New Ram owner here... 2013 1500 Outdoorsman...

[Zoodles95]

Hi,

First time truck owner here. I just bought a 2013 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman and I am looking forward to putting it to work. I will be commuting with this and also towing a small travel trailer. The trailer will either be a Rockwood Roo 19 or a similar "hybrid" travel trailer around 19' to 20' ft.

This is my "new" baby:







It has the 5.7L Hemi and the 6 speed auto and is a 4X4. From what I have read about this model year this truck will have a 3.92 ratio so very good for towing. I took it to my mechanic and on the hoist it also had the skid plates which are mentioned in the specs for this model.

It did not have Navigation but the dealer is getting that activated. I am also having the dealer put in remote start which is nice here in Canada when it is -30 Celcius some mornings. I am also having the factory trailer controller installed as well.

Future upgrades I am considering are:

-Weather Tech floor mats

-Factory Laramie subwoofer? There are some available used around me. I wonder if it is a "plug and play" sort of thing with the system already in the truck?

-Tonneau cover (ideally before this winter)

-Laramie rims for summer use and then the 17" wheels presently on the truck would be used for winter tires.

Why a Ram? I really like the look of the truck(s) and I am a fan of the earlier ones with the uconnect with the hard drive and also the updated interface of the later trucks as well. My truck is kind of odd ball because it is a 6 speed and not a 5 or 8 speed. It has the look of the 5 speed with the console shifter but the updated driver interface of the later models.

In a perfect world maybe I would have gotten a Laramie? This truck was a good deal and I like that it is a little different with its unique color scheme. Would this be sagebrush pearl? It can look like an army or olive green in some light, brownish in other lights, and almost black in other lights. Kind of cool. The trailer we are looking to buy is 5000 lbs or less loaded so this truck is way more that I needed. Any things to watch for with this powertrain?

Any suggested mods or things to do with it?

 

[cdsbj6508]

Beautiful truck!!! Congrats


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[crash68]

Nice truck, you don't see many of that color brown. I've see people add some camo trim pieces to them that looks sharp.

Consider the Husky Liner X-Act Contour floor mats, they are a softer rubber matt that covers as much the Weathertechs do but your feet don't slide around on them.
The factory Alipne sub won't really "plug n play", your missing the amp under the dash and the wiring harness in the truck is different. A popular upgrade for the base 6 speaker set up is the 77KICK28AB (fronts) 77KICK41(rear) and add a KICKER Hideaway sub. A huge improvement in sound for not a lot of $$ or hassle. There are quite a few threads on this forum about audio upgrades for more ideas.

 

[DRkNESS]

Congratulations on the new purchase, and welcome to the forum.


F.O.F

 

[Rzrman328]

Congrats...welcome aboard

 

[quietpeen]

welcome and congrats on the new to you truck

 

[kevperro]

Just drive it and maintain it. If it has at least 30K on it I'd change the differential/transfer case oil. I think that 6-speed is due @ 60K for first service.

I like a hard cover for the bed and one of my favorite upgrades has been the bed liner made of plastic/carpet. Also a bed step has gotten a lot of use in my truck.

Nice looking truck... and it should easily pull that trailer. It is always good to have more truck than you need for towing.

 

[1ATony]

Thanks for joining

Tony

 

[Skerj]

Nice truck! Laramie's are nice, but they have a bit too much chrome for my taste, and while it's debatable, I specifically bought an Outdoorsman for the part time transfer case vs the auto one because it's better for me.

 

[BiGMERF]

congrats on your new ride !

 

[Curlyp]

Congrats on the new truck and welcome!


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[Harley Harrold]

 

[Zoodles95]

Thanks for all the replies and advice folks! I was wondering where the thread had gone but an attentive moderator obviously saw that it was better here in the introduction forum. I hope to take delivery this coming Monday and then my wife and I can go find a trailer! Now to do some research on the forum to learn about the transfer case in my truck and how it differs from the other one.

Great advice on the transfer case fluids. I will take the truck to my mechanic to have all the fluids checked. I also wonder whether the coolant and transmission fluid will be good. Don't want to skimp on maintenance!

 

[crash68]

Now to do some research on the forum to learn about the transfer case in my truck and how it differs from the other one.

The transfer case is the Borg Warner 44-45 part time. The way to tell the two apart, the 44-45 will not have the "Auto 4X4" button on the dash, just the "Lock" and "Low". It more suited for driving in loose/mucky mud, snow, sand, etc, it doesn't have a "clutch" that engages the front wheels like the full time version (44-44). Don't drive on dry hard roads with it engaged, it can cause drive-line binding when turning.
If you search for YouTube videos on the 44-44, you can see the delayed engagement of the front wheels, that doesn't happen with the 44-45.

 

[Zoodles95]

Thanks for the info. Luckily the truck comes with limited slip so I will save the 4 x 4 use for the really bad snow we get on our street in the winter. Could i still use this on the highway or only slow 4 x 4 use (eg off road, getting out of my drive way etc)?

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[crash68]

Could i still use this on the highway or only slow 4 x 4 use (eg off road, getting out of my drive way etc)?

When your in 4X4 Lock(high range), speed isn't the problem. Drive-line binding can happen when your turning. The front and rear wheels all turn at different speeds when your turning the steering wheel If the surface your driving on has "too much" traction, you'll get binding (it will usually cause a wheel to "hop"). The harder you steer, the more differentiation that has to happen between the front and rear.
If your putting the 4X4 on while on the freeway, odds are conditions warrant you won't be driving that fast.

 

[whetrick1]

Welcome to the forum from LA (Lower Alabama)


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[Zoodles95]

When your in 4X4 Lock(high range), speed isn't the problem. Drive-line binding can happen when your turning. The front and rear wheels all turn at different speeds when your turning the steering wheel If the surface your driving on has "too much" traction, you'll get binding (it will usually cause a wheel to "hop"). The harder you steer, the more differentiation that has to happen between the front and rear.
If your putting the 4X4 on while on the freeway, odds are conditions warrant you won't be driving that fast.

Roger that...

It sounds like the part time system is better suited for off road use or in very specific applications like getting down my road when it is just overloaded with snow or is in need of plowing.

Luckily there is a limited slip as part of the package so that will work well in most conditions. I drive a city bus for a living and those things are horrendous in the snow!

 

[Zoodles95]

Nice truck, you don't see many of that color brown. I've see people add some camo trim pieces to them that looks sharp.

Consider the Husky Liner X-Act Contour floor mats, they are a softer rubber matt that covers as much the Weathertechs do but your feet don't slide around on them.
The factory Alipne sub won't really "plug n play", your missing the amp under the dash and the wiring harness in the truck is different. A popular upgrade for the base 6 speaker set up is the 77KICK28AB (fronts) 77KICK41(rear) and add a KICKER Hideaway sub. A huge improvement in sound for not a lot of $$ or hassle. There are quite a few threads on this forum about audio upgrades for more ideas.

Thanks for the info...

I had seen some of the Husky mats as I was looking for the Weathertech ones. I will check them out.

As for the audio system... I have an amp and subwoofer I am pulling out of my car. I will see if the amp could be used with the system in the truck. I will do some research on the forum to see what is possible with the existing head unit. I am open to replacing all the speakers in the truck, plus putting an amp in and a subwoofer which would fit under the rear seat. So long as the system looks stock and keeps the existing head unit then that would be perfect.

 

[N1ck]

Nice truck! Where in Canada are you? I can't say i've seen that interior color before, looks real nice. Cannot tell from the photo, is the leather or cloth?