utahcamera

Hello All,

This is my first post on the forum; please excuse my naïveté.

RAM 3500 Limited Crew Cab, 6'4" Box, SRW, 6.7 I6, Dual Alternators, Aisin, 3.42 Rear Axle Ratio, Auto Level Rear Air Suspension

I'll be pulling a 26' car hauler trailer (on a ball hitch) that will weigh anywhere from 12,000 - 18,000 lbs.

I currently pull with a 2015 Ford Crew Cab F350 Diesel and get no more than 10.2 mpg average @ 70 - 75 mph over a two thousand mile trip. Even empty I'm only getting around 11.5 mpg. I know that this makes no sense; however it is what it is. Head winds of course lower these numbers.

A. What milage can I expect with the RAM?
B. Is the 3.42 rear end the way to go?

Any thoughts on the transmission?

Thank you for your input!

bmacofboise

A friend of mine has that same truck (2015) with the Aisin - he reports mileage empty in th 18-20mpg range. Pulling, around 14 where his Ford was around 11. Not sure if that helps...

Harvie

Tell the selling dealer you want the "hard copies" of the Owners Manual and the diesel supplement, they no longer come with the truck unless you request them.

Get the 220 Amp alternators, not the lessor amp models

Instead of the Air suspension OEM system, the Helwig system is heavier duty, much more stable (Big Wig - the Ultimate in Towing Solutions | Hellwig Products), and cheaper even paying a dealer to install.

Lastly consider a PacBrake engine brake (order the truck with aux switch panel for all factory dash) to go along with the exhaust brake. Service, Support & Troubleshooting | Pacbrake You will thank yourself over and over for getting it. Just ask TJ for the wiring diagram into the RaM OEM Aux SWITCH and no one will ever know you have it.

Harvie

I got 19.8 mpg out of a 400 mile straight empty trip last week.

JohnnyBoy57

Yeah you are looking at right around 20 mpg average. 8-10 mpg city, 25 maybe on the highway.

chadder1313

I wish i could get 25mpg highway but i don't think thats gonna happen with me. I have a 15 and the most Ive seen has been 20mpg on the dot but thats really taking it easy. I also have a regular cab so i have a pretty light truck. I average about 17-17.5.

dieselfreak21

These trucks have a ton of power. The seat sucks in mine and so does the fuel economy.
I have a 14. The interior has some issues but what else would you expect from a dodge.
City I'm lucky to get 12, highway i get 15 and just went from southern Missouri to the Black Hills. Got whapping 9.7. I have the AISIN and the shifting logic needs some work. If you want fuel economy and don't need the bells and whistles of the new truck get 5.9

slickr1

I have a 14 3500 4x4 Mega SRW with the 3.42. Running the interstate I can get 20-21. Towing my 40' fifth wheel @ 14k I get 10-13mpg.

Tons of power and with 41k in miles it has been trouble free.

barngal6

Lastly consider a PacBrake engine brake (order the truck with aux switch panel for all factory dash) to go along with the exhaust brake. Service, Support & Troubleshooting | Pacbrake You will thank yourself over and over for getting it. Just ask TJ for the wiring diagram into the RaM OEM Aux SWITCH and no one will ever know you have it.[/QUOTE]

You need a pacbrake in addition to the factory engine brake? I hadn't heard that. Do they both operate simultaneously or do you only use one?
thanks

Sierra1

My 2015 with the Aisin typically gets 22-23 mpg on a straight highway run setting the cruise at 80 mph. My city with some highway average runs about 16-17 mpg unloaded. Since day 1 my truck has always turned good fuel economy numbers....pretty typical of the CTD powered trucks.

Sierra1

Ram has a reflash available for the Aisin that fixes all of the quirky shift logic that drove me nuts. I had mine reflashed last week and can't believe the difference in the truck. Not only does it shift MUCH better, but the MPG went up as well.