What are your thoughts on new 1/2ton diesel ram?

[vash]

Just saw one on the road. Never thought the US would get a half ton diesel. I bet mid sized trucks will follow. The one i saw was not a 4x4.

On paper the new Eco diesel Ram seems nice. 28 mpg on the highway is pretty awesome.

Thoughts? Can't be a cheap truck.


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[porsche4life]

I'd like to drive one. On paper it's an awesome truck.

And ya, not cheap but none of the halftons are these days.

[craigster59]

I didn't know Chevy and GMC were coming out with a small size diesel until Kaisen posted about it on another thread. https://www.gmc.com/canyon-small-pickup-truck.html?seo=goo_|_GMC_Awareness_|_1744|1755|IPU S|AU|G|S|BP|A|E|GG|AWR|CYN|C00-AW-_|_General_|_gmc%20canyon

"The 2.8L Duramax® Turbo-Diesel joins the engine lineup in 2015 to deliver even bigger power to this smaller pickup."

[flipper35]

The new VM has about the same power as the original Cummins they put in the RAM 2500 but with far better mileage. I don't know how long it would take to pay for itself but that isn't why you buy one anyway.

[1990C4S]

Paging Eric...

[Jim Bremner]

I just bought a sprinter van with a 4 banger diesel and 7 speed auto trans. It got 24.9 mpg on the LA highways. I would want that motor in a 1/2 ton truck any day of the week.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

I just bought a sprinter van with a 4 banger diesel and 7 speed auto trans. It got 24.9 mpg on the LA highways. I would want that motor in a 1/2 ton truck any day of the week.

That is pretty awesome. I'm gonna test drive the dodge.

I love my Tacoma. But I got 18 mpg going to mono lake. 20 coming home. Driving slightly slower.


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[kaisen]

I've only ridden in the new Ram V6 Diesel, not driven one. But the new Ram is impressive on its own: nice ride, nice looking, giant step-up in interior materials. I like the new Ram.

The VM diesel is fantastic in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, but doesn't translate exactly in the Ram. Maybe because it's heavier? But again, I only felt it from the passenger's seat. Pretty quiet and smooth for a diesel. Makes the Cummins sound/feel like a tractor with a rod knock.

There aren't many modern diesels that pencil out mathematically. It's a $5400 option, more like $3K over the normally chosen 5.7L Hemi so it's a lot less money than a Heavy Duty's diesel choices (Cummins/Duramax/Powerstroke) which are in the $7-8K range. Most people that buy diesels nowadays justify it by resale value, longevity (not true), and torque. Hard to argue the torque, I like torque.

** In my opinion ** I prefer the GM 6.2L gas motor. I've driven a bunch of them over the past year, and they get 22-25 mpg in mixed suburban freeway driving (60-65mph avg). They're also much more powerful, at 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft torque. That's more powerful than the big diesels of a decade ago, and in a truck that weighs 1,500 pounds less. And a motor that's $6000 less than the big diesels.

Here's a photo from today's 2014 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 LTZ 6.2L:

[onewhippedpuppy]

Eric, you're getting 25 MPG in a 6.2L Chevy?! That's seriously impressive. I don't care for the styling of the new Chevy/GMC trucks but it's hard to argue with that mileage and power combo.

[vash]

Does mpg drop to 11 when you attach any trailer?


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[kaisen]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Eric, you're getting 25 MPG in a 6.2L Chevy?! That's seriously impressive. I don't care for the styling of the new Chevy/GMC trucks but it's hard to argue with that mileage and power combo.

Regularly.

Still, the new Ram Diesel would probably get 30mpg in that same driving (I've several journalist friends who have done it) and has pretty equivalent torque. If the Ram diesel gets 20% better fuel economy overall (likely) and current national average gas is $3.69 and diesel is $3.99 (about 10% diff) then the diesel "wins" the spread.

Two ways to skin the same cat.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by vash

Does mpg drop to 11 when you attach any trailer?

Probably. I haven't done it. I doubt it's that big a drop, but it's still going to drop a lot. the key to the 6.2L's fuel economy is *NOT* using the power, and allowing it to loaf in 4 cylinder mode (not the green "V4" icon in the photo).

I get around 11 mpg towing just about anything with my 8.1L big-block 4x4. I'd imagine the new 6.2L would do significantly better. But not 25 mpg

[VincentVega]

2014 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 LTZ 6.2L

Nice truck.

I had a 5.7 Ram last summer as a rental. Major upgrade over previous Dodge's I've driven. I didnt tow anything but the engine had tons of power. I was able to get ~17 (matches my old 5.3 gm) but could watch the gauge move if I put my foot into. Very thirsty if you dont baby it. If I wanted to tow it would hard not to get the 2500 6.2 GM, diesel is a hard sell due the $$ premium.

[kaisen]

Just to clarify, the GM 6.2L I'm referring to here is a simple gasoline powered pushrod smallblock V8. It's not an expensive option.

The GM diesel in a 2500 is a 6.6L (Duramax)

They made a pretty horrible diesel 6.2L (Detroit Diesel) about 20 years ago

[VincentVega]

Cant you still get the 6.2 gasser in the 2500?

edit. I was wrong, it looks like the 6l is the gas motor now. 360 hp @ 5400 rpm and 380 lb-ft of torque @ 4200 rpm.

I had a 6.5 in my old chevy, it was a turd.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

Cant you still get the 6.2 gasser in the 2500?

edit. I was wrong, it looks like the 6l is the gas motor now. 360 hp @ 5400 rpm and 380 lb-ft of torque @ 4200 rpm.

I had a 6.5 in my old chevy, it was a turd.

Idiot move on GM's part not (yet) offering the new 6.2L gas in the 2500/3500.... the 6.0L isn't nearly as powerful or efficient.

Since the half ton tows 12,000 pounds, maybe some people don't really need the 2500?

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Since the half ton tows 12,000 pounds, maybe some people don't really need the 2500?

This is my situation currently. I need to be able to pull my 30 camper, 16' utilty trailer full of scrap metal or wet firewood, or my horse trailer with relative ease, which my 99 superduty diesel 4x4 F250 does nicely and knocks down good mileage to boot. I can't really go for a half ton Ford (won't consider other brands) with a 5.4L because i've heard it just doesn't have enough grunt to pull long hills or accelerate decently while loaded.

This 1/2 ton RAM with the diesel sounds like it would fill a huge niche market that I fit in. Hopefully Ford will introduce their version soon.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

This is my situation currently. I need to be able to pull my 30 camper, 16' utilty trailer full of scrap metal or wet firewood, or my horse trailer with relative ease, which my 99 superduty diesel 4x4 F250 does nicely and knocks down good mileage to boot. I can't really go for a half ton Ford (won't consider other brands) with a 5.4L because i've heard it just doesn't have enough grunt to pull long hills or accelerate decently while loaded.

This 1/2 ton RAM with the diesel sounds like it would fill a huge niche market that I fit in. Hopefully Ford will introduce their version soon.

Why not a half ton Ford with the EcoBoost or their 6.2L gas?

[Seahawk]

My 2005 150 does all the below well, not great. I have talked to Kaisen a few times about this and it always comes to performance versus the premium you'd pay for the diesel, cost of fuel, gas mileage, etc.

I own a farm, horses as well, and the 150 with the 5.4 (also a 4x4) is sufficient. More than sufficient. I haul rock and gravel, lots of dirt, horses, etc.: When you are hauling you definitely know you are towing, but with trailer brakes and attention, no issues.

I have a dump trailer, 18ft flat bed, horse trailer and a 14ft enclosed trailer. Now, if I lived at altitude and spent more than 15% of the trucks life in tow, I'd reconsider, but I don't so gas works for now.

The F 150 has enough miles on it (130K) and patina (dents and dings) that regardless of what truck I buy next this one stays on the farm.

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

This is my situation currently. I need to be able to pull my 30 camper, 16' utilty trailer full of scrap metal or wet firewood, or my horse trailer with relative ease, which my 99 superduty diesel 4x4 F250 does nicely and knocks down good mileage to boot. I can't really go for a half ton Ford (won't consider other brands) with a 5.4L because i've heard it just doesn't have enough grunt to pull long hills or accelerate decently while loaded.

This 1/2 ton RAM with the diesel sounds like it would fill a huge niche market that I fit in. Hopefully Ford will introduce their version soon.

[VINMAN]

I'm waiting on the electric 1 ton Ram....