AZtruck

Please help! I have never owned a Ram....

I'm considering purchasing a 2012 3500 SRW Ram Mega Limited and would like some feedback, positive or negative for this truck. I currently own a 2011 Ford F250 6.7 and thus have also considered the F350. Indeed a new rig that can handle a heavier truck camper...

I live in Phoenix and 80% of my time is spent with multiple stops/starts per day driving properties (I am in real estate). The remaining 20% is spent camping with a truck camper throughout the Western US. I am not a brand loyalist and am looking for honest feedback from you all.

Things that I like about the Ford are the quiet and strong engine and that I get 17 mpg in the city. I REALLY like the interior and exterior of the Ram 3500 Limited and I've always heard great things about Cummins.

1) I'm concerned when I read about these trucks not having a cabin air filter (correct?) - is there anything else that is missing?
2) How is the reliability?
3) What kind of mileage are you getting?
4) Anyone have a mega cab and use a truck camper? Any issues?
5) Should I wait for the 2013 or take advantage of the great deals on the 2012?
6) I have my truck idling all the time - I've heard the AC does not work well at idle - is this true?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

donato

I was thinking of keeping my 05 RAM 3500 Laramie SRW until I started eyeing the new RAMs. I test drove the truck in my signature and it was all over.

The new RAMs are nothing short of my Infiniti M45 on; ride, interior, fit and finish, and technology but in a bad Edit dually package.

I'm in Tempe and got my truck at a Dodge dealer near the Airpark for about $14k off the sticker of $64k. Talk to Marty in Internet sales.

IMHO I think the 12 RAMs are going to be golden. They got most of the bugs worked out, you can still delete, and they're the last of the non-urea diesels.

I was reading Diesel Power/World, don't remember which but they stated base price for a 13 Longhorn at $62k, base price on a 12 Longhorn is $57k. So you're up $5k on the 13s and your not going to see big cuts anytime soon.

SOhappy

1. Cabin air filter can be addressed with a simple mod (see sticky near the top of this sub-forum).
2. Nothing serious to report on reliability. There have been a couple of reports of auto transmissions going out on modded trucks running higher than stock power. Other than that just a few with various minor electrical glitches and such. Read the 4th gen forum to your heart's content, I think you'll be satisfied these trucks are solid.
3. 3500 duallies with the 4.10 gears are going to be the worst- 12mpg empty. SRWs with 3.73 and deletes will get over 20mpg on the highway. Everybody else is somewhere around 18mpg highway and 13mpg around town.
4. Idunno.
5. If you can find a good deal on a 2012 jump on it. You can always upgrade later. These trucks hold their value well.
6. The emissions on these trucks are not designed for lots of idling and starts/stops. Your mpgs will be awful due to frequent regens and you'll get oil change reminders every 3,000 miles (unless you delete). AC might be the least of your worries. Maybe the SCR (urea) system on the 2013s will do better in such an environment.

Hoss

Uhhh...the best mine has done has been 14.2 highway. That's deleted and empty. And I drive it pretty easy. I love my 2012 but the fuel mileage is probably the worst of any truck I've owned. I'm hoping it gets better though. I only have about 2000 miles on it.

SOhappy

Ok, "SRWs with 3.73 and deletes CAN get over 20mpg on the highway."

Sorry your experience is different, might be the tires?

gdavidg

If you are wanting to handle a heavier camper do some research on the payload capacity of the Mega cab SRW. It is lower than the quad cabs and does not leave much for payload.

I do have a 2010 SRW CTD LB and with a 3800 pound camper (that number includes water and camping stuff and options) I am over the rear axle rating by 400 pounds or so. Did stuff to make me comfortable at over weight, but it is still not under the listed rating.

I think the 13's have addressed the payload issue. You might consider a dually if you have a big in truck camper.

If you mean a TT by "camper" are very likely in the clear, take a pretty good sized one to be over any limits with a Ram.

Fords did have a higher GVWR in the F350's with a towing package, I think it was 11,400 with the SRW.

Blake Clark

Hoss your gonna pick up a few at around 15k miles or so. Both my 6.7s picked up around 2 at that mark.

NCPADiesel

I've got both the Ford and the Ram. I will admit the Ford definitely gets better fuel mileage although really only 1-2 mpg different at most. I'm averaging over 23K on the Ford right around 17 mpg and the Ram at the moment is around 15 mpg with 7K on the ticker.

The Ford camp is freaking out over the CP4 fuel pump and its issue with water in fuel and Ford's unwillingness to cover the inferior part under warranty. For the number that have really failed I think its pure over reaction.

As others have mentioned just watch your weights, the Ram is definitely capable.

I agree with Blake...my '09 was magically different at around 15,000 miles, can't wait till the '12 gets there.

Grit Dog

Ram over Furd? Absolutely!
But in order to fit a heavier truck camper? You're not making sense. You can only get a Mega in a short box and any camper that will fit a short box truck is small snuff to haul w a 2500 with ease, either brand.
If you meant crew cab with a long box and your Furd is a short box then it kinda makes sense but again you're not going to gain anything going from a 2500 to 3500 srw truck with either brand that a set of $300 air bags can't handle. They're the same truck with the exception of heavier rear springs.

tbarbee1

DOdge has been known for years to have the loudest loosest cab on the market. FWIW i had the opportunity to step out of my dodge SLT with 12k miles and into a ford Lariat with 9k miles for a ride the other day... you could have flown a kite in the ford the wind whistled in all four doors . I would buy my truck again over and over and over the 2012 Is the best truck I have had. I dont think you will be sorry if you switch.

SOhappy

Old thread, but yes, Ram has surpassed Ford and Chevy in cab comfort if you ask me. I drive a duramax at work occasionally and have a couple of friends and relatives with late model Fords, and the Ram is noticeably superior in every way (and mine's just an SLT).

One thing I've been very happy with on my last two trucks ('03 & '11) is absolutely NO squeaks or rattles. Even the '03 at 100k was rattle free, well...except for the rattle of the 5.9 under the hood, but that was a good rattle. Squeaks and rattles drive me nuts! So I chose wisely.

Funny story, when Daimler bought Chrysler in 1998 or so, their CEO Dieter Zeche said "At Mercedes we have what we call the 'cat test'. We shut a cat inside each car and leave it their overnight. When we return, the cat should be dead from lack of oxygen. We tried that with a Chrysler, but when we returned in the morning, the cat was missing". Things have gotten much better since then.

NB64

These trucks don't do so well around town. You'll get 8o% full messages with the type of driving you'll be doing. I do mostly highway. But once for a two week period I did a lot of local back and forth driving only to get my first 80% dpf message. It was a quick trip on the highway to fix it. But wasn't planning on a highway trip at the time. But other wise very nice fit and finish no interior noises or anything like that.
I have 49K on my 2010 truck with no issues.

MEGA COP

Sure if you want a new Ram and you don't want to keep the Ford. A trade would be a good decission for your circumstance then. I mean you can't drive two trucks at the same time rite?