New Truck's First Outing

[RustyJC]

Here's the new truck (see signature) out on its first towing assignment over the Memorial Day weekend. It handled our 19K 5th wheel without breaking a sweat. Even my wife (who drove for part of the trip) gave it her seal of approval.



Rusty

[Cummins12V98]

Mine rides about 1" higher in the rear in "normal" mode.

[transamz9]

The point I was making about my truck is that normal and alt trailer height is no different when unhooked. The steel springs carry my unloaded truck. My truck will stay in the alt mode but the springs lift it back to the factory rake. The tongue weight of my boat (~500 lb) will put enough weight on it to keep it down but not empty.

[Cummins12V98]

My point I was trying to make is when unhitching you raise the RV to the right height to un hook hitch the truck will try to re level. Transport mode will keep the truck from moving around but it goes out of alt ride after that. If you use tire jack mode the truck will sit stably while you unhook then after moving the truck it will return to alt ride. I like my truck in alt ride all the time.

This time was I clear?

Jim, your truck will stay in alt ride unless you turn it off and will not go back until there is enough of a load.

[Vette_Racer]

On my 2016 when I put a load on it and push the button for alt ride height, it stays in alt ride after unhooking and will only go back to normal if I push the button. I also didn't see any change in height when hooking up or unhooking, stays the same, only changes by about an inch when switching from normal ride to alt ride.

[transamz9]

NC Hauler wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Hey rear air ride guys!!!!! I have been experimenting, when unhooking place the truck in "tire jack mode" this will keep the air suspension from moving when unhooking potentially causing a problem.

Transport mode will work also but it won't stay in "Alt Ride Mode" after un hitching but Tire Jack Mode allows continued Alt Ride when running solo.

Hey Ron, On my truck when I put it in "Alt Ride Mode", hitch up, tow and unhitch, it STAYS in Alt.air ride mode unless I push the button to deactivate it. I've tried it a couple times; push button to activate rear air assist to hitch and tow...unhitch, and truck is still in rear air assist until I push the button to deactivate it...Last time I unhitched, I left button on and every time I start the truck, it shows truck is still in alternate ride mode and the button that activates this feature is still lit...(ON).

Is there a difference between the 15' and 16' with this characteristic?

Jim

My truck will not go into Alt Ride Height mode without a load on it. My bags are basically flat when sitting without a load on it. Once I hook up then I can put it in the mode. Then when I unhook it will stay in the mode but the rear of my truck is so light that the still springs put it back to full ride height.

Mine in Alt Ride Height.....

[NC_Hauler]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Hey rear air ride guys!!!!! I have been experimenting, when unhooking place the truck in "tire jack mode" this will keep the air suspension from moving when unhooking potentially causing a problem.

Transport mode will work also but it won't stay in "Alt Ride Mode" after un hitching but Tire Jack Mode allows continued Alt Ride when running solo.

Hey Ron, On my truck when I put it in "Alt Ride Mode", hitch up, tow and unhitch, it STAYS in Alt.air ride mode unless I push the button to deactivate it. I've tried it a couple times; push button to activate rear air assist to hitch and tow...unhitch, and truck is still in rear air assist until I push the button to deactivate it...Last time I unhitched, I left button on and every time I start the truck, it shows truck is still in alternate ride mode and the button that activates this feature is still lit...(ON).

Is there a difference between the 15' and 16' with this characteristic?

Jim

[kennethwooster]

Congratulatons on your new truck. Im sure it will be great.

[RustyJC]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I was at MayMadness a few weeks ago and the guys with the "lower" HP trucks like yours were laying down 354 RWHP the same as the higher powered trucks. VERY surprised.

Yep, my 2011 was rated 350 BHP - the 2016 is 385 BHP. That's only a 10% difference. I would expect the dyno numbers to be very similar - on horsepower. Torque - that's another story. 650 ft-lb versus 900 ft-lb.

As I said earlier, both my 2011 and 2016 get the job done towing our Mobile Suites. They just go about it very differently. The 2011 would downshift and rev to as much as 3000 RPM to horsepower up the grade. Since horsepower = (torque x RPM) / 5252, if you're short on torque then make up for it with RPM. The 2016 just pulls the hills riding its much heftier torque curve seldom turning over 2300 RPM, usually running 1600 to 1700 RPM in 6th gear.

Rusty

[Cummins12V98]

Hey rear air ride guys!!!!! I have been experimenting, when unhooking place the truck in "tire jack mode" this will keep the air suspension from moving when unhooking potentially causing a problem.

Transport mode will work also but it won't stay in "Alt Ride Mode" after un hitching but Tire Jack Mode allows continued Alt Ride when running solo.

[Cummins12V98]

BarneyS wrote:
This is my 2nd Ram truck. The first was a 1999 5.9L gas engine that served me well for quite a few years. Sold it to get the Ford that I just traded in.

I really like the looks and ride of the Ram and I know that the Cummins will certainly do any job I require of it. It is not the high output engine however and has the 68RFE transmission. Other than that, it has all the bells and whistles you can get including the 5th wheel hitch puck system and goosneck ball mounts and the rear air suspension. I will not use they hitch stuff probably but it was on there already. Have not towed with the new truck yet and am really looking forward to it. 🙂
Barney

I was at MayMadness a few weeks ago and the guys with the "lower" HP trucks like yours were laying down 354 RWHP the same as the higher powered trucks. VERY surprised.

[Me_Again]

BarneyS wrote:
Hey Rusty, looks like we think alike, except for the expanded waistline. :W Here is what I just drove home yesterday. Finally let loose of my old trusty F250 7.3PSD.
Barney

Nice truck Barry, I would have liked the full length steps. Did you get the buckets and full console? Of coure Deep Cherry Red over the silver would have looked better! :B:B:B Chris

[NC_Hauler]

DANG!!! Even Barney:).. I'm glad to see more buying the 3rd. place Ram:B. Don't know why the couple post suggesting that towing heavier should need a CDL, when I've seen MORE than quiet a few accidents caused by these " competent" semi drivers.. I've been towing since 1975 steady, 5ers since the 90's. Never do over the speed limit, give signals when turning or making lane changes and no accidents or tickets since I got my license in 1966.. Something I'm VERY proud of! I'm not retired yet, but will be.. Maybe the dig was just bias toward older people towing:R..

Rusty, my truck does have the rear air suspension and it is sweet for hooking up. Your truck, other than that is identical to mine( cept mine is also just monotone Pearl White). It has towed my 20K TH effortlessly so far and am hoping to see more of this beautiful country of ours starting in October or November.. Hope to meet up with you and several of my other buddies on this forum one day soon while traveling the country.


Jim

[blofgren]

BarneyS wrote:
Hey Rusty, looks like we think alike, except for the expanded waistline. :W Here is what I just drove home yesterday. Finally let loose of my old trusty F250 7.3PSD.
Barney

What a beautiful looking truck. I love the color combination.

I'm a huge 7.3L fan, but you're going to have a very pleasant surprise when you tow with that beast! :B

[Drifter1959]

Hi Cousin.



You're right when it comes to pulling...gotta hang on going uphill.

Chris