06-26-2017, 07:43 AM | #31 |
No more BMWs
Join Date: Apr 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8
Location: Glenwood, MD
Posts: 14,753
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Thanks. I love the truck so far. Driving back from Sam's, I averaged 20.5 MPG (calculated) which seems crazy for a 3/4 ton 4WD truck with a 6.7L engine, and I wasn't exactly going slow.
Initial impressions are that it drives ... big. My Silverado was much lighter. The Ram also has solid axles front and rear. I posted above that I did a long tow with a friend's 1500 Ram Ecodiesel (3.0L turbo diesel). That truck has rack and pinion steering, is probably 2,000lbs lighter, and essentially drives like a large car. The 2500 drives like a truck. Perfect for towing, but pretty cumbersome around town. I'm very happy with the truck but it strikes me as odd how far apart those two trucks are. I would guess that most people buying a 2500 are towing big enclosed trailers or running businesses. Most people buying the 1500 are people who occasionally tow but mostly want an easy-driving truck that can very comfortably tow 6,000lbs. With how many trucks are sold every year it seems there should be a middle ground. I like the stability of the load range E tires that are on the 2500. I like the bigger brakes (they're phenomenal). I like the stiffer suspension, but it's probably a big much for what I do. Same with the power. The 1500 felt squishy, not that solid and lacked a bit of power and brake margin when towing. The 2500 is just plain overkill. A mythical 2,000 would be perfect for most people doing what I do with my truck. Oh well, I'll have to settle |
06-26-2017, 08:06 AM | #32 |
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 13,514
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Better too much, than not enough.
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06-26-2017, 08:37 AM | #33 |
Relic
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 12,458
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Well, I'm pretty sure that you're also driving the truckiest of trucks out there.
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2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo |
06-26-2017, 09:17 AM | #34 |
No more BMWs
Join Date: Apr 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8
Location: Glenwood, MD
Posts: 14,753
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I suppose that's true.
Another thing I noticed, the exhaust brake is one of the coolest features of this thing. You can do one-pedal driving on the interstate. It doesn't really work at lower speeds unless you manually downshift the transmission, but it's very effective if the engine is turning some revs. |
06-26-2017, 09:21 AM | #35 | |
lawn boy
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer
Location: Maryland
Posts: 14,029
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Quote:
edit: I think your truck is a year older, but I imagine it works the same. Also, if you haven't figure it out yet, the button is actually two-mode. There's a "smart" mode that's a bit more progressive. |
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06-26-2017, 09:57 AM | #36 | |
Relic
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 12,458
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Quote:
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2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo |
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06-26-2017, 10:05 AM | #37 | |
No more BMWs
Join Date: Apr 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8
Location: Glenwood, MD
Posts: 14,753
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Quote:
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06-26-2017, 11:47 AM | #38 |
older fart than ZBB
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: On the road again
Posts: 8,900
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Pretty sure it is an EGR/emission thing (for startup) that cycles the engine brake off when you stop the engine.
My Cummins 14.9 liter ISM motor had a 2 stage/3 position rocker switch for engine braking. If I stopped the engine with the rocker switch in stage 1 or 2, and restarted, a message would appear on one of the display screens that engine brake was not really enabled yet.
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