2015 SRW Ram 3500 Cummins (First year review)

[Greene728]

Ok, so not quite a year (will be October 27th). But I wanted to do this and give a true, honest opinion to anyone possibly looking at something similar to mine as there wasn't a great deal out there info wise when I purchased mine from a real consumer actually using the truck every day.

First off, I love the Cummins. It still exhilarates me and makes me feel like a fat kid in the candy store every time I drive it! The power, fuel economy, quietness, and overall pure refinement of this engine is truly remarkable. I can get 21mph + or - interstate running easily (yes, that's hand calculations also) found the EVIC display to be very accurate also. DEF usage is basically irrelevant. Ive put just under 5 gallons in since new and is sitting at 10,887mi as I type this and half a tank of DEF on board.

Towing this year has been in the neighborhood of 2500 miles (absolutely nothing for some of you guys I know). Two trips to Florida and 6-8 other local outings to CG's in our area of West GA and East AL. My 5th weighs in the neighborhood of 9500 loaded and this truck handles it literally like child's play. But soon I hope to get a different rig slightly larger which was what made the decision to go 3500 in the first place. I also have a 24ft deck over gooseneck that I haul my tractor on that is equally man handled by the truck. The exhaust brake is now a mandatory item for me! What a difference it makes. My IBC has worked flawlessly too. I've read others who have had problems with them and I'm not sure why cause I couldn't be more pleased with mine. Towing MPG are anywhere from low of 12.2 to high of 14.5 depending on roads, wind, speed, and of course, weight being moved. The trans has been very good also. I have the 68RFE and yes, it shift's kinda awkward sometimes, but overall I'm very pleased with it and glad I saved the money vs. the Aisin. Its a fabulous trans I'm sure, just not warranted for my needs.

Overall truck. I sometimes wish I would have gotten a few more bells and whistles, but the Tradesmen package mine has included the chrome package, convenience package, inc. satellite radio, bluetooth, back up cam and sensors, electronic 4x4, factory sprayed liner, etc. So even though its not loaded, its extremely functional and comfortable. The things I miss are...audio controls on steering wheel (which I plan to add sometime), more adjust-ability of power seats, power folding mirrors, more options to monitor instrumentation display, dual climate control. The last one I always thought was kinda silly. But anything below say 75 and my wife is freezing and I'm sweating bullets. But for the price difference, I honestly don't think I'd change it if I could. I added seat covers (Marathon covers) and like them just as well as any leather I ever had. So although nice, I dont really miss the leather. The junk Firestone TransForce HT's it came with were traded off pronto! I now have MasterCraft AXT's and love them so far. Great ride, traction, aesthetics, and very reasonably priced! The ride is outstanding for a 1 ton truck IMO. Not having TPMS works out great as when I'm not towing I lower the rears to 60 psi and it works out great. And best of all, no aggravating light in my face babysitting me. I realize this can be a PITA to some, but I have a compressor in the garage which makes the adjustment's a breeze.

And most importantly, not one single issue so far (knocking on wood). I came from Ford and could not be happier with my decision. I will admit though that the new 2017 SD is really something! I look forward to seeing how things work out for them. Competition is a great thing and will be beneficial across all brands. But for the near future, ain't nothing prying this Cummins away from me! I hope this will help someone out. And if I left something out that anyone would like to know, please ask!

[Cummins12V98]

"I run Michelin At2 tires.......Fronts are 55 psi all the time"

I know you are "OLD" but you might take some advice and run your front tires to 72psi all the time. This comes from someone that easily gets 100-120K on 3rd gen take offs. I ran 72 front of my 98 4x4 and now 65 front 98 2wd.

These BFG's have 80K.

[Greene728]

wowens79 wrote:
Great to hear the good review. I'm starting to research some, I'll be looking in a year or so.

I'm in Newnan also, did you get it from the local dealer? I like to shop local, but I'm also cheap.

Awesome! Nice to see another local on here.
I tried to use the local dealer in Newnan but found them hard to deal with and could not work out a deal after two different attempts.
We finally worked out a great deal at Scott Evans CDJR in Carrollton. I highly recommend giving them a shot. Our experience there was very good. The owner even took the time to come introduce himself during the deal process and was very involved in the process till the deal was done. Even called a few days later to see how things were going and asked if we needed anything. Not very common anymore these days and impressed me a lot.
Best of luck to you!

[boshog]

Running the same trucks as you but I have the Longhorn trim and I ordered mine with the rear air leveling system. That option is a must have when you have 3K of pin weight on your back.

A few comments, pulling our 15K Montana I see on average 11.9MPG, of course head winds decrease and tail winds will increase that.

My 68RFE shifts perfectly with and without a load, yes when pulling, the shifts are fast and hard but it is also routing 800 ft.lbs. down the driveline. Ask your dealer to reset the adaptive transmission learn.

I've also read complaints on the exhaust brake, I found them all without merit simply because I could tell the whiner didn't understand how it works nor did they bother to read their owner's' manual.

Most call the EVIC's MPGs a liar but they don't realize the average is over time and not per tank. Over a year of recording and taking hand calculations, I found the EVIC reads a little high, around 0.835 to be exact. Well with the margin of error and likely due to inconsistency in refilling the tank.

We have a few of the new Ford SDs here at work (I work for an automotive supplier) and they are very nice, I've also saw the window sticker, they are not that nice.

[NY_RVer]

jtallon wrote:
Great review! Thanks for writing it up.

Certainly matches my experience with the 3500 and the Cummins.

X2!!

[wowens79]

Great to hear the good review. I'm starting to research some, I'll be looking in a year or so.

I'm in Newnan also, did you get it from the local dealer? I like to shop local, but I'm also cheap.

[Me_Again]

Our 2015 3500 SRW Laramie SB is now a year old and has 17K miles on it. Love it love it. It is our third RAM 1993 and 2001.5 were the earlier ones.

We towed a 12.4K 5th to Arizona and back last winter and Sunday head out to Arizona with a 16K 5th wheel which we have towed three times so far in the NW. It seems to handle it just fine at almost 25K combined. The Aisin's low first gear gets it off the line just fine. This thing with the 3.42 is a freeway cruiser. We bought it in Colorado and drove it home to Washington in 48 hours with two nights of motel receipts. At 80 it is steady as a rock. Drove it of hours at that speed and even DW took the wheel driving 80. 18 MPG at 80 and 21 at 65, and brand new. Note: Went shower the first few hundred miles. No issues to date. Did two oil changes myself and one fuel filters change, again myself. Only down side has been the quick tire wear on the FS Transforce AT's. DEF usage not towing is almost non existent. Takes a couple 2.5 gal boxes to get to Arizona towing.

Will give you another update next week. Chris

[Old-Biscuit]

Good write up.........nice to see real experience review.

My 2007 with the 5.9L still puts a big ole grin on my face towing or not.
Towing a 14K 5vr up 6-7% grade in cruise at 65 mph and I just smile

Yours get better non-towing mpg but close to same towing

I added an Exhaust Brake back in '07 a few months after purchase......BEST MOD I did!

I run Michelin At2 tires.......Fronts are 55 psi all the time, rears 80 psi towing and 45 psi non towing. Get roughly 60K


I do like my tractor motor......the wrapper is OK

Hope you like yours as much as I do mine 10 yrs down the road :B

[Bionic_Man]

Nice write up. Glad the truck is treating you well.

[DakotaDad]

Great review! Thanks for writing it up.

Certainly matches my experience with the 3500 and the Cummins.

[Sifter]

We just purchased a used 2014 Ram 3500 CC DRW Limited package with 32,000 miles and take delivery on it next weekend. We hope to have a similar experience. Ours has the Aisin tranny. Thank you for sharing your real world experience/thoughts.