Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Aug 31, 2014
2015 RAM 3500 DRW HD Big Horn with the 6.7L Cummins inside at a Shell in Del Mar Calif. Even more power is now available from the truck when equipped with the Cummins!
Ram Launches 2015 Heavy Duty’s - Best-in-Class Power (865 lb-ft.), Best-in-Class Towing (up to 30,000 pounds from the 3500 DRW and 4.10 rear end) and Payload (7,390 pounds from the 6.4L HEMI equipped HD truck), and even Best-in-Class efficiency. Meaning > 30 mpg in our most recent drive of the 2014 RAM 3500 DRW with the 6.7L Cummins and 3.73 rear end. EPA would probably equate to 16/21 mpgUS city/highway if an EPA result were required.
The 2015 model year Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty production has begun and RAM is taking no prisoners with what it is calling the “King of the Hill” truck. Ford supposedly made an idle threat to sue RAM as they claimed top dog with their Class 4 F-450. They backed down after sources their trucks lacked dashes, bumpers, spares, and who knows what else during their own internal testing.
For the 2015 MY, the 6.7L Cummins will offer a torque rating of 865 lb.-ft. and an increased payload of 7,390 pounds (3500), while maintaining a class leading maximum tow rating of 30,000 pounds.
And the kicker is Ram is currently the only automaker able to back its heavy-duty towing claims using SAE J2807 testing criteria.
Bob Hegbloom, Head of Ram Truck Brand:
Quote:
"Ram maintains leadership across the pickup truck model lineup by offering best-in-class fuel efficiency with our Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, best-in-class towing, best-in-class power and best-in-class payload with our Ram 3500. " |
Cummins found that 15 lb-ft. with a more aggressive fuel delivery and turbo boost calibration allowing an increase in performance and still maintaining EPA compliance. The Ram 3500 payload of 7,390 pounds was made possible from the Ram 3500 with the much lighter 6.4L V8 pickup with an increase in GVWR of 100 pounds, now 13,800 pounds GVWR.
Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickup trucks are assembled at Chrysler Group’s Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant in Coahuila, Mexico.
Drivetrain
Where the power resides.
The only engine to consider in an HD is the Cummins. All 6.7Ls of it. It is available in three versions. The first version is paired with Ram’s six-speed MT. This combination delivers 350 hp at 2,800 rpm and 660 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,400 rpm. The second option matches the Cummins to a lighter duty 68RFE 6-speed AT. The diesel engine cranks out 370 hp at 2,800 rpm with 800 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,600 rpm.
The big boy is the Cummins High-Output 6.7L Turbo Diesel for the Ram 3500 mated to the Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission (AS69RC) – an almost $3,000 addition???). In addition to 385 horsepower at 2,800 rpm, the 865 lb.-ft. at 1,700 rpm is just beyond strong.
Chassis
Ram Heavy Duty trucks feature frames built with high-strength 50,000 psi steel, including eight separate cross-members, hydroformed main rails and fully boxed rear rails for optimal strength and mass efficiency. Chassis controls on the Ram Heavy Duty ensure reduced NVH and improve ride and handling characteristics. Standard electronic stability control (ESC) on single and dual-rear-wheel equipped trucks, and body-to-frame hydro-mounts improve ride quality somewhat.
Center frame rail sections are roll-formed, an efficient means for maintaining consistent strength in less complex longitudinal sections. In the rear portion of the frame, the structure includes fully boxed rear rails and a factory-installed rear axle cross-member with provisions for fifth wheel and gooseneck hitches.
Heavy Duty trucks generally use suspensions meant for heavy payloads. This leads to a harsher ride when unloaded. The Ram 2500 takes lessons learned from the Ram 1500 with a segment exclusive five-link coil rear suspension system. Loaded or unloaded, the 5-link coil system provides best-in-class ride and handling. The five-link coil design incorporates support at all major points of force. Leaf spring suspensions struggle to combat axle wrap by using staggered shock absorbers (one mounted on the front of the axle tube and one mounted on the rear of the axle tube). The superior design of the five-link coil system functionally resists unwanted axle rotation. Leaf spring configurations also lack lateral support, forcing the leaf ends and shackles to hold against lateral loads — a task they're not particularly good at and one reason competitive leaf-sprung rear suspensions shutter on rough surfaces. Additionally, the Ram 2500 offers a rear air suspension system for automatic load leveling and greater versatility.
The Ram 3500 continues to feature the rear Hotchkiss leaf spring system, but offers a supplemental air suspension system (late availability). By adding supplemental air bags to the rear suspension, Ram engineers were able to soften the leaf springs, allowing for more unladed suspension movement— even with a best-in-class 30,000-lb. trailer.
Driving the 14 RAM last week, it is still rough but less “bouncy” than competitors HD trucks.
In the front, the Ram Heavy Duty line features an advanced three-link front suspension to ensure roll stiffness. Greater roll stiffness, also known as body roll, is an important characteristic in taller vehicles and especially trucks with heavy payloads. Roll stiffness is measured by the amount the truck’s body tips side-to-side, independently of the wheels, during cornering.
To put it lightly, there is no roll.
The Ram Heavy Duty arrives with pioneering hydro-mounts at C-pillar positions for class-leading low NVH characteristics. This is not your daddy’s RAM with the 5.9L or 6.0L Cummins.
The Ram Heavy Duty trucks feature a factory-installed seven-pin trailer tow connector in the truck bed, included with the optional fifth wheel or gooseneck tow prep. Additionally, Ram features a standard Class 5 receiver hitch with four- and seven-pin connectors on the bumper. A tailgate handle-mounted, rear high-definition camera backup system is available with dynamic imaging in the 8.4-inch display. Also, the cargo-view camera located in the center high-mounted stop light provides a view of the bed for easier connection to fifth wheel or gooseneck trailers as well as monitoring bed loads.
Extras
Ram HD customers can enjoy the convenience of an exclusive cargo camera, power folding mirrors and a combination, power rear-sliding window with defrost. Also, central locking includes the RamBox cargo management system and tailgate power locks, creating a convenient solution for locking all exterior doors and storage with one push of a button. Auto rain-sensing wipers and SmartBeam headlamps also are available, adding to a truckload of content offered in Ram Heavy Duty.
With all of the stuff added however, an HD gets expensive real quick so if you were to ever need a full-time HD pickup, choose the options widely.
RAM 3500 Big Horn with the Cummins
DRW and the 3.73 rear end give this one a 23,000 pound tow cap.
DRW and the 3.73 rear end give this one a 23,000 pound tow cap.
Along with a 5 years/100,000 mile powertrain warranty, the Ram Heavy Duty includes a standard 5-year/36,000-mile Basic Limited Warranty providing bumper-to-bumper coverage. I thought the fact it is specified with an oil change interval of 15,000 miles and has the largest brakes in the segment was also noteworthy for keeping maintenance costs down.
For 2015 RAMs HDs Receive Power Upgrades
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