New Heavy Duty Owner with Questions

[huntntruk]

Hey I just upgraded my 1500 with a new 2500 Outdoorsman. So far I love it and it is everything I wanted but I have a couple questions and wanted your input. I have put about 2200 miles on it so since I've had it.

1. When slowing down or letting off the gas I will get what seems like axle wrap or a driveline backlash and is best described as a slight thud. I've heard that the shift from 4-1 can be harsh sometimes but I don't know if that is what I am feeling.

2. The brakes in comparison to my previous trucks require a large amount of pressure to slow the truck down. I know these trucks are heavy but at the same time they need to be able to stop heavy loads when hauling. I am confident in the brakes but it seems like I would have to do a leg press to stop in an emergency situation.

Have you guys had or felt similar things or is it something that I should get checked out at the dealer?

 

[tjfdesmo]

That's a great looking truck!

My truck will intermittently give the "clunk" when lifting off the throttle. It's a "feature", I'm sure. LOL

I don't find the brakes lacking. They do perform a bit better when they get some heat in them, and feel a bit "wooden" when cold. If you burnish(also call bedding in)the pads it may improve the performance a bit.

 

[huntntruk]

I also should state that the transmission in general feels clunky when shifting between Park, Reverse and Drive sometimes. Under brisk acceleration it is smooth as butter.

 

[huntntruk]

That's a great looking truck!

My truck will intermittently give the "clunk" when lifting off the throttle. It's a "feature", I'm sure. LOL

I don't find the brakes lacking. They do perform a bit better when they get some heat in them, and feel a bit "wooden" when cold. If you burnish(also call bedding in)the pads it may improve the performance a bit.

Good to know. I may have the dealer look into the brakes. Its caught me off guard sometimes and I end up rolling further than I want to because they require a decent amount of pedal pressure.

 

[Underarock13]

Yup I have everything you describe. Just normal characteristics of the truck. The brakes work trust me lol. Want to talk about a nightmare of a transmission my work Tahoe is a *************. I can't stand GM.

 

[AzRamLover]

You may need to bed your pads - I assume your truck is really new?

Brake Pad Bed-In

 

[gustheram]

The brakes on these trucks are firm for sure. You'll get used to it in no time and won't even notice it. The firm press will become second nature to the point that you look like a dope when you drive something else with a lighter pedal. Every time I drive my wife's car, it takes me a couple times before I'm not standing the car on it's nose because the pedal is so much softer than my truck.

Transmission is clunky sometimes too unless you're really laying into it, then it's buttery smooth like you noted.

Great looking truck and welcome to the forum!

 

[MADDOG]

^^^^ They ^^^^ pretty much covered it. Welcome to the forum.

 

[MN-Ram]

Yeah, the brakes take a little getting used to. I would like them to be a little better, but they do work. With regards to stopping a load, that's what trailer brakes are for.

I guess I don't know about the transmission comment though.

Sharp truck.

 

[huntntruk]

Thanks for the help everyone. Its good to know I'm not alone and I can live with both if I know its just a characteristic of the truck. I've only had the truck about 2 weeks so I am still getting used to it. After the 300 mile "break in" per the manual I took it on a family vacation to NC. Truck bed was fully loaded and I had 4 adults in the truck. It did phenomenal. Averaged about 15 mpg hand calculated.

 

[Pricejh]

Thanks for the help everyone. Its good to know I'm not alone and I can live with both if I know its just a characteristic of the truck. I've only had the truck about 2 weeks so I am still getting used to it. After the 300 mile "break in" per the manual I took it on a family vacation to NC. Truck bed was fully loaded and I had 4 adults in the truck. It did phenomenal. Averaged about 15 mpg hand calculated.

I love the way my 2500 handles and performs. It's a '15 that I bought lightly used with 14000 miles. It has proved to be much more than I had hoped for. The transmission is sweet when pulling my 9,000# travel trailer. My 6.7 is getting about 20 mph these days unloaded. I get about 12 pulling the trailer. Sweet. So much better than my 1500 5.7.


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John Price
2012 Goldwing
2015 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummings
2016 Denali 389RK

 

[SouthTexan]

I love the way my 2500 handles and performs. It's a '15 that I bought lightly used with 14000 miles. It has proved to be much more than I had hoped for. The transmission is sweet when pulling my 9,000# travel trailer. My 6.7 is getting about 20 mph these days unloaded. I get about 12 pulling the trailer. Sweet. So much better than my 1500 5.7.


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John Price
2012 Goldwing
2015 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummings
2016 Denali 389RK

It is Cummins, not Cummings.

 

[Pricejh]

It is Cummins, not Cummings.

It comes when I call it.


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John Price
2012 Goldwing
2015 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummings
2016 Denali 389RK

 

[tjfdesmo]

It is Cummins, not Cummings.

Yeah, Ford owns Cummings...

 

[zeddy]

My outdoorsman did the same clunk as u described. Sometimes it felt like some one rear ended me. That only happened for the first few thousand miles. Now withe 11k miles. It's not there. As far as brakes, the truck stops better than my titan did.

 

[Iron Outlaw]

I likeep the feel of a stiff brake better. Especially when towing.

 

[PippinAin'tEasy]

The brakes were just as deceptive on a '14 1500 as they are on a '16 3500. Your's makes the trifecta. If you want to believe in them do a two-foot suicide stand on the fat pedal after you hit 3k. Helps develop a feel fer 'em.

"Oh, sweet debt. Thy name is Truck."

 

[Buckfat]

I own a 1500 and a 2500 the brakes are very different. 1500 once applying the brakes it feels like it stops itself. 2500 you have to mash harder ,like your in more control. Maybe Ram wants you to control the vehicle or load more? Probably would not notice it so much if I did not drive both of them but I do. Your transmission will work itself out. My 1500 had the infamous clunk when stopping but with more miles it work itself out. Have 33,000 on the 1500 now and no more clunk.
I have read some people upgraded their brake pads on the 2500 with good results ,so might be doing that in the near future.

 

[soper72]

Your truck looks very familar (see my profile pic). The issues you mention get way better after its broken in. I never hear the thud any more and my brakes seem more responsive now. I always thought my tranny shifted weird too, but even that seems better. Things changed for me around 6-7 thousand miles


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[reek]

The brakes on the 2500 feel almost worthless when brand new. I almost sharted the first time I came to an intersection at the end of a freeway off ramp, after picking up the truck from the dealer. Very different from my 1500 and SERIOUSLY stiffer than my old Tundra. After about 5000-7000 miles, either my right quad have finally reached a state of maximum pumpi-tude or the brakes finally have "bedded in". they're just fine now. But definitely still takes firm pressure to do a sudden stop when some fellow Sacramentard cuts me off.