Ram 1500 Diesel Towing Capacity?

itguy08 wrote:

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But the Ecoboost 2.7 is the match for the Ecodiesel and it gets nearly the same MPG, and has better performance towing and not towing. Watch The Fast Lane Trucks test of them both. The MPG difference in the EB2.7 more than offsets the higher cost of Diesel here on the East Coast.
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The EB 2.7 may get similar mileage when not towing, but when tow/hauling heavy at the truck's limits, I'm sure the EcoD does a lot better.

Then you get into the whole thing about what makes a better tow truck: diesel or gas. Not going there ...

IMHO, where the F150 with the 2.7 EB beats the RAM EcoD is in the payload department, assuming you get its HD Payload option it can max around 2000#.

brulaz wrote:
It all depends upon how much you are tow/hauling.

The Ecodiesel is not rated to tow anywhere near your 9500#. You need the HP of the 3.5L Ecoboost. There's a lot of people out there that aren't pulling that big a trailer and don't need that much HP.

And more HP is not always better, especially if you want to keep your mileage down.

Besides, you had almost a half mile to merge. I would have slowed down and slipped in behind the truck, even with my Ecoboost and 8000# trailer.

But the Ecoboost 2.7 is the match for the Ecodiesel and it gets nearly the same MPG, and has better performance towing and not towing. Watch The Fast Lane Trucks test of them both. The MPG difference in the EB2.7 more than offsets the higher cost of Diesel here on the East Coast.

Yes could have slowed but I was about 1/2 way up on him and already doing 45 or so in a 65 zone. Slowing down would have been a hazard, IMHO. But with the power I was able to safely get in front of him and had no drama.

itguy08 wrote:

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No but when you hit the hills you will appreciate the better HP of any engine over that Ecodiesel....

Was coming home this weekend towing the camper (9500 lbs) and up a hill in the right lane with a semi in the right hand truck lane with the Ecoboost 3.5. Saw the sign "lane ends 2500 ft, merge right.". Being right along side the semi I pushed the skinny pedal to the floor. Downshifted to 2nd and we gained on him and got it up to 65 (from about 45). Had that been a lesser truck like an Ecodiesel, that would not have happened and there could have been an accident.

Not a 0-60 time but pulling a load where you needed and appreciated the superior power of the better truck.

Heck, the Ecodiesel is outpowered by the Ecoboost 2.7! Just watch TFL Truck's tow up the Ike....

It all depends upon how much you are tow/hauling.

The Ecodiesel is not rated to tow anywhere near your 9500#. You need the HP of the 3.5L Ecoboost. There's a lot of people out there that aren't pulling that big a trailer and don't need that much HP.

And more HP is not always better, especially if you want to keep your mileage down.

Besides, you had almost a half mile to merge. I would have slowed down and slipped in behind the truck, even with my Ecoboost and 8000# trailer.

wilber1 wrote:
If a particular vehicle meets our needs, all our views are subjective. How many of us have ever done, 0-60 runs, empty or towing with our own vehicles? How many of us have ever made a full throttle 0-60 run with one of our trucks, let alone time it? Not many I'm thinking.

I haven't.

No but when you hit the hills you will appreciate the better HP of any engine over that Ecodiesel....

Was coming home this weekend towing the camper (9500 lbs) and up a hill in the right lane with a semi in the right hand truck lane with the Ecoboost 3.5. Saw the sign "lane ends 2500 ft, merge right.". Being right along side the semi I pushed the skinny pedal to the floor. Downshifted to 2nd and we gained on him and got it up to 65 (from about 45). Had that been a lesser truck like an Ecodiesel, that would not have happened and there could have been an accident.

Not a 0-60 time but pulling a load where you needed and appreciated the superior power of the better truck.

Heck, the Ecodiesel is outpowered by the Ecoboost 2.7! Just watch TFL Truck's tow up the Ike. No Guts, No Glory, Ram.

If a particular vehicle meets our needs, all our views are subjective. How many of us have ever done, 0-60 runs, empty or towing with our own vehicles? How many of us have ever made a full throttle 0-60 run with one of our trucks, let alone time it? Not many I'm thinking.

I haven't.

Congrats on the purchase! I hope it treats you very well.

I do hope over the next 8 years of expected ownership and approx. 100k miles of nationwide towing and total mileage in the 180-200k to share the good and bad of this truck with the forum. It will be biased only in that I just sold a 2008 Lariat f150 that did the above numbers with great reliability, but the 5.4 was a thirsty beast indeed. I explored all the options, and for what I do and tow, this truck surfaced as a real opportunity to have a diesel towing experience but not have the 3/4 ton commitment. If I can realize expected towing mileage in the 15mpg range, then even with higher maint cost this is a slam dunk decision. Having self leveling suspension on half ton, if reliable is a no brainer in my mind. The truck has big shoes to fill. Time will tell..

Welcome to the dark side. :C

:)

Well guys, just brought our new ED home. 3.92 diff. Silver Laramie with the sunroof, all the packages/ air suspension. Did 650 miles home ( 1 tank) from the dealer, all highway and finally turned off the radio and had some stop and go. The music that little turbo diesel made alongside the ZF chirping off 5 shifts all at less than 2k rpm and reaching past 50 mph made me LOL. Still has 3 more to go and never was over 2100 rpm even at 80 mph. Its a beautiful combination, nothing compares on the market and I cant wait to hook up the coach. The full air ride is another dimension that has to be felt to understand. I love it.