Thoughts on RAM 1500 Eco Diesel

Harvey,
Just did the suggested google. Yikes ! Does not look good !
Not like that '92 Dodge Cummins that I had.
You still want to sell that Tundra of yours, I know someone looking for one. How many miles on yours ?
alan
 
Don't buy into internet panic. My buddy and I both bought new 2014 EcoDiesel Ram 1500 4wd trucks. We both tow boats and a Kawasaki Mule on a trailer.
Both trucks have over 65,000 absolutely flawless, trouble free miles on them.
I average 23mpg city/highway mix and 15.7 mpg towing my 5,680lb C Dory 23 Venture.
Most comfortable and high tech truck I've ever had. Ram also comes with a standard 5yr/100,000 engine and power train warranty.
I think you'd be foolish to discount the EcoDiesel because of a few failures (often traceable to aftermarket tuners or power chips)
Just my .02
 
san juanderer":2j09rksd said:
There is nothing economical about repair costs/ and parts for diesel motors, good mpg numbers would have to be in the stratophere to compensate for the higher ownership costs of diesels.
alan
Click to expand...
Ummm... sounds like you had a bad experience.

I have over 200,000 miles on my 18 yr. old Ford Powerstroke 7.3L diesel. All I've ever done to it is preventive maintenance. Absolutely zero problems in almost 20 years.

My Yanmar tractor is the ugliest thing you ever saw. Every accessory is broken off of it - I start it by shorting the starter solenoid, but... in 36 years the diesel engine has had zero problems. All I do is change oil and air filter every once in awhile.

In summary, I've spent zero on repair costs on the diesel motors I've owned.
 
And look at the packages Ford is putting out in diesel market in 2019 trucks...

Interesting stable of power plants to dial into what ever your towing/hauling needs. Id like to simply drop the 3.0 in where my 6.0 sits in my 2005 Excursion....but now way will the numbers wash...as far as taking care of my boating retirement/travel funds.... IT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE I WANT IT now that Im towing lighter and smaller. I still drive a lot of miles each year..and still about 50% towing....that's why I buy trailerable boats.

And, zero propblems with my 6.0 in 186,000+ miles....and Id say close to 50% of those miles towing aroumd 11,000 ..... all over America with several cross country trips...both south to north and east to west....
Biggest issues..... tires. Road construction and FOD on the highways from other vehicles...and I do not plan to tow with a single axle trailer...as loosing one of four or six tires on the ground is much better and many more SAFER OFF ROAD OPTIONS, for having my tires repaired...off the interstates.. And...yes, I buy heavy bad ass heavy load rating trailer (and tow vehicle tires)...

Ive never towed a CD22 cross country with it.... but, next week Roger Johnson, SENSIE and I will tow it cross country with a Yukon with the V8 I think 350? Ill find out later today.... and will report mileage around first of the month.
Followed by me towing it somewhere with my Excursion 6.0 diesel...down to the Gulf Coast area and back to TN. Ill report then. Then, in April of 2019 Ill tow the CD22 back to WA from TN. May or may not take the same route.

Advatages of me keeping my 3/4 Ton Excursion is it has been paid for since 2005, no real issues at all, and if you can hitch it up...you can pull it...but, I am a firm believer in a heavy duty strong weight distribution hitch for trips over 25-50 miles....or....if going over a mountain pass or twisty bouncy roads. No money out of pocket...because I WANT TO get a 3.0...and better mileage with my lighter smaller towing/hauling needs.

See yall on the highways and waters soon I hope.
 
And look at the packages Ford is putting out in diesel market in 2019 trucks...

Interesting stable of power plants to dial into what ever your towing/hauling needs. Id like to simply drop the 3.0 in where my 6.0 sits in my 2005 Excursion....but now way will the numbers wash...as far as taking care of my boating retirement/travel funds.... IT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE I WANT IT now that Im towing lighter and smaller. I still drive a lot of miles each year..and still about 50% towing....that's why I buy trailerable boats.

And, zero propblems with my 6.0 in 186,000+ miles....and Id say close to 50% of those miles towing aroumd 11,000 ..... all over America with several cross country trips...both south to north and east to west....
Biggest issues..... tires. Road construction and FOD on the highways from other vehicles...and I do not plan to tow with a single axle trailer...as loosing one of four or six tires on the ground is much better and many more SAFER OFF ROAD OPTIONS, for having my tires repaired...off the interstates.. And...yes, I buy heavy bad ass heavy load rating trailer (and tow vehicle tires)...

Ive never towed a CD22 cross country with it.... but, next week Roger Johnson, SENSIE and I will tow it cross country with a Yukon with the V8 I think 350? Ill find out later today.... and will report mileage around first of the month.
Followed by me towing it somewhere with my Excursion 6.0 diesel...down to the Gulf Coast area and back to TN. Ill report then. Then, in April of 2019 Ill tow the CD22 back to WA from TN. May or may not take the same route.

Advatages of me keeping my 3/4 Ton Excursion is it has been paid for since 2005, no real issues at all, and if you can hitch it up...you can pull it...but, I am a firm believer in a heavy duty strong weight distribution hitch for trips over 25-50 miles....or....if going over a mountain pass or twisty bouncy roads. I WANT TO get a 3.0...and better mileage with my lighter smaller towing/hauling needs....but, even with my shoes still on....no way can I find any math to support....just what I want. What I have is so sweeet. The mileage savings between the new 3.0 power stroke and 6.0 power stroke....just will not justify the trade... today. But, next week...or next month....WHAT I WANT.....sometimes wins. Aint a free America great! Go Boating!

See yall on the highways and waters soon I hope.
 
I hate people in Diesel pick-ups. They keep them running in parking lots and everyone within 200 feet has to breathe in the obnoxious fumes. Why can't they switch off the damn engine?
 
KevinDU":1763r3wi said:
I hate people in Diesel pick-ups. They keep them running in parking lots and everyone within 200 feet has to breathe in the obnoxious fumes. Why can't they switch off the damn engine?
Click to expand...

Get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? I get what you’re saying, but I suspect most of us with diesel trucks don’t leave them running in parking lots.
 
When I had a diesel pickup, my favorite part about it, right after towing a CD-25 across the country to go boat cruising in some spectacular places, was getting the boat tied off to a dock so I could take the truck to a parking lot and let it run needlessly. Cuz that's what people in diesel pickups do.

:roll:
 
hardee":2qwhalbi said:
Still looking at the RAM 1500 Ecodiesel, but the fuel price even with the 25mpg+ is a bit of a put off.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Click to expand...

You are absolutely right. In our area in SW Florida, regular gas is $2.40 per gallon and diesel is $3.10. That difference blows apart any efficiency savings.

A 1/2 to 3/4 ton Ford, Chevy or ?? with a 6 liter V8 gasoline engine has plenty of hp/torque to pull any C-Dory. Maybe it won't last as long as a diesel but you can replace that engine with a long block for less than the cost difference of the diesel.

I am not sure why diesel at the retail level is so high. The price difference at the refinery gate varies from 10 cents to 20 cents per gallon whereas the fuel station price difference is at least double.

David
 
KevinDU":2fenx4dv said:
I hate people in Diesel pick-ups. They keep them running in parking lots and everyone within 200 feet has to breathe in the obnoxious fumes. Why can't they switch off the damn engine?
Click to expand...

Man you are missing out. Only one pickup. Next time, for more sheer enjoyment try a truck stop, about 2AM, with about 100 big rigs all with clean idle stickers on the side and all their reefers running, just purring through the night :wink: Oh, that truck in the parking lot, he left it running so he could hear that cool rumble, and find his truck when he came out of the store.

As to gas / diesel prices, the Pacific Northwest hasn't seen prices that low in a few years. Try $3.30 for gas and $3.90+ for diesel, then there is DEF too.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
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