Just got back from the family vacation to Yosemite. Has to be about the most beautiful place I've ever seen. We've taken the new Ram with the 6.4 on a few trips already, but this was what I would consider to be the first big test. We took the scenic route in which was about 65 miles of steep inclines, sharp turns, cliffs as well as ice and snow. We got as high as 6000 ft as far as altitude goes. Camper was tipping the scales at 7500 lbs. Between the interstate and really bad back roads the truck averaged 9.8 mpg. More importantly, it never struggled winding through the mountains. I've decide the Tow/Haul mode on the truck is worthless on the interstate. All it does is burn gas. It did come in handy in the mountains helping to slow the truck down and not having to ride the brakes as much. This 3/4 ton truck continues to make me happy.I've decided if I go back into the mountains in the wintertime I'm going to get at least one set of tire chains for the camper so the trailer breaks are still effective on the ice. I would also like to get rid of these crappy tires (TransForce HT) Ram put on the truck. They handle the camper fine but they ride like bricks and have limited off pavement traction.

Sounds like another happy Ram 6.4 owner!Now about winter towing in the Western stats in believe that Washing, Oregon, and California require "drag chains" on a trailer if the TV is chained. I also believe you are required in all three to carry both in the mountains during the the winter.

For Oregon and Washington, if the signs says "Carry Chains", carry 1 pair for your TV, and 1 pair for your trailer. Washington Minimum Chain RequirementsOregon Minimum Chain RequirementsShould give you an idea on how to properly chain up your trailer. but I'd be concerned about the minimum clearance between tires on some of the rigs. You could consider auto socks as well since they're approved on the west coast Auto sock webby

Wow, that's a little better mpg than I used to get with a 96 1/2T Ram 360 auto pulling a 5k 5er! Craig

Sounds like a fun outing :) I'm jealous as the biggest thing my 6.4 Hemi has hauled in the last couple months is a Christmas tree. My TT is very similar weight and here in Oregon I'm familiar with the steep winding roads you talk of. Coming from a diesel I'm very happy with this truck. But, my only area of displeasure comes in the steep winding terrain where the gap between 1st and 2nd gear seems like a mile. I find myself spinning at 4500 RPM in 1st or lugggggggging at 1400 RPM in second to maintain a typical curvy road speed of say 30 MPH.I have the 3.73 gears and would MUCH rather have had the 4.10s but didn't want to pay/wait to order so I took what I could get on the dealer's lot. Anyway, just curious what ratio you're running and what your take is on the low speed hill/curves with that load. Again, I love my truck 98% of the time so Ford fanboy trolls please refrain. I'm talking about pretty isolated set of circumstances that are less than ideal.

mtofell1 wrote:Sounds like a fun outing :) I'm jealous as the biggest thing my 6.4 Hemi has hauled in the last couple months is a Christmas tree. My TT is very similar weight and here in Oregon I'm familiar with the steep winding roads you talk of. Coming from a diesel I'm very happy with this truck. But, my only area of displeasure comes in the steep winding terrain where the gap between 1st and 2nd gear seems like a mile. I find myself spinning at 4500 RPM in 1st or lugggggggging at 1400 RPM in second to maintain a typical curvy road speed of say 30 MPH.I have the 3.73 gears and would MUCH rather have had the 4.10s but didn't want to pay/wait to order so I took what I could get on the dealer's lot. Anyway, just curious what ratio you're running and what your take is on the low speed hill/curves with that load. Again, I love my truck 98% of the time so Ford fanboy trolls please refrain. I'm talking about pretty isolated set of circumstances that are less than ideal.Is that the only transmission available with the 6.4? I'm not stuck to a single manufacturer; in fact, we have a Ford, Chevy, and Jeep in the household, so it's a serious question. I'm heavily considering the 6.4 as a replacement for my current truck. Thanks.

First Big Test for the Ram 6.4 | Good Sam Community

32 Replies

Hannibal
Explorer
Jan 09, 2016
The irony is, people perceive 2000rpm as loafing along and relaxed when it reality, 2000rpm is a blur. 33 revolutions per second. 2900rpm like my 250hp Cummins needed to run to pull a grade was 48 revolutions per second. That's not a leisurely speed like pedaling a bicycle 60rpm or a lumbering 12rpm waterwheel. A 19,000rpm Formula One racer is getting on up there. Our little car size diesels and gassers are pretty close in the big scheme of things.
spoon059
Explorer II
Jan 09, 2016
IdaD wrote:
I meant the reaction of the driver is subjective. Some find diesels to be a more relaxed experience such as me, others evidently did gassers more relaxed. That's completely subjective.

Oh, you are 100% right. Sorry for the misunderstanding. We leave in 5 weeks for a 2000 mile round trip to Florida. I'm hoping to find a more relaxing trip with my diesel. I never found it uncomfortable with the Tundra, but I am tired after 7 or 8 hours driving. We usually take a break every 2.5 to 3 hours because of the dogs and toddlers. It would be nice to feel more refreshed at the end of the day.
IdaD
Explorer
Jan 09, 2016
spoon059 wrote:
IdaD wrote:
What's laughable is arguing over something that's totally subjective. And the notion that you need to spend $70k to get a new diesel. Mine was $39k brand new last June and it's pretty well equipped.

Its not subjective, its truth. Gas engines work by revving. Turbo diesel engines work by spooling the turbo. Effort is effort.

Good deal finding new for $39K. Around my parts they are usually significantly more expensive. Perhaps $70K was on the higher scale, but I notice a lot of people here like options on their trucks.

I meant the reaction of the driver is subjective. Some find diesels to be a more relaxed experience such as me, others evidently did gassers more relaxed. That's completely subjective.
spoon059
Explorer II
Jan 09, 2016
IdaD wrote:
What's laughable is arguing over something that's totally subjective. And the notion that you need to spend $70k to get a new diesel. Mine was $39k brand new last June and it's pretty well equipped.

Its not subjective, its truth. Gas engines work by revving. Turbo diesel engines work by spooling the turbo. Effort is effort.

Good deal finding new for $39K. Around my parts they are usually significantly more expensive. Perhaps $70K was on the higher scale, but I notice a lot of people here like options on their trucks.
IdaD
Explorer
Jan 09, 2016
spoon059 wrote:
Hannibal wrote:
Perception is everything. If it "sounds" like it's effortless, it must not be working hard at all. To me, the groan of a diesel sounds more stressful than the subtle roar of a V8 gasser. But if it takes 250hp to pull 17000 lbs up a 5% grade at 60mph, that's what it takes and both engine will have to produce it. My last Cummins powered Ram had to run 2900rpm to produce 250hp. That was quite a racket.

I think you are right. Some people with an agenda to push will try to make you believe that the diesel is "effortlessly" pulling those weights and the gas engine is about to explode from overuse. I despise when people make these false claims on a forum where other people are seeking advice. Some people will actually believe the falsehoods and be very upset when they drop $70K on a new truck and realize that it was a lie.

Fact is, both trucks are working just as hard to produce the power. They are designed to safely make that power, just in different ways and at different rpms.

I had no problem with my gas engine pushing 3000 rpms to get up the mountain. I have no problem with my turbo spinning and creating 20 psi to get up the mountain. But to say one is more "effortless" than the other is laughable...

What's laughable is arguing over something that's totally subjective. And the notion that you need to spend $70k to get a new diesel. Mine was $39k brand new last June and it's pretty well equipped.
spoon059
Explorer II
Jan 09, 2016
Hannibal wrote:
Perception is everything. If it "sounds" like it's effortless, it must not be working hard at all. To me, the groan of a diesel sounds more stressful than the subtle roar of a V8 gasser. But if it takes 250hp to pull 17000 lbs up a 5% grade at 60mph, that's what it takes and both engine will have to produce it. My last Cummins powered Ram had to run 2900rpm to produce 250hp. That was quite a racket.

I think you are right. Some people with an agenda to push will try to make you believe that the diesel is "effortlessly" pulling those weights and the gas engine is about to explode from overuse. I despise when people make these false claims on a forum where other people are seeking advice. Some people will actually believe the falsehoods and be very upset when they drop $70K on a new truck and realize that it was a lie.

Fact is, both trucks are working just as hard to produce the power. They are designed to safely make that power, just in different ways and at different rpms.

I had no problem with my gas engine pushing 3000 rpms to get up the mountain. I have no problem with my turbo spinning and creating 20 psi to get up the mountain. But to say one is more "effortless" than the other is laughable...
goducks10
Explorer
Jan 09, 2016
Different strokes for different folks.
tragusa3
Explorer
Jan 09, 2016
Exactly! I'm not concerned of how much work it is doing (agree its the same with both). I'm only concerned about my perception...and my perception is effortless.
Hannibal
Explorer
Jan 09, 2016
spoon059 wrote:
alexleblanc wrote:
have you actually towed with a turbo Gas/Diesel?
Fuel consumption aside, you'd understand what we mean by effortless.

I've towed with both and Ecoboost F150 and my current Diesel but also several 5.3 GM's and a 5.7 Toyota and "effortless" is certainly a good description for the performance. Low end torque at a low RPM will do that.

Yes, I towed with a Tundra 5.7 gas engine and my current Ram with the Cummins. They both had plenty of power to tow my 8500lbs trailer. The Tundra would lope along at about 2000 rpm's on the flat highway and downshift and climb to 3000 or 3500 rpm's climbing grades near me. The Tundra always had enough power to maintain my 65-70 mph towing speeds, it just required a downshift and higher rpm's.

The Ram will lope along at about 1600 rpms on the flat highway and will sometimes shift down a gear on grades, but that turbo starts spinning when we hit a grade. The Ram obviously has enough power for the 8500 lbs.

The gas engine downshifts and increases rpm. The diesel engine may or may not downshift (depending on grade and weight), but that turbo will start to spin to create the power. Both trucks are working. The gas is just louder because of higher rpms.

I don't understand the argument that the diesel is pulling "effortlessly" though... when that turbo is spooling, its working hard... just quieter.

Perception is everything. If it "sounds" like it's effortless, it must not be working hard at all. To me, the groan of a diesel sounds more stressful than the subtle roar of a V8 gasser. But if it takes 250hp to pull 17000 lbs up a 5% grade at 60mph, that's what it takes and both engine will have to produce it. My last Cummins powered Ram had to run 2900rpm to produce 250hp. That was quite a racket.
spoon059
Explorer II
Jan 08, 2016
alexleblanc wrote:
have you actually towed with a turbo Gas/Diesel?
Fuel consumption aside, you'd understand what we mean by effortless.

I've towed with both and Ecoboost F150 and my current Diesel but also several 5.3 GM's and a 5.7 Toyota and "effortless" is certainly a good description for the performance. Low end torque at a low RPM will do that.

Yes, I towed with a Tundra 5.7 gas engine and my current Ram with the Cummins. They both had plenty of power to tow my 8500lbs trailer. The Tundra would lope along at about 2000 rpm's on the flat highway and downshift and climb to 3000 or 3500 rpm's climbing grades near me. The Tundra always had enough power to maintain my 65-70 mph towing speeds, it just required a downshift and higher rpm's.

The Ram will lope along at about 1600 rpms on the flat highway and will sometimes shift down a gear on grades, but that turbo starts spinning when we hit a grade. The Ram obviously has enough power for the 8500 lbs.

The gas engine downshifts and increases rpm. The diesel engine may or may not downshift (depending on grade and weight), but that turbo will start to spin to create the power. Both trucks are working. The gas is just louder because of higher rpms.

I don't understand the argument that the diesel is pulling "effortlessly" though... when that turbo is spooling, its working hard... just quieter.