About to pull trigger

[WilburNJ]

But was hoping for some last-minute advice.

1) How reliable has your Ram 1500 been? I'm likely buying a Longhorn Limited, so it's pretty loaded with tech goodies. Has that all worked okay for you all? How about the air suspension?

2) I'm getting the truck with the rambox. Great idea and one of the reasons I'm buying this truck. Anyone install a tonneau cover on the bed with the rambox? Has it been waterproof?

3) The lack of a telescoping steering wheel is a bit of a bummer. I'm 6' 5" and am a bit worried about having to reach forward to hold the top of the wheel. I'd live to hear from any tall drivers out there and their experience being comfortable with the ram 1500.

4) final question, do you find that the truck is too big for everyday use, meaning parking at shopping malls, etc? I've never had a full size truck before, so I'm a bit leary....

Thanks much for your thoughts.

Will

 

[HemiRoar]

i have a 2010 QC with 6'4" bed - so the only question i can give you my opinion about is the truck size and everyday use.

i had a mustang for 5 years and the truck was a big adjustment. .for about a week. took a couple of days to figure out the turning radius etc for parking, but now i've owned it for a month and a half and i dont think its a pain to park or drive. .its actually a lot of fun to drive. handles great for its size. also, personally i find it easier to back park than front.

matter of fact, i used to find my dad's SUV big but now when i drive it, it feels like a toy. lol. no going back.

im sure others will give you lot of info on everything else you asked! good luck with the purchase!!!

 

[dmclone]

The only thing i find challenging is the parking in tight areas. This is my first truck and I've really never had to think twice about parking a car but every time I park the truck i have to think about it. I've only had it for a month and it's gotten better. I just take it slow.

 

[Chewy]

I'm only 6' tall but I haven't missed the telescoping wheel at all. Get the power adjustable pedals and you'll be good me thinks.

Mine is loaded to the gills... Air suspension and RamBox's and all the tech and I love it. I don't have a tonneau cover on it though and won't.

The truck IS big, but IMO it drives smaller. It handles amazingly well for its size and it's got decent power to get out of situations. I've driven big vehicles so it doesn't bother me. If you're going from something tiny to this, it may be a little unnerving. The view out of the cab is stellar though.

 

[Haserot]

I have the UConnect 5.0 and it has been trouble free. There are definitely some nuances about the system that take some getting used to, but all the electronic features on my truck have been operating fine so far.

I cannot answer 2-3, but #4 is a big consideration. I went from an '02 Toyota Corolla to my Crew Cab. Big difference.

As mentioned above, it took about two weeks to get comfortable with turning radius and such. I've noticed I park further away now in lots (due to size and the new car paranoia). I have noticed that it is easier to back into a spot than pull in nose first, so that is how I normally park now. The challenge there is I do not have a rear back-up cam, so it took about a month to get a really good feel for that.

Make sure your front bumper is straight on the truck. Mine is crooked on the passenger side and it has led to a few nicks on the front fascia while attempting to fit it in the garage the first time.

 

[5.7L Hemi]

I can tell you that the turning radius of my 2012 Ram is much better then the 2011 Silverado I got rid of. The Ram is a lot quieter and the transmission in smoother too. Sorry I can not help with the other questions.

 

[MACH]

I am 6'4 and i see no need for a telescoping wheel. I get my gangster lean on and am still good.

All in all you will love the truck.

I have had nothing but problems with my Uconnect 8.4 with Nav. But I believe I just got the bad apple which happens.

I know others haven't had any problems with theirs so you should be fine.

What you will notice and it being my favorite thing is the backup camera. when you turn the wheel the turning markes on the screen go with the wheel and are VERY accurate. My wife gets freaked out cause I don't use my mirrors anymore I just look at the screen.

I came form a 2008 Silverado and turning is much nicer in my 2013.

I will hopefully soon win my buy back and be buying a 2014 or trading mine in on a 2014...

 

[Casper]

But was hoping for some last-minute advice.

1) How reliable has your Ram 1500 been? I'm likely buying a Longhorn Limited, so it's pretty loaded with tech goodies. Has that all worked okay for you all? How about the air suspension?
I have 11K on my 2012-no issues
2) I'm getting the truck with the rambox. Great idea and one of the reasons I'm buying this truck. Anyone install a tonneau cover on the bed with the rambox? Has it been waterproof? Sorry, no Ram boxes
3) The lack of a telescoping steering wheel is a bit of a bummer. I'm 6' 5" and am a bit worried about having to reach forward to hold the top of the wheel. I'd live to hear from any tall drivers out there and their experience being comfortable with the ram 1500.
I'm 6'3" and comfortable with the seat all the way back or only part way back--definitely go with Crew Cab and not QC. RAM is the best riding truck I've ever driven.
4) final question, do you find that the truck is too big for everyday use, meaning parking at shopping malls, etc? I've never had a full size truck before, so I'm a bit leary....
I traded up from an SUV (Durango) to my RAM. Took about a week to get comfortable with the width and mirror extension. Parking requires a change in midset--you don't just jam in in anywhere. Sometimes a tight spot reqires a 3-point turn to line up. I also tend to look for three empty spots side by side and take the middle even if I have to walk 50 feet more. Get back-up assist at least if not the back-up camera.

Thanks much for your thoughts.

Will

...

 

[tprice9427]

i have a 2010 QC with 6'4" bed - so the only question i can give you my opinion about is the truck size and everyday use.

i had a mustang for 5 years and the truck was a big adjustment. .for about a week. took a couple of days to figure out the turning radius etc for parking, but now i've owned it for a month and a half and i dont think its a pain to park or drive. .its actually a lot of fun to drive. handles great for its size. also, personally i find it easier to back park than front.

matter of fact, i used to find my dad's SUV big but now when i drive it, it feels like a toy. lol. no going back.

im sure others will give you lot of info on everything else you asked! good luck with the purchase!!!

Agree w/ all above... It is just a matter getting use to handling the vehicle. I own mine for about two months. It seems big at 1st then i got use to the width and length. I do park head in most of the time because it is easier specially in a tight spot which I normally avoid. Like w/ my corvette. I avoid tight spaces w/ a passion.

 

[tprice9427]

I am 6'4 and i see no need for a telescoping wheel. I get my gangster lean on and am still good.

All in all you will love the truck.

I have had nothing but problems with my Uconnect 8.4 with Nav. But I believe I just got the bad apple which happens.

I know others haven't had any problems with theirs so you should be fine.

What you will notice and it being my favorite thing is the backup camera. when you turn the wheel the turning markes on the screen go with the wheel and are VERY accurate. My wife gets freaked out cause I don't use my mirrors anymore I just look at the screen.

I came form a 2008 Silverado and turning is much nicer in my 2013.

I will hopefully soon win my buy back and be buying a 2014 or trading mine in on a 2014...

"Gangster lean"....I thought I was the only one that that. Haha. I too came from a silverado (2007)

 

[WilburNJ]

Thanks for all the replies! I'm negotiating on a white longhorn. It's not on the dealer's lot, so they are not as incentivized to cut a great deal. But, I think/hope to get the dealer to a good price anyway.

I'm coming from an infiniti FX, so the ram will be a much bigger vehicle. I've had a mid-sized pick up in the past, as well as various mid- to large-SUVs, so the ram would be the biggest thing I've driven by a large margin (really in the length dimension). But, I'm sure the parking sensors and back up camera will keep me out of trouble. (The infiniti has four cameras in each direction, which gives you a view of everything around you when parking. That's really sweet and I'm going to miss that!)

Good luck to you all with your Rams. I'll report back when I'm the proud new owner of a 1500.

 

[Doc221]

I went from a Mercedes C300 to a 1500 CC and love it. I agree that you have to think twice where parking, but it does drive small. I have it loaded as well except for the rambox and air suspension with no tech probs so far except for the time freezing on the screen once.

Good luck!

 

[Hemi395]

As many have mentioned, it really does drive like a MUCH smaller vehicle. I came from a Nissan Frontier to my Ram and it took me a day or two to adjust. My 8.4a has been fantastic after the last update. Most importantly, its fun to drive! Good luck!