32 replies to this topic

[leadsled9]

You're going to love the 3/4 ton platform. Congratulations.

[K7MDL]

I traded my 2005 RAM 1500 short bed with 30,000 mi for a 2005 RAM 2500 with 55,000 2 years ago so I could carry a full size camper. Both were 5.7 Hemi gassers. So about the same swap.

I have about 18K miles on the 2500 now with many trips to eastern WA, Idaho, and Oregon, and one to Moab. My riding buddy has a RAM3500 CTD and we have been to Moab and Death Valley in it for 4 trips and I have logged plenty of miles sititng in the back seat.

I am 6" 1", my son is 6' 2". We both have spent all day back there on these trips and it is fine. There is enough room in the cab to move the front seat forward and have decent leg room in both front and back. Not palatial, with two 6 footers fore and aft, it works fine. The biggest improvement was adding a pillow to the rear seat as it gets a bit hard over time.

I have the stock 265/70/R17 tires (31.5") and they are not worn out yet, though I keep hoping they do so I can justify changing them out to larger tires. I have been comparing weights and diameters and anecdotal evidence about impact to mileage for various tires and am looking at probably Toyo Open Country AT 285/70/R17 or 275/70/R17 as they are close in weight and get me to 34 ior 33" without changing my rims or needing a lift. I have also been looking at what changing to 18 or 20" wheels does to the total weight, as the same series tire does tend to weigh less, but I cannot find what the wheels weigh to know if it is a wash or a lighter package.

I recently acquired a Diablosport Predator programmer U7167 and set it initially for 87 octane. It upgraded the stock program first and it also reprogrammed the transmission shifting profile. I have only got 200 miles on the change, and when I empty the tank will shift to 91 program and fuel and see how I like it.

The most obvious improvement is climbing hills. I have not gone over the passes yet, but I have a few shorter steep highway hills on my commute that I know very well and the stock program really annoyed me as it seemed to skip a gear and downshift to 2nd, accelerate at over 4K RPM, then back to 4th, lose speed, downshift, wind up and then repeat (gear hunting). This is with my Grandby fully loaded on. Going over the passes is the same thing, just more of it. There is plenty of power but the gear selection sucked. This is in tow/haul mode, I could not keep it in 3rd without playing accelerator pedal games, and that was more luck then anything else. Now it maintains 60 going up the hill at under 3K RPM very easily, it is the way it should have been stock. I am looking forward to seeing what 91 octane does for my mileage and fun factor.

I realized I am one gear off in the above: I have a 5 speed auto, not 4. :-)

[pods8]

There is plenty of power but the gear selection sucked. This is in tow/haul mode, I could not keep it in 3rd without playing accelerator pedal games, and that was more luck then anything else.

That was a screw up by dodge on the 04 & 05 models which they fixed for the diesel guys but left the Hemi folks out on a limb. In 03, which I had before, there was an OD off rather than tow/haul, which locked out 4th & 5th which I was quite content with (frankly my 03 rarely ran in 4th). In 04/05 there was only tow haul which locks out 5th only and changes the shift points some, however 5th and 4th aren't all that different in gearing so it really doesn't do a good job, you really need to get into 3rd for climbing. Starting on 06 you had the tow/haul AND OD lockout (first push of the button was tow/haul, second was OD off).

Because of the above issue I actually passed on a 04 2500 I was looking at as well, similar miles/off road package (which included 3.92 gears)/etc. which would have otherwise been a good truck and saved cash as well. This 07 should have the MDS system which I'm curious to see how it performs but with the 35x12.5s on there right now I doubt it's ever getting a chance to cut out the cylinders, I need to lower the rolling resistance for sure.

[pods8]

New rubber on order, decided to give some Nitto Terra Grappler 285/70-17s a shot. I dwelled long and hard on these verse BFG KOs (which I had previously) and some others as well as sizes. Decided a 32.7" tire would be a good compromise for the stock gearing while still adding a little more clearance/better look over 265/17-17s. I almost went with the 285/75-17s but decided to stick with the much more common 285/70-17s for replacement availability if needed. On the tire choice I was thinking the Nittos would probably ride a bit better on the roads verse the BFGs. We shall see. I know they'll wear a bit faster but they cost about proportionally less as well.

[chnlisle]

You are going to love them. Quiet, smooth and a lot less money.

[pods8]

New kicks are on the truck. A bit less aggressive looking than the 35s obviously but I think it's a decent balance. I'm planning to pull out the level kit spacers on the front and check it out with those out as well. These run quite a bit smoother/quieter and there was a 5% mpg difference (once correcting for tire diameters) under similar driving conditions.

Front end is still sloppy though so I'll be changing out/upgrading some components.

[K7MDL]

5% worse mileage I assume?

[pods8]

5% worse mileage I assume?

No 5% better mileage with these 285/70-17s verse the 35x12.5-17s that were on the truck when I got it.

[rcsellmeyer]

Also looking to do a flat bed swap. Do you know where your getting yours yet?

[pods8]

Also looking to do a flat bed swap. Do you know where your getting yours yet?

Probably either an aluminum UTE bed or something I fabricate myself, haven't decided yet.