6.4 /8spd Looking for an owners review.

[Marine Les]

How is the mpg, towing/power with the 8spd? It seems like a perfect match.

 

[RainDesert]

I just picked up my 6.4/ 4.10 crew cab short bed 4x4. I'm making a trip tomorrow. Currently at 500 miles. First town tank calculated 11 mpg. My current tank is saying 13.5 with mixed. The power is there for sure.

 

[star_deceiver]

3800mi. Calgary to LA through San Francisco and back up I15. 60-80mph, 6.5-10mpg, wind, mountains, flat, etc

 

[star_deceiver]

Hills were fine, never dropped below 4th while climbing. 4th at 70mph is around 4200rpm as I recall...

If you set cruise control, going downhill it will automatically downshift to try and hold speed until you touch the brake. Alternatively, gear limiting it to 5th or 4th will hold speed, even on the 6% grades with the trailer. While coasting with the gear limiter in 8th, going down hills it will coast and gain speed until you moderately press the brake then it will downshift itself to 6th and hold itself there.

The truck liked to be in 6th mostly with the odd shift into 7th while cruising at higher speeds. It only shifted into 8th a handful of times and always on moderate downhills at speeds over 65mph.

 

[star_deceiver]

All fuel fills

http://www.fuelly.com/car/ram/3500/2019/stardeceiver/919651

 

[lharrell79]

Hills were fine, never dropped below 4th while climbing. 4th at 70mph is around 4200rpm as I recall...

If you set cruise control, going downhill it will automatically downshift to try and hold speed until you touch the brake. Alternatively, gear limiting it to 5th or 4th will hold speed, even on the 6% grades with the trailer. While coasting with the gear limiter in 8th, going down hills it will coast and gain speed until you moderately press the brake then it will downshift itself to 6th and hold itself there.

The truck liked to be in 6th mostly with the odd shift into 7th while cruising at higher speeds. It only shifted into 8th a handful of times and always on moderate downhills at speeds over 65mph.

What do you estimate the loaded weight of your trailer is?

 

[star_deceiver]

Tongue weight of 1100lbs, 8000 ish as it sits, 11200gvw

 

[lharrell79]

Tongue weight of 1100lbs, 8000 ish as it sits, 11200gvw

Thanks for the info. I see in your sig, you used to have a 6.7 w/ 3.42's. How would you compare your 2019's towing ability to that truck? Also, do you have any regrets not getting 4.10's on your 2019?

 

[star_deceiver]

Unloaded, I get the same fuel economy with the added bonus of no dead pedal.

The biggest difference is that the dually was more stable; well, as stable as a weight carrying hitch allows. Fuel economy with the same trailer was 9-11mpg. Acceleration is better while towing with the 6.4. The ability to hold speeds on grades is the same. A diesel screaming at full throttle 2700rpm is the same as a gasser at 5000, they’re loud and at 80mph the cop isn’t going to care what’s under the hood...
The 6.7 exhaust brake was great with the G56... the p003a is not. Diesel hard parts are expensive. The 8hp75 is night and day better in all ways than any RFE transmission.

The difference between 3.73 and 4.10 is negligible, especially with a close ratio transmission. You do gain an extra 3000lbs added trailer towing weight though with the 4:10. If you really need more towing ability, get a 4500 with 4:88’s.

 

[RainDesert]

Filled up a couple days ago. Hand calculated tank over 300 miles was 12.25. Lots of hills and town driving for me. At 3000 miles now, there is a lot of time when I feel the 4.10 with the 8 spd is lower than I want. The first few gears feel so low. It would be great if I wanted larger tires but I'm pretty content with the 275/70/18. The 3.92 gears in the 1500 seem to work really well with the 8 spd. If you tow a lot the 4.10 is probably the right choice.

 

[lharrell79]

Filled up a couple days ago. Hand calculated tank over 300 miles was 12.25. Lots of hills and town driving for me. At 3000 miles now, there is a lot of time when I feel the 4.10 with the 8 spd is lower than I want. The first few gears feel so low. It would be great if I wanted larger tires but I'm pretty content with the 275/70/18. The 3.92 gears in the 1500 seem to work really well with the 8 spd. If you tow a lot the 4.10 is probably the right choice.

Is 12.25 towing mileage, or just daily driving?

 

[RainDesert]

Is 12.25 towing mileage, or just daily driving?

Daily driving.

 

[14hemiexpress]

I just crossed the 700 mile mark in my 19 6.4l mega cab 4x4 3.73. I love it I dont have any towing experience with it but it has a ton of power, I have had 3 5.7l hemi 1500s and they are quicker but I haven't felt light on merging power. My mpg is 12.2 per the truck but I drive 10 miles to work and I have 8 stops on my way 6 stop signs 1 stop at my kids daycare and a stop light. At the 100 mile mark I had a 160 mile round trip and I averaged 16.1 that's doing 70 the whole time. I know it will get better once broke in my guess is highway I'll se 17-18 and 13-14 daily

 

[lharrell79]

I just crossed the 700 mile mark in my 19 6.4l mega cab 4x4 3.73. I love it I dont have any towing experience with it but it has a ton of power, I have had 3 5.7l hemi 1500s and they are quicker but I haven't felt light on merging power. My mpg is 12.2 per the truck but I drive 10 miles to work and I have 8 stops on my way 6 stop signs 1 stop at my kids daycare and a stop light. At the 100 mile mark I had a 160 mile round trip and I averaged 16.1 that's doing 70 the whole time. I know it will get better once broke in my guess is highway I'll se 17-18 and 13-14 daily

Are you having any AC issues? Being that you're in TX, it should be noticeable if you do.

 

[14hemiexpress]

Hi

Are you having any AC issues? Being that you're in TX, it should be noticeable if you do.

Its definitely not up to par with my older rams or gmc. The fan speed seems a little low and it's not as cold. With that said today we were 102 with a heat index of 113 and I was plenty comfortable after a few minutes of cool down. My dads 5th gen 1500 was the same way. It could be better but it could be alot worse.

 

[lharrell79]

Hi


Its definitely not up to par with my older rams or gmc. The fan speed seems a little low and it's not as cold. With that said today we were 102 with a heat index of 113 and I was plenty comfortable after a few minutes of cool down. My dads 5th gen 1500 was the same way. It could be better but it could be alot worse.

If you're not aware, there seems to be a lot of 5th gen rams having issues with the HVAC. There are several threads going on the 5thgenram forum. Might want to take a temperature measurement from each of your vents.