I'm taking a hard look at the 2014 Ram 1500 diesel. Are any of you towing with it? How do you like it towing and just every day driving? What kind of mileage are you getting for towing and normal driving? I'm currently towing a Jayco 28BHS travel trailer with a 2000 Chevy Silverado with 5.3L V8. Thanks.

plasticmaster wrote:I'm taking a hard look at the 2014 Ram 1500 diesel. Are any of you towing with it? How do you like it towing and just every day driving? What kind of mileage are you getting for towing and normal driving? I'm currently towing a Jayco 28BHS travel trailer with a 2000 Chevy Silverado with 5.3L V8. Thanks.I can't answer your questions, sorry. But just wanted to make sure you check the payload on the trucks first. Their low payload is what has stopped me from considering them for towing my trailer.

Oh dear I hope not! The Ecodiesel Ram you can carry 800 pounds of trailer tongue weight or a family of 5. Not both at the same time! These are max. Add any more options and it goes down. Ram box and steps is over 150 pounds!The Ram half ton crew cabs are not suitable for family RVing due to the low payloads with the 5.7L offering about 200 pounds more than the diesel - still low.Tundra has about 150 pounds more payload for the same equipment as the Ram 5.7L. F-150 Ecoboost is about 300 pounds more than the Ram 5.7L. And the 2014 GM twins 5.3L are about 600 pounds higher payload than a similar equipped Ram 5.7L. Ford offers two payload improving packages for the F-150 on top of the standard HD payload packages.So as you kick the tires and test drive, note this sticker for as equipped payload when you open each driver's door. Look where mine lists 2051. Make sure the number is high enough for your family, a bed full of camping gear, and your TT tongue weight.

Should do fine with the Ram. If you know your tongue weight then pick the Ram with the appropriate payload capacity. The diesel versions tend to be lower, especially when you get in the higher trim levels.

APT wrote:Oh dear I hope not! The Ecodiesel Ram you can carry 800 pounds of trailer tongue weight or a family of 5. Not both at the same time! These are max. Add any more options and it goes down. Ram box and steps is over 150 pounds!The Ram half ton crew cabs are not suitable for family RVing due to the low payloads with the 5.7L offering about 200 pounds more than the diesel - still low.Tundra has about 150 pounds more payload for the same equipment as the Ram 5.7L. F-150 Ecoboost is about 300 pounds more than the Ram 5.7L. And the 2014 GM twins 5.3L are about 600 pounds higher payload than a similar equipped Ram 5.7L. Ford offers two payload improving packages for the F-150 on top of the standard HD payload packages.So as you kick the tires and test drive, note this sticker for as equipped payload when you open each driver's door. Make sure the number is high enough for your family, a bed full of camping gear, and your TT tongue weight.Really? Why don't you post some pics of the ones that have higher payloads instead of showing the lowest ones? You can do that with the Tundra and the Ford. The OP is interested in the diesel version which if he picks the right trim level will be perfectly adequate.

goducks10 wrote:Really? Why don't you post some pics of the ones that have higher payloads instead of showing the lowest ones? You can do that with the Tundra and the Ford. The OP is interested in the diesel version which if he picks the right trim level will be perfectly adequate.Correct. Get a 2WD SLT and the payload is good. I agree that the Ram ED payload should be higher, but you just need to select the proper model.

Is anyone towing with the Ram 1500 diesel? | Good Sam Community

34 Replies

cummins2014
Explorer
May 25, 2014
Atlee wrote:
Not being familiar with any of the Dodges, what do you consider "not much more cost"? $1,000 or $10,000.

WeBeFulltimers wrote:
Why not just buy a 2500 or 3500 with the 6.7 Cummins and be done with it? Not much more cost but a lot more truck and won't have to buy again for quite a while!

Neighbor just brought home a 2015 Ram 1500 ED, paid as much for it as I did my loaded 2014 Laramie 3500 Megacab cummins. His is also loaded .
Fastfwd75
Explorer
May 25, 2014
JIMNLIN wrote:

LOL. Yeah but everyone has a opinion.
The OP will get more accurate/real world info on a Dodge diesel website than this forum.

Learn what is the bias per forum and then read with that "color" in mind.

The Dodge forum will have more info but also a bias. The important thing when reading international news or trivial forum post is to know the bias and read a lot.
rv.net has a strong bias towards TV overkill. I will fit right in with my F250 and 3600# trailer. Only a few fringe elements praise using a smaller truck with a big camper and they are people who happen to own just such a combination. I have seen countless post about people selling the SUV to go pickup or even 1/2 ton to 3/4. I have yet to see a single one from someone selling the pickup and getting an SUV while keeping the same trailer.

Dodge will be biases towards proving that their truck can do anything and do it better than the other brands. I hang out on Ford forums too and people are much more balanced towards towing numbers vs read world. But they are completely disillusioned when it comes to Ford vs other brands.

I'm sure the Dodge diesel is a good truck. Some people like hybrids; some other like diesels but don't want a 3/4 ton. Be aware of the safety/regulations numbers and make your own choice.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
May 25, 2014
wilber1 wrote:
So the short answer to the OP's question would be. No.

LOL. Yeah but everyone has a opinion.
The OP will get more accurate/real world info on a Dodge diesel website than this forum.

I wouldn't base my opinion about a trucks power plant from one clicky.
Hybridhunter
Explorer
May 24, 2014
brulaz wrote:
pitch wrote:
http://www.ramforum.com/f119/first_ecodiesel_roadtrip_370mi_7600lb_24_enclosed_trailer-49095/

Fixed it

I read the whole thing, a few observations by the poster stood out.

1-He very quickly overloaded the axle (a simple WDH should solve that, no biggie(
2-The 3.0 does not seem up to the task of a TT in the hills. His summary mentioned being at full RPM a number of times
3-Better mileage than a gasser, but not drastically, and factoring in the cost of diesel, I though he would have achieved towing a low profile, narrow (compared to a TT). ( I towed something very similar for a business a few years back, so I have a good idea about the mileage numbers) And his average speeds were pretty low, another reason the mileage did not impress me.
4- Could not pass at 55 in a headwind ( He acknowledge that the effortless 420ft/lbs of torque when cruising, still only had 240hp when called upon
5-Seems like a relaxing luxurious tow vehicle (and to some, this is WHAT MATTER MOST)
6-Nice looking truck
7-Suspension a mixed bag of auto leveling and meager capacity
8- The "magical math" started, and how it's "under rated"- Sorry, it is what it is. And that sort or nebulous talk could be applied to, say an F150 HD is "under rated"at 2700# payload, and it could "handle more"blah blah - Sorry that's rose coloured glasses stuff.

I think to tow a boat, even a good size one, this truck is probably a winner. A full sized TT is going to be a struggle. No doubt that steady state towing, which requires around 130hp to keep a TT going about 65, the diesel will run about 1000- 1500rpm lower than a small gas 6.

A math nugget - at 4500rpm, the base V6 is making around 230hp, while at 3600rpm, the diesel is making 240ish. Which is "working harder"?

No ad hominem please and thanks!
wilber1
Explorer
May 23, 2014
So the short answer to the OP's question would be. No.
brulaz
Explorer
May 23, 2014
PUCampin wrote:
From my quick read of the adventure, it sounds like the exact situation to use the truck for.

4100lb dump trailer loaded with 1900lbs of equipment is a low profile, low center of gravity and LOW 10% TONGUE WEIGHT. So that is about 600lbs. The guy I believe was by himself? So add 175lbs and some stuff. We are at about 800lbs, so he was actually most likely within spec!!

This is NOT THE SAME as typical RV use

Load up the family of 4 or 5, the dog, plus bikes firewood and a generator in the bed. Now hookup a typical 5500lb dry = 6500-7000lb ready to camp trailer wich is high profile, high center of gravity, and has a tongue weight over 900lbs.

Unfortunately, most people do not realize how different these situations are, and neither the truck or RV dealers explain it. They don't explain just how many flavors these trucks come in, the F150 can have a payload from under 1000lbs, to over 3000lbs!! They just tell you you have a huge trailer tow rating, but not how payload determines what kind of trailer.

Actually, reading through the kid's report, which I thoroughly enjoyed by the way and makes me wish I were 45 years younger, I find this:

Now I did have more then the “1009 Pound Max Payload” as a matter of fact I had a total of 1854 pounds total payload including occupants, accessories, and tongue weight.

I think that summarizes the limitations of the truck (not the engine) pretty well.
boocoodinkydow
Explorer
May 23, 2014
WeBeFulltimers wrote:
Why not just buy a 2500 or 3500 with the 6.7 Cummins and be done with it? Not much more cost but a lot more truck and won't have to buy again for quite a while!

Because I love the exceptional ride quality & getting 28.5 mpg the 90% of the time I'm not towing with my new 1500 ecodiesel!!!
APT
Explorer
May 23, 2014
brulaz wrote:
pitch wrote:
http://www.ramforum.com/f119/first_ecodiesel_roadtrip_370mi_7600lb_24_enclosed_trailer-49095/

Fixed it

Oh my no wonder that guy thinks WD is not helpful and thinks needs 45psi in air bags.
Atlee
Explorer II
May 23, 2014
Not being familiar with any of the Dodges, what do you consider "not much more cost"? $1,000 or $10,000.

WeBeFulltimers wrote:
Why not just buy a 2500 or 3500 with the 6.7 Cummins and be done with it? Not much more cost but a lot more truck and won't have to buy again for quite a while!
WeBeFulltimers
Explorer
May 23, 2014
Why not just buy a 2500 or 3500 with the 6.7 Cummins and be done with it? Not much more cost but a lot more truck and won't have to buy again for quite a while!