Some info on A Dodge Ram 1500

[NanciL]

I see various post here and there asking about different tow vehicles and thought I might share my experience with our 2014 Dodge Ram 1500, 4x4, V-8 with a six speed transmission that we bought new.

I pull a Trailer with a 6400 pound GVWR, and with another 5 or 600 pounds in the bed. Plus another 200 pounds on the cap roof, (2 sea kayaks and a canoe)

Pulling the trailer many times I forget that it is there. It has tons of power and much better then my old Ford F-150 V-8.

At 65MPH (non hilly) I am averaging almost 11 MPG vs 9 with the Ford.

On the down side, the Dodges 6 speed transmission is completely useless on slowing the engine coming down mountains. If I drop the transmission all the way down to D-1 the RPMS go up to 6000 before any action takes place vs dropping the Fords down to D-2 slowed the engine way down with out getting the RPM's to a dangerous level.

Jack L

[Allworth]

I had a Dodge (2500HD) before I got my Chevy. If I could get the Cummins engine with an Allison transmission......


Dream on!

[pitch]

I have a '13 5.7 6 speed. Tow haul makes about a two hundred RPM increase if turned on at speed. Tow Haul should slow you down. There have been a coupe of times that it over sped my engine more than I thought was good,

[Santa_Fe]

Love my 8 speed...so smooth and tows like a champ.

[MetalGator]

I don't have a 2014 (I have a 2005 with Hemi) but the tow/haul mode shifts drastically different vs not having it on. It sounds like something is not right with the transmission.

[Old-Biscuit]

You noticed no difference between tow/haul on or off :H

Are you sure tow/haul is working????

Tow/haul should downshift as you decelerate/brake

[jerem0621]

ib516 wrote:
Doesn't your 2014 have the 8 speed trans with the rotary shifter? I thought it was standard...?

I'm pretty sure you could get either or in 2014 with the Hemi...IIRC the 6 speeds were pretty deeply discounted by the end of the MY.


Thanks!

Jeremiah

[ib516]

Doesn't your 2014 have the 8 speed trans with the rotary shifter? I thought it was standard...?

[Cqyqte]

His 2014 may not have the Tow/Haul package. I know when we shopped for our Ram we were shown many trucks with hitches without the Tow/Haul package. The deeper we researched we found to properly tow the max numbers, you need all the options or you will destroy your TV.

[NanciL]

GordonThree wrote:
I haven't had any trouble using the engine brake to slow my trailer down on steep grades, but it weighs about half yours. Most of the time cruise control figures it out, other times I manually d-s for 3 or 2.

Sounds like you're overloaded, I know I am... payload on the 1500 is terrible compared to the Ford, but I really like the Dodge interior.

No, it has nothing to do with the weight.
Last year I asked the dealer about it. We live in the mountains and the dealer is in the mountains also.
He drove it, (not pulling a trailer and the truck empty) and we came down a long steep mountain)and dropping down the drives it never slowed it down.
He said that it was normal for the six speed and if I had the eight speed it would act completely different.

For those that asked; yes I use the "tow haul"

Also on this last thousand mile trip which I just completed yesterday, I decided to experiment and several times drove with the "tow haul" off. I could see absolutely no difference with it on or with it off, and no difference with the MPG.
I'll continue to use it with it on, since that is what the manual recommends

If I ever needed a new truck I would never get one with this transmission. I would get the eight speed.

The only reason I posted this was to aid newbies in their truck comparisons when looking for a new tow vehicle.

It might be nice for owners with other new truck brands to post their likes and dislikes.

jack L

[Old-Biscuit]

Do you use TOW/HAUL Mode?

[GordonThree]

I haven't had any trouble using the engine brake to slow my trailer down on steep grades, but it weighs about half yours. Most of the time cruise control figures it out, other times I manually d-s for 3 or 2.

Sounds like you're overloaded, I know I am... payload on the 1500 is terrible compared to the Ford, but I really like the Dodge interior.

[Moderator]

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