Just purchased a new to me 2007 Ram SLT 5.9 Diesel. Have been lurking and reading all I can to get up to speed. The truck has already convinced me that I have never really owned a ''TRUCK''. I made the purchase so the wife and I can now upgrade to any size camper that we choose. The truck has 82000 miles and seems to have been cared for very well. I am a clean freak to some degree and have spent 3 days polishing on an already clean truck...lol. I will be putting an exhaust on soon due to muffler has a hole rusted in it and the tip of the tailpipe is corroded. Is this normal lifespan of a stock exhaust? I have always towed with 5.3 Chevy gas trucks which I ran in 3rd gear on a 4 speed automatic. My question is living in hilly eastern Ky what will I expect the transmission to do? Will it take care of itself, ''I assume'' by just putting it in drive and heading off? Thanks ahead and I would expect more questions to follow.

2007 Ram SLT 2500, Cummins Diesel Quad cab 4X4 all stock

 

Add more detail to the truck in your signature, looks like you have no signature. It will help others get an idea what your working with..

 

Congrats on the truck.


Ok, just teasing. But the Cummins does add muscle to the truck experience. I ran a Chevy 350 in college. While I have a special place in my heart for that Chevy I have a place in my heart for my Ram. The Ram Cummins is just "more truck". I see what you mean.


IIRC you've got a 4" system on there stock (4" begining with 06 models). You can upgrade to a 5" system. I would caution you that because you will be towing to stick with a stock-ish sound or a mild sounding system. (Or be certain to use the resonator). The exhaust note can drone in the cab and it will wear you and your passengers out. So, be mindful there is a trick to muffler, resonator and tailpipe positioning in order to achieve a nice sound that doe not drone you out of your cab.

No, you push the OD OFF button on the end of the gear shift then put it in D and head off Your transmission is the 48RE. Starting in '06 the 48RE got an OD OFF button that adjusts the TC lockup (~30mph) as well as allows OD to jump in automatically ~50-55mph (so the driver does not have to manually shift through the Drive gears). Also the TC doesn't unlock until 20-30mph when you are decelerating. Anyway, aside from hitting the button yes, you can just head out.

I run around with OD OFF as a normal course of daily driving. I like the shift points better.

 

I am going to guess that you live in a state that salts the roads in winter? The rusted muffler seems to be premature.

A truck as you describe may quite literally just have the engine broken in fully about 15,000 miles ago. The tranny is the weak point for you. It doesn't mean it is a bad tranny, it isn't. It just wasn't made to hold the potential of the engine and the TC will start to slip at some point when it is locked up, you have a heavy load and power up a hill. Being stock, that really shouldn't happen though.

It is too simplistic to say put it in drive and take off. It is best to never lug a diesel. There may be times when 3rd gear is more appropriate even when the engine can pull the load. This is best observed with a good EGT gauge.

 

ExhaustGasTemperature? Is this an aftermarket gauge that I can install? I do miss the transmission temp on the Chevy is that something I would want to add to this truck as well?

 

EGT, Tranny Temp, Fuel Pressure and Boost are the most common for diesel trucks. You could go crazy with gauges.

Yes, EGT = Exhaust Gas Temperature

Check out Diesel Manor or Geno's Garage.

 

You have to press the button on the end of the shifter twice. Once gets you OD off, twice gets you tow/haul mode.

 

If you don't have the owner's manual, one can be downloaded for free at this link.

http://www.dodge.com/webselfservice/dodge/index.jsp

Good luck with the new truck!

 

Hmmm...my 2006 is the opposite (one T.H., twice OD off).

Oh well, to the original poster- yes, congrats on the truck! And use tow haul mode.

Once you're done cleaning it, you might want to go through and replace all the fluids and filters and adjust the transmission bands, unless you have maintenance records that show all of that has been done recently. You'll want to establish that baseline and then maintain it by the book.