'21 vs '14 ride and drive

[Rivstg1]

I want to hear from the rest of you on your 'take' of driving feel ....concerning a '21 Limited eco diesel crew cab 5'7'' on air suspension.....vs standard suspension crew cab Outdoorsman 6'4'' model. I bought my '14 new and just recently bought the '21 with the intention to sell one of them....after I tried out the eco diesel. To my amazement....the eco diesel drives like a 'big' truck....the feel....compared to my '14....which feels a bit more toss able (if you will, for a truck). I could understand more if I was comparing a 2500 to a 1500....but its not, as I understand it. Am I wrong on that assumption of the chassis being a 1500?

I bought these for work ( mobile business)....the Limited almost feels 'too nice' (luxurious) for a work vehicle, haha ( upgraded leather from my '14, power sidesteps etc)

thanks

 

[mikeru]

I'm not quite sure what you're asking here but I'll try. The '21 Limited basically is a luxury truck. While it can be used for work (obviously) it's generally not considered a work truck like the Tradesman or Outdoorsman. It was the top trim level for that year as well as the heaviest. Based on the title (assuming the Outdoorsman is a 2014) you're comparing the ride of two different generations of Ram 1500's. Apples and oranges here as the 5th gen shares almost nothing with 4th gens.

 

[Rivstg1]

Mikeru I was commenting and asking if I was alone in my perception that the newer truck rode with a more 'big truck' feel....less agile almost. It felt like a 2500 level truck ride almost....wondering if this perception might be a eco diesel thing or not

 

[SvJam]

My assumption would be that the Eco-diesel is a heavier motor and thus drives like a heavier truck, i.e. 2500. I have the bighorn with the Hemi and it feels much sportier than other full size trucks handling wise.

 

[BWL]

Well the wheelbase should be close as far as maneuverability. If you went from 17s to 22s that would account for a different feel in ride and handling.

 

[crash68]

My assumption would be that the Eco-diesel is a heavier motor and thus drives like a heavier truck,

There's less than a 200 lbs difference between the EcoDiesel and the Hemi

Well the wheelbase should be close as far as maneuverability. If you went from 17s to 22s that would account for a different feel in ride and handling.

The OPs '14 wheel base is still 5" longer than the '21 which probably still gives the '14 with about 1.5' larger turning diameter.
Lower profile tires will definitely account for a firmer ride.
The Gen5 chassis are also more rigid than it's predecessor.

 

[BossHogg]

I had a 2013 RAM Laramie with the HEMI, which I drove for 9 years until I replaced it with a 2022 Longhorn ECODiesel. Getting out of the Laramie and into the new Longhorn, I noticed nothing different on the 22-mile drive home.

Getting into an HD, there will be a significant, and quite noticeable difference. Starting with steer behavior because of the solid front axle, and in my case, with a 3500, a 4K payload.

 

[rotwiler]

I traded in my 2013 outdoorsman 5.7 qc for a 2021 bighorn 5.7 qc. Right away I felt the handling was much better on the 13 and the 21 felt like a much bigger truck. After adding bilstein 5100s noticed the 21 felt better, so now I am going to install Energy poly front sway bar bushings and installing a hellwig rear sway bar. I liked how the 13 handled, even up to point I traded it in with over 100k and never needed anything replaced except tires and brakes. Only mod other than tune, was kyb shocks. Installed the Hellwig sway bar yesterday, makes noticable difference. Truck tracks better, feels more solid, liking it. Now waiting on the energy bushings for front, then done with under the truck(for now).

 

[Wahrsuul]

Just my opinion, but I believe I noticed the same thing when going from a 4th gen to a 5th.

I had an '09 for almost 8 years - loved the truck, but when it had a few issues I couldn't fix or get fixed, it was time to move on. I hadn't planned on looking at 5th gens at all, but the wife convinced me to check out both. I got to test drive a '20 Limited Crew with the air ride - about 50 miles or so. "Planted?" was the word that came to mind, but not quite right. I thought it might be the air ride, but I tried a couple other 5th gens and it was the same.

All of the trucks I tested - 4th and 5th - had the Hemi. A couple had the e-torque. I couldn't find a newer eco-diesel, and I might have gone V6 for mpg, but I needed a Laramie or better for the seats.

In the end we settled on a '19 Laramie. It took a couple months of occasional driving for that feeling of "difference" to feel normal.

 

[rotwiler]

Not sure about air ride, but my 21 bighorn 4x4, the bigger solid hellwig swaybar changed driving feel dramatically, turns better, less side to side movement, just makes truck feel right. I love fast corners now, tracks better and I am kind of shocked at how much more enjoyable the truck is to drive now. Before I added it, I already had bilstein 5100s, still something felt off. Like the truck much more now.