Considering a New Ram 150 Crew

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JD Martin

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Jan 13, 2019
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Location
Southeast
Ram Year
2019
Engine
5.7
I will say the 5.7(even though it's "dated") mated with the ZF 8 speed is the pinnacle power-train in the half ton gas truck market. Well, once you replace the TCM that is prone to fail in the 5th Gens.
No sir. Respectfully, I believe the 5 speed first generation Titan with the 5.6 is the best damned drive train I've ever driven. No hunting for gears, torque out the ass, smooth and grumbly. It was by far my favorite feature of the truck, and if they had kept that same body style and 5 speed setup there's a good chance I'd be driving it now instead of the Ram. More gears are great for fuel economy but most of the trucks are set up that the tall gears are for highway cruising if you care about fuel economy (I don't).

Toyota makes a good truck, no disputing that. Their compacts have been the standard for quality for years. The full size, not as good but still good.
 

adamb32

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Apr 23, 2019
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Location
WI
Ram Year
2016
Engine
5.7
My suggestion is DO NOT BUY A RAM TRUCK and definitely don't rely on Ram to fix your truck when it breaks.

I've had 3 rams now and shouldn't have bought the 3rd. The first was a 2008 Cummins 2500 Mega Cab Laramie and I had a tie rod literally fall off while I was driving and send me into a ditch. Ram's response was that it wasn't a defect even though they recalled some of the trucks for that problem but mine mysteriously wasn't included. Okay...second mistake, bought a 2009 Ram 1500 Hemi 4x4 Quad Cab and had the electrical system go out with 56,000 miles and ram again says not our defect so thousands later and a new TIPM and still had electrical issues so sold that truck. Then decided to buy a newer ram so I got a 2016 and with 30,000 miles on it. Well guess what aside from the rattling windows and squeeking blower motor it needs a new torque converted and likely a transmission from what I've read. RAM again tells me that they will not cover a dime of the repair because it is over 3 years since purchase. Come on really a truck with 30k miles need a torque converter and trans and that isn't a defect. You have to be kidding me. DO NOT BUY A RAM TRUCK! My Yukon that had 170k miles on it needed nothing aside from maintenance items, this RAM with 30k miles need a transmission with a bill for over $1,000. Absolutely crazy my mistake for sticking with RAM.

Again I say DON"T BUY A RAM TRUCK!!!
 

Jack Ryan

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Jul 22, 2018
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Location
Maryland
Ram Year
2015
Engine
5.7 Hemi
I’m 74 (holy crap - how did that happen?) and I traded my 15 year old Silverado extended cab Duramax for a 2015 Big Horn with 15k last year. Never had a Ford but the Ram is smooth, powerful, and quiet. Everything an old man likes. Got AlfaOBD and set up DRL’s and leds and will pull my little trailer with power to spare. I probably overpaid but when wifey says “I really like this” it was a done deal. I like the new ones but payments will last longer than me. I get about 20 mpg around town but haven’t done real highway testing yet. The Chevy 3/4 ton was beating us to death towing a 5th wheel so we downsized that and the truck. No regrets. We’ll see if it disappoints. Hope not.
 

twooldfarmers

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May 4, 2014
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Location
SK and AZ
Ram Year
2014 Laramie Crew 4x4
Engine
5.7 Hemi
I'm 63 years old. I've never owned a Dodge of any kind. Always driven Ford 150. Really looking for something different not because I dislike Ford but just because I'm ready for a change. The new Dodge Ram looks and drives awesome. I would really appreciate input on things that concern me. I also would like any and all input on anything relevant. $65,000.00 is a lot money and I want to make a good decision.. Pros and cons are appreciated. The e torque engine is intriguing..Can it be turned off? The a.c. seems lacking..The old hemi engine is old.. The electronics seem overwhelming for an old man that drives a 2010 Ford. The navigation in my Toyota 4 Riunner is terrible. How is the Dodge nav sustem? Drive system on 4WD is confusing with various limited slip and locking rear end. As much as I love driving and looking at the new Ram I'm just not sure I can pull the trigger..I have never believed the assembly of the Dodge was on par with Ford or Chevy.. Please change my mind! :) I really want to go with the new Ram...Thanks...
Well me to, I have a few years on you and have driven the whole gamet over the last number of years.
The Uconnect 8 will be suffice, I have the 12 and it has lots of wow factor but unecessary.
Stay away from E-torque for several reasons. It is largely a marketing tool. If you watch the engineering video on YouTube it is explained in detail. It comes into play for about 1 1/2 turns if the rear wheel if I recall or slightly more than 1 second. And if you pull hard it helps between shifts for what they claim us a more even power flow but it is said to be imperceptible and we have been pulling for some years now with Hemi 6 and 8 speeds without any transmission problems with the extra upfront expense of the E-torque system and the mostly likely eye-popper back end replacement cost if that 40 V battery.
I went with the 392 axle ratio instead of the 3.21 for resale purposes only. When I go to sell there were (had a 2014 Laramie) 1000's of used 321 equipped trucks also listed. I want to be able to market to someone who wants to RV in a serious manner.
For the usual owner the 392's with the steeper 5 to 1 first gear in the ZF8 has way more bottom end grunt than required, plain n simple plus it takes about 1 Imperial mpg away from you.
RAM boxes are nice as well. Had them on an 03' Escalade and missed them do put them on my 14'. For an RV'r they will be another sales hook as you can store all manner of things, floor jack and anything else you want secure when 5th wheeling with an open box. You won't likely get you 995 US$ back but it will make your truck much more attractive to a potential buyer.
Also 6 passenger seating will also be beneficial when trying to differentiate yourself in the marketplace. You will save the price of the bucket seats and pay for the RAM boxes as well.
The optional AMP power running boards are a must for us old guys. They are a 1000 US$ aftermarket and are a breeze to install. You can just walk into the truck instead of making sure your foot us hooked properly on the higher step bar. You will live yourself for buying them. AMP supplies Ford and RAM and I expect GM as well.


Sent from my CLT-L04 using Tapatalk
 

RBAT

Senior Member
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Nov 9, 2017
Posts
134
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119
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7
Regarding the comment about the A/C "lacking": Mine is a 2017 so I do not know whether this applies to the 5th Gen. When I took a test drive before buying mine I had the same impression. I later found out that switching on the A/C apparently defaults to the standard setting. Going into the Climate control and selecting Max A/C makes a world of difference. I am not sure whether it will start up with that setting the next time you start the truck or if it has to be done each time. I do not run it on the Max setting very often but it is totally sufficient to cool my Black truck that has been parked in the southern Virginia sun for hours. I am also very fond of the seat cooling feature. First vehicle I have owned with that.
 

madtrucker2016

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Apr 21, 2019
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New York-Staten Island
Ram Year
2025
Engine
3.0 Hurricane twin Turbo
My suggestion is DO NOT BUY A RAM TRUCK and definitely don't rely on Ram to fix your truck when it breaks.

I've had 3 rams now and shouldn't have bought the 3rd. The first was a 2008 Cummins 2500 Mega Cab Laramie and I had a tie rod literally fall off while I was driving and send me into a ditch. Ram's response was that it wasn't a defect even though they recalled some of the trucks for that problem but mine mysteriously wasn't included. Okay...second mistake, bought a 2009 Ram 1500 Hemi 4x4 Quad Cab and had the electrical system go out with 56,000 miles and ram again says not our defect so thousands later and a new TIPM and still had electrical issues so sold that truck. Then decided to buy a newer ram so I got a 2016 and with 30,000 miles on it. Well guess what aside from the rattling windows and squeeking blower motor it needs a new torque converted and likely a transmission from what I've read. RAM again tells me that they will not cover a dime of the repair because it is over 3 years since purchase. Come on really a truck with 30k miles need a torque converter and trans and that isn't a defect. You have to be kidding me. DO NOT BUY A RAM TRUCK! My Yukon that had 170k miles on it needed nothing aside from maintenance items, this RAM with 30k miles need a transmission with a bill for over $1,000. Absolutely crazy my mistake for sticking with RAM.

Again I say DON"T BUY A RAM TRUCK!!!

I thought the Ram came with a 6 year drive train and trany warranty with 30,000 miles your under the miles so why do you have to pay for repairs??
 

Sparky0217701

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Jul 5, 2014
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Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7
Hi guys I purchased a 2019 RAM Laramie new body style it is totally loaded. This is my 3rd RAM loved them all never had a Ford or Chevy nor a Toyota . Dodge Chrysler and RAM guy here. Take it for a test drive it's different than the 2018 models.
 

Sparky0217701

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Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7
PS does anyone know where to put a litter bag in my 2019 RAM Laramie
Thanks
 

brian42

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San Diego, CA
Ram Year
2019 5th Gen (Sold)
Engine
HEMI 5.7L
First time RAM owner. I'm coming from 18 years of Ford trucks. My truck was recently totaled (2003 Ford F-250 diesel) and I was forced to review my truck "priorities". I decided to drop down to a 1/2 ton and get something newer.

First stop (obviously) was the Ford dealer. I sat in a new F-150 and knew it wasn't for me. Never even took a test drive.

Since there's no way I'll ever own a GM product the next stop was the RAM dealer. Sat in a 2019 crew cab and loved it. Took it for a test drive and it loved it even more.

I'm not a die-hard RAM guy so there's no issue with me feeling that the 5th gen is a travesty or some kind of blasphemy against the styling of the stalwart 4th gen.

I wanted a Laramie but couldn't find one outfitted the way I wanted (I was on a timetable as I had no vehicle) and couldn't justify paying that much for one that was "close" to what I wanted.

I know there have been issues and there's definitely some growing pains as the dealerships learn the new truck and FCA figures out how to support it. Most of those issues, though, I see happen to "early" build 2019s (up until September-ish 2018 build dates). I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time or the last) but that's what I've seen so far.

I've had minimal issues with mine and has been to the dealership once for some adjustments, but what new toy doesn't need to be tweaked a bit as things settle?

As much as I am a Ford guy I absolutely love my truck and couldn't be happier. The all coil suspension is a d-r-e-a-m compared to the all leaf dinosaur I came from.

As for electronics I am in your boat. My old truck had a digital odometer and digital display on the radio and that was it. It may seem intimidating but you get used to it pretty quick. Obviously the higher the model the more bells and whistles there are but it doesn't take long to settle into all that.

If you get a truck built after 11/18 you should be good IMO as that's when most of the options were available and assembly line bugs seemed to have been worked out. Mine was built in 12/18.

I'm 50 so hot-rodding and racing between stoplights is not my thing any more. I'm coming from 600 lb-ft of torque (at 1600 RPM) and 300 Hp with a 3.73 rear end that I could wrinkle pavement whenever I wanted. My Hemi (no E-torque) with 3.21s puts down plenty of power to make me happy.

Just my .02
 
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CanAmMan

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Apr 18, 2019
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Location
North Carolina
Ram Year
2019
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I am an old guy too!! Just turned 57 two days ago!!!!! Three weeks ago I traded my 2008 Ram for a new 2019 Ram Rebel!!! and absolutely love it. My old one did not have the Nav system so with this new Ram it has it and it is nice! I got the one with the big 12" screen that you can split into two sections. I like that so you can have your Music controls on top and Nav or climate controls on bottom. This is also the first truck I nave had with 4WD so can't say anything about it yet. I have no problems with the air conditioning either!

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BWL

Embrace the skeptisism
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BC Canada
Ram Year
2017
Engine
hemi 5.7
^^^^ weirdos. Lol. I just leave it in the passenger footwell, but I take out of the garbage right away anywhere I go with a garbage can so there's never very much.
 

DRkNESS

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Location
South Jersey
Ram Year
2019
Engine
5.7 HEMI
I am an old guy too!! Just turned 57 two days ago!!!!! Three weeks ago I traded my 2008 Ram for a new 2019 Ram Rebel!!! and absolutely love it. My old one did not have the Nav system so with this new Ram it has it and it is nice! I got the one with the big 12" screen that you can split into two sections. I like that so you can have your Music controls on top and Nav or climate controls on bottom. This is also the first truck I nave had with 4WD so can't say anything about it yet. I have no problems with the air conditioning either!

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Happy belated birthday to you sir..
 
OP
OP
L

Lawman

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Joined
May 1, 2019
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Location
Joaquin, TX.
Ram Year
2019
Engine
Hemi
I am an old guy too!! Just turned 57 two days ago!!!!! Three weeks ago I traded my 2008 Ram for a new 2019 Ram Rebel!!! and absolutely love it. My old one did not have the Nav system so with this new Ram it has it and it is nice! I got the one with the big 12" screen that you can split into two sections. I like that so you can have your Music controls on top and Nav or climate controls on bottom. This is also the first truck I nave had with 4WD so can't say anything about it yet. I have no problems with the air conditioning either!

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Good luck! Keep me posted on how things go..
 

PWR Designer

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Midwest
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2019
Engine
5.7
New to this forum, but not to RAM trucks. This new generation is a home run...BUT, make sure when you find one that you like, have the dealer run it through the car wash and check the back window for leaks. If there is one keep looking until you get one that doesn't leak. I drove off the lot on 4/19 with a brand new Bighorn, nothing fancy was "only" $50K sticker. As of 5/7 it is sitting at the dealership with the interior in pieces waiting for replacement back window. This is common issue of the back window missing about 8" or so of seal at the top. The vendor is of course backordered until early June. There is no official report from RAM to dealers on this, so my concerns were dismissed initially by the service department as being a third brakelight leak.

So after 2 weeks of enjoying the truck, it now sits for a month + to fix an issue that should have never left the lot.
 

DRkNESS

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2019
Engine
5.7 HEMI
I purchased my Laramie last year and the very day I dove it home it was leaking. After three service trips , it was diagnosed that the glue robot stopped 7” short of completing the seal. Had rear window sealed and all back seats replaced. All is good since then.
 
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