Ram 2500 6.4L 12.5K Ike Gauntlet

[ordually]

TFLTruck did a Ike Gauntlet tow test of a 2015 Ram 6.4L 4.10.

Identical axle ratio and load (12.5K) to the 2015 Chevy 2500 they tested a few months ago. The Chevy gives up ~50hp and lb-ft. Surprising outcome.

[blderman]

ordually wrote:
TFLTruck did a Ike Gauntlet tow test of a 2015 Ram 6.4L 4.10.

Identical axle ratio and load (12.5K) to the 2015 Chevy 2500 they tested a few months ago. The Chevy gives up ~50hp and lb-ft. Surprising outcome.

I don't read the article as they weighed the same. I read it as they were within 100lbs of their GCVW. If that is actually the case then the Ram weighed 2,000lbs more. It still doesn't justify that 2nd gear is inadequate but it would definitely make a big difference.

[ksss]

I think the Ram rep would have been better off not responding. If they designed that truck to pull that way, I would demand my money back if I was an owner. Pretty weak when you come to market with your truck listed at 410 hp and it gets owned towing 12K up a hill by a 15 year old motor with 380 hp. It is interesting, there is a lot more to consider than just the specs on these new pickups.

[ScottG]

Me too, pure BS. They're trying to explain how the Ram has more power but wont pull as well as a lower HP rig? Then what good is all that alleged HP?
If it wont pull as strong then it is getting less power to the road.
Or they're just plain lying.

[Taco]

The Ram reps response seems like a bunch of baloney to me.

That being said at high altitude it doesn't surprise me that the Ram couldn't hold it's very tall 2nd gear. But it should have easily been able to wind out 1st. If I paid for 410 horsepower I would want to be able to use it. Not have some electronic nanny park me at 4200 rpm in 1st. I am curious what it would have done if you manually selected 1st. I would hope if you were so inclined that it would let you bounce off the rev limiter the whole way to the top in 1st if you wanted to.

I kick myself for getting an ext cab instead of a crew cab in my silverado and I think from time to time that I would like a ram crew cab with the 6.4. This video did help me be a little more satisfied with my chevy.

[larry_barnhart]

The ram was not very quiet so it was making high rpm's. Of course we never tow in this manner or we might be walking.

chevman

[ib516]

Here's what was added by the guys from TFL in the comments:

"We spoke with Ram and here's what they said about the slower Results of this Ike Gauntlet Run: "During the Silverado drive, you spoke negatively of the shift calibration. The tested Chevy was we assume hunting between 1st and 2nd, and ranged from 5300 rpm to around 2800 rpm, which you didn’t seem to like. The Chevy revved very high up the hill for extended periods of time, over 5000 rpm.

Ram Truck “invented” the first gear hold feature – and calibrated it – to avoid gear hunting and driving at excessively high rpm’s.
Ike is a variable grade and we worked hard to develop a calibration that appropriately manages torque on the run and other grades.

We don’t want the truck to rev high for extended periods of time and purposely hold 4,200 rpm.

Bottom line – our truck performed exactly as expected by delivering a more comfortable hauling experience, better vehicle longevity and improved fuel economy. Time to the top of the hill is only one small piece of the driving experience and our engineers take a number of variable into consideration. Ask yourself if just over one minute is worth other negative driver inputs."?

Seems like there's some designed in limiting by the PCM/ECM going on here.