Ram 1500 EcoDiesel

[roadhunter]

That can't be true. I read that the ecodiesel didn't' have enough payload to haul the family and camping gear, let alone do real work pulling a trailer.

Congrats on the new truck! Hopefully it's SEC tough. Congrats on the Texas Bowl LOL. I fully expect there to be an aggie search committee formed to contact Chip immediately.

 

[coobie]

Towed the 16' livestock trailer with two full grown horses. I estimate about 7K lbs. Truck did great. I was worried that the rear end would squat but it did not and it towed fine.

Been getting 22 mpg overall and easily 24-26 hwy.

Glad to hear your new truck is working out for you,enjoy.

 

[Egon]

Sounds like a real nice truck.

 

[Steve1300]

That can't be true. I read that the ecodiesel didn't' have enough payload to haul the family and camping gear, let alone do real work pulling a trailer.

Congrats on the new truck! Hopefully it's SEC tough. Congrats on the Texas Bowl LOL. I fully expect there to be an aggie search committee formed to contact Chip immediately.

The Ram ecodiesel would have been an option except that I needed to pull 12k pounds. My F150 would pull better than 7k, but I had to go to a more powerful truck. That was a shame as I had driven that F150 for 16 years up until that point. I had thought that the Ram used a Cummins engine until I read the recent specs. Did Ram change engines?

 

[Diamondpilot]

The Ram ecodiesel would have been an option except that I needed to pull 12k pounds. My F150 would pull better than 7k, but I had to go to a more powerful truck. That was a shame as I had driven that F150 for 16 years up until that point. I had thought that the Ram used a Cummins engine until I read the recent specs. Did Ram change engines?

The Eco Diesel uses a Fiat based in house engine. For now the 2500 series and up still use Cummins but my bet is in the next 3 years they will also go to a in house Fiat engine.

 

[rd_macgregor]

In Sept. 2015, my wife replaced her dying GMC with a RAM ED1500. It has been pretty much trouble-free and hauls a 2-horse trailer well. I wish we had the OEM adjustable air shock bags in it, since it squats a bit when loaded up for a horse show, but it does as well towing as the GMC (with small V-8) did and gets lots better mileage. Hauling the horse trailer on the highway, the GMC used nearly 25 l/100km (of gas), whereas the RAM's diesel consumption when hauling the horses is only a bit over 13 l/100km.
The DEF tank lasts about 10k between refills, so it isn't too much of a hassle, either.
If we did a lot of hauling (or heavier hauling), I think we'd have gone for a RAM hemi or possibly a Ford EB. Since most of our driving is just toodling around, without a load, we like the fuel efficiency of the RAM ED and it is a really comfortable truck to ride in.

 

[TheGoose]

Well my better half told me that the truck was getting 20 mpg towing our two horse trailer. I wanted her to reset the mileage for the trip counter to see what it got but of course she did not :laughing:.
She said the instant was showing 20 on flat ground.

 

[tcartwri]

Well my better half told me that the truck was getting 20 mpg towing our two horse trailer. I wanted her to reset the mileage for the trip counter to see what it got but of course she did not :laughing:.
She said the instant was showing 20 on flat ground.

I found when I test drove the ED that the computer display was actually reporting worse mileage than actual. ( numbers similar to my Hemi, which I knew were wrong for the diesel )

 

[TheGoose]

Thought I would keep this thread updated. Looks like it's getting about 18 mpg all time driving, which is significantly better than what my ecoboost got unloaded. We're pulling a two horse trailer several times a week, probably 6-7K lbs. I hand calculated it at 17.8 which is about what the dash shows (within .2 mpg). It's hard to give a figure on what it gets unloaded since we tow with it so much.

 

[wmonroe]

How many miles are you up to?

 

[TheGoose]

2500. Going to put air bags in the rear to help with towing.

 

[TnWV]

2500. Going to put air bags in the rear to help with towing.

Not sure if you are a member of, or visit, the forum RAM 1500 Diesel Forum, but there is a lot of air bag experience documented there. Seems the most popular are Timber Grove and TLC. I'm no expert on the subject, but have read many of those threads, and I believe both of those companies offer setups with and without compressors. Timbrens also seem to be a popular option. Timbrens are bump stops, and a cheaper option to air bags. that seem to help with sagging and many members of that forum use them and like them. Seems like you tow a lot, so air bags are probably the better option and well worth the extra money for your situation. Just a few options for you to consider as you research.

I hit 6,700 miles on my Ecodiesel yesterday on a trip to Morgantown and back. Lifetime MPG is just over 23 according to my fuelly app. The more I drive this truck, the more I like it!

 

[TheGoose]

I'm not a member at the 1500 diesel forum but I've been reading it a lot.

I'm thinking about going with the air lift 1000. I don't need a lot of lift, just maybe 2 inches. I'm probably not going to install on board air. I'm gonna put the 1000 series bags in for minimal cost and start with 5 psig.

One thing that worries me is on some of the bags you remove the factory springs. I'm not real clear on it. What happens if one of those bags fails??

 

[94BULLITT]

You probably need a weight distribution hitch.

 

[TnWV]

I'm not a member at the 1500 diesel forum but I've been reading it a lot.

I'm thinking about going with the air lift 1000. I don't need a lot of lift, just maybe 2 inches. I'm probably not going to install on board air. I'm gonna put the 1000 series bags in for minimal cost and start with 5 psig.

One thing that worries me is on some of the bags you remove the factory springs. I'm not real clear on it. What happens if one of those bags fails??

That's a good question and one I don't know the answer to. I'd have to hear a pretty good argument for getting bags that require removing the factory springs. I plan to go with a 100% bolt on option when I'm ready.

I also don't plan on getting on board air, as I don't want to give up space to a compressor and tank for something I will not use often.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you end up with.

 

[joefromga]

The air bags just support and supplement the factory springs and usually replace the bump stops.

 

[tcartwri]

I'm not a member at the 1500 diesel forum but I've been reading it a lot.

I'm thinking about going with the air lift 1000. I don't need a lot of lift, just maybe 2 inches. I'm probably not going to install on board air. I'm gonna put the 1000 series bags in for minimal cost and start with 5 psig.

One thing that worries me is on some of the bags you remove the factory springs. I'm not real clear on it. What happens if one of those bags fails??

I had these on my 2014 Ram. They work very very well.

When you install them, the spring has to be in full droop, no weight on the tire at all. I used a large wooden spoon to work the bag into the spring. I would wait until some warm weather to do it, or bring it inside a heated garage. The bags are pretty stiff when they are cold.

 

[Ford850]

You probably need a weight distribution hitch.

That's the answer. Per RAM, WDH for trailers over 5000lbs. That would eliminate the rear sag and give you better handling up front too.

 

[TheGoose]

Since I know nothing of WDH can someone explain what the difference is and recommend a brand?

 

[TheGoose]

I had these on my 2014 Ram. They work very very well.

When you install them, the spring has to be in full droop, no weight on the tire at all. I used a large wooden spoon to work the bag into the spring. I would wait until some warm weather to do it, or bring it inside a heated garage. The bags are pretty stiff when they are cold.

70-80 degrees almost all winter here in S tx. :thumbsup: