Hemi Update - Ordering Open

[John Kloehr]

Over 10,000 orders placed in the last 24 hours. Each truck will carry a "protest" badge.

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/ram-nailed-it-it-received-over-10000-orders-for-the-hemi-powered-truck-in-just-24-hours-253842.html

 

[bigdodge]

wonder how many are dealer orders?

2,431 Ram Trucks dealerships in the United States is around 4 per dealer

 

[John Kloehr]

wonder how many are dealer orders?

2,431 Ram Trucks dealerships in the United States is around 4 per dealer

I'll guess most are dealer orders, I'll also guess most are already sold to customers.

Found a pic of the "Symbol of Protest":

Anyone want to think about "up-yearing" their truck?

 

[mikeru82]

I’m glad they’re bringing back the Hemi. If you could get a non-etorque version I might think about upgrading.

I’m not really a fan of the “symbol of protest” though.

 

[dupli760]

I'll guess most are dealer orders, I'll also guess most are already sold to customers.

Found a pic of the "Symbol of Protest":

Anyone want to think about "up-yearing" their truck?

I'm not going to attempt to make my truck look like a '26; it's a '21, and the grille won't match. But it only has 26K miles on it and it pretty much still looks like new, so I want to dress it up a little.

So I have ordered a pair of badges like the one in the picture. My truck happens to be that same flame red (PR4) color, so I went with that same color scheme from the pic. There are people on Etsy printing them out, and the STL files are readily available if you have a two-color 3D printer.

If anyone has access to the measurements of where the badge should be placed on the fender, please DM me. I want to place them correctly.

 

[TCP]

I'm curious, other than the sound, and I think 1,000(?) pounds more of towing capacity, why the Hemi? The Hurricane has more torque, more horsepower, and is lighter. Less weight means faster acceleration.

And yes, I tow with my Hemi (before the Hurricane was an option).

 

[skels130]

I'm curious, other than the sound, and I think 1,000(?) pounds more of towing capacity, why the Hemi? The Hurricane has more torque, more horsepower, and is lighter. Less weight means faster acceleration.

And yes, I tow with my Hemi (before the Hurricane was an option).

Some people just cling to V8s. Some people think a small engine is going to be overworked, and not last as long. Some think that the hurricane is unproven, with unknown reliability. And others think that anything with a turbo is inherently unreliable. Whether or not that is true is yet to be seen, and you're unlikely to convince die hard V8 guys to change their mind. I personally am a huge fan of the hurricane engine in my new truck, but I'd be lying if I said if I was ordering a 2026 that I wouldn't have had a very tough time deciding based on some of those reasons.

 

[John Kloehr]

Some .... Some .... Some .... And others .... ... unlikely .... ... personally ... but ....

Excellent summary.

 

[mikeru82]

I'm curious, other than the sound, and I think 1,000(?) pounds more of towing capacity, why the Hemi? The Hurricane has more torque, more horsepower, and is lighter. Less weight means faster acceleration.

And yes, I tow with my Hemi (before the Hurricane was an option).

I'm curious why anyone cares why another person prefers the things they prefer? For me it's about choice. I have no plans to buy another truck anytime soon, but I like seeing a manufacturer respond to customer demand. It's in their best interest to do so, but it's amazing to me how often they ignore those demands (wants).

 

[TCP]

I'm curious ... why the Hemi?

I'm curious why anyone cares why another person prefers the things they prefer?

I'm curious why you're curious about knowing why I'm curious. Sorry for asking a question?

For me it's about choice.

It seems that you were being critical of my question.

I'm not complaining that people have choices, I was asking why someone chooses a particular choice.

Edit: based on his "laughing" response, what a nice person

 

[mikeru82]

I'm curious why you're curious about knowing why I'm curious. Sorry for asking a question?

Haha fair enough. I guess I earned that one. I don't know you and have no reason to single you out for anything. I'm guess I'm just tired of people asking why people do or don't like something. "Why don't you like MDS?" or "why do you disable stop/start" or "why would you remove the active air dam", or any number of other questions. Most of the people asking these questions are in reality judging the people who they are asking the question of. My apologies if that's not you.

It seems that you were being critical of my question.

I'm not complaining that people have choices , I was asking why someone chooses a particular choice.

To answer your honest question, in my driving experience the engine sounds are as much a part as anything else. In my opinion, after driving an F150 with the EcoBoost twin turbo V6 for a couple years, I prefer to hear something with a V8 and aftermarket exhaust. I updated to a Carven muffler on our 2020 Ram 1500 Limited (5.7 Hemi), as well as added a Borla cat back system for our 2024 Grand Cherokee (also 5.7 Hemi). Both put huge smiles on my face when I drive them. The Hemi might not be as fast but the Hemi beats either version of the Hurricane when it comes to sound IMHO.

 

[StuartV]

I'm curious, other than the sound, and I think 1,000(?) pounds more of towing capacity, why the Hemi? The Hurricane has more torque, more horsepower, and is lighter. Less weight means faster acceleration.

And yes, I tow with my Hemi (before the Hurricane was an option).

Some want bark. Some want bite.

I'll take Silent But Deadly over Not-fast But Furious.

 

[Yzcr87]

I'm curious, other than the sound, and I think 1,000(?) pounds more of towing capacity, why the Hemi? The Hurricane has more torque, more horsepower, and is lighter. Less weight means faster acceleration.

And yes, I tow with my Hemi (before the Hurricane was an option).

Rant:
Same reason folks fork out the $$$ for a traditional Harley. They are selling the experience, atmosphere & sense of camaraderie in the community as much as they are selling motorcycles. Japan may produce a mechanically superior machine, but they struggle with reproducing the Harley experience.
The new water cooled engines from Harley get hate from the purists.
If Ford would have put any other name other than Mustang in front of Mach-E the publics reception would've been better.
If GM would've called the new Blazer the "Traverse Sport" instead of decimating the Blazer name infuriating the K-5 Blazer community, the public reception would've been better.
Charger/Challenger crowd was displeased with the decision to axe the Hemi as much as the Mustang crowd would be if Ford axed their Coyote.
Half ton pickups & diesel 3/4 & 1 ton pickups are just as much an enthusiast vehicle as Chargers, Mustangs, etc.
Build a minivan, generic sedan or economy car with a drivetrain thats better in every conceivable way and buyers would show ther appreciation with their bank accounts.
Removing the experience from an enthusiast vehicle sets the course for the enthusiast vehicle to be removed from production.

 

[TCP]

Some want bark. Some want bite.

I'll take Silent But Deadly over Not-fast But Furious.

Which is which to you? I don't think any of those descriptions match either the Hemi or the Hurricane. I would love a silent engine.

 

[mikeru82]

Rant:
Same reason folks fork out the $$$ for a traditional Harley. They are selling the experience, atmosphere & sense of camaraderie in the community as much as they are selling motorcycles. Japan may produce a mechanically superior machine, but they struggle with reproducing the Harley experience.
The new water cooled engines from Harley get hate from the purists.
If Ford would have put any other name other than Mustang in front of Mach-E the publics reception would've been better.
If GM would've called the new Blazer the "Traverse Sport" instead of decimating the Blazer name infuriating the K-5 Blazer community, the public reception would've been better.
Charger/Challenger crowd was displeased with the decision to axe the Hemi as much as the Mustang crowd would be if Ford axed their Coyote.
Half ton pickups & diesel 3/4 & 1 ton pickups are just as much an enthusiast vehicle as Chargers, Mustangs, etc.
Build a minivan, generic sedan or economy car with a drivetrain thats better in every conceivable way and buyers would show ther appreciation with their bank accounts.
Removing the experience from an enthusiast vehicle sets the course for the enthusiast vehicle to be removed from production.

You forgot to mention the 2004 thru 2006 Pontiac GTO which was actually a rebranded Holden Monaro. I owned one and I loved it, but I always felt a little ashamed of the GTO badging it had. My brother owned a ‘66 GTO and he hated my ‘04 lol.

 

[StuartV]

Which is which to you? I don't think any of those descriptions match either the Hemi or the Hurricane. I would love a silent engine.

I paid my dues with about 13 years of Hemi ownership. By modern standards, it is a gutless dog. All bark. No bite. Okay top end power, but total weaksauce in the midrange. All the ones I owned had a 3.92 rear end and still had to downshift gears (often, more than one) just to hold speed up even very gentle hills - because they are gutless in that 1600 - 2200 RPM range where you would normally be driving on flat ground at a steady speed.

I always thought the Hemi was okay, but not great. But, when I had mine, it was because, at the time, they were the best-performing engines you could get in a RAM 1500 (other than a TRX, which was not on my list for a variety of reasons). I bought RAMs for the features, utility, and comfort, not the engine. The engine was just "good enough".

The SST HO is extremely quiet (from the cabin, with the windows rolled up). Even at full throttle. I love it. I like performance. I have no interest in calling attention to myself. I think Silent But Deadly is a pretty apt moniker for the HO.

 

[wvinson]

I paid my dues with about 13 years of Hemi ownership. By modern standards, it is a gutless dog. All bark. No bite. Okay top end power, but total weaksauce in the midrange. All the ones I owned had a 3.92 rear end and still had to downshift gears (often, more than one) just to hold speed up even very gentle hills - because they are gutless in that 1600 - 2200 RPM range where you would normally be driving on flat ground at a steady speed.

I always thought the Hemi was okay, but not great. But, when I had mine, it was because, at the time, they were the best-performing engines you could get in a RAM 1500 (other than a TRX, which was not on my list for a variety of reasons). I bought RAMs for the features, utility, and comfort, not the engine. The engine was just "good enough".

The SST HO is extremely quiet (from the cabin, with the windows rolled up). Even at full throttle. I love it. I like performance. I have no interest in calling attention to myself. I think Silent But Deadly is a pretty apt moniker for the HO

Well said -- I had a '14, '17, '19, '22 Hemi, and like you said -- had the truck mainly for comfort reasons while the Hemi was okay, but just middle of the road.

The hurricane on the other hand is off the charts (and awaiting a JB4 tune) engine wise plus all the extra comfort and technology features that have been added to the '25 model year.

 

[mikeru82]

I paid my dues with about 13 years of Hemi ownership. By modern standards, it is a gutless dog. All bark. No bite. Okay top end power, but total weaksauce in the midrange. All the ones I owned had a 3.92 rear end and still had to downshift gears (often, more than one) just to hold speed up even very gentle hills - because they are gutless in that 1600 - 2200 RPM range where you would normally be driving on flat ground at a steady speed.

I always thought the Hemi was okay, but not great. But, when I had mine, it was because, at the time, they were the best-performing engines you could get in a RAM 1500 (other than a TRX, which was not on my list for a variety of reasons). I bought RAMs for the features, utility, and comfort, not the engine. The engine was just "good enough".

The SST HO is extremely quiet (from the cabin, with the windows rolled up). Even at full throttle. I love it. I like performance. I have no interest in calling attention to myself. I think Silent But Deadly is a pretty apt moniker for the HO.

It's not about calling attention to myself. I couldn't care less about that. It's all about hearing what sounds good to me. I'm not driving race cars here lol.

 

[StuartV]

It's not about calling attention to myself. I couldn't care less about that. It's all about hearing what sounds good to me. I'm not driving race cars here lol.

That's a fact, Jack! lol!!

I don't know about you, but there are (obviously) plenty of people here on this forum, and in life, that are SO keen to hear what sounds good to them that they choose to make it even louder, so they can hear it better and it sounds better to them.

To me, people like that are just like people who sit in the next booth over at a restaurant and talk loudly on their speakerphone. Nobody around them wants to hear that, but they don't care. All that matters is what they want and what they like.

This is America, the land of freedom. Which actually DOES mean we all have the freedom to offend other people. And if they don't like it, they are free to find a different booth or go to a different restaurant.

Right?? Screw all those pantywaists who don't like to have their conversation interrupted by the glorious roar of an American-made V8 through some nice de-catted pipes, open mufflers, and big, fat tailpipes!

Okay, but seriously, though. It IS kind of a pet peeve of mine that America used to stand for being The Best. The best engineering and manufacturing. The best quality. And now? When we have an American company that pushes forward to lead the truck industry with the best trucks, with the best engines, instead of flag-waving patriots jumping on board to support them, we see the same mindset that turned Harley-Davidson from a world-respected motorcycle company into a one-trick Nostalgia Pony. Smoked in engineering, quality, and performance by the Japanese, the Germans, the Austrians, the Italians, the Chinese, and probably even the Indians (from India).

That is the mindset that will continue to hold RAM back by pushing RAM to stick with tired, old technology because "it sounds good" instead of pushing RAM to make the best quality, best performing trucks on the planet. They only have so many resources. If they bring back the Hemi, it means something else gets pushed back or delayed.

I have not verified it, but I read at least one post that suggested the Ramcharger has been further delayed in order to build a bunch of Hemis first. That is exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about. It really is disappointing to me that so many people are so actively holding RAM trucks as a brand back by forcing them (with their wallets) to continue to waste time and resources on obsolete products.

I am an American and a patriot and I am proud to have put my money where my mouth is and given my support to RAM's efforts to lead not just GM and Ford but the whole world in making the best pickups you can buy. I am disappointed there are so many other people who don't (judging by their actions) feel the same way.

*sigh*

/rant