Just picked up a 2004 (305/555 motor) Ram 2500 Laramie, quad cab 4x4, 48re a few months back...and the truck really seems like a slug to me. My friend with his 03' Silverado w/ the 8.1 can pretty much blow my doors off with ease, and pass me up on the freeway like I'm standing still.

I don't know if this is normal or not, but the truck seems to pull like a raped ape up to about 2200 rpms then seems to fall on its face in the top end...it revs all the way up to 3100 rpms but just doesn't seem all that powerful, didn't think the torque curve dropped that much.

My question basically is....are these trucks really just huge turds out of the box?

 

Try changing the fuel filter... mine started to run like that...

 

Your truck has a the smaller of the two third gen turbos. It is not gonna have a huge top end cuz your probably maxing out your turbo where you are saying its a slug. Do a search on the HE351 swap for your truck and that should help you pick up a little power up top. If you have the coin i highly suggest a smarty and a 62.

 

From the factory these trucks are designed for pulling and creating torque at the low end. If memory serves me correct, our trucks create the most torque at 1700 rpms. With a little cash you can have these trucks screaming down the track at 13's and lower

 

I agree with this...

Of course, now everyone will chime in with "add this, add that" too...

However, try this:

First, lets get a few gauges so you don't tear things up. A minimum of egt and trans temp gauge. Boost and fuel pressure is also desireable, not mandatory.

Get a smarty... watch how much of a difference that makes! It is unreal.

Then plan on a turbo, you'll need that to really see the benefit of the smarty and keep egts in check...

Then you'll have to take care of the tranny, because the smarty turned up high can toast the tranny. So keep the smarty down until you can address that.

A lift pump will be in your future as well.

I guarantee you once you do the smarty and turbo, you'll be the one leaving your friend behind.

 

BTW, what was said above about being low end torque pullers is correct. Have your friend and you hook up similar trailers of about 12k each, go to a nice uphill and see who outpulls who... and then drive for about 100 miles and let your friend complain about his 6-7 mpg... and you point out how you got about double that.

And if you are still wondering about the potential of your poor "slug/turd" 04, look at my signature... we have the same truck except I have a 235hp model.

 

I notice the same 2200 RPM wall issue with mine also. I installed a boost fooler and it seem to make it pull a lot harder all the way to 3200 RPM

 

These trucks are detuned at the factory, never mind looking at the size diff. between your truck (5.9) and your buddies (8.1). Like what has been mentioned above, if you want to blow your buddy off the road....or just the pulling power these trucks have will out tow any other stock truck out there.

I know the ford and chevy boys get real upset when the dodge goes by them on inclines with a heavier load even and with ease while they're struggling.

 

not very quick mine went back to stock the other day usually run smarty on sw5 and i thought my truck was broke it was because i put a new lift pump on and it set it back to stock. they are real slow until you persuade them a little bit!

 

I forgot to mention I do have a diablosport predator and exhaust now, and even on the performance/economy tune (100 hp) it really isn't any quicker than his 8.1. We never have gone from a complete stop but from a roll its pretty even.

I've been running the stock tune since the beginning of fall becaise I wanted to wait for gauges.
I'm getting my gauges installed next week.

Just kind of dissapointed that even with a 100hp addition (give or take), its still not really quick at all, maybe a low 16 second truck.

 

Who knows? Maybe your stock Transmission is slipping a little.... Invest in a decent Torque Converter (Lower Stall), V/B, and Input Shaft. Tranny mods are really night and day differences... Personally my 03 305/555 wasn't impressive from the factory (16.2 1/4 mile), with a few simple mods; Transmission, Smarty TNT, TST PMCR, Edge EZ, and a Holset HE351CW, I ran a (13.09 @ 105 mph) @ 6600 lbs on a Hot Humid day... Since then I've shattered my 1/8 mile record with a 8.28 @ 85 mph vs my 8.4-8.5~ on my 13.09-13.17~ runs....

 

And 2nd Gear......

Jamar's truck is pretty quick... blows the doors off my 99' in the 1/4 mile.

 

Yes, that too.... Fork out some coins when you do a 48RE Rebuild, and make sure your bands are properly adjusted before you put 400+ passes on the Tranny.

 

So just went out to time a 0-60 run with the Tow Tune (60 RWHP tune), and the thing takes 13 seconds to hit 60 mph without boost launching or anything (I've never boost launched). What the christ? I thought these were supposed to hit 60 in 10 seconds or less STOCK let alone with a tune. Something definitely is not right here...I guess I'm going to have to have the diesel shop who's installing the gauges take a look at it...I have to have a boost leak or fuel issue somewhere...I can sense a little tranny slip but not enough to warrant it being such a turd.

What puzzles me is the truck runs absolutely perfect and feels strong just during normal driving and 1/2 - 3/4 throttle runs.

 

Did you install a boost elbow? The boost elbow adds more boost by adjusting the flow to the wastegate. And extra 10 psi makes a big difference.

MikeyB