Ram 1500 diesel review

bimbert84 wrote:
Yes, the EcoDiesel will be able to pull more weight at lower RPMs, and I've conceded this many times. I'm not sure why you feel the need to keep restating it.

And I'm still not sure why you think that's such a big deal. The Hemi will do at 2000 RPM what the EcoDiesel will do at 1600 RPM. With all those gears, it makes it much more likely that you can select a gear that will put it at 2000 RPM to get that power, when and only when you need it.

I keep repeating it because some people like to haul their trailer down the road at 60 MPH in eight gear instead of in seventh or even sixth. They like to do it without their truck shifting down at every little 2% rise in the highway.

Different strokes as the saying goes. If you want to get up the hill fast, buy the hemi. If you want relaxed cruising, buy the diesel.

The EcoDiesel has the same tow rating because they need to sell them. The average person doesn't understand the concepts being discussed in this thread -- all they see are tow ratings and peak numbers.

Just because it doesn't get up a hill fast enough to suite you doesn't mean it can't tow as much. If HP were the only factor in determining a tow rating, tractor trailers shouldn't be able to haul a tenth of what they do.

Yes, multi speed transmissions make a difference but they do it for all engines, not just one and they can only adapt the engines power band to the conditions, they can't change the engine speed at which the engine produces its power. Although, I must say you barely notice it when the 8 speed ZF in my Audi kicks down a cog at highway speeds, but it is a car and isn't towing anything.


I've never said that 240 HP can do more than 400 HP but we are discussing what is possible within the limitations of towing with a 1/2 ton pickup.