Hi guys, thought I would give you all a quick update about my Ram. So far, no complaints. After driving and getting use to it, I still like it. My likes are that it turns tighter, the steering is more responsive, it handles better and doesn't lean in a turn as much even though it sits higher than my Silverado did, the brakes have a nice firm pedal feel. This thing sits as high as a 4x4 Silverado, defintely need some nerf bars for my wife. A few dislikes but not real complaints are the drivers seat sits a little high and trans shifts like my grandmother, some severe TM. You can feel the timing being pull bad when it shifts, definitely needs a programmer! My first tank of gas is only getting 12.1 mpg according to the mpg/trip computer but I expected that, it's suppose to get better over time as the engine loosens up. We'll see!? I've done a couple preliminary 0-60 runs, only have 310 miles on the OD so far. Did the runs the same way, in the same place as usual. The times were, 6.61 and 6.68 seconds. As a comparison, my Silverado did 0-60 in 7.35 seconds when it had 500 miles on the OD. The night before I traded it in, it did a 0-60 run in 6.11 seconds, so the Ram is slower than my modded truck but much quicker than it was stock. I don't know what the gear ratio for the trans is but it shifts from 1-2 at 46 mph and from 2-3 at 83 mph stock, that's at about 5700 rpms with my 3.92's. By comparison, my Silverado shifted from 1-2 at 39 mph at 5600 rpm's and from 2-3 at 72 mph at 5200 rpm's stock. The only performance mods I have planned are a Magnalfow exhaust, AirAid MIT tube (going to keep stock airbox) and a programmer of some kind when some one comes out with one. Well, that all for now, just wanted to keep you guys in the loop.
Jim

 

Glad your happy with it ... that's what counts since your the one to drive it.

You got the HEMI right?

 

My cousin has a reg cab short bed 2wd with the hemi. Its a nice truck. You're right about the steering, its super responsive! Looking at it, it looks like rack and pinion.

I like everything about his truck except the shifting. Punch it at 30mph, it waits a second, shifts into what feels like 3rd, then waits a second, and finally shifts to 1st and goes. On a 3rd honk punch versus my truck, I literally pull 1.5 carlengths before his starts to go!

They definately need a programmer for those things!

 

Can you do the TM mod by pulling out that wire? If you could, would you? Glad to hear that you like you new truck. The company that I work for recently started getting deals with dodge since they use Dodge vehicles for company vehicles.

 

No, I can't do the TM mod. It was only for 03's, mines an 04. I don't think I would though, I've been reading the the ECM keeps track of EVERYTHING! I guess DC can tell from reading the ECM that the mod has been done because it keeps track of the line pressure in the trans. Doing the mod takes the TM out of the trans and increases the line pressure. So with the line pressure higher than it's suppose to be, DC knows you've tampered with it and voids your warranty if you have tranny problems. They obviuosly caught on, because 04 trucks can't do the mod.
Jim

 

I don't get it, did you get tired of having a fast truck? Doing alot of towing or something? If so then why not get the Cummins Diesel?

 

No, I didn't get tired of having a fast truck, just wanted something different. I owned the Silverado for almost 4 years and got the itch to buy something and wanted a change. I've only owned two full size trucks before the Ram, both were Chevy's. So far, I like the Ram better than the Silverado. It turns tighter, steering is more response, it handles better, it brakes better and doesn't have a spongie feeling brake pedal like my Silverado did, the ABS doesn't kick in when braking for a stop and you hit a bump or something like it did with my Silverado. So far, I'm pleased. As far as fast, this truck has potential. I believe with an exhaust, intake and programmer, this truck will be quicker than my Silverado was but I could be wrong. This thing isn't slow, it pulls real hard. It's just heavy and takes a while to get rolling with the 20's, even with the 3.92's in the back. I loved my Silverado when I had it, just wanted to move on and drive something different is all.
Jim

 

I doubt your mpg improves much, two co-workers of mine were all hemi-hyped when those trucks came out and both only see about 13 mpg on the highway (stock). My lifted GMC pulled down 15 mpg no problem. Check out the Dodge forums, you will see a ton of guys complaining about the poor fuel mileage on the Hemi.

But the trucks look damn good

GM interiors are still a little nicer though, especially material-quality

 

If you have a hemi and want to race on a roll, drop it into a gear that gets you at 3000rpm's or so. The tranny is way to soft shifting in the hemi's.

I get 13mpg in the city with a very heavy foot and 17-18 on the highway.

Can't do the TCM mod on the 04's they redesigned the computer so it doesn't work. The most you could do is get an aftermarket torque converter and wait for a programmer.

As well, if I had of known how heavy the 20's were I would of gotten the 17's and then picked up some aftermarket 20's that weigh half as much.

 

My Silverado got 14 mpg around town and 18-19 on the freeway. If the Ram gets 13 mpg and 17 mpg, I'll be happy. I'm not worried about the mpg though, it's the price we all pay for driving full size truck. I agree, the tanny shifts way to soft. I did try manually dropping the gear down going to the store a little while ago. I was going 40 mph and dropped it down to 2nd (the Ram only goes from OD,2&1 on the gear selector: the Silverado had OD,3,2 &1 on it's selector which I liked better), the rpm's were about 3200 and I punched it, it had no hesitation and pulled pretty well. If I ever get into a 40 mph or so rolling race, that's what I'll do before we go.
Jim