F150 Owner Bought a Ram Limited.......Dissapointed.

[tap_out_1984]

So I had owned a 2015 f150 xlt sport with the 3.5 ecoboost. I race cars up and down the east coast and this truck pulled a 9k 24ft V nose trailer. I did have a custom tow tune that was in the truck for almost its entire life. The truck did awesome pulling the trailer. I would lock it out in 5th gear set the cruise and just go. However it was very hard on gas. Even though the rpms were low it was in boost just enough to suck the fuel. Going 70mph I would get 7mpg. Fast forward to a couple months ago, the truck has 160k miles and hadn't given me much trouble but I knew it was only a matter of time before I started to have problems. So I sold it and began my search for a ram. The entire time that I had the truck I had wanted to upgrade to a 3/4 ton diesel. When it was time to upgrade I basically talked myself out of a 2500 Ram. I don't race as much as I used to, most of the trips are within 90minutes and only one of two trips a year of 5+ hours. So I talked myself into a limited gas truck, as all the creature comforts outweighed my towing needs and maintenance on a diesel. Plus the fact I would be looking at a lower level Laramie with more miles compared to this low mileage limited to stay in my price range.

I picked up a 2021 1500 limited night edition with 15k miles. I did make sure to get the 3.92 gears and the 5.7 with the etorque to make the most out of towing. I guess I was a little misleading in the title but the truck is just awesome. The quality of the interior and the ride are incredible and light years above my old xlt. I did test drive a 90k limited ford and the ram as far as comfort goes won the battle. On to the negatives, I immediately noticed how much gas this truck guzzled and couldn't believe it. So far on long range trips where I expect to run 70-80 mph the best I have been able to muster is 17mpg. The ford would get 23mpg. I was hoping the towing the trailer the Ram would make up some ground and be able to get better gas mileage towing. I had a short 30 minute trip to get some work done to the car and hook up to the Ram for the first time to tow. I couldn't have been more disappointed. Anything over 65mph it seemed like the truck was working way harder then it should have. The truck was ok getting up to speed but definitely lacked the power to maintain it. I struggled to get the truck into 7th gear going 65mph so the rpms were way up and the gas mileage was way down. 6 mpg on the way down to the shop. I think the Ram really looses some points on not being able to manually manipulate the gears. If it was my ford I could have locked it into 5th and set the cruise. On slight inclines manually downshift and then back to 5th. I often read were people say well you just cant tow that fast and to slow down. I don't want to drive 60mph down 95 with a 300 mile trip it becomes almost dangerous going that slow. That lil ecoboost absolutely destroys that 5.7 when it comes to towing.

So now I am asking myself did I make the right decision. Is the ride of the gas limited and less maintenance really worth it for the amount of towing I do? Do I move up to a diesel but loose a lot of those creature comforts? Do I meet somewhere in the middle and go back to an ecoboost? Again don't get me wrong other then towing and mpg the Ram is an awesome truck and I am super happy. But is my frustration towing worth it?

 

[wallyuwl]

Towing 9k for more than a few miles you should be in a HD, doesn't matter the brand. You also have less payload the higher trim you go (all brands) because they are heavier. You bought the wrong model of truck. If you want to push a 1500 you could wait for the Hurricane engine (twin turbo V6) that will probably be in the 2024s and makes 500 hp, it is already in the Wagoneer.

 

[silver billet]

Use Tow Haul. You can also use the gear limiter to lock it down to 6th gear or whatever you want (these are the "+" and "-" buttons on your steering wheel).

The hemi is not boosted, this means you will most certainly see higher rpms while towing vs your old eco boost. That's the "downside", the engine will appear to be working harder but its not, all N/A engines need to rev to make power. The plus side is that this engine was used in the heavy duty 2500's for years, so it's strong and reliable. You should have no worries about letting it work hard, just keep on top of your oil changes and I would also recommend a high quality 0/5w-30 for towing.

I generally tow about 6000 pounds in 6th gear at about 2300 RPMs, approx 65 mph. The truck will do that all day every day.

 

[Scram1500]

What's your payload? You may be surprised at how low it is, probably around 1000 lbs

 

[HSKR R/T]

So I had owned a 2015 f150 xlt sport with the 3.5 ecoboost. I race cars up and down the east coast and this truck pulled a 9k 24ft V nose trailer. I did have a custom tow tune that was in the truck for almost its entire life. The truck did awesome pulling the trailer. I would lock it out in 5th gear set the cruise and just go. However it was very hard on gas. Even though the rpms were low it was in boost just enough to suck the fuel. Going 70mph I would get 7mpg. Fast forward to a couple months ago, the truck has 160k miles and hadn't given me much trouble but I knew it was only a matter of time before I started to have problems. So I sold it and began my search for a ram. The entire time that I had the truck I had wanted to upgrade to a 3/4 ton diesel. When it was time to upgrade I basically talked myself out of a 2500 Ram. I don't race as much as I used to, most of the trips are within 90minutes and only one of two trips a year of 5+ hours. So I talked myself into a limited gas truck, as all the creature comforts outweighed my towing needs and maintenance on a diesel. Plus the fact I would be looking at a lower level Laramie with more miles compared to this low mileage limited to stay in my price range.

I picked up a 2021 1500 limited night edition with 15k miles. I did make sure to get the 3.92 gears and the 5.7 with the etorque to make the most out of towing. I guess I was a little misleading in the title but the truck is just awesome. The quality of the interior and the ride are incredible and light years above my old xlt. I did test drive a 90k limited ford and the ram as far as comfort goes won the battle. On to the negatives, I immediately noticed how much gas this truck guzzled and couldn't believe it. So far on long range trips where I expect to run 70-80 mph the best I have been able to muster is 17mpg. The ford would get 23mpg. I was hoping the towing the trailer the Ram would make up some ground and be able to get better gas mileage towing. I had a short 30 minute trip to get some work done to the car and hook up to the Ram for the first time to tow. I couldn't have been more disappointed. Anything over 65mph it seemed like the truck was working way harder then it should have. The truck was ok getting up to speed but definitely lacked the power to maintain it. I struggled to get the truck into 7th gear going 65mph so the rpms were way up and the gas mileage was way down. 6 mpg on the way down to the shop. I think the Ram really looses some points on not being able to manually manipulate the gears. If it was my ford I could have locked it into 5th and set the cruise. On slight inclines manually downshift and then back to 5th. I often read were people say well you just cant tow that fast and to slow down. I don't want to drive 60mph down 95 with a 300 mile trip it becomes almost dangerous going that slow. That lil ecoboost absolutely destroys that 5.7 when it comes to towing.

So now I am asking myself did I make the right decision. Is the ride of the gas limited and less maintenance really worth it for the amount of towing I do? Do I move up to a diesel but loose a lot of those creature comforts? Do I meet somewhere in the middle and go back to an ecoboost? Again don't get me wrong other then towing and mpg the Ram is an awesome truck and I am super happy. But is my frustration towing worth it?

Your Ram does have a gear limiter to choose what gear you want to run in. Towing that much weight, should probably use gear limiter to set it for 6th gear. Also, make sure you hit the tow/haul button.

 

[tap_out_1984]

If I set the gear limiter in 6th and want to go 70mph that lil hemi will be screaming. I know you guys say it likes the rpms but I would imagine gas mileage would be around 5mpg. I would like the ability to put it in 7th and lock it there.

This trip was with the tow haul button on. I did experiment with the button and the truck actually seemed more apt shift to 7th and maintain it with tow haul off.

I wasn't aware of the hurricane engine. I couldn't swing a brand new truck either way so it probably wouldn't have been an option.

 

[WXman]

I agree with him. Ram's "gear limter" is the most idiotic thing I've ever seen. On the Jeep pickup with the same transmission you can MANUALLY SHIFT the gears, and that is useful. Ram really dropped the ball on that.

Also he's forgetting the the Ford is aluminum and his new truck is likely 800 lbs. heavier. Obviously he's going to see less MPG. However, the Ford fuel economy has been so misleading that they've been sued multiple times over it. While towing a Ford will NOT get better fuel economy than a Ram. It just won't.

The Ford interior, especially back in 2015, is horrible compared to a 5th Gen Ram also. It's not even close.

I'd give up a small MPG penalty to have a better truck. That's why I drive Ram. (I've owned and worked with every brand on the market.)

 

[tap_out_1984]

I agree with him. Ram's "gear limter" is the most idiotic thing I've ever seen. On the Jeep pickup with the same transmission you can MANUALLY SHIFT the gears, and that is useful. Ram really dropped the ball on that.

Also he's forgetting the the Ford is aluminum and his new truck is likely 800 lbs. heavier. Obviously he's going to see less MPG. However, the Ford fuel economy has been so misleading that they've been sued multiple times over it. While towing a Ford will NOT get better fuel economy than a Ram. It just won't.

The Ford interior, especially back in 2015, is horrible compared to a 5th Gen Ram also. It's not even close.

I'd give up a small MPG penalty to have a better truck. That's why I drive Ram. (I've owned and worked with every brand on the market.)

Yeah I am happy to give up a few MPG under normally circumstances for a much better truck no doubt. Its not looking good for the Ram to win the fuel mileage battle when towing though. I will be running some familiar routes to home race tracks so I will keep you updated.

 

[silver billet]

If I set the gear limiter in 6th and want to go 70mph that lil hemi will be screaming. I know you guys say it likes the rpms but I would imagine gas mileage would be around 5mpg. I would like the ability to put it in 7th and lock it there.

This trip was with the tow haul button on. I did experiment with the button and the truck actually seemed more apt shift to 7th and maintain it with tow haul off.

I wasn't aware of the hurricane engine. I couldn't swing a brand new truck either way so it probably wouldn't have been an option.

You have the 3.92, you can probably limit to 7th and tow at 65 mph at 2300 RPMs.
In 6th at 65 mph, you'll probably be closer to 2800.

That's not screaming in the slightest. You just need to understand how N/A engines work. And actually hand calc your mpg, you won't get 5 lol. Probably closer to 9 or 10.

 

[silver billet]

Also, maybe @Trooper4 could chime in, he pulls a long/heavy 5th wheel in 7th and 8th with a 3.92.

 

[tap_out_1984]

You have the 3.92, you can probably limit to 7th and tow at 65 mph at 2300 RPMs.
In 6th at 65 mph, you'll probably be closer to 2800.

That's not screaming in the slightest. You just need to understand how N/A engines work. And actually hand calc your mpg, you won't get 5 lol. Probably closer to 9 or 10.

Yeah that's the big issue, it not wanting to get into 7th. Granted I towed one time and I need to find out what the truck likes and doesn't like. But being able to manually shift into 7th would make things a whole lot easier. I want to say it was over 3k at 65mph. I have a pretty vast knowledge of how engines works. Screaming or not 3k at 65mph is guzzling fuel and no where close to 9-10 mpg.

 

[Darksteel165]

Should of got a 1500 Tradesman if you wanted to tow that much.

You would be better suited with a 2500 or even 3500.
Gas or diesel isn't a huge difference, you lose payload with a diesel but mpg is generally better

Fords engines are a bit differnet. The 5.7 would be much happier getting worked hard then that little 3.5 turbo would imo.

 

[VectorZ]

So let me get this right...you make 2 trips a year and you are that concerned about fuel economy? At most you'd be paying around $100 more a year for the disappointing fuel economy? I had a 2016 F150 Platinum (3.5TT) and averaged only slightly better fuel economy than my Ram gets.

 

[tap_out_1984]

Should of got a 1500 Tradesman if you wanted to tow that much.

You would be better suited with a 2500 or even 3500.
Gas or diesel isn't a huge difference, you lose payload with a diesel but mpg is generally better

Fords engines are a bit differnet. The 5.7 would be much happier getting worked hard then that little 3.5 turbo would imo.

Yeah I dont know but that lil 3.5 would pull a house down and not blink an eye doing it. I know they have their issues which is why I got rid of it. Knew it was only a matter of time before the turbos or timing chain went up. But it had 160k hard miles on it.

 

[tap_out_1984]

So let me get this right...you make 2 trips a year and you are that concerned about fuel economy? At most you'd be paying around $100 more a year for the disappointing fuel economy? I had a 2016 F150 Platinum (3.5TT) and averaged only slightly better fuel economy than my Ram gets.

I make two 5+ hour trips towing a year. I make many 90 minute trips towing. Also several long trips for family vacations without towing. Fuel economy isn't a huge issue just a lil bit of a disappointment. My main issue is the lack of power, gear searching, not being able to lock into a gear or manually shift.

 

[6of36]

Your Ram does have a gear limiter to choose what gear you want to run in. Towing that much weight, should probably use gear limiter to set it for 6th gear. Also, make sure you hit the tow/haul button.

@Jimmy07 . Is this how we get his attention? He may know. Could a TRX wheel be put on and programmed to have the paddle shifters work? That couls solve OPs problem. I have seen them for sale on craigslist. The listing says fits all rams, but I don't trust that.

 

[Darksteel165]

@Jimmy07 . Is this how we get his attention? He may know. Could a TRX wheel be put on and programmed to have the paddle shifters work? That couls solve OPs problem. I have seen them for sale on craigslist. The listing says fits all rams, but I don't trust that.

No, you can't shift with a TRX wheel.
The paddle shifters just gear limit.

Yeah I dont know but that lil 3.5 would pull a house down and not blink an eye doing it. I know they have their issues which is why I got rid of it. Knew it was only a matter of time before the turbos or timing chain went up. But it had 160k hard miles on it.

Yeah those 3.5 Turbos are quite a powerhouse considering what they are.
I believe they are rated at 500 foot pounds of torque.
The 5.7 is only 410 foot pounds without a turbo.

Also the Limited is a fat beast, I love it but it's very heavy.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Yeah that's the big issue, it not wanting to get into 7th. Granted I towed one time and I need to find out what the truck likes and doesn't like. But being able to manually shift into 7th would make things a whole lot easier. I want to say it was over 3k at 65mph. I have a pretty vast knowledge of how engines works. Screaming or not 3k at 65mph is guzzling fuel and no where close to 9-10 mpg.

You wouldn't want to lock it into 7th. Lugging the engine trying to keep it in a higher gear is harder on the drivetrain than running higher RPMs in a lower gear.

 

[User_3336]

You're comparing a V8 hemi with 3.92 gear ratio to a 3.5 V6 Ecoboost. Surely you didn't expect the same gas mileage. Actually 18 average in these trucks is "great".

 

[JerryBsizzle]

Rams/Hemi's gas mileage sucks - fact

3.92's are for pulling, not mpg's - fact

Towing 9k lbs bumper pull you should be in an HD - fact

A Limited is probably the most poorly suited for towing due to low payload. It is just a heavier vehicle with all the added gadgets (resulting in decreased payload) - fact.

Can you post a pic of your payload sticker?

If the ecoboost was that good to you I would have stuck with it honestly. Did you expect to get 10-12mpg while pulling a 9k trailer at 70mph with the Hemi? If not then was it really going to be a benefit going from 7mpg to ~9 mpg for a few times a year by swapping from a turbo to a N/A?