Longhorn1500
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2018
- Posts
- 427
- Reaction score
- 447
- Location
- West Sound, WA
- Ram Year
- 2019 Longhorn
- Engine
- Cummins SO
Hello, new to the Forum. My wife (Tammi) and I just purchased our first pickup, a 2014 RAM 1500 Longhorn. A little background: We are the proud parents of eight (8!) kids (yes, all from us two), so, in order to be able to haul the kids around, we needed a big van. We were also campers (travel trailer). So we picked up a used 1999 Chevrolet Express (extended) in 2000 (one-year old with 28Kmi). This has been a great van for us for these many years. Well, now that the kids are growing up and leaving, we only have the two youngest at home now, so we are able to downsize our vehicle(s).
We have been looking primarily at Suburban's, but Tammi happened to see this truck on-line and said "Isn't this a nice looking truck?" Yea, I said, but it probably can't tow our trailer, it's only a 1500. Then we looked it up on the Trailer Life tow ratings for 2014 and found that the 5.7 Hemi Crew Cab eight speed with 5.7' bed has a tow rating of 10,050 pounds with the 3.92 gears. Perfect, we wanted 10,000 pounds (our trailer weighs about 8,000). OK, does it have the eight speed transmission and 3.92 gears?? Called the dealer and asked, "We'll get back to you" they said. I really didn't think it would, but they called back and said that they checked based on the VIN and it did have the 3.92 and eight speed transmission (I have since verified that). Great, let's go look at it.
It looked and drove great and had 30,000 miles on it, so we brought it home. We really like it and went on our first camping trip towing the trailer (a 2005 30' Airstream) for 10 days, just got back yesterday. The truck towed the trailer great. The ride is a bit different than with the long wheelbase van, and it is softer sprung since it is a 1500 versus a 2500 van. The RAM has lots (!) of power, the van had a 5.7 in it too, but it was rated at 255 HP and 330 lb-ft torque; versus the 395 HP and 407 lb-ft torque. The van did have 4.10 rear gears which helped a lot, but just not the same as having good power.
A bit more about me: I have always been a MOPAR guy, my first car was a 66 Valiant with a slant six. Then, when in college, I purchased a 57 Chrysler 300C with the first 392 Hemi and dual quads that was not running. I had to sell it after getting married and life got in the way (I did get it running though before selling it). Then in 2006 I bought a 66 Barracuda Formula S four speed that I have been working on since. It is a blast to drive. I just sold that to my brother, so now I have another MOPAR that is filling the void well (and it has a Hemi!!).
I have a few questions about the RAM (it is originally a Canada truck). What is (from the build sheet):
- Electronic Stability Control
- Front Bumper Sight Shields
- Engine Block Heater
- 4.5 Additional Gallons of Gas (it has the 32 gallon tank)
I am still learning how everything works.
Thanks for listening and for the help,
David
We have been looking primarily at Suburban's, but Tammi happened to see this truck on-line and said "Isn't this a nice looking truck?" Yea, I said, but it probably can't tow our trailer, it's only a 1500. Then we looked it up on the Trailer Life tow ratings for 2014 and found that the 5.7 Hemi Crew Cab eight speed with 5.7' bed has a tow rating of 10,050 pounds with the 3.92 gears. Perfect, we wanted 10,000 pounds (our trailer weighs about 8,000). OK, does it have the eight speed transmission and 3.92 gears?? Called the dealer and asked, "We'll get back to you" they said. I really didn't think it would, but they called back and said that they checked based on the VIN and it did have the 3.92 and eight speed transmission (I have since verified that). Great, let's go look at it.
It looked and drove great and had 30,000 miles on it, so we brought it home. We really like it and went on our first camping trip towing the trailer (a 2005 30' Airstream) for 10 days, just got back yesterday. The truck towed the trailer great. The ride is a bit different than with the long wheelbase van, and it is softer sprung since it is a 1500 versus a 2500 van. The RAM has lots (!) of power, the van had a 5.7 in it too, but it was rated at 255 HP and 330 lb-ft torque; versus the 395 HP and 407 lb-ft torque. The van did have 4.10 rear gears which helped a lot, but just not the same as having good power.
A bit more about me: I have always been a MOPAR guy, my first car was a 66 Valiant with a slant six. Then, when in college, I purchased a 57 Chrysler 300C with the first 392 Hemi and dual quads that was not running. I had to sell it after getting married and life got in the way (I did get it running though before selling it). Then in 2006 I bought a 66 Barracuda Formula S four speed that I have been working on since. It is a blast to drive. I just sold that to my brother, so now I have another MOPAR that is filling the void well (and it has a Hemi!!).
I have a few questions about the RAM (it is originally a Canada truck). What is (from the build sheet):
- Electronic Stability Control
- Front Bumper Sight Shields
- Engine Block Heater
- 4.5 Additional Gallons of Gas (it has the 32 gallon tank)
I am still learning how everything works.
Thanks for listening and for the help,
David
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