49 replies to this topic

[NorCalHawk]

Fuel grade:  I see on the spec sheets for the 2015/2016, Ram 2500, 6.4L Hemi, that Premium Unleaded is recommended? What are you using?  

[snuffy]

my 2015 power wagon owners manual says 87 or 89, not to use 91  i have tried both and after 6000mi.  i can not see any difference between the two so i use 87 most of the time.

[Potts208]

Same as snuffy

[NorCalHawk]

Good to know due to the extreme high "premium" price/gal.  Here, Premium unleaded is 40+ cents more than Regular unleaded. UGH!!   

[Potts208]

2015 Owner's manual page 818 (http://www.ramtrucks.com/download/pdf/manuals/2015-RAM_15_25_35-OM-4th.pdf) indicates: Fuel Selection – 5.7L/6.4L Engines 89 Octane Recommended - 87 Octane Acceptable, 0-15% Ethanol.

 

2016 owner's manual page 868 (http://www.ramtrucks.com/download/pdf/manuals/2016-RAM_15_25_35-OM-3rd.pdf) also indicates: Fuel Selection – 5.7L/6.4L Engines 89 Octane Recommended - 87 Octane Acceptable, 0-15% Ethanol.

 

I've only ever put in 89 but wouldn't hesitate to put in 87.

[NorCalHawk]

Looking at a new Ram, crew cab, 4x4, short box...For those of you (if any) who are using the 6.4L Hemi in a Ram 3500, how does the truck/engine respond? Transmission (66RFE auto) issues? I am looking at the above vehicle or the 3500 with CTD (68RFE or Aisin) or a Ram 2500 with the 6.4L.  Both trucks/enginge combos offer hefty payloads.  Coil rear springs on the 2500?  The 3500 Hemi/CTD offers a ~4000# payload and the 2500 Hemi is ~3000#.  Perhaps an over kill, but my Hawk weighs ~2000# plus, total with gear, water, gas, etc., etc. and it stays on my truck 24/7, I will not be towing.  I am one of those road wanders who does not want to be on the "payload borderline", which I would be with a 2500 CTD (~2300# payload). I know the 2500/3500 are basically identical, except for the suspension rating. MPG (gas) perhaps near the same? 

 

Thank you in advance for your comments, suggestions... 

Edited by NorCalHawk, 25 February 2016 - 03:31 PM.

[Vic]

I drove both before I picked up my CTD.  I was impressed with the new Hemi and in all honesty it would have probably worked just fine for me.  But with this truck I was replacing my 99 Dodge Cummins and my 05 Jeep Liberty diesel and I just wasn't ready to stop using the green pump.    If you are going to be spending much time at elevation, that diesel sure is nice heading up the passes.  

 

I've got a little bit of an unusual combo with the Aisin in a short box.  I wasn't particularly looking for the Aisin but the truck had everything else I wanted and where the rebates where when I got mine, it just worked out to buy this one off the lot.  Since I've had it, I LOVE the exhaust brake hauling the camper around in the hills.  Not sure I'll ever haul without an e-brake again.  Not sure if you get the e-brake on the 68RFE, or with a gas engine.  

 

I've heard mixed reviews with campers on the 2500's with coil springs but most on here seem to like them.  3500 is only a couple bucks more if you think there might ever be a bigger camper in your future.  

 

FWIW with my Hallmark and all my gear/wife/kid I'm getting into range of my GCVW of 11,700 on my truck, per the Cat scales.  Not close enough to worry about, but closer than I thought I'd be.  That diesel is kind of heavy and eats up some payload.  

 

Good luck with your choice.    

Edited by Vic, 26 February 2016 - 05:18 AM.

[NorCalHawk]

Thanks Vic,

 

Sounds like you have a nice set up.  Can you go into a little more detail regarding  "( I heard mixed reviews with campers on the 2500's with coil springs)"  Does being close to your GCVW concern you?

 

Thanks again for your comments... 

[Vic]

Sure - a couple more thoughts.  First I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with coils springs - railroads use them on box cars so the design must be sound.  But then again there is probably a reason that 2500 are coil and 3500 are leaf.  From my non-scientific observations at the rv.net truck camper forum (where every third post is about being over-weight) is that coils don't seem to lend themselves to being at max capacity/overloaded as well as leaf's do.  Not really an issue with a light pop-up.

 

It would be fun to take the same camper on a 2500 and 3500 back to back and see what the difference way.  Again just my impression.  My main thought was though, if you are buying new, for a couple of bucks more a 3500 just keeps your options open.

 

My camper and truck feels like a good combo together.  Batteries and water are low and forward, which helps I'm sure.  Whichever route you go, the new Ram's are very nice trucks and this is light years ahead of my old 99.  

[Potts208]

Just finished a marathon 11 day trip from Boise Idaho to Alabama Hills, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Disneyland, Central Coast-Prewitt Ridge, SF-Marin, then back home via I-80/Hwy 95. Truck handled the Grandby well in all aspects, felt like the coil springs handled the weight no problem but I do not recomend trying to drive through the terraced streets of Mill Valley in a crew cab long bed RAM

Trip computer says 14.5 mpg overall. I didnt hand calc but previous comparisons to the on board computer have been within a half gallon ( hand calc'd aleays lower). I would estimate I averaged 13.5-14 mpg.

Only thing I may do is have my head lights adjusted slightly down as I had a few CA folks (only happened in CA, not NV) flash me while I was on low beams. With the camper on my tail only sagged 1.5" but maybe enough to make oncoming folks think my brights were on.

Pretty happy with the 6.4 Hemi considering the varied driving we did along Hwy 1.