Opinions on the new Dodge Ram Trucks

germans have been using turbos for many many years now. its about time the americans stepped up to the plate. ford has lacked in the motor department for a while now. curious to see how the new motors perform

V6 motors have very specific crank journaling that allows what is a naturally unbalanced motor to run (somewhat) smoothly. I bet running 3 per side on a V8 crank would be impossible. That plus the degrees of rotation per stroke would be different.

I have a friend with a RAM with mulit-displacement. He said he likes the mileage, but you have to drive 55-65 max on level ground, any rise, or over 65, and it won't stay on.

I almost wonder if instead of 8 to 4 cylinder it would have been more effective on a 6,000 lb. truck to go 8 to 6 cylinder, then it might have more of a chance of staying engaged in varying conditions.

Lee,

Thanks. I like the Sierra too. My Dad has a Sierra 1500HD with the 4 wheel steering. Pretty much all the trucks out there today I like in certain aspects.

eric,

You crack me up. If we drive through your area, I'll be sure to take you up on that offer.

dude,

Thanks for the info. I'll go check that out. What year is yours? So far, we haven't driven it a whole lot, but I don't really notice any difference in power or noise when the engine kicks down to the 4 cylinder mode. Can you expand on what you mean?

one small step for mankind. you can park in my drive anytime and the beers are on me

The new '11 F150s have 3.7 v6 with close to 300 hp, standard, 3.5 l DI ecoboost 350+ hp twin turbo V6, the new 5.0 v8 and the 6.2 liter v8 as well.

The 5.4 was not as thirty as it used to be when they put the 6 speed tranny behind it versus the old 4 speed auto.

I really do like the new Rams. The dual exhaust is a nice touch, and they offer a lot of amenities in them. Congrats:)

John,

Thanks. Yeah the dual exhaust out the back is a nice touch. It's only available with certain trim levels.

Ken,

How are you liking the new F-150? Our F-150 was a Supercab with the 5.4. It always towed well, but it could be quite thirsty. I understand the new ones are doing better on gas mileage. I noticed Ford now has different engine options and the 5.4 isn't one of them. The extra room this new truck has is phenomenal! I think we're going to enjoy that and the regular opening doors, especially with the boys getting older and bigger.

Congrats on the new truck, looks good and really like the dual exhaust. Enjoy it !!!

Thanks for all the discussion. I have a few family and friends that have the older Dodges and have had good luck. I've heard some horror stories too. I think you can find horror stories with just about any brand, though.

I was definitely impressed with the ride, power and fit/finish. Still contemplating, but leaning pretty heavy towards doing it.

Tom...We have a 2003 Mountaineer with 108K miles on it. The only issue with it has been some sort of bearing in the front differential went out a couple of years ago. That cost me $2K. But, a darn sight better than a new $40K SUV. I plan to run this one forever. I HATE $500/month car payments. Oh, by the way, the sun visors did go bad. I priced new ones out at Ford. $220 before taxes for both. I went to my local "auto parts recycling center", and got a working set for $16 total.

My biggest dissapointment was a couple of years ago when I bought a 2006 Impala which had been my old sales car. At around 75K miles, the head gasket went bad. I blew a gasket with the GM service mgrs., and GM ended up paying half. That car had the 3.5 engine (I think it was). Talk to anybody that had had that car/engine combo, and the first thing they say is that the head gasket went out. I think GM really cheapened things up and thats the result. Hopefully they have learned from their past mistakes. I have an Impala now with the 3.9, and no issues....yet. My company is switching over to the Malibu. A lot of the guys that drive them aren't happy going from the V-6 to the 4 banger.

I think the new Dodge trucks look great! Plus, the Dodges sound great right off the lot. I don't know what kind of mufflers they use, but, they are the best sounding out there. Yes, I know you don't buy a truck for its sound, but, if everything else is equal.......

I'd still go for the Ford F-150. That King Ranch Edition with its saddle leather interior is very cool. But, I am biased toward Ford. I have a '68 F250 in the garage that still runs great at 190K miles.

I like the new durango, especially now that it is on the new grand cherokee chassis but here is one big issue I have with the new durango (and grand cherokee)as it is. The have 5 speed trannies only. When companies are coming out with many 8 speed autos, and 7 speeds are getting more common too, 6 speeds at minimum are the necessary number. The durango and GC suffer in acceleration and fuel mileage because they only have 5 speed transmissions compared to at least 6 speeds form everyone else.

I am certain that chrysler will put trannies with at least 6, if not 7 or 8 speed trannies in them in 2 -3 years, but until that is done it's lacking big time. Other than that, it's an almost perfect vehicle (on paper). I typically don't buy anything that is new the first year, and Chrysler products are ones I wouldn't even recommend buying first year 1.0 models from.

fwiw, I owned one 86 bronco2, with the 2.9 v6 and an auto that was still running when it was retired due to a drunk driver running his stoplight and totaling it. It had 440,000 miles on it when that happened, and it only had ever needed one tranny rebuild at like 200k. Other than that it only ever needed needed brakes and tires, a battery, muffler, paint,1 alternator, a new rear driveshaft with u joints and not the CV joints it originally had, and a 4wd actuator motor put into it.

It was a great truck, and it went through a LOT of abuse, towing, off roading and all the dumb stuff that people from 16-25 do to their cars.

My family had another 86 bronco 2 that made it to 250k without much beyond a tranny, and an 84 bronco 2 that needed nothing outside of normal stuff (tires brakes, mufflers) once that made it to just shy of 400k before they donated it.

Okie Boarder wrote: Just have to decide if it is worth the extended payments.

It usually isn't.

I always come accross ones misfortunes, the LHS was at a rival shop and they told the lady because it had antifreeze dripping down the front of the engine that it needed head gaskets 2500.00 to repair, she gave me the car,I threw on an intake gasket and put 60k miles on it.

although a die hard g/m fan I have to say when I am driving down the road just before sunset and the new ram front end is approaching it is stare worthy. there is something about it .