Dodge Ram

[Secondhand Mike]

My Ram has the 6 speed manual transmission and I love it. I notice most have the automatics. I hope that is just because they don't want to have to shift themselves.

[Mike Clay]

I loved my 04 6 speed but my knees did like the shifting anymore. That is when I made the jump to Chevy just because of the Allison.

[Traveler II]

My next truck will have an Allison transmission, a Cummins diesel and the ride of F350 or F450.

[mbrolin]

I remember that Mike. This was after you mentioned that you weren't in any hurry and we would just take our time to get to our next camp site I think this was the same trip that I kept breaking valve stems on the truck and trailer. Oh the joys of RVing

[WVcampers]

My next truck will have an Allison transmission, a Cummins diesel and the ride of F350 or F450.

Now you have a winner

[snoking]

My next truck will have an Allison transmission, a Cummins diesel and the ride of F350 or F450.

Have you tested a new Ram with the Aisin Tanny and the 850 ft lbs of torque Cummins? You might just change your required desires. If I had the money I know what I would be driving. My only desission would be SRW and the tall gears or a DRW with 3.73 or 4.10 gears.

[mbrolin]

Snoking, Im like you. Will turn 100k miles today on my 2001. Drive train is holding up but everything else is showing age. Replaced the upper dash, lift pump ,injector pump, brakes. The chrome grille is blistering and the clearcoat is peeling. With our new 5er the truck is over its GVW. Truck pulls great otherwise. It just doesnt pencil out making truck payments. FYI, I spent 7 years as a truckdriver so I didn't put many miles on the Dodge at that time.

[Mike Clay]

Well as normal here is my take. IF it can pull a 30k trailer it would not be me doing it with the Dodge or any pickup. Like I said it is nice to see Dodge coming back, remember I owned several of them. Now with the new posting of HP guidelines it is going to be interesting when the dust settles and see the outcome. Another thing to think about down the road is Toyota and Nissan are coming out with their version of a full size diesel light duty pickup with a 5.0 V8 Cummins. This should give the big 3 a real headache down the road when they evolve.

I think the big 3 are going to be pretty even and be more of a buyers choice. But don't fall into a trap and (if you could find a 5th wheel that heavy) you can safely tow and stop it. Do the math 9,000 pound truck being pushed by a 30,000 lb trailer. There needs to be a limit on what these trucks are allowed to pull safely. My past trip put us on the road for 5 months and this year will be 9 months and let me tell you I have seen some trailer truck combos that should not even be allowed on the road.

http://rv-buyingtips.blogspot.com/2014/ ... -lies.html

[mbrolin]

You are right Mike. My 5.9 Cummins has no problem pulling the 13000 lb Blue Ridge ( not even loaded fully for a long trip), its the suspension and drivetrain which are more important. I have the power for what Im towing right now. Its the brakes, driveline, springs, axles and even frame which may not hold up in the long run. I was told that having a 4x4 means you will go farther into the woods before you get stuck. You will get stuck just a matter of when. Same way with power. I have the power and I knew when I purchased the 5er that I was pushing the limits of my truck. But I will deal with that later. We have both been truck drivers in our past and I can not imagine towing 30k with a pickup. All 3 major manufacturers have great products. Its more a personal opinion of what you buy. With my present setup I am 600lbs over GCVW,1800lbs over GVW but under my truck and trailer axles weights. I am also under my max towing capacity.

[snoking]

Don't know? I drove a 15K Titan 90 Chevy twin screw tractor and towed a trailer that was 65K when full of gas. They tow triples in Oregon with single screw tractors that weigh 12K or so, and gross higher than 80K. Chris

[Mike Clay]

There ya go now thats comparing apples to apples.