Ram vs GMC

[justa25thTA]

Originally Posted by Truck Norris

Dodge isn't building the transmissions. The 8 speed auto in the Ram is the award winning ZF 8 speed which can be found in many luxury and performance vehicles like six figure Bentley's, BMW's, Audi's, Range Rover's..... ZF also made the 6 speed manuals behind the Duramax back when GM sold manual transmissions in their diesel pickups.

Now days more is better when it comes to transmissions, if it wasn't then everybody would still be rocking 4 speed autos and 5 speed manuals.

The Ram has won Motor Trends Truck of the Year the past two years in a row (the first time a truck has ever won it back to back) Which says a lot considering GM just released a new generation of truck. For the money you cant beat a new Ram Hemi Express (4wd, quad cab, 20" wheels, 5.7L Hemi, 8 speed auto, body color bumpers and grille) for $25,xxx. But if you are going to be towing you should look into HD's with a diesel. All 3 make nice HD's but GM's are now bringing up the rear when it come to towing and torque.

More gears has nothing to do with reliability or towing and everything to do with MPG's.

[shaffe]

Originally Posted by Truck Norris

Dodge isn't building the transmissions. The 8 speed auto in the Ram is the award winning ZF 8 speed which can be found in many luxury and performance vehicles like six figure Bentley's, BMW's, Audi's, Range Rover's..... ZF also made the 6 speed manuals behind the Duramax back when GM sold manual transmissions in their diesel pickups.

Now days more is better when it comes to transmissions, if it wasn't then everybody would still be rocking 4 speed autos and 5 speed manuals.

The Ram has won Motor Trends Truck of the Year the past two years in a row (the first time a truck has ever won it back to back) Which says a lot considering GM just released a new generation of truck. For the money you cant beat a new Ram Hemi Express (4wd, quad cab, 20" wheels, 5.7L Hemi, 8 speed auto, body color bumpers and grille) for $25,xxx. But if you are going to be towing you should look into HD's with a diesel. All 3 make nice HD's but GM's are now bringing up the rear when it come to towing and torque.

Yeah to bad the RAM Hemi Express 4WD quad cab starts at 34K. A regular cab 2wd starts at 26K

[Truck Norris]

Originally Posted by shaffe

Yeah to bad the RAM Hemi Express 4WD quad cab starts at 34K. A regular cab 2wd starts at 26K

Too bad some people don't know about sales/ incentives and pay sticker price.

New 2014 Ram 1500 Express 4wd $25,474

I know a lot of people that paid $25k for a 4wd Hemi Express.

Originally Posted by gen=5

yes and i took your advise,and made my puchase today

Originally Posted by justa25thTA

More gears has nothing to do with reliability or towing and everything to do with MPG's.

Really...... nothing at all?

I cant agree with that as I have owned/ towed with a Cummins powered Ram with an old, out dated, and weaker NV-4500 and Getrag (5 speed manual transmissions) and a newer, stronger NV-5600 (6 speed manual transmission) In this instance the gear box with the extra gear greatly improved towing due to the closer ratio and has much beefier internals. Also in this case it did not improve mpg's as it has the exact same first and overdrive gear ratio. You cant make giant generalizations regarding every transmission as there will always be discrepancies because newer and more is not always better but usually is due to the way progression and business works out.

[shaffe]

Originally Posted by Truck Norris

Too bad some people don't know about sales/ incentives and pay sticker price.

New 2014 Ram 1500 Express 4wd $25,474




Really...... nothing at all?

I cant agree with that as I have owned/ towed a Cummins Ram with an old, out dated, and weaker NV-4500 (5 speed manual transmission) and a newer, stronger NV-5600 (6 speed manual transmission) In this instance the gear box with the extra gear greatly improved towing due to the closer ratio and has much beefier internals. Also in this case it did not improve mpg's as it has the exact same first and overdrive gear ratio. You cant make giant generalizations regarding every transmission as there will always be discrepancies because newer and more is not always better but usually is due to the way progression and business works out.

You said nothing about incentives in your first post. Way I read was you were saying MSRP was 25K, that's what I get for multi tasking haha.

Also the Ram w/ Hemi still has a 6 speed auto the 8 Speed looks like it is only offered with the V6. The truck you linked too even says 6SPD auto.

[Truck Norris]

Originally Posted by shaffe

You said nothing about incentives in your first post. Way I read was you were saying MSRP was 25K, that's what I get for multi tasking haha.

Also the Ram w/ Hemi still has a 6 speed auto the 8 Speed looks like it is only offered with the V6. The truck you linked too even says 6SPD auto.

ugh, I new that was going to be an issue after the fact (thats why I deleted the word 8 speed from my first post).

They make 8 speed Hemi's, here's one in the next trim level up at the same dealership.

2014 Ram 1500 SLT 4WD

You can get a 8 speed Hemi Express (even with 3.92 gear's), I just didn't feel like searching. I'm sure you can find even better prices out there because this was pretty much a copy and paste job from a thread a while back.

[LOWDOWN]

Just because a truck CAN be spec'd to tow a certain weight does NOT mean it SHOULD. OP, if your % of driving with 9500 # strapped to the back bumper is a HIGH %, and you're hauling through places like Wilkes Barre and N. VA, please reconsider ONLY getting a 1500. 2500s have stouter frames, bigger brakes and heavier suspensions to more easily handle what is surely your HD Towing application.

If you're 5th wheeling a trailer that size, do NOT use a 1500...period.

And don't let some no-nothing salesperson talk you into it. Some in sales don't know a 5th Wheel from a Spare Tire. Another source of info, as to what is a suitable truck for your intended trailer, could be the trailer folks you're buying your rolling condo from...

6.2 vs. DuraMax, or 5.7 vs. Cummins: when towing 9,500+ #, the diesels will probably get close to DOUBLE the actual highway mpgs, with more torque than you'll ever exhaust. In fact, the diesels will hardly know you're towing...but the gas engines will!

[LOWDOWN]

Originally Posted by Truck Norris

The Ram has won Motor Trends Truck of the Year the past two years in a row (the first time a truck has ever won it back to back) .

...SINGULARLY because they introduced a fuel-sipping diesel for the 1500, which is a bone fide game changer....

ALL the other attributes of the RAM were rewarded in '13 as TOTY.

[shaffe]

Originally Posted by Truck Norris

ugh, I new that was going to be an issue after the fact (thats why I deleted the word 8 speed from my first post).

They make 8 speed Hemi's, here's one in the next trim level up at the same dealership.

2014 Ram 1500 SLT 4WD

You can get a 8 speed Hemi Express (even with 3.92 gear's), I just didn't feel like searching. I'm sure you can find even better prices out there because this was pretty much a copy and paste job from a thread a while back.

No worries, wasnt trying to get into a war of words with ya, just trying to keep info accurate. That is a hell of a deal on that Ram you just linked.

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

Just because a truck CAN be spec'd to tow a certain weight does NOT mean it SHOULD. OP, if your % of driving with 9500 # strapped to the back bumper is a HIGH %, and you're hauling through places like Wilkes Barre and N. VA, please reconsider ONLY getting a 1500. 2500s have stouter frames, bigger brakes and heavier suspensions to more easily handle what is surely your HD Towing application.

If you're 5th wheeling a trailer that size, do NOT use a 1500...period.

And don't let some no-nothing salesperson talk you into it. Some in sales don't know a 5th Wheel from a Spare Tire. Another source of info, as to what is a suitable truck for your intended trailer, could be the trailer folks you're buying your rolling condo from...

6.2 vs. DuraMax, or 5.7 vs. Cummins: when towing 9,500+ #, the diesels will probably get close to DOUBLE the actual highway mpgs, with more torque than you'll ever exhaust. In fact, the diesels will hardly know you're towing...but the gas engines will!

This^

Just bc it can tow that much, doesn't mean you should

[LOWDOWN]

BTW, one of the magazines just did a tow-off with 250/2500 diesels, comparing gradability, cruise control containment uphill and down, etc. Winner? GM...

The other trucks gained as much as 15 mph going downhill on cruise, a result that would surely test how powerful the BRAKING system is...which is the MAJOR deficiency of towing with a 1/2 ton!

After all, sooner or later, you have to stop that 7 TON+ GCW load you're hauling...and, depending on terrain and elevation changes, you may have to BRAKE constantly and repeatedly... Through the Poconos, the Appalachians and the Adirondacks and Rockies, you can NEVER have "too much braking" power...

If, however, you're insistent on a 1500, this may be helpful: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2014/01...-two-more.html

Notice, at the bottom of this article, the 2014 RAM vs. the Silverado weighs 1500+ POUNDS MORE... http://www.fourwheeler.com/vehicle-r...k-of-the-year/

[DerbyChamp06]

Originally Posted by Thrillz

Go test drive a the Ram Sport with the sport hood instead of the Larmie. Its one sexy looking truck and tows my 6000 lb travel trailer like its a toy.

Love mine!

[Thrillz]

Originally Posted by DerbyChamp06

Love mine!

Dodge really does make a great products like the Ram. Its a great truck for towing my RV. Still miss my camaro but i will get another one when the timing is right.