Ram 2500 Hemi tow review - UPDATED
So I finally got to put some miles on towing my 5er. The trip was only about 60 miles, but had some rolling hills, a bit of city towing fighting long weekend traffic too.
Set up is as pictured. Gcwr is about 18,500# give or take. We are lightly loaded gear wise, but the fresh water tank was full. I think its 60 gal.
It towed the load just fine, plenty of power to accelerate and climb grades, it even climbed all the overpasses in 5th with no downshifting or gear hunting. But I do have a couple nits to pick.
1, it can hold 5th gear, but it takes some coaxing to get there. If you just hit resume on the cruise, it will easily get back up to your set speed, but likes to hang in 4th at 2800 RPM, rather than use 5th at 2100 RPM. To get into 5th, you have to manually accelerate past the set speed, the let it slow down a bit and it will drop into, and hold 5th. Never saw 6th when towing.
2, I'm having issues with the built in brake controller recognizing that the RV is electrically connected to the truck. On the trailer brake screen on the EVIC it says "no trailer connected", even when the RV is connected and the lights (including brake and turn lights) all work, but the trailer brakes won't. After 15 min or so of driving it finally recognized the connection and the brake started working. It did the same thing during my 10 mile shake down tow. Likely a problem with my POJ RV.
Mileage was 8.4 mpg average from start, through the city and to the campground.
All in all I am happy, but I'd like to get the trailer brake thing figured out before we head to the mountains.
Set up is as pictured. Gcwr is about 18,500# give or take. We are lightly loaded gear wise, but the fresh water tank was full. I think its 60 gal.
It towed the load just fine, plenty of power to accelerate and climb grades, it even climbed all the overpasses in 5th with no downshifting or gear hunting. But I do have a couple nits to pick.
1, it can hold 5th gear, but it takes some coaxing to get there. If you just hit resume on the cruise, it will easily get back up to your set speed, but likes to hang in 4th at 2800 RPM, rather than use 5th at 2100 RPM. To get into 5th, you have to manually accelerate past the set speed, the let it slow down a bit and it will drop into, and hold 5th. Never saw 6th when towing.
2, I'm having issues with the built in brake controller recognizing that the RV is electrically connected to the truck. On the trailer brake screen on the EVIC it says "no trailer connected", even when the RV is connected and the lights (including brake and turn lights) all work, but the trailer brakes won't. After 15 min or so of driving it finally recognized the connection and the brake started working. It did the same thing during my 10 mile shake down tow. Likely a problem with my POJ RV.
Mileage was 8.4 mpg average from start, through the city and to the campground.
All in all I am happy, but I'd like to get the trailer brake thing figured out before we head to the mountains.
