4th Gen Ram -Non Drivetrain- 2010 and Up Talk about the 2010 and up Dodge Ram here. PLEASE, NO ENGINE OR DRIVETRAIN DISCUSSION!.

A Towing MACHINE!!!!

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Old Jul 21, 2011 | 11:13 PM
  #1  
Stargeezer's Avatar
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From: Pekin, Illinois
A Towing MACHINE!!!!

I've been towing my camper for a number of years with a couple ford vans - they pulled ok, but the v10 really strained from time to time. Plus it sucked (I could stop here) gas like I owned a oil well.

This week we rolled out onto the road with my dually cummins on it's first towing run - Oh MY GOODNESS!!! I kept looking back to make sure the 10k pound trailer was back there. It never broke a sweat!

My furd E350 V10 would pull this run at 7MPG @ 60mph - My Ram got 11mpg @ 65-70mph over the 630 mile run. The furd would get 10mpg unloaded - the Ram gets 15.5mpg with just 6500 miles on the clock. When it gets broken in, it will be great.

I still cannot beleive the power of this rig and how easy it drove under load. I can honestly say that in towing this camper for about 26,000 miles in two years I never felt that I was totally "in control". It always felt that I was at the mercy of the wind, road or whatever came along. There was none of that with the Ram. None of the fish tailing or wind sway that I have always just accepted as a part of towing a big trailer hooked to the back.

As for the brake controler, I've read a few negative reviews that some felt that there was not enough boost or that the boost did not come on soon enough. I have used a Prodigy P3 for a few years and have been happy with it. Easy to setup and use, pretty much bullet proof. The built-in controller in the Ram worked pretty good overall. I to felt that the boost was a little slow, but is not saying that it is lacking, it just sets up different than the Prodigy. A little time in a parking lot and I had it acting pretty close.

I am a VERY happy camper!
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Old Jul 21, 2011 | 11:36 PM
  #2  
dmurdock's Avatar
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From: Texas
Good deal! Sounds like you've got a real nice setup
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 06:27 AM
  #3  
Blake Clark's Avatar
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From: Home: Kaplan, LA - Pipelining In: Pecos, Tx
Outstanding.

And that is stock. Just imagine how big that grin would be with it deleted and a few supporting mods.
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 07:16 AM
  #4  
Foxborough's Avatar
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From: Rockford, Illinois
X2. You forgot to add that you can actually use the cruise control too. A soda in one hand and the steering wheel in the other, much better.

I had a Suburban 1500 pulling my #6500 lb boat, 10 o'clock- 2 o'clock sucked. 8-9 mpg towing vs 11-13 mpg/ Ram.
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 07:58 AM
  #5  
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From: Minot ND
X3 on the deletes! I've never met anyone that said " Gee i wish i could go back to stock" haha
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 08:13 AM
  #6  
cbrahs's Avatar
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From: misplaced Idahoan stuck in Albuquerque, Roughneckin on RIG 270
Good to hear Larry. now time to hit the open road!
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 08:41 AM
  #7  
Stargeezer's Avatar
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From: Pekin, Illinois
I hope to add a smarty jr next month. Got to be careful of warranty right now, a couple small issues the dealership is working through.

Man oh man, is this sweet.

Cruise control while towing is amazing!!!!
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 09:27 AM
  #8  
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Glad you like it!!

Cruise control while towing and passing people UP HILL is fun!!
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 11:20 AM
  #9  
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From: Dallas, TX
x4 on the deletes
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 04:31 PM
  #10  
Stargeezer's Avatar
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From: Pekin, Illinois
On the return trip today, we hand calculated 13.4mpg running close to 70 most of the trip. Call it 12mpg average. SWEET!

This past winter we spent about $750 on gas as we came back from florida. This coming winter (if we go back to FL) the same trip at the same fuel cost will be $400. the savings on the round trip will cover another month in the CG.

Camping just got cheaper for "Captain Thrifty", or as my wife calls me "cheap" (the dime store ring was really just a joke, but 32 years later.....ouch!)
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