6.4l 8 speed towing review

[hvac]

I'm in the market to replace our eco diesel. Its exceeded expectations as a tow vehicle,but after the AEM, its not the same truck. I know a tune will solve the problem but I have personal issues with violating the federal clean air act.

So, looking for reviews from fellow rvers on the new 8 speed/6.4l ram hd series, and if you have the 4.10 gears.This combo or the new Ford with a 10 speed is on the short list.

[Grit_dog]

Even with the 6 speed, the 6.4 "could" pull better in an Ike type test, if manually shifted and realizing that it doesn't have the perfect gear ratio to hold any speed in any condition (within reason).
That said, the 8HP is nothing short of impressive and while I don't have many miles on our 6.4/8HP, it's track record is well proven and not just in Dodges.

[hvac]

That's interesting info on the 6 spd. We know from Vern the ZF is reliable.I love our 8 speed. So yes it should wake up the 6.4.

[RoyJ]

If the "90" rated ZF 8 speed is similar to the "70" rated on the 1500, it'lol be a night and day difference.

Ram never had a REAL 6 speed, like GM and Ford. Their 1/2 ton used a 4 spd turned pseudo 5 speed to downright falsely claim "6 speed" - it only use 5 ratios unless manually shifted. The HD's 6 speed uses the diesel's ratios, which can also be traced back to the 4 speed 47RE.

[hvac]

Yes it has degraded by only a slight inference to a recession.

Anyway, I can't find a good review,climbing a mountain pass with a load of say 8klbs or more.

[spoon059]

I will say 3 things and disappear from this thread, and I'm sure the thread will soon disappear too...

VernDiesel wrote:
Some men seek to centralize power & control some to disperse it.

Very true, but the reality is that no matter what side of this argument you are on, once you get some power, human nature tends to slide towards the idea of centralizing and controlling.

hvac wrote:
Trump has not fulfilled his campaign promise to cut the debt. Instead, he's done the opposite.

The President doesn't spend the money. Congress controls the purse. The President can do things to influence how money is spent, but ultimately relies upon appropriations that are voted upon by our elected representatives. Just like war. Lots of people like to blame W Bush/Republicans for the wars... but it required bi-partisan voting to pass.

I'm interested in reading and seeing more about the 8 speed Ram. My friend had a 6.4 with the 6 speed and loved the engine, but the gear spacing was lacking. Climbing a hill with his 5er would get into 4th gear, then bypass 3rd and slam into 2nd gear. Then he would hold 2nd gear forever, before it finally shifted. He hated the way the trans worked, eventually trading it on a CTD. That engine with a properly designed transmission (which I hope the 8 speed is) sounds like a great combo is a gas truck is enough engine.

[ShinerBock]

He has actually tried to cut spending through various ways like cutting the government budget for many departments and substantially lowering foreign aid by billions. However, every time he wanted to decrease the budget for government entities, the people with opportunistic outrage would fight him for it saying he was killing kittens or some other something. Since congress ultimately controls the money the US spends and you need a supper majority to overcome the opportunistic outraged people who can cause a government shutdown, you can't cut a budget unless they agree. The tax cuts were suppose to be paid for by government cuts and removal of the very costly AHC, but some don't want us to stop wasteful spending because they believe more government is better.

[hvac]

At first, it seemed Trump was lowering the debt. It fell $102 billion in the first six months after Trump took office. On January 20th, the day Trump was inaugurated, the debt was $19.9 trillion. On July 30, it was $19.8 trillion. But it was not because of anything he did. Instead, it was because of the federal debt ceiling.

On September 8, 2017, Trump signed a bill increasing the debt ceiling. Later that day, the debt exceeded $20 trillion for the first time in U.S. history. On February 9, 2018, Trump signed a bill suspending the debt ceiling until March 1, 2019. It was $22 trillion. In just two years,Trump has overseen the fastest dollar increase in the debt of any president.

Trump's Fiscal Year 2020 budget projects the debt would increase $5 trillion during his first term. That's as much as Obama added while fighting a recession. Trump has not fulfilled his campaign promise to cut the debt. Instead, he's done the opposite.

[ShinerBock]

Tax cut was the reason why the debt has increased so much, that is funny. National debt was at $10.6 trillion on Jan 20, 2009 and then went to $19.9 trillion on Jan 20, 2017, and no one bats an eye. The debt grew 33% during the Jan, 20 2009 to Jan 20, 2011, but grew 10% from Jan 20, 2017 to Jan 20, 2019. Yes, it was the tax cut that did it....lol.

[JIMNLIN]

Lots of political spouting/posturing/rants/bilge for a thread about the new Rams 6.4l 8 speed towing review.

[VernDiesel]

“Issues with violating the clean air act” Not saying there is a right or wrong here, or that you are but don’t blindly follow the gov and assume what they are doing is fully about our best interests. And that’s no matter what title a bill is given. Always good to be able to take a step back and re evaluate, research the bill from different perspectives etc.

Who doesn’t want clean air? Shinerbock made some good points if you are from a morality standpoint strictly looking at the air we breathe. It makes a point that the title of the bill and the reality of the results are not strictly aligned.

The harder thing about it is that the over arching thing, bigger progressive government theory vs experienced based conservative government awakens him to or challenges his world view. Some men seek to centralize power & control some to disperse it. Everyone else unwittingly or wittingly largely supports one group or the other.

[mtofell1]

The economy has to slow to some extent but that doesn't mean doom and gloom, necessarily. This time the housing market hasn't gotten way out over its skis like during the last two really bad recessions (1980 & 2008). Housing seems to be the catalyst for the really bad times. Sure, RVs, boats and cars matter but not like housing.

Everyone will undoubtedly fight for their favorite political team and blame the other side. On the bright side, roughly 1/2 will be correct 🙂

If I were in the market for a new truck I'd wait until the end of the year if I could. Lots of new models and offerings right now. I think it will be much more of a buyer's market at the end of this year.... likely even more so at the end of 2020 if you can wait that long.

[mich800]

hvac wrote:
Yea, but the debt is crushing.Record increase, mostly due to tax cut.

Or you could take the approach that actually works. Cut spending. The standard answer to every government budget problem should not be just raise revenue by taking cash out of the citizens hands.

[VernDiesel]

You are right about the debt. The debt IS increasing out of control and will eventually crush our economy if not brought under control and expansive entitlement programs are allowed to be expanded as many progressives be them dems or reps are working on. Well and presidential hopefuls are hawking for votes from the entitlement benefit seekers.

But Tax cuts have grown our economy so much that net tax revenues are up. Same as happened with JFK & Reagan’s policies. This has been our actual economic experience as opposed to ideologically driven political agenda promotion & theater.

I don’t know about the RV Industry as a whole (it seems up) but both the major RV manufactures we transport for Airstream & Forrest River are up in sales and both are currently building new plants. Though that may partly be due to excessively high taxes in progressive run gov states where snowbirds from WA, OR, CA, NY, NJ etc flee overtaxation and get a 6 month “residence” in conservative run low tax states like AZ & FL. Lol they voted for the free benefits and are now running from the taxation that came from it.

As to boats Fineline that we transport for manufactures of Gladiator ski boats are again up year over year in sales. Fan of you & your posts but makes me question where you are getting your news and or how that news has been crouched or is being presented. As to the 6.4 2500 8 speed short of fuel cost I suspect you will really like it. It’s a solid motor, trans, and many say the optional rear air suspension makes for the best riding 3/4 ton in the market. Though I don’t know what elevation you are talking about towing in & how much that will affect power etc. I know naturally aspirated motors loose power to altitude where as turbo charged motors practically speaking don’t.

[hvac]

Yea, but the debt is crushing.Record increase, mostly due to tax cut. Its going to get ugly,and soon. Talk to the other discretionary industries like rv and boats.

One addition just checked. RV shipments through June down 27% from last year.
Boats flat. Still says to me things are slowing down. Lets hope I'm wrong....

[VernDiesel]

Ram is way up the last quarter and YTD. It was posted on here for all the truck Mfgrs recently. The economy hasn’t been up this much and this strong since Ronald Reagan in the 80s when he cut Carters socialist oriented policies and people & business got out from under progressive government tax & business control policies.

The economy might not be slowed until after we make the mistake of voting in another progressive global government oriented president. Although the last president assured us we would never see this kind of growth & prosperity again as he put his foot on economic growth & pushed our jobs abroad but I’m sure he thought a different administration would come in than did and continue with the global socialist agenda.

I think even the left wants sales to roll for awhile they just want it to be battery powered.