Thoughts on RAM 1500 Eco Diesel

H

hardee

New member
Recently (2014) Dodge RAM came out with a new diesel powered pickup with a smaller (non Cummins) 3.0 V6 Eco Diesel engine with what seems to me to be a pretty adequate tow rig for a C-Dory. MPG is rated at 19 city and 27 highway. (Standard pickup rates are 15 – 24mpg.) Tow rating is ~ 7,500 pounds and pay load is 1400 pounds with a Class IV hitch.

THE SPECS for 1500 RAM, Quad Cab, 4X4
Engine
3.0L V6 ECODIESEL

Transmission, 8 Speed, Auto
A8 8HP70

Axle Ratio
3.55

GVWR
6950

Payload
1400

Base Weight
Total 5552 Front 3245 Rear 2307

GAWR
Front 3900 Rear 3900

GCWR 13,750

Max trailer Weight Rating 7,690
The recommended tongue weight for a conventional hitch is 10 percent of the gross trailer weight. The maximum tongue weight for Class IV receiver hitch is limited to 1100lb.

I am wondering if any of you CBRATS are running this truck and how you like it; what you like about it and or what not so making you happy? Or if anyone is considering it, what some of your considerations are and what the comparisons are.

It seems like the mileage, available when towing would make it a primary consideration. It is diesel powered so, there is a fuel cost issue, but it should get higher than my, or most gas powered pickups, and it should run for years.

Thoughts please, and thank you,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Harvey-

Is this a brand new engine from Dodge/Chrysler Corporation or a Mercedes engine or adaptation?

I wouldn't want to own a brand newly designed engine relatively untested in consumer service, but if it's a Mercedes or some other tested design with a known pedigree and record of service, that would be different.

Is this the smaller Diesel that I think I see in the newer Dodge and Mercedes vans? (I haven't read about it, just seen the badges on the vehicles on the road.)

If so, there should be some serious discussions posted about it already.

My intuition is that new engine designs, particularly Diesels, may have some de-buging issues to solve in their early years.

Will be interesting to hear what Ken and Joel have to say about this with their backgrounds.

8-speed automatic: must have a usable/preferred rpm load range of 400-500 rpm?

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Joe,

Good question. It is a Fiat engine that has been in commercial duty in Europe for over 10 years and has come to Dodge through their "association" with Fiat. I also think it may be the engine, or closely related to, the engine in the Mercedes labeled Sprinter van, which is very popular in the small motor home market.

When I asked my auto mechanic about it he said "no way, don't do it" but then it is diesel and his shop does not do diesel work.

I am really liking the mpg aspect and the increased tow power and rating over my Tundra.

I'm really interested in their input too.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon


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One good source of info is the Turbo Diesel Register web site. Their forum has helped me many times over the years with my 1998.5 Cummins Ram.
 
Having had a Dodge Cummins ( some consider it the best diesel ever made).
Now have a 2011 Tundra ( 10,000 # ) tow rating.
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.
Stick to the Tundra, my 2 cents.
None of the above cents, takes into account my experience of the marine diesels I have had. That was a horror story. Now I have a E-tec outboard, and love it.
alan
 
FWIW, other than replacing the exhaust system and boost hoses, my 1998.5 Ram ISB Cummins engine has cost me essentially nothing for repairs in 170K miles, almost half of which towing a 12,000lb boat trailer. Replaced clutch at ~150K miles. These are normal wear items. Still runs good as new - better, actually.

Routine maintenance has been no big deal as well - oil, coolant, filter changes. I'm having a hard time understanding why some folks seem to have high repair/maintenance costs for their pickup diesels.

Towing mileage is WAY better than it would be with gas. 10-11 mpg towing that big rig vs maybe 7-8. Towing performance, especially in the mountains, is WAY better too.
 
Harvey,
I have a 2014 Ram EcoDiesel, I've put 37,000 absolutely flawless, trouble free miles on it in 2 years.
Truck has the 3.0 liter VM Motori turbo diesel that they've been using in Europe in boats and vehicles for better than 30 years in one form or another.

I tow my 2008 23' Venture about 5000 miles a year so far. Tons of torque ( it is still a 1/2 ton, so don't go crazy), great mileage, quiet, smooth ride.

Mine is a Laramie (loaded) crew cab, 4wd, 6'4" bed. I AVERAGE, hand calculated, 24 mpg city/highway, per tank.

Towing the C Dory at 60-67 mph, I get 14 mpg consistently.

Love the truck, and I've owned virtually every brand at one time or another.

You can see a few pics in my album.

Robert
 
Is it possible to calculate the ACTUAL (i.e., out the door cost) cost of the V6 Diesel option in the 1/2 ton pickup?

Last year I went online and tried using their "build it" system to spec out one of these Ram 1/2 Ton diesel pickups. My impression at the time was that with the diesel engine and other required upgrades, it was nearly $10K. Again, this was going by MSRP figures on Dodge's website and I certainly could be off base on my calculations.

The main positives of diesel power are superior towing and better fuel mileage. The mileage improvement is diluted, if not altogether lost, when you calculate the actual fuel costs. In the SE USA where I live, diesel costs 20-30% MORE than gasoline; so there is really NO SAVINGS on fuel until the diesel exceeds the gas engine/s MPG by that amount (diesel/gasoline price differential will vary according to WHERE you are buying your fuel).

Now don't get the wrong impression - I LOVE DIESELS! I've had the opportunity to tow my previous boat (cape cruiser 23 AKA Venture 23) with a V6 powered diesel SUV (German made) and it was FAR SUPERIOR at towing in comparison to 1/2 ton suburbans and V8 5.4L gas 1/2 ton Silverado.

So, if you want it GET IT. You will have to crunch the numbers on fuel savings - yes, the mpg figures look GREAT, however, the REAL fuel savings will be less. Which takes us back to HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? If you have to operate the RAM 100K miles to "pay back" (or "save") on fuel costs enough to equal your increased upfront cost...well, it's not really a factor in the purchase as far as I'm concerned.

The truck should have increased resale value over a comparable gas powered version.

If the VASTLY improved towing performance is worth it to you, then get one!

dave
 
hardee":1ff8a6zh said:
The recommended tongue weight for a conventional hitch is 10 percent of the gross trailer weight. The maximum tongue weight for Class IV receiver hitch is limited to 1100lb.
Click to expand...

Doesn't sound like it would come into play towing a 22 anyway, but I think you have a tandem axle trailer, right? If so, then around 7% is generally considered to be the ideal tongue weight. I think the 10% "rule" is for single axle trailers.

My 22 and tandem trailer, all up (including tongue weight) is generally around 4600#. I carry 330# of tongue weight and it tows like a dream. This is very close to 7% tongue weight.
 
I looked on line there is a DAVE Smith
Kellogg ID.dealer that sell Rams and GMC vehicles The 4by4 tradesman quad cab ram 1500 with 3.0 litre diesel is going for 37-38k
His phone is 800-635-8000 I have no affiliation with this dealer also one can look at Off Lease Only for cars and trucks on the east coast Jim
 
I have a 2014 ram tradesman 4x4 ecodiesel. I get 28 - 30 MPG on the highway, not towing my 22 cruiser. When towing, I get between 14-20. It has the tow button which turns it from an 8 speed to a 6 speed trans, to keep it from up shifting when towing. I leave it in regular mode because the truck barely knows that the dory is behind it. Love the truck, have put 30k miles on it. It would also pull a 25 cruiser or a Ros with no problem. It has a great computer display that shows oil, trans temp, tire pressure, and more when towing. The only negative that I see with the truck is that the cargo rating sucks, only 1500lbs or so, although I have not loaded it yet, but it is legal to drive on any road/ parkway in the US, so I am ok with that. I now have one multi use vehicle that gets great gas mileage, and can do it all. Long term, I am still a little leery, Italian motor, German transmission, Canadian & Mexican body... The dealer told me that final assembly was here in the US. He laughed when I told him that all we did here was print out the window sticker! My last ram 2500 was mostly American, including the Cummins diesel. I bought the long term drvetrain warranty, just in case. I hope this review helps you all, I will upload a pic into my profile now so you can see my whole set up.
 
I sold my Tundra right before I got my 22 cruiser, and then I wished I had kept it. It seemed just the right size power for the c dory tow. Gas is lower than ever, and really wouldn't need to buy a new truck.
 
Is this the same diesel engine used in the short-lived diesel version of the Jeep Liberty? If so, I'd be careful. I would want to see consumer and expert reviews of long-term use of at least 100K miles. That particular engine was not highly regarded. Could be the issues have been resolved, assuming it's even the same engine. I would love nothing better in pickups than seeing Toyota add a diesel option to their US-sold Tundra and Tacoma trucks. Chevy now has one in the Colorado, for those of us who don't want/need a full-size pickup. Not sure about its long-term reliability. Cheers! Mike
 
This is really helpful information. Thank you all so much. I have learned considerable today and will keep learning, I hope, and will try to take it all in.

I’ve learned it is not a Fiat engine, but a VM Motori, which is an Italian company that has built commercial, marine, agricultural and industrial engines for 30 years. I learned that this engine has also been used in some of the “Jeep” series line. It is capable of towing in excess of 15 mpg and empty hiway speed mpgs of 28-30. It is apparently an “American” vehicle, parts from Italy, Germany, Canada Mexico and (I’m going to be there is something in there from China too. I am liking what I have heard so far, as there have not been any derogatory reports.

Joe, I agree, I don’t like the idea of being somebodies beta tester. I would normally not get into a brand new model line, in fact I would rarely ever even buy a new vehicle at all, preferring to let someone else drive it off the dealer’s lot.

Richard, Thank you for the info on the Engine type. That led me to a whole new line of information.

Alan, The Cunmmins diesel has been my favorite for a very long time, I just never could go that way. I share your affinity for the Tundra. I enjoy and trust mine explicitly, and it has been perfect for my needs.

Easyvictor.14 Robert, Thank you for the encouraging and informative post. It is nice to see some real numbers from a reliable source. BTW, I like your album, but I still think an air conditioner on a boat is really weird.

SGIDave, Thank you for the view from “logic” and bringing the reality of $$$ to seemingly shinny numbers. You have provided some very good food for thought. I had tried to do that “build” before too, and it really left me confused. I thought I knew what I wanted, but I could never get there. I finally contacted a dealer sales person and had them do the clicking. Much better luck there.

Roger, I didn’t know about the Cummins being in the Titan. I would not have even looked there, and I like the Cummins. Thanks for that tip.

Sunbeam, Thanks for picking up on the tongue weight. IIRC, my weight runs around 425, and trailer weight is 4900, (about 8%), and my rear axle bearings usually run just a few degrees warmer than the front.

Jim, Jennykatz, Dave smith is a long ways from Naples, but they do sell rigs to Florida. And believe it or not, when I clicked in to read the thread, yours was the last note, and in the ad box at the bottom of the page was an ad……yup, Dave Smith. The largest Dodge dealer in the country with over 1200 vehicles a month, so they can offer some super deals. And yes, I have talked to them, and no I don’t have stock in the company… but I wish I did.

Reelchef, Thank you for the encouraging real numbers too. I have a friend with a 2500 RAM and have pulled my boat with it. It really made me start thinking I might want to go diesel. I knew there had to be some good CBRATS out there who would know these trucks. Thanks for your help.

Chucko, You are right about the Tundra being a good match for the 22, and the Gas/Diesel price difference is one of the considerations to keep in mind.

Westward, Good question about that Liberty Diesel. I hope someone can shed some more light on that because you are right, IF it is the same engine, however from what I have been reading this VM Motori V6 is a very reliable power plant BUT we have not seen it in the US for long term reliability study yet.


Thanks to each for your input, and for anything further, Much appreciated. These are pretty rare rigs so it is really nice to find that we have some users here and have actual user knowledge. As my friend Marty says, “God I love this place”. You all are great.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

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The google says that Toyota will be rolling out a 5L Cummins diesel powered Tundra sometime next year.

Something for everyone!

jd
 
I think the 05,06 jeep liberty used a 4 cylinder vm diesel but not the V-6 We looked at it briefly but bought a Pilot v-6 then sold it for a 07 Sequoia . Same as the 02-06 tundra with coil springs in back instead of leaf springs Its been a good SUV except for mpg I get 15-16 mpg around town 18-20 hwy towing 10-12 towing a CC-23 venture .We tow a small 2500lb RV trailer get 14 mpg
I just can't get my wallet to open up for a new truck 35k-40k We usually keep a /SUV or car for ten years and over 100k mileage
 
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