPG, but that drops to near 18 with excursions into town where the lights are many. Towing a loaded trailer (11,000 lbs) in "tow mode," I get 11 MPG. While I am in Florida, we still have lots of uphill and downhill sections. I don't know what it would do if I were driving in Kansas. I love the torque on this little 5-liter. It is just what I need. Since this is the first year that this truck has been offered, check back in a few years to see how wise this purchase was.

On the highway, get about 18-19 mpg with my 2016 F150 Supercrew 4 x 4 with the 5 litre gasser.

Steve1300 · Dec 25, 2016

check said:
On the highway, get about 18-19 mpg with my 2016 F150 Supercrew 4 x 4 with the 5 litre gasser.

I nearly bought one with the 3.5 EB and the max tow package. Wife chose the Nissan.

The prices were about the same.

Diamondpilot · Dec 25, 2016

TheGoose said:
I avg 13-15 in my f150 3.5 Ecoboost. I don't know of anyone that drives one that gets that kind of mileage(18-21).

I have averaged just about 16mpg with my 2012 F150 EB 3.5 4x4 with 3.73 gears. I have seen high 23 MPG on a road trip but most are around 21. Towing 10,000# depending on speed is between 8.5 and 13 MPG. There is a huge difference between 55 and 75 mph.

Diamondpilot · Dec 25, 2016

Diamondpilot said:
I have averaged just about 16mpg with my 2012 F150 EB 3.5 4x4 with 3.73 gears. I have seen high 23 MPG on a road trip but most are around 21. Towing 10,000# depending on speed is between 8.5 and 13 MPG. There is a huge difference between 55 and 75 mph.

My father and uncle also have 3.5 EB trucks. A 2016 and 2014. Both 4x4 and 3.55 gears. My dad's averages 18mpg while my uncle is at 20mpg.

It all depends on your type of driving.