RAM 3500 Diesel Owners - Still Like Your Truck?

[Bill001]

Hi,
I've owned a Ford truck, and a GMC diesel. My son has owned a Ford diesel.

I'm looking at a Ram 3500 4x4 dually diesel for the 5th wheel (30' 10,000lb unit).

My question is for Ram 3500 owners: Are you still happy with your late model Ram 3500 purchase?

Suggestions for when shopping?

Thanks and enjoy the Summer,
Bill

[COnative]

I bought new in 2014, 3500 SRW Laramie mega cab and it has been amazing. It has the 3.42. I tow a 11,500 lb 30 ft 5er through the Colorado Rockies every other weekend. 14 weekends in 2016 so far. Occasionally I double tow a Jeep jku behind the 5er. Ram has plenty of power. Exhaust brake is real nice. Laramie package is nice. Back up camera and separate bed camera is great for hitching up. Love this truck.

[jmtandem]

sounds like my 2010 3500 megacab SLT Big Horn 4x4 SRW except a crew cab which I bought new from Dave Smith Dodge for $44,600 ($52k window sticker) before CA tax and licensing. Seems price is high for a 6 yr old truck. BTW have 57k miles on ours now.

X 2. It is probably a good truck but the price is a little high. I would look for $35,000 or so. You can easily get $10,000 off the factory MSRP on a Ram and if you wheel and deal a little perhaps more like $12,000. And often a dealer will throw in an extended warranty and perhaps free oil changes for 100,000 miles as part of the deal.

[cmeade]

BeachLife4Us wrote:
We are considering a Dodge as well. I found a 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 Truck Crew Cab with less than 40k miles on it. It has a 5th wheel hitch in it and it looks great. Thoughts on this truck? The price is under $40k

Here are the specs:
Detailed Specifications
Convenience Features
1-touch down Tilt steering wheel Power windows Air conditioning Passenger door bin Front beverage holders Speed control Driver door bin Rear door bins 1-touch up
Off-Road Capability
Ground clearance (min): 198mm (7.8") Approach angle: 24 deg Departure angle: 28 deg Ramp breakover angle: 19 deg Ground clearance (max): 206mm (8.1")
Entertainment Features
AM/FM radio MP3 decoder Speakers: 6 CD player
Seats and Trim
Max seating capacity: 6 Rear seats: bench Front seats: bench Rear seat center armrest
Powertrain
Cylinder configuration: I-6 Horsepower: 350hp @ 3,000RPM Engine location: front Recommended fuel: diesel Engine liters: 6.7 Number of valves: 24 Drive type: four-wheel Fuel tank capacity: 34.0gal. Limited slip differential Compressor: intercooled turbo
Body Exterior
Right rear passenger: conventional Trailer hitch receiver Turn signal indicator mirrors Power door mirrors Rear step bumper Heated door mirrors Left rear passenger door: conventional
Specs and Dimensions
Compression ratio: 17.20 to 1 Engine horsepower: 350hp @ 3,000RPM Rear legroom: 1,024mm (40.3") Front headroom: 1,041mm (41.0") Exterior height: 1,991mm (78.4") Exterior body width: 2,019mm (79.5") Front legroom: 1,041mm (41.0") Interior maximum cargo volume: 1,161 L (41 cu.ft.) Exterior length: 6,030mm (237.4") GVWR: 4,581kg (10,100lbs) Front hiproom: 1,605mm (63.2") Passenger volume: 3,424L (120.9 cu.ft.) Turning radius: 6.7m (22.0') Front shoulder room: 1,676mm (66.0") Wheelbase: 3,797mm (149.5") Engine bore x stroke: 107.0mm x 124.0mm (4.21" x 4.88") Rear hiproom: 1,605mm (63.2") Rear headroom: 1,013mm (39.9") Engine displacement: 6.7 L Interior cargo volume: 1,161 L (41 cu.ft.) Rear shoulder room: 1,669mm (65.7")
Safety and Security
ABS brakes Perimeter/approach lights 4 wheel disc brakes Overhead airbag Occupant sensing airbag Ignition disable Dual front impact airbags
Suspension/Handling
Front tires: 265/70SR17.0E Rear tires: 265/70SR17.0E Wheel size: 17" Single rear wheels Front anti-roll bar Power steering
Lighting, Visibility and Instrumentation
Fully automatic headlights Tachometer Oil pressure gauge Delay-off headlights Variably intermittent wipers Voltmeter

sounds like my 2010 3500 megacab SLT Big Horn 4x4 SRW except a crew cab which I bought new from Dave Smith Dodge for $44,600 ($52k window sticker) before CA tax and licensing. Seems price is high for a 6 yr old truck. BTW have 57k miles on ours now.

[Cummins12V98]

"BTW, try to remember us left up here in the rain forest this winter, will ya? It was an awfully wet October and so far November has been pretty much the same."

Yea the rain and wind are not acceptable to us anymore. We left in the middle of the storm October 15th. It was VERY wet and VERY windy!!! Truck handled it all with no issue.

[FireRob]

hart-attack wrote:


no sunroof, i learned my lesson with my 1500. i'm almost 6'6". if the headliner wasn't curved downward, it would help; but then i'd be looking out of the top of the windshield. i'm considering changing over to a class A, there's definitely enough headroom which i'm in the driver's seat!

My bad, I didn't read far enough before posting above.

[FireRob]

hart-attack wrote:
. Now if there was just another 2-3" of headroom in the cab, i'd be much happier. maybe the redesign in 2018 will address that. .

Do you have the Sun Roof?

My 2014 2500 had a Sun Roof and I often wished for the same as you every time I tried to keep a ball cap on my head or tried to drink a 20oz bottle of Dr Pepper. My new 2016 does not have a sun roof and it has more head room and I don't have the problems with hats or drinking any more.

[Old-Biscuit]

Bill001 wrote:
Just to let ya'll know, I have ordered a Ram 2500 long box Cummins with manual trans. I also settled on a Glacier Peak 26RDS 5ver.

Took the big plunge hoping I've done the right thing.... living out of car in the meantime for January pickup date in Idaho/Washington

Thanks all
B

Nice choice in 5vr......Outdoor RV seems to put out a good product

Just curious....

WHY the 2500 vs 3500? (CC Longbed 4X4 SRW G56 3:42)
2500 GVWR 10,000 and 2100# payload vs 3500 GVWR 12300 and 4400# payload

[blofgren]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

blofgren wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Be sure to change the rear axle fluid at 15K per the manual if towing heavy. I mistook the 24km for miles, oops!

At about 20K+ on take off turning I would get a bit of a grabbing feeling when towing. Made it home from our long trip and changed the lube at 24K and sent an oil analysis with Blackstone. The two Viscosity tests showed the lube was below the minimum.

Did the fluid change take away that grabbing feeling? I noticed it on our summer vacation while starting from a stop while towing too.

I have not towed yet. I wil report when I do.

Towed recently from NW WA to SoCal. The rear diff was silent with no grabbing. Scaled just over 33K combined. Actually the manual states 20K change, I would NOT wait til 20K! IMHO after lube analysis the Mopar fluid is NOT up to par with AMZ/OIL 75-110 as I ran for 50K+ on my 11 Dually and came out golden brown.

Agreed, the factory fluid breaks down very quickly when towing heavy. I probably would have changed mine at the first oil change had I known this at the time.

BTW, try to remember us left up here in the rain forest this winter, will ya? :B It was an awfully wet October and so far November has been pretty much the same.

[Hal_B]

We have only had our Ram 3500 dually for a couple years. The only downside is due to the size/weight of the truck. In my area, it means I need to pay an additional tax.

[blofgren]

Bill001 wrote:
Just to let ya'll know, I have ordered a Ram 2500 long box Cummins with manual trans. I also settled on a Glacier Peak 26RDS 5ver.

Took the big plunge hoping I've done the right thing.... living out of car in the meantime for January pickup date in Idaho/Washington

Thanks all
B

You will love the Cummins with the manual transmission. It truly makes one appreciate the low rpm torque of the I6!

[dieselmec]

Big Bruce wrote:
Our 2006 still runs like a charm with low mileage. Bought it new, have had several RVs since but there is no question about it, the truck stays.

/dieselmec i own a 2004 3500 dully 154000 i Havel towed all over the west would not have any other truck

[cpu266]

Love the truck. Have a 2014 RAM 3500 Limited with over 50,000 miles on it. Runs great and pulls our 10,000 pound trailer without a problem. Cummins with aisin trans and 4.10 rear end.

[Cummins12V98]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

blofgren wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Be sure to change the rear axle fluid at 15K per the manual if towing heavy. I mistook the 24km for miles, oops!

At about 20K+ on take off turning I would get a bit of a grabbing feeling when towing. Made it home from our long trip and changed the lube at 24K and sent an oil analysis with Blackstone. The two Viscosity tests showed the lube was below the minimum.

Did the fluid change take away that grabbing feeling? I noticed it on our summer vacation while starting from a stop while towing too.

I have not towed yet. I wil report when I do.

Towed recently from NW WA to SoCal. The rear diff was silent with no grabbing. Scaled just over 33K combined. Actually the manual states 20K change, I would NOT wait til 20K! IMHO after lube analysis the Mopar fluid is NOT up to par with AMZ/OIL 75-110 as I ran for 50K+ on my 11 Dually and came out golden brown.

[Bill001]

Just to let ya'll know, I have ordered a Ram 2500 long box Cummins with manual trans. I also settled on a Glacier Peak 26RDS 5ver.

Took the big plunge hoping I've done the right thing.... living out of car in the meantime for January pickup date in Idaho/Washington

Thanks all
B