2015 Ram 3500 review
I can now do an official report on the truck. Bottom line (at the top for your convenience) is wife and I are completely happy with our selection of the 6.4 auto.
My old truck was an 04.5 CTD, SRW, 4x4, Quad cab, 3500 with NV5600. At 180k miles, it was just getting broken in, but my wife absolutely refused to drive the manual. Due to health issues, it was imperative that my wife be able to help with the driving and drive in case of an emergency.
New truck is identical except 15 w/6.4, crew and auto. I debated back and forth between 3.73/4.10 gears finally decided on 3.73 because I figured hauling I would be in 5th gear and for the 2400 - 3000 pound truck camper, the 4.10s in 5th would be overkill.
With 2800 miles on the odometer and 2,400 pounds of camper in the bed, we left for a drive around middle and upper Georgia. In upper Georgia I took a lot of the same roads in both trucks. Back home after 1200 miles have a good feel for what I miss and don't like.
When talking, lets remember the NV5600 6th gear is right in the middle of the new auto's 5th and 6th.
I miss the low rpm torque of the NV5600 being able to pull the hills without shifting. The 6.4 needed to shift down to 5th and unlock the torque converter to maintain speed.
I dearly miss the engine braking of the CTD. Use to come down the hills without touching the brakes after downshifting. Now, after downshifting and letting the engine run to 3,500 rpms, still had to use the brakes. Never hit any very long grades, but believe they would not have an issue with my load.
I believe Ram could have done better with the brakes. While they are there, it takes a good bit of pressure. Not a stand on with both feet amount, but lots more than my old truck did even if I didn't use the engine braking.
Now - the things I love about the new ride.
Not having to shift tied with having my wife share some of the driving (when she isn't scarring me).
Fuel mileage wise, I was needing 10mpg average loaded to be with in my "acceptable" expense range. This trip was 99.98% back roads, often with stops every 5 miles for sightseeing. Hand calculated shows an average of 11.7 mpg. Almost all of the trip did not use tow/haul mode except for a few of the bigger hills in the mountains. Think this would be about the same on a long distance trip running 60mph. Typically, we are able to figure about 250 miles between fill-ups.
Engine braking. Yes, it does exist because of the use of the vvt to let the engine build compression. When you can get it to engage in tow/haul mode. Think it is a good start, but I could not get it to engage all the time. One of the campgrounds I stayed at was on top of a mountain. The first 1/2 mile from the campground is up to 25% grade, probably averages 15-18% but even letting the engine race to 4,000 rpm, it would engage, possibly because it was still cold. On the normal highway, I can see this as a big advantage. Just need to find out how to get it to engage when needed.
Power: Never needed more power as long as I was willing to let it down shift and run the rpms up at the cost of lots of fuel. Most of the rolling hills was able to handle in 5th gear with torque converter unlocked. On a few of the longer steeper hills, would let it shift to 4th but was still under 3,000 rpm. On the very steep climb, it easily held 2nd gear about 2,800 rpm. When I hit the 25% grade portion, just gave it a little more throttle and maintained the speed.
Noise: For the first time, my wife wanted to listen to the radio almost the entire time. No need to blast the radio to hear over the engine. Even when the engine reved to 2,500 rpm, didn't have to turn the radio up.
Still undecided on the gear selection. I prefer to run about 55 mph on the back roads and the engine seems to be loaded in 6th gear but does handle it fine. 5th gear drops the fuel mileage about 2-3mpg. Means I get better mileage at 60mph in 6th. If I had gone with 4.10s, I would be able to run my desired 55mph with ease, but not sure how much of a hit the mpgs would take. Realize some would be gained from easing the engine load, but not sure how much. If you aren't worried about mpgs, I would definitely recommend the 4.10s. For now, I'm happy with my choice of 3.73 as the camper is on only about half the time.
My old truck was an 04.5 CTD, SRW, 4x4, Quad cab, 3500 with NV5600. At 180k miles, it was just getting broken in, but my wife absolutely refused to drive the manual. Due to health issues, it was imperative that my wife be able to help with the driving and drive in case of an emergency.
New truck is identical except 15 w/6.4, crew and auto. I debated back and forth between 3.73/4.10 gears finally decided on 3.73 because I figured hauling I would be in 5th gear and for the 2400 - 3000 pound truck camper, the 4.10s in 5th would be overkill.
With 2800 miles on the odometer and 2,400 pounds of camper in the bed, we left for a drive around middle and upper Georgia. In upper Georgia I took a lot of the same roads in both trucks. Back home after 1200 miles have a good feel for what I miss and don't like.
When talking, lets remember the NV5600 6th gear is right in the middle of the new auto's 5th and 6th.
I miss the low rpm torque of the NV5600 being able to pull the hills without shifting. The 6.4 needed to shift down to 5th and unlock the torque converter to maintain speed.
I dearly miss the engine braking of the CTD. Use to come down the hills without touching the brakes after downshifting. Now, after downshifting and letting the engine run to 3,500 rpms, still had to use the brakes. Never hit any very long grades, but believe they would not have an issue with my load.
I believe Ram could have done better with the brakes. While they are there, it takes a good bit of pressure. Not a stand on with both feet amount, but lots more than my old truck did even if I didn't use the engine braking.
Now - the things I love about the new ride.
Not having to shift tied with having my wife share some of the driving (when she isn't scarring me).
Fuel mileage wise, I was needing 10mpg average loaded to be with in my "acceptable" expense range. This trip was 99.98% back roads, often with stops every 5 miles for sightseeing. Hand calculated shows an average of 11.7 mpg. Almost all of the trip did not use tow/haul mode except for a few of the bigger hills in the mountains. Think this would be about the same on a long distance trip running 60mph. Typically, we are able to figure about 250 miles between fill-ups.
Engine braking. Yes, it does exist because of the use of the vvt to let the engine build compression. When you can get it to engage in tow/haul mode. Think it is a good start, but I could not get it to engage all the time. One of the campgrounds I stayed at was on top of a mountain. The first 1/2 mile from the campground is up to 25% grade, probably averages 15-18% but even letting the engine race to 4,000 rpm, it would engage, possibly because it was still cold. On the normal highway, I can see this as a big advantage. Just need to find out how to get it to engage when needed.
Power: Never needed more power as long as I was willing to let it down shift and run the rpms up at the cost of lots of fuel. Most of the rolling hills was able to handle in 5th gear with torque converter unlocked. On a few of the longer steeper hills, would let it shift to 4th but was still under 3,000 rpm. On the very steep climb, it easily held 2nd gear about 2,800 rpm. When I hit the 25% grade portion, just gave it a little more throttle and maintained the speed.
Noise: For the first time, my wife wanted to listen to the radio almost the entire time. No need to blast the radio to hear over the engine. Even when the engine reved to 2,500 rpm, didn't have to turn the radio up.
Still undecided on the gear selection. I prefer to run about 55 mph on the back roads and the engine seems to be loaded in 6th gear but does handle it fine. 5th gear drops the fuel mileage about 2-3mpg. Means I get better mileage at 60mph in 6th. If I had gone with 4.10s, I would be able to run my desired 55mph with ease, but not sure how much of a hit the mpgs would take. Realize some would be gained from easing the engine load, but not sure how much. If you aren't worried about mpgs, I would definitely recommend the 4.10s. For now, I'm happy with my choice of 3.73 as the camper is on only about half the time.
