2015 RAM 3500 SRW Review
I posted on here earlier about getting a new TV, 2015 RAM 3500 Laramie SRW, 3.42 rear, 68FRE trans, with 5th wheel prep, air assist. Live in PA but ended up buying it in Minnesota. First trip finally with the RAM and the Fusion. My old TV was a 2005 Dodge RAM 3500 DRW with the 5.9L, 4.10 gears and the old 48RE trans.
I had 2000 miles on the truck before the trip and we just put another 2000 on it towing from PA to Livingston MT. We took the PA/Ohio/Indiana turnpike to 90, then 90 north to 94 and up thru Madison WI, MN, and thru North Dakota, then thru Billings MT and ended up at Livingston.
5'er is a 35' Fusion Touring, weighing in at roughly 13K loaded for this trip.
So here are my thoughts so far:
The GOOD:
1) This truck is great. It pulls the hills so much better then my old one even with the 3.42 gearing.
2) The Exhaust brake is awesome, not sure how I towed without one.
3) Some people have said that the new RAMS beds are higher and are causing clearance issues, none here. I have 6 3/4" clearance on the bed rails and the 5'er is just slightly nose high, and I mean just slightly. The level bubble is just off dead zero.
4) Mileage on the 2000 mile trip so far is 9.3 mpg.
5) Some people have said the SRW's feel unstable. Maybe with a bigger 5'er, but I can tell you from towing with the old 05 DRW, same 5'er, that I feel just as comfortable towing with this new RAM. We hit some good cross winds in North Dakota and it handled them as good as the old DRW. The truck just tows that much better (see #1 above)
The BAD:
1) Minor nit, I am using more DEF than expected. I know it is related to how much fuel and not miles. But I am only getting around 34 gallons per 1 gal of DEF. From what I read it should be around 50:1. But this really doesn't bother me too much.
2) THey really need to put a larger tank in these trucks. I get about 28-29 usable gallons with the stock tank. So not even 300 miles on a tank when towing. Luckily I moved my 50 gal RDS aux tank over.
Summary: If your trailer/5'er falls in the weight ratings of this truck, you can't go wrong. I know some on here are die hard DRW's, but in my case I am using the truck for more than just pulling the 5'er.
Here is a pic of the rig just east of Billings MT
I had 2000 miles on the truck before the trip and we just put another 2000 on it towing from PA to Livingston MT. We took the PA/Ohio/Indiana turnpike to 90, then 90 north to 94 and up thru Madison WI, MN, and thru North Dakota, then thru Billings MT and ended up at Livingston.
5'er is a 35' Fusion Touring, weighing in at roughly 13K loaded for this trip.
So here are my thoughts so far:
The GOOD:
1) This truck is great. It pulls the hills so much better then my old one even with the 3.42 gearing.
2) The Exhaust brake is awesome, not sure how I towed without one.
3) Some people have said that the new RAMS beds are higher and are causing clearance issues, none here. I have 6 3/4" clearance on the bed rails and the 5'er is just slightly nose high, and I mean just slightly. The level bubble is just off dead zero.
4) Mileage on the 2000 mile trip so far is 9.3 mpg.
5) Some people have said the SRW's feel unstable. Maybe with a bigger 5'er, but I can tell you from towing with the old 05 DRW, same 5'er, that I feel just as comfortable towing with this new RAM. We hit some good cross winds in North Dakota and it handled them as good as the old DRW. The truck just tows that much better (see #1 above)
The BAD:
1) Minor nit, I am using more DEF than expected. I know it is related to how much fuel and not miles. But I am only getting around 34 gallons per 1 gal of DEF. From what I read it should be around 50:1. But this really doesn't bother me too much.
2) THey really need to put a larger tank in these trucks. I get about 28-29 usable gallons with the stock tank. So not even 300 miles on a tank when towing. Luckily I moved my 50 gal RDS aux tank over.
Summary: If your trailer/5'er falls in the weight ratings of this truck, you can't go wrong. I know some on here are die hard DRW's, but in my case I am using the truck for more than just pulling the 5'er.
Here is a pic of the rig just east of Billings MT
