RAM EcoDiesel a Flop for Towing
Here's the lowdown. Bruce
Forum Discussion
I kind of agree with the OP. I know a lot of people that were expecting this diesel to be like the bigger towing diesels in the HDs and outperform the 2.7L Ecoboost or even the 3.5L Ecoboost in towing before it came out. This engine didn't live up to the hype towing performance wise just as the 3.5L Ecoboost didn't live up to its fuel economy hype in certain aspects. This video is kind of justice for me from all those who said I was just being a fanboy when I told them that while the Ecodiesel will deliver on its promise of better fuel economy, it will not be a towing machine like the bigger diesels, big V8s, or the 3.5L Ecoboost engine is. It will get the job done, but not with the power to spare to easily overtake slower moving traffic or merge into traffic quickly coming on an onramp like the others will.
Also, I do think Ram needs to re-evaluate that trucks max tow rating. That Ram 3.0L Ecodiesel in the video was only towing 80% of its max tow rating that Ram gave it and could barely hold within 10 mph of the speed limit with no power to spare. That is not acceptable to me. It may have been fine for my grandpa back in the day, but I expect more than that in my truck. In contrast the 2.7L Ecoboost, which towed the same trailer, was towing at 95% of its max tow rating and it easily held the speed limit and had power to spare. I know there is a J2807 tow rating for these trucks but that don't seem right. They both towed the same weight and the same trailer, yet the Ram Ecodiesel with a 8,950 lb tow rating was easily outperformed by the 2.7L Ecoboost that had a 7,600 lbs tow rating. That just doesn't seem right to me.
That is just like how the Ram 2500 6.4L that is rated to tow 15,000 lbs was only able to tow going 30 mph pulling the same 12,500 lbs that the GM 2500HD 6.0L with a 13,000 lb tow rating was easily able to keep speed going up the same hill. I just don't get why Ram gave it such a high tow rating if it gets outperformed by a truck with less of a tow rating.
Also, I do think Ram needs to re-evaluate that trucks max tow rating. That Ram 3.0L Ecodiesel in the video was only towing 80% of its max tow rating that Ram gave it and could barely hold within 10 mph of the speed limit with no power to spare. That is not acceptable to me. It may have been fine for my grandpa back in the day, but I expect more than that in my truck. In contrast the 2.7L Ecoboost, which towed the same trailer, was towing at 95% of its max tow rating and it easily held the speed limit and had power to spare. I know there is a J2807 tow rating for these trucks but that don't seem right. They both towed the same weight and the same trailer, yet the Ram Ecodiesel with a 8,950 lb tow rating was easily outperformed by the 2.7L Ecoboost that had a 7,600 lbs tow rating. That just doesn't seem right to me.
That is just like how the Ram 2500 6.4L that is rated to tow 15,000 lbs was only able to tow going 30 mph pulling the same 12,500 lbs that the GM 2500HD 6.0L with a 13,000 lb tow rating was easily able to keep speed going up the same hill. I just don't get why Ram gave it such a high tow rating if it gets outperformed by a truck with less of a tow rating.
