I am currently towing with a 2006 F350 XLT Crew Cab with V10/4:10 which I purchased new. Truck is mainly used for towing and only has 69K miles. I drive a Focus to work daily. Plan is to buy a new truck within the next year. My Focus will make its way to the oldest daughter in a couple years and the new truck will be my daily driver.I recently test drove (3) new RAM trucks with diesel engines. First a 3500 Big Horn Mega Cab with 20" wheels. Wife loves the cab room and the flatter floor. Second a 2500 Tradesman and finally a 2500 Big Horn Crew Cab. We pretty much ruled out the tradesman and now are mostly thinking Mega Cab 3500. The 2500 seems to ride nicer but only had 2099 lbs payload. I would like to see no less than 2300. Per the specs I need to verify that the Mega Cab fits in my garage. I believe all (3) of these trucks were 3.42 models and all were under 100 miles on the odometer but the tradesman seemed to have less grunt. Anything to this? We drove all (3) consecutively. Negatives for the Crew Cab models are the middle rear seat which is shorted than the sides and the big hump on the floor. Our F350 is a straight 60/40 bench and the floor is flat. Sometimes our kids have friends along and our 85 lb dog loves to ride on the floor.Are there any negatives to the mega cab other than the additional 11" of length? My F350 crew is only 3" shorter.Thanks

I think your family will enjoy a Mega Cab. Have fun.

The payload rating on the diesel 2500 is very understated because the truck weighs a lot and the class 2 max GVWR is 10k lbs. Since you're buying new it makes sense to get the 3500 if you're hauling heavy since the cost is comparable, but the RAWR difference is only 500 lbs between a 2500 and 3500 Ram (except on the few 2500s that come with 17" wheels) so in terms of real world performance there's little difference unless you go Aisin/HO or DRW. As far as Mega vs Crew, we were really on the fence but opted for the crew cab to get the shorter overall package and subjectively I've never liked the way the Mega looks. Objectively speaking the only downsides to the Mega are the longer length and it eliminates the long bed option if that's something you want. My 2015 has 15k miles now and I love driving it towing or not. The Tradesman drive train is identical to any other trim level so there should be no performance difference unless you're mixing in the manual or Aisin transmission.

I have a 6.4 Mega Cab 2500 and love most of it. It has a 2900 cargo capacity due to the lighter engine. But all in all the 2500 and 3500 are the same with the exception of the rear spring rate. The 3500 has leaf springs and the 2500 uses coils. If this will be your daily driver go with the coils. Don't get the auto level as it'll actually limit your cargo capacity. If I were to do it again I'd go without the auto level (Mine has it) and install air bags. Even though it has coils instead of leafs, the axles, axle guts, wheels, bearings, axle shafts, tires are the same between the 2500 and 3500. Air up the bags when you tow and enjoy a really nice ride when you aren't. Being you don't have a 5th wheel the bags probably won't be needed, but should you upgrade to a bigger trailer you'll want them. I love the Mega Cab. The legroom is about the same as the crew cab but the seat reclines and is much more comfy if you haul anyone back there. It is a long truck even though it's a 6'4" bed and a little harder to park and do U-turns with. Even though it has a bigger cab the interior storage is not much more than the crew cab unless you fold down those seats. Once folded down even my big 6'6" frame could sleep back there in a pinch!

Mega Cab has 3 inches more leg room and the seats do recline. You also get a full middle seat in the back vs. a 2/3 middle seat in the crew cab. Big difference between the two for any passengers in the back and lots of storage under the Mega Cab seat. If I were in the market for a Ram, the Mega Cab would be hard to pass up. Too bad you can't get a Mega and an 8 foot bed without paying $7-8K or more to do the extension. AdamW

OP, all single rear wheel HD Rams come with 3.42 gearing, you have no choice. If you get a dually 3500 you have the option of 3.73 or 4.10 gearing.Unless the 3500 you drove had the Aisin transmission, all 3 trucks had the same exact engine, rear axle ratio and transmission and therefore the same exact power. There is no logical explanation as to why the Tradesman (the lightest and therefore having the best HP to weight rating) felt slower.I believe that higher trim level Crew Cabs with the split bench don't have that center seat cutout. I have a Tradesman without the split bench and have the cutout. My friend has a Big Horn with the split bench and no cut out.The Crew Cab is plenty big for my family and our needs. With 2 child seats in the back, we can still have our front seats fully back and comfortably reclined without touching.

RAM/Cummins test drive observations | Good Sam Community

Bedlam
Moderator
Jul 25, 2016
You can run an Anderson connector with heavy gauge wire between your RV and truck for better charging. Having the higher amperage alternators will provide sufficient current without taxing the charge circuits in the truck. This is frequently done with truck campers, but can be done with trailers and fifth wheels too. The 7-pin power line is not much more than a trickle charge.
cummins2014
Explorer
Jul 25, 2016
CampingN.C. wrote:
Sport45 wrote:
CampingN.C. wrote:
I'll continue to go by the ink and paper book that's in my glove box.

Look at page 651 in that 2015 owner's manual. ;)

I'd get right on that except my book stops at page 296. :h

Its obvious we didn't get all the manuals with the 500 mile break-in. I have always put at least 500 miles before any towing, so its was not an issue for me. I went to my manual after reading your post, thats when I found that my manual also NEVER referenced the 500 mile break-in.I was more curious then anything on where this 500 mile break-in was, but I soon found out from our resident experts :)
brulaz
Explorer
Jul 25, 2016
4BIGAL wrote:

...
When building a truck on the Ram site they offer 3 different alternator amperage options. What reasons would a person select one of these different options?

Emergency lights, raising/lowering the snow plow, stuff like that.

Mine came with the Snow Chief option which includes the 220A alternator, cab switches, roof lights and limited slip rear end. All for pushing snow.

For the diesel with two batteries, I would get the 220A alternator anyway.
4BIGAL
Explorer
Jul 25, 2016
Well I got to bring a mega cab home for a test drive and it fits in my garage about the same as my F350. This was a 6.4L Laramie. Nice truck. I think I will stick with a Big Horn money wise and a diesel power wise.

When building a truck on the Ram site they offer 3 different alternator amperage options. What reasons would a person select one of these different options?
CampingN_C_
Explorer
Jul 24, 2016
Sport45 wrote:
CampingN.C. wrote:
I'll continue to go by the ink and paper book that's in my glove box.

Look at page 651 in that 2015 owner's manual. ;)

I'd get right on that except my book stops at page 296. :h
cummins2014
Explorer
Jul 24, 2016
Sport45 wrote:
cummins2014 wrote:
IdaD wrote:
I got the text from the towing section of the manual. It's probably somewhat contradictory because different people were responsible for different sections. It's probably academic and makes little difference how you break the truck in.

Totally unable to find any mention in towing section or otherwise of any 500 mile caution on break-in on a 2014 6.7 Cummins . It looks to me like 2015 manual is identical to my 2014. If you could please reference a page number on this it would be great . So I can stand corrected . Thanks.

Look at page 600 in your 2014 Owner's Manual.

I would if it had more then 240 pages
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer
Jul 23, 2016
500-1000 miles is standard break-in for axle gears. Doesn't matter what engine the vehicle has or what vehicle the axle is in.

The oil in the axle should be changed after the break-in, as it gets metal in it during the break-in that you don't want to keep in the axle for the next 30,000 miles...
Sport45
Explorer II
Jul 23, 2016
cummins2014 wrote:
IdaD wrote:
I got the text from the towing section of the manual. It's probably somewhat contradictory because different people were responsible for different sections. It's probably academic and makes little difference how you break the truck in.

Totally unable to find any mention in towing section or otherwise of any 500 mile caution on break-in on a 2014 6.7 Cummins . It looks to me like 2015 manual is identical to my 2014. If you could please reference a page number on this it would be great . So I can stand corrected . Thanks.

Look at page 600 in your 2014 Owner's Manual.
Sport45
Explorer II
Jul 23, 2016
CampingN.C. wrote:
I'll continue to go by the ink and paper book that's in my glove box.

Look at page 651 in that 2015 owner's manual. ;)
ROBERTSUNRUS
Explorer
Jul 23, 2016
cummins2014 wrote:
IdaD wrote:
CampingN.C. wrote:
Per the owners manual on my 15, there is no break in period at all. It can be used to tow day one.
We just went to Tennessee this past weekend and it was the first time I've locked out 6th with the cruise on, it does make it better in the hills. Every other trip it'll cruise at 65-68mph in 6th. I'm still amazed at the power every time we go out.

Copy/Paste from your manual:

CAUTION!:
Do not tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles (805 km) the new vehicle is driven. The engine, axle or other parts could be damaged.

Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km) that a trailer is towed, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and do not make starts at full throttle. This helps the engine and other parts of the vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.

Probably not a big deal but there is a break in period.

There is nothing in my manual on a 2014 Ram Cummins ABOUT the first 500 miles as you stated. Not sure what manual you have been reading .

Quote per my manual page 153 : " The Cummins turbocharged Diesel engine does not require a break-in period due to its construction. Normal operation is allowed, providing the following recommendations are followed :

* Warm up the engine before placing it under load
* Do not operate the engine at idle for prolonged periods
* Use the appropriate transmission gear to prevent engine lugging
* Observe vehicle oil pressure and temperature indicators
* Check the coolant and oil levels frequently
* Vary throttle position at highway speeds when carrying or towing significant weight.

NOTE :

Light duty operation such as light trailer towing or no load operation will extend the time before the engine is at full efficiency . Reduced fuel economy and power may be seen at this time.

* Because of the construction of the Cummins turbocharged diesel engine, engine run-in is enhanced by loaded operating conditions which allow the engine parts to achieve final finish and fit during the first 6,000 miles ( 10,000 km )

No caution whatsoever in my manual about any 500 mile break-in. Must have been in a Ford manual :B

:) Hi, No, it wasn't a Ford manual; My Ford manual says to drive 1,000 miles to break in the differentials before towing.