2017 Ram 1500 Differential

[tbaker65]

So after doing a little reading and seeing a couple posts stating that the limited slip differential came "standard" on the 2017s, I looked at my build sheet and apparently it does not...?

What it says on my build sheet is: Conventional Differential Rear Axle

I'm not an off-roader but we do get a lot of snow where I'm at (so far great in snow) and I do plan to get in a little mud/muck from time-to-time, and honestly, I don't see a "problem" not having it, but...

Any reason for the claims being it's "standard" on the 2017s and they just "skipped" mine?

Thanks...

 

[JB1]

It’s like a $475 option, whoever told you it was standard is mistaken. Maybe it gets bundled in an off road package or Rebels but on most trucks it’s an option. When I was looking for a truck if it didn’t have the Hemi, 8 speed, 3.92 gears and LSD I scratched it off the list.

 

[unxpctd]

I believe it came standard on the 2017+ Rebels. Mine has it...just checked the window sticker. Its not an add on or price increase....listed under Standard Equipment.

 

[tbaker65]

Yeah, I'm fine without it (for now anyway)... I was just curious after I read a couple of posts saying it was "standard"...

When I was truck shopping I was looking at my minimum options which were 4WD and quad cab. Honestly, I'd been "OK" without the Hemi and/or the 3.92. With the trucks that were left within what I was willing to spend, the one I purchased had the Hemi and the 3.92 which were "bonuses" to me, and now I'm very glad I have them, but probably could have done without also for what I needed my truck for.

I live in upstate NY and we can get some rough snow storms and my truck has proven more than adequate so far, very happy with its performance. I do tow some and have a camper that when fully loaded will probably be in the 4,000 lb. range - my truck is more than capable of pulling it. Like I said, Even a 3.6 with a 3.55 or 3.21 gear ratio would have been fine too - just a bonus that I have 'more'...


I'm not planning on doing much mud running or off-road stuff with it, so in the rare instance and circumstances where the LSD would be "handy" or even required, I doubt I'm going to regret not having it, or looking to replace mine with a LSD.

And, if my needs or desires change down the road, I can always put one in I guess.

Thanks.

 

[tbaker65]

I believe it came standard on the 2017+ Rebels. Mine has it...just checked the window sticker. Its not an add on or price increase....listed under Standard Equipment.

Nice...

 

[tbaker65]

A couple of things I did find on the build sheet I generated today that I apparently had and didn't know, under "Optional Equipment", that weren't on the window sticker, are:

Heavy Duty Transmission Oil Cooler
Heavy Duty Engine Cooling

which again, is a "bonus" to me and better than not having and glad I do...

 

[Pull Ya]

I don't think that the cost of adding the Limited slip is out of site. I think that Moe's sells them at a reasonable price if you decide to add one.
Jay

 

[tbaker65]

I don't think that the cost of adding the Limited slip is out of site. I think that Moe's sells them at a reasonable price if you decide to add one.
Jay

Actually, it's not even so much the cost, even if it's reasonable. I just don't know as I "need" one per se.

We're having a pretty wicked snow storm today, like a few inches an hour at times. I was out driving and a lot of roads weren't clear. I put it in 4WD, drove all around. I actually got the traction control to kick in one time while I was in 4WD, everything seemed fine - going up hills, etc.

So, unless and until I ever feel I need an improvement, with LSD and/or different tires, I'll probably leave things as is... I'm not one to dump hundreds of dollars into something I might need or might be useful down the road...

But thanks for the tip Jay - if I ever decide to get one I'll look there...

 

[Pull Ya]

I'm not sure if it would increase your resale value---maybe to an individual but probably not to a dealer on trade.
Jay
PS--hope you keep your snow up there---it's suppose to be in the 70's here tomorrow---LOL

 

[tbaker65]

PS--hope you keep your snow up there---it's suppose to be in the 70's here tomorrow---LOL

Yeah we've had an interesting winter thus far. Lots of snow at times (several feet at a time in areas around here). We get a lot of what's called "lake-effect snow" (I live right at the eastern end of Lake Ontario) where it can snow several inches per hour - white-outs are not uncommon. On top of that, it's been below zero temps A LOT. Sometimes 30+ below zero with the wind chill factor. It can be brutal if you're not cut out for or prepared for it...

I live near a large military base and we have a lot of soldiers from the "milder" states like Texas and such who've never seen this type of weather and they go into a sort of climate shock when the sh*t hits the fan. You see a lot of 20 year old Georgia dudes driving tricked-out Chevy Cruze like vehicles in the ditches when the first snow comes... it's pretty predictable and fun to watch (as long as nobody gets hurt of course)

There's a main road coming out of the military base where this one stretch of road that for about a 1/3 of a mile is open field on both sides and the wind whips across there... first sign of winter/snow and that wind ices up that section - makes it real slick. I used to drive that every morning and no lie, I've seen 10 plus vehicles off the side of the road in that section at the same time... all from the military base (outsiders). They're standing there next to their vehicles all looking like deer caught in the headlights waiting for tow trucks... LOL. Now one might think that after seeing the first couple of cars in the ditch (you can see that stretch from some ways away) it might be a warning to others to slow down and use caution because something must be going on... but nope - they just keep piling up... makes for a good show... LOL

I actually love the winter - for a while anyway. By February I'm usually starting to wish for spring/summer to get here faster... But, I love ice fishing, winter time during the holidays, and driving around a Ram 1500 4x4 with a 5.7 Hemi and a 3.92 AR in 6 inches of snow is a WHOLE LOT OF FUN!

Enjoy the weather...

 

[tbaker65]

Something else interesting I was thinking about when my TCS kicked in today and was wondering about how that worked compared to a LSD so I searched the manual and found this:

"Traction Control System (TCS)
This system monitors the amount of wheel spin of each of
the driven wheels. If wheel spin is detected, the TCS may
apply brake pressure to the spinning wheel(s) and/or
reduce engine power to provide enhanced acceleration and
stability. A feature of the TCS, Brake Limited Differential
(BLD), functions similar to a limited slip differential and
controls the wheel spin across a driven axle. If one wheel
on a driven axle is spinning faster than the other, the
system will apply the brake of the spinning wheel. This
will allow more engine torque to be applied to the wheel
that is not spinning. BLD may remain enabled even if TCS
and ESC are in a reduced mode."

So it appears maybe the LSD is not such an important "must have" when you TCS...?

Any thoughts.

 

[Ramnewbie]

Something else interesting I was thinking about when my TCS kicked in today and was wondering about how that worked compared to a LSD so I searched the manual and found this:

"Traction Control System (TCS)
This system monitors the amount of wheel spin of each of
the driven wheels. If wheel spin is detected, the TCS may
apply brake pressure to the spinning wheel(s) and/or
reduce engine power to provide enhanced acceleration and
stability. A feature of the TCS, Brake Limited Differential
(BLD), functions similar to a limited slip differential and
controls the wheel spin across a driven axle. If one wheel
on a driven axle is spinning faster than the other, the
system will apply the brake of the spinning wheel. This
will allow more engine torque to be applied to the wheel
that is not spinning. BLD may remain enabled even if TCS
and ESC are in a reduced mode."

So it appears maybe the LSD is not such an important "must have" when you TCS...?

Any thoughts.

When my TCS kicked in when I was almost stuck in the snow it was like engine went into limp mode. When you're allready rolling and it kicks in its not bad but from a stop it's a little concerning. The ram pro city that I drive at work does the same thing.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Podcast]

Something else interesting I was thinking about when my TCS kicked in today and was wondering about how that worked compared to a LSD so I searched the manual and found this:

"Traction Control System (TCS)
This system monitors the amount of wheel spin of each of
the driven wheels. If wheel spin is detected, the TCS may
apply brake pressure to the spinning wheel(s) and/or
reduce engine power to provide enhanced acceleration and
stability. A feature of the TCS, Brake Limited Differential
(BLD), functions similar to a limited slip differential and
controls the wheel spin across a driven axle. If one wheel
on a driven axle is spinning faster than the other, the
system will apply the brake of the spinning wheel. This
will allow more engine torque to be applied to the wheel
that is not spinning. BLD may remain enabled even if TCS
and ESC are in a reduced mode."

So it appears maybe the LSD is not such an important "must have" when you TCS...?

Any thoughts.

I've had both now. Open diff on my 13 and LSD on my current 17. Personally I hated the open diff. I have a steep gravel driveway that I back up into my garage. I had to use 4WD everytime or one of my wheels would spin. I don't believe TCS works in reverse. It would dig up my driveway. With my new truck I can reverse in 2WD no problems.

Also, if you're at speed and going down the road TCS doesn't always engage if only one drive wheel is spinning. There were many times that my R/R wheel would be spinning at a good rate faster than I was going and unless I started going sideways the TCS wouldn't engage.

 

[huntergreen]

I had an open diff on my 11 sport RC 4x4. Didn't miss the LSD at all. 4wd auto made up for it.

 

[RLJ10X]

I had the open differential, and the stock "car" tires on my truck for 1 winter. Not very capable. Compared to my Wrangler with Goodyear DuraTracs, the truck was dismal.

The addition of LSD, and BFG AT/TA KOs, helped my truck tremendously. But on it's best day, it still doesn't hold a candle to the Wrangler. I guess the truck is just too heavy and long.

 

[tbaker65]

I had the open differential, and the stock "car" tires on my truck for 1 winter. Not very capable. Compared to my Wrangler with Goodyear DuraTracs, the truck was dismal.

Hmmm. I have the stock tires and "regular" differential on my truck and as of yet I'm not having any "not very capable" or "dismal" issues with the snow... in fact, I'm like a kid at Christmas when it snows here, wanting to get out and drive my truck, and we've had a few storms here.

I have a little 2WD Honda Civic that I drive for "normal" commuting when the roads/weather is clear (probably 3 times better gas mileage). That thing, with its traction control, actually gets around pretty good even with a little snow/ice on the road. However, when it's storming out and the roads/streets aren't plowed yet and I "have to" use the truck, I get all excited so I can go out and play... I'm actually hoping it snows (I don't tell the GF that - she hates the snow/winter and would view my excitement for it as a direct insult/assault/abuse to her... I feign dislike for it when she's around ).

So anyway, I'm in no hurry to go out and drop a couple grand on a LSD and/or tires when thus far my truck has been, at the very least, adequate. I'm from the "if it aint broke don't fix it school" especially when it's gunna cost a few bucks... I got set back a few bucks already with a couple other add-ons (Diamondback tonneau cover, nerf bars, etc.) and still have to purchase an extended warranty. Maybe "I don't know what I'm missing" and down the road, next winter or so when my finances have recuperated some, if I find myself itching to dump a couple Gs into my truck, I'll surely consider it.

Thanks again for the info...