New Ram 3500 4x4 Diesel W/ Aisin Trans.

mybluox · 08-15-2015, 07:57 PM

I'm looking at buying the title vehicle. I tow a 2008 Raptor 3812 @ around 15K.

I would like to know if anyone owns the titled vehicle and if so what is your mileage, both towing and not. What do you like about it and what do you hate about it?

Thank you in advance,

Jeff

gtsum2 · 08-16-2015, 04:12 AM

I have a 2014 3500 without Aisin and tow a fuzion 345 chrome. Weight is between 15k and 16500 depending on if quads r in the garage. Did 2700 trip from east coast to Midwest and back through mountains. Averaged 10mpg entire trip. Was down to 7 hitting 40mph cross/head wind in Indiana. Got up to almost 13 in Illinois with a tail wind. Over 4000 miles since April and the average is right at 10. I have 3.42 gears (wish I had ordered aisin and 3.73 drw though...I will do so before next season)

tank45 · 08-16-2015, 05:28 AM

I have the 2015 SRW version. Just got back from a 2000 mile trip that had an ATV in bed of truck, and two more loaded on a 16 foot bumper pull trailer (plus heavily loaded with camping gear). I averaged 14 mpg for the entire trip. Pulling my 5th Wheel, in steep, mountainous terrain on our last camping trip about a month ago I got about 10 mpg. My 5th wheel weighed 13,000 on that trip (I hit the CAT scale in Alamogordo before heading up to Cloudcroft. On this Cloudcroft trip, I only had about 1200 miles on the truck so you might need to take into account that the engine wasn't (and still is not) broken in. Running empty, I usually get between 16-18 mpg depending, of course, on the terrain I'm driving on. My previous truck was a 2005 Dodge 2500 CTD with G56 manual tranny and the mileages I'm seeing with the new truck aren't that much different from the old truck. I really like the new RAM and you probably will too.

tank45 · 08-16-2015, 05:39 AM

BTW, I have 3.42 gears... which is all you can get with the Aisin in the SRW version. I have had no problem, thusfar, with the higher gear ratio because of the way they did each gear height with the Aisin... first gear is the same as the first gear with the 3.73 rear end - the other gears are fine as well - do your research on it to gett the full scoop. My 2005 had 4.10 rear end and I always cursed it because of the high RPMs at highway speeds - the mileage was ok but hated running the engine in the 2500 rpm range.

dcg9381 · 08-16-2015, 09:50 AM

I have a 2015 DRW 3500 Megacab. It does not have the Asian transmission. It has 3.73 gears. Towing a 36' carbon that weighs 13.5k and is 13' 2" tall, we averaged 9.5 MPG. Most likely the height will affect mileage more than the weight. The SRW will also do better on mileage. That mileage is over 4k miles, towing fairly fast, generally 70mph.

I understand there is a software update now that should result in better mileage, but I haven't tried it.

What do I like about it?
It's the nicest truck I've ever had. Rides well. It'd tow a house. The MegaCab is huge - and honestly you dont really need it over the quad cab.

What don't I like about it?
Price. And used ones don't depreciate very fast, so hard to pick up depreciated. The MegaCab has a short bed and requires a slider hitch. We've got an auto-slider and that incurs more chucking noise than the non-slider.

I should have paid for the Asian option, it results in about 50% more towing capacity.

Make sure you setup your trailer brake controller for HEAVY.

sw342 · 08-16-2015, 02:27 PM

Have a 2014 DRW with aisin and 4:10 gears. Don't drive it much empty. the lie o meter says 18 mpg at 65mph empty. Towing was about 8-8.5mpg but that was mountains and between 70-75mph on the flats. Towing mileage would be up if I would have stayed in CA and been forced to stay at 60mph.

ri_truck_guy · 08-16-2015, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sw342

Have a 2014 DRW with aisin and 4:10 gears. Don't drive it much empty. the lie o meter says 18 mpg at 65mph empty. Towing was about 8-8.5mpg but that was mountains and between 70-75mph on the flats. Towing mileage would be up if I would have stayed in CA and been forced to stay at 60mph.

I have the same setup without the Aisin. Just towed roughly 16K from SE Virginia to Sturgis and back (3,700 miles) over the last two weeks and got the same mileage under the same conditions. Also average 18 mpg without the tow.

mybluox · 08-17-2015, 05:26 AM

I was hopeing for better MPG. I'm trading in my 2011 Ram 2500 4x2. I got 8.5 mpg towing the TH from Tucson, AZ to FWB, FL. The reason I'm buying a new TV is the 2011 has a short bed and my GVW is about 150 pounds over max,

Ram189 · 08-17-2015, 07:22 AM

I have a 2013 DRW with that setup and a Montana HC 333DB.

Towing at 65 MPH I get between 10 and 12. Depends on road conditions. Without a load and depending on how I drive it on highway have gotten as much as 22 MPG. Usually average around 18 - 20 though.

Nice thing is that there is definitely more there if I need it. The tires on the trailer, and maybe some common sense are the only thing holding me back from getting up and down the road quicker. If I need to pass someone quickly and get back out of the way I can pull out and do it.

You can't even tell the trailer is behind the truck other than it rides a little smoother with the suspension loaded up.

Desert185 · 08-17-2015, 09:54 AM

Dodge design needs kudos for their DRW, blended, rear fender design. Best in the industry, methinks, and the truck is available with a six-speed manual.

Tempting...

Heavier towing capability with the Aisin, but I'm still having trust issues with Chrysler autos. Besides, there's just something right about a stick in a truck, a sports car and a motorcycle.

dcg9381 · 08-17-2015, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert185

Heavier towing capability with the Aisin, but I'm still having trust issues with Chrysler autos. Besides, there's just something right about a stick in a truck, a sports car and a motorcycle.

I agree with you in theory, but if I recall right, the manual transmission is limited to 600 ft/lbs and they de-rate the motor accordingly...

billstuart · 08-17-2015, 04:53 PM

We have a 2015 Ram 3500 MegaCab dually 4X4 w/Aisin trans & 4:10 gears. LOVE IT!

Only have 1500 miles on it and as a daily driver, I'm getting about 16 mpg. I have checked the computer by hand calculating my mileage and it is pretty darn accurate.

So far we have only towed about 130 miles with the truck. We're taking a short trip this weekend, so I will be interested to see what kind of mileage we get towing.
Our Alpine is about 16K lbs loaded.

Happy trails,

Desert185 · 08-17-2015, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcg9381

I agree with you in theory, but if I recall right, the manual transmission is limited to 600 ft/lbs and they de-rate the motor accordingly...

350/660 with the G56 manual

sw342 · 08-18-2015, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert185

Heavier towing capability with the Aisin, but I'm still having trust issues with Chrysler autos. Besides, there's just something right about a stick in a truck, a sports car and a motorcycle.

The nice thing is Aisin isn't made by Chrysler, so there shouldn't be must of a trust issue there. As far as shifting goes I drive a semi everyday for the past 23 years. There is little to nothing a stick is going to do better than these newer autos. There might be a kind of old school romance with driving a manual, but when you have shifted as many gears as I have the love affair has died many years ago.

Besides with one hand free now it gives me more time to play with all the electronic gadgets or texting while driving.

bsmith0404 · 08-18-2015, 11:54 AM

I've talked with several transporters with Dodges ranging from 2012-2015 models, they would love to know how you guys are getting 18 empty. It's very consistent among them that they get about 15.5-16 empty. That is also consistent with recent reviews. They all say they wish they could get 18.5-19 that I get with my duramax. Loaded seems to be right in the same range around 10.

ri_truck_guy · 08-18-2015, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

they would love to know how you guys are getting 18 empty.

Damned if I know. I just drive it. The lie-o-meter and hand calcs both say 18.

Desert185 · 08-18-2015, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sw342

The nice thing is Aisin isn't made by Chrysler, so there shouldn't be must of a trust issue there. As far as shifting goes I drive a semi everyday for the past 23 years. There is little to nothing a stick is going to do better than these newer autos. There might be a kind of old school romance with driving a manual, but when you have shifted as many gears as I have the love affair has died many years ago.

Besides with one hand free now it gives me more time to play with all the electronic gadgets or texting while driving.

OK...the autos Chrysler installs in their pickups. I know the Aisin is not made by Chrysler. When and if the Aisin meets the performance record of the Allison, I'll maybe change my tune. Time will tell. Meanwhile, the NV5600 fills the bill reliably.

bsmith0404 · 08-19-2015, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert185

OK...the autos Chrysler installs in their pickups. I know the Aisin is not made by Chrysler. When and if the Aisin meets the performance record of the Allison, I'll maybe change my tune. Time will tell. Meanwhile, the NV5600 fills the bill reliably.

Won't have much time to tell because rumor has it that Aisin will be short lived in the Ram and will be replaced by an Allison in a few years. Apparently the deal is already in the works and the design for the pairing is progressing.

Ram189 · 08-19-2015, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert185

OK...the autos Chrysler installs in their pickups. I know the Aisin is not made by Chrysler. When and if the Aisin meets the performance record of the Allison, I'll maybe change my tune. Time will tell. Meanwhile, the NV5600 fills the bill reliably.

It is all in how you drive them and take care of them. I had 2 Fords and never had an issue with either trans. Had 2 Dodges one Aisin and one regular and never had a problem with the regular one up to 45000 miles and probably 20000 towing. Aisin is only at 20000 and 9000 towing.

I work at a GM dealer and see just as many Allison problems and we saw Ford or Dodge trans problems. Biggest problem is over heating and tuners.
Ford trans did not hold up well to over Tq and Hp. Dodges did ok but struggled with higher mileage. Allisons don't seem to like the Tq that some guys push through them.

People don't seem to grasp that trucks are made to tow/haul and not drag race.

sw342 · 08-19-2015, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

Won't have much time to tell because rumor has it that Aisin will be short lived in the Ram and will be replaced by an Allison in a few years. Apparently the deal is already in the works and the design for the pairing is progressing.

Love to see a link to that story. Have not heard a peep about that.

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