We just LOVE our new-to-us '21 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4x4 Ecodiesel

[FIRE UP]

Well Gang,
It's 2 months today that we've had our new-to-us 2021 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4x4 Ecodiesel in Delmonico Red Pearl with lower 2-tone paint. It's got the Mountain brown with light frost beige interior. This truck is PHENOMENALLY QUIET, rides like a dream, is a serious pleasure to drive and so far, is getting PHENOMENAL FUEL MILELAGE! We did our first semi-longer trip in it this last weekend from our home in lake Havasu to San Diego for mothers day to see the kids and the CEO's mom and it hovered around 31 mpg there and back. There were times when it was over 40 mpg but that was with a tail wind, flat ground and cruise control holding at 61 mph.

So far, in these two months and around maybe a thousand miles of driving it, we maybe, MAYBE, only have one issue/problem. And it's really not a problem as more of a nuisance. And this is the link up to either hers or my Apple phone, to make the U-connect see or pair with Apple Car Play. To me, even in the year 2021 when this truck was built, it's kind-a odd that the phones MUST BE HARDWIRED to the dash USB port to access or linkup with ACP in the radio. I would have thought blue tooth would have been in place then. It's not the end of the world, you just have to plug the phone in each time you enter the truck.

Orrrrr, you can buy one of a zillion available "Dongles" that plug into the USB port that acts as a go-between or communicator between the phone and the U-connect. Those dongles are supposed to be the ticket to not having to plug the phone in each time. Well, we did buy one and it does work, MOST of the time. On occasion, it will get confused if we both are in the truck and both phones have "blue tooth" enabled even though, it's supposed to recognize the last blue tooth signal it used, mine or hers, and latch onto that one first. We're dealing with that, it's not a big deal.

I have done all the modifications to the truck to prep it for towing behind our motorhome which includes installing a set of base plates, the wiring harness to allow the tail lights to be used with signals from the motorhomes lights, components for an auxiliary braking system and, air bags for handling the added weight of a lift and our 2018 Honda Goldwing Tour DCT Airbag. Oh, and I've added some Rough Country Automatic retractable steps to aid with the CEO's egress and ingress.

But folks, while there are some complaints on here in various sections of this forum about quality, reliability, trustworthiness, the Ecodiesel itself, dash delamination, dash illumination, and maybe more, we so far maybe are just lucky and managed to procure "Wednesday" built Ram. That Ecodiesel has PLENTY of power for our demands. I had to pass two semi's at one time out in the desert and before I knew it, I'd hit 90 mph in a heartbeat. Zero complaints in that engine or transmission compartment/operation. I did kind-a screw up and bought an Amazon oil filter that said it was "compatible to OEM part numbers" but after about 400 miles or so, it stared to leak. So, I tossed that one and installed an STP one in its place. So far, so good. Anyway, hopefully we'll get thousands and thousands of trouble free miles and this truck continues to perform, ride, look, and feel as phenomenal as it does right now.
Scott

 

[20IndyRam]

@FIRE UP, very nice looking truck. Glad you and the family are happy with it. There's not a lot of Eco lovers on this forum due to problems with earlier generations, but the Gen3 EcoDiesel has been pretty reliable. I'm at 60K with no issues so far.

A number of comments -
1) U-connect car play/amazon auto - spot on. Many have complained about the need to connect your phone to USB in order to use car play/AA. I've used dongles with similar issues to those that you describe. I've also had issues with dongles not being turned off xx hours after parking the vehicle.

2) A word of caution on oil/fuel filters. Saw you had a bad experience with an aftermarket oil filter. I have been using exclusively Mopar Oil and Fuel filters. Mopar oil filters were the only game in town until recently. My caution is about your source of supply (Amazon) and the risk of counterfeit parts. Advise you use Dieselfiltersonline.com or rockauto. Amazon is convenient but not worth the risk with these parts.

3) Your Eco should have been subject to a Bosch CP4.2 fuel pump recall. Check your VIN to see if this was performed. I had mine replaced at around 45K. No impacts to fuel economy or drivability after the change.

4) The low Sulphur we use in the US is not great for diesel fuel pumps in general. I've been using Hot Shot Every Day Treatment (EDT) since new to lubricate the pump (numerous posts on the forum).

5) You may already understand this, but diesels like to be driven. It takes time at speed for passive regenerations to occur. In town driving requires active regenerations. I will not go into the differences to prevent starting a wildfire of arguments and conjecture. Suffice it to say that I do not drive my truck under 30 miles unless I have to (Wife says let's take the truck).

Other than that - it's a beautiful truck. Drive the he$$ out of it and smile at every DIESEL station you pass.

 

[mboymopar]

Sharp looking Ram, clad your loving it.

 

[WSix]

Very nice!
I think we have the same interior colors as you do.

 

[Burla]

Congrats

How many miles on truck?

 

[FIRE UP]

Hey Gang,
I appreciate the nice comments for sure. First off, we purchased it with 34,500 miles on it. We've got around 36,4?? on it now. Next, the comments on the oil filter and others, yeah, I realize that Amazon might not be the go-to place for some higher tech and more critical auto engine components, and so far, in all the filters/components etc. that we've purchased up to this point, have worked quite well with no regard other than this one time on this oil filter for the Ecodiesel. And while I didn't really get down and dirty with that oil filter after I'd removed it after only about 400 or so miles, I know that something on it was leaking. It filled that little 1/2 moon lip below the filter and dropped a few drops onto the bellows boot for the driver side rack and pinion.

When I yanked that filter out of there, I just set it off to the side, installed the STP one from Autozone and fired up that engine to check for leaks. Nope, none at all. And so far, no leaks yet.

We're living with the one and only dongle that we use to connect both phones (one at a time) to the U-connect in the truck. It may or may not have any issues. All we know is that once in a while, it has a hard time connecting my phone after the CEO has eliminated hers. We can handle any hiccups due to this situation, not a big deal although, in todays electronic world, I really do feel there should be zero issues like this but, the more technical you make something, the higher the potential for issues to happen. It is what it is.

As for the fuel pump, yep, it's been changed to the CP 3. It was done before we purchased it. I don't run any additives but may look into them. I'm presently running an engine oil that was/is called for in the owners manual. I think it's under some sort of European set of standards and all that.

As for running it on short trips around town, yep, I'm aware that in todays diesels, short trips are not all that good for those engines. Pretty tough to suppress the urge though because it's soooooooooooooo nice of a truck, we just love it and love to drive it and feel how smooth and comfy it is. We are and have been, used to very quiet engines in all our cars and motorcycles, boats and all that. But even the little suppressed clickity-clack of the little VM Motori 3.0L V-6 is a pleasant mini-rumble we enjoy.

For any of those that might me interested, I've set the truck up to haul our '18 Honda Goldwing. What i use is called a *Rampage* motorcycle lift/carrier. It's the same principle as a Roll-back wrecker. The lift gets installed in the truck which takes about 10 minutes. Then, I roll back the center section and it tips down and hits the ground. Then a trolly rolls down the center section to hit the bottom to be in position for the front wheel of the bike to roll right into it.

A couple of tie downs are strategically placed and the bike travels up the center section all by itself. Then it levels out, and finishes the journey into the bed of the truck. A few more tie-downs are placed here and there and, it's now ready for transport. At that point, I add a few pounds to the recently installed air bags to help compensate for the rear end droop.
Scott

 

[Burla]

As far as short trips, it is fine for the engine itself, not the emissions system. So if performance is negatively effected, get a local guy who knows EGR coolers and have him blast it, clean DPF as well, that most people can swing. If DPF or EGR cooler gets gummed too bad it can take out the turbo, then and only then are you screwed ten ways til Sunday. Still should idle down if hot, if you feel motivated learn about exhaust temps and how to preserve heads. You sound like you have a good handle on things.

 

[LouM]

I miss my 3.0 eco-diesel, it was a nice running engine.
My 19 has the same colored interior, I believe it was the best interior color RAM has ever offered.
I immensely dislike that RAM has left that color combination and is shoving the black interiors down peoples throats and not even offering the light colors as an option.

 

[FIRE UP]

I miss my 3.0 eco-diesel, it was a nice running engine.
My 19 has the same colored interior, I believe it was the best interior color RAM has ever offered.
I immensely dislike that RAM has left that color combination and is shoving the black interiors down peoples throats and not even offering the light colors as an option.

Hey LouM,
We think alike! I too am PHENOMENALLY SICK AND TIRED of all BLACK interiors and even exteriors. We passed up truck after truck after truck because of that dam.. black interior. When the CEO found this one and was looking at it in an ad, that was the first thing I asked her, "What color interior"??? She came right back and said, IT AIN'T BLACK!! And it had/has what's been shown. Every time we get in it, we're dazzled. Our '15 Jeep JKUR Rubicon is Hydro Blue Pearl Coat with ALL BLACK INTERIOR and I hate that interior.

But, in all other parameters we needed at the time, low mileage, BLUE, 4-door, RUBICON, and semi-close by, (Phoenix) we had to write off the all black interior because all the rest of what we needed checked the boxes. There are sooooooo many manufacturers cheapening out with all black interiors because it's UNIVERSAL and they don't have to tool up for anything else. Just feed the public BLACK, they'll have to like it!!!!!!!!!!
Scott