Pineapple Kid

I am working with dealer to order a 2013, 2 wheel drive crew cab long bed with 6 speed automatic trans and I have some questions. ( I tow a 26' 5th wheel on the mainland )

All the trim packages; Big Horn, SLT and Tradesman come with a 3.42 rear axel and the salesperson told me that was all that was available.
My 2001 SLT CTD (74RE automatic trans) has a 3.55 rear axel and I had problems with it searching for the right gear on cruse control on basicaly flat roads before I put a chip on the engine, then it was ok.

If I am right the 3.42 is a higer ratio then the 3.55 so I will have less power
Will I run into the same annoying up/down shifting on level ground?

The dealer says no, the new CTD engine in the 2013 is much more powerful and will be OK
I don't trust dealers.

Aloha from Kauai, Hawaii Leon

need12v

With the new automatic I would go for at least the 3.73 if not the 4.10 for towing. Mine has 3.73 and I have not towed anything with it just yet but it only turns 1500rpm at 55mph. I can see already I will have to kick it down into 5th to tow. Mine does not hunt for a gear, these engines have a ton more torque than the 2nd gens did.

Crabjoe

I went through this last week, but in my case, I ordered the 3500. You might want to order a 3500 too... Depending on options and trim level, the 3500 might be cheaper or just a few hundred more, but the 3500 is the one with all the real goodies.

I went to the dealer last week to order a 3500 Crew cab 4x4 SB w/ 4.10s and Aisin trans and Bighorn package. The dealer was able put the order in, but based on the options I wanted, we figured I was better off with a Laramie. We put the Laramie order in, and the 4.10 option was greyed out. Dealer thought it was because on the Laramie it was standard. Because it was so late.. I just grabbed a copy of the Laramie standard options list and decided to review it when I got home... Well next morning, I find that the 4.10s aren't part of the Laramie package. So I'm back at the dealer to change the order. Dealer tries Laramie Longhorn and what not and still no 4.10s. We find out that in a SRW, the 4.10s were not available... So now I'm back to my original trim.

The dealer also contacted the "Ram Advocate" and they had no idea as to why this was going on. But being ******, I posted this online and found a guy that had ordered the SRW 3500 Megacab Laramie Longhorn that was ordered with the 4.10s. He tells me his order has been in Edit Error since December, but says he was told it would be built with the 4.10s.

I'm gonna call my dealer, later today to see what my order status is...

My suggestion... look at the 3500 and try different trims to see if the 4.10s are available... As for 3.73s, no ones been able to see that option listed in Dealerconnect for SRW trucks.

Good Luck!!

Crabjoe

Do NOT trust the dealer!! On the 2500, the only power increase is 20hp. It went from 350hp to 370hp (No change in torque) so you won't be able to tell the difference from a 2012. Plus, it's not just how much power the engines putting out, it's about being in the proper RPM range. With 3.42 gears, unless you plan on towing at 80+ mph, you'll be lugging your motor in 6th gear. So if you don't want to lug your motor, you'll have to manually lock out 6th or manually shift the trans, using those buttons.

Crabjoe

Call that dealer back now or call a different dealer to see if the 4.10s are now available. I just got a call from my dealer telling me 4.10s are now available on the Laramie Crew SRW. Because of this, I've switched my order back to the Laramie!!

BTW, if you call the same dealer back and 4.10s are now appearing, ask them why they are available if the power was more then enough for the 3.42....

Pineapple Kid

Is their a web site to see specs
available for different trim packages
on the 2013 Ram 2500

Aloha from Kauai
Leon

Crabjoe

Leon,

Not much available online, but here's what I know of.

2500 Info...
http://autos.gazette.net/motors/di-v...13-ram-2500-1/


3500 Info...
http://autos.gazette.net/motors/di-v...13-ram-3500-1/

If you have any specific questions, just ask.. Someone here might know the answer.

I can tell you that if you want the new Projector Head Lamps, you have to get into a Laramie or Laramie Longhorn. Laramie also come with leather trimmed seating, Uconnect 8.4 wo/NAV (RA3), Heated Leather steering wheel and heated/vented seats. Not sure on the 2500, but the 3500 Laramie comes with standard chrome tow mirrors. Tow mirrors are an option on the 2500. Limited slip rear is also standard on the 3500, but an option on the 2500.

If you don't care for all that, you can get a SLT Bighorn w/ Luxury group. That wold come with cloth seats with heat and heated leather wrapped steering wheel, limited slip rear, tow mirrors and foglamps. You can also other most of the standard options on the Laramie trim... It's just not standard equipment.

There's lots of other stuff that I didn't put in, but I hope it gives you an idea..

Oh, one other thing... The 2500 still comes with 17" wheels. The 3500 comes standard with 18" wheels and has a 20" wheel option.

Pineapple Kid

Thanks for all the info, I have to be a bit frugal with this, I only use the truck on the mainland 3 to 4 months a year in the summer.
Then every 3 years I dont even use it at all because I am in Europe where I have a Hymermobile campervan sitting in storage in Amsterdam.
Here on Kauai I have a Nissan Frontier ( one size dosen't fit everywhere )
Aloha from Kauai
Leon

Danderson

I was told by my salesguy that Dave Smith Motors was the island's biggest dealer. You might give them a call.

Crabjoe

FYI - Dave Smith Motors, in ID, is the worlds largest Dodge/Ram dealer. At least that's what they told me. Personally, I believe them based on their Ram truck inventory.. The guy I spoke to there was very knowledgeable and seemed to have all kinds of info at his finger tips. The guy was easy to talk too.. My only issue with them was that I was told they offered the best prices but when I spoke to them about pricing, on a 2013, they came in at below invoice, but higher then my local dealer. When I told them what I was offered locally, they said they would match, but admitted, it would not make sense to purchase from them because of distance...

Based on that one experience with them, if I knew someone that was looking for a Dodge or Ram, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them..

Pineapple Kid

The dealer I am dealing with is Dave Smith Motors. In Washington State

Alloha Leon

Danderson

Gotcha. Myself and a local guy ordered ours in 11-06 from DSM and also had them transported down here. Nobody had a manual around here and the nearest dealer that had one,Carson Dodge wasn't budging much on the price.

I have a friend on the Big Island who ordered his through DSM and had it shipped over.

Prior to that Dishman Dodge near you made me a great price on an '05,but I was unable to sell my present vehicle to make it happen.

Piper Pilot

I just purchased my 2013 2500. It didn't come with tow mirrors. I was told by the dealership that due to a new kind of electrical system tow mirrors, or anything else electrical, can't be added after it's been manufactured. Does anyone have any knowledge, or experience with this situation?

Piper Pilot

Pineapple Kid, have you found a 5th wheel hitch for your 2013 yet? I have a 16K Reese hitch that I removed from my 2003 dodge Ram. The unfortunate part, Reese hasn't made a new bracket kit yet for the 2013 Dodge Ram.

spider_1954

Guys I tow a 14000lb 5th wheeler with my 2013 2500 mega cab truck. Auto trans and it does great with the 3.42 gears. I don't see any differance between it and the 2012 with the 3.73 gears. The reason is the 2013 trucks has a much flatter torque curve then the 2012 have.
You will be fine pulling that small 5th wheeler with a 2500 but the 3500 have some nice up grades if you are going to be pulling all the time.