Ram EcoDiesel (Now a Chevy Duramax outcome)

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So I’m contemplating picking up a new truck and I’m looking at the 1500 eco diesel. We already have a 2500 6.7 turbo diesel so I don’t need a 3/4-1ton truck.

Anyone have any experience with them? Towing mileage looks good and so does towing capacity even though I’d never get close to it. I’m towing mostly my track car and trailer at 5k lbs. I’d prefer to go with diesel for a few reasons but main one is being able to use truck stop gas stations.


**UPDATE**

What started as a ram ecodiesel turned out to be a Chevy 1500 duramax. Thanks to the collective experiences of the members here I ended up changing my mind and picking up a duramax.
 
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I had a 2020 eco diesel for a rental for 23 days when my f250 got totalled.

I didn't buy one.

We took it on a trip to Knoxville. It was so so.

I don't know about all of them. But the one I had, had bigger filler for fuel but not big enough for the truck stop nozzles.
 
Pardon my ignorance on this, but what makes it different from their 'normal' diesel?

Id love to have something diesel one day just so I can run it off of veg oil.
 
HMP said:
Pardon my ignorance on this, but what makes it different from their 'normal' diesel?

Id love to have something diesel one day just so I can run it off of veg oil.
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Their normal diesel is a 6.7 liter 6 cyclinder turbo diesel and the eco is a 3.0 liter v6.
 
LeeMajors said:
I had a 2020 eco diesel for a rental for 23 days when my f250 got totalled.

I didn't buy one.

We took it on a trip to Knoxville. It was so so.

I don't know about all of them. But the one I had, had bigger filler for fuel but not big enough for the truck stop nozzles.
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I could see you not buying one since you’re normally in 3/4 ton pickup. Not big enough for truck stop nozzles!!! Noo
 
GM has a new diesel in their 1500’s. We’ve been considering a Tahoe when the prices start to drop. A customer is getting 18mpg pulling a race car trailer and 25 empty. His is a 2020 crew cab 1500.
we’ve had no complaints re out 2017 Duramax Canyon. 120k miles on it now.
 
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My buddy has a '21 that we drove to the Talladega race last year. Clicked the trip reset and manually figured the mileage there and back and it got exactly 30mpg. Was really Smooth around 85 and 90 because that's where we kept the cruise set. Great ride and pulls his 16' dual axle enclosed trailer with 4 bikes and a weeks worth of living in a motel junk easily. He loves it.
 
Scsmith42 said:
GM has a new diesel in their 1500’s. We’ve been considering a Tahoe when the prices start to drop. A customer is getting 18mpg pulling a race car trailer and 25 empty. His is a 2020 crew cab 1500.
we’ve had no complaints re out 2017 Duramax Canyon. 120k miles on it now.
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Thanks Scott - I also was considering a tahoe but I love the utility of throwing whatever I need to in the bed of the truck. My 5.7 hemi gets about 8mpg when towing. It's more than enough truck but I'm not a fan of the gas mileage.

Infamous1 said:
My buddy has a '21 that we drove to the Talladega race last year. Clicked the trip reset and manually figured the mileage there and back and it got exactly 30mpg. Was really Smooth around 85 and 90 because that's where we kept the cruise set. Great ride and pulls his 16' dual axle enclosed trailer with 4 bikes and a weeks worth of living in a motel junk easily. He loves it.
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30MPG sounds pretty good to me
 
Never getting another diesel. To get good gas mileage you pay 6k up front and a Dollar more per gallon. Plus diesel repairs labor and parts are almost double. How does that save money?
 
I bought my Ram in 2020. I looked at the eco trucks while shopping. The eco was a little cheaper, but.
There were some bad reviews, I can’t recall what or where. The engine is Made by Fiat, if I recall. There were a lot of them for sale in the used market for some reason. I wish I had more info but it’s been two years.
I went with the 2500 and Cummins.
 
BlackGun said:
Never getting another diesel. To get good gas mileage you pay 6k up front and a Dollar more per gallon. Plus diesel repairs labor and parts are almost double. How does that save money?
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I'm not looking at it for mileage or saving money. MPG for me means less stops while pulling a trailer and with horses that matters. The v8 version is a $3k addon and the diesel is another $1995 so its not too drastic of a difference.
 
Leadchunker said:
I bought my Ram in 2020. I looked at the eco trucks while shopping. The eco was a little cheaper, but.
There were some bad reviews, I can’t recall what or where. The engine is Made by Fiat, if I recall. There were a lot of them for sale in the used market for some reason. I wish I had more info but it’s been two years.
I went with the 2500 and Cummins.
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yeah we have a 2500 Cummins already. I dont need another 3/4 ton truck since I have to go into Charlotte regularly and our 2500 wont fit in parking garages.
 
BlackGun said:
Never getting another diesel. To get good gas mileage you pay 6k up front and a Dollar more per gallon. Plus diesel repairs labor and parts are almost double. How does that save money?
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It is worth 6k more when you get rid of it, gets almost 20mpg better than my 2500 gas burner, has a 100k powertrain warranty so where is the loss?
 
I’ve wanted a 1500 diesel for about 5yr now but every time I look into them, they don’t make much sense. A FS truck that can get 25-30mpg sounds awesome, but the cost ends up being pretty close to a 2500 because Diesel engines are more expensive but also they reserve the diesel for higher trim levels.
These small diesels from all of the Mfg’s also don’t make a ton of power, roughly half of what the 2500’s make, making the cost difference make even less sense.
Lastly, I saw something recently that some of the 1500 diesels were being discontinued in favor of turbo gassers, I believe Ford was the first.
 
amnesia said:
It's not about saving money.
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if you're willing to burn money to make parking with a trailer easier. I mean go ahead. I just don't understand why you're not just using your 6.7. Diesel repair is insane when it comes to cost and I don't know of any aftermarket help for these v6s. Just delete your cummins to save some mpg and use it.
 
DaveInCLT said:
BMW X5 diesel is seen a lot in the paddock with your setup. Think it has 6k capacity, gets 29 highway. Generally nicer riding and driving experience when not towing than others.
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I already looked at those. I use the heck out of my current truck hauling things in the enclosed camper was my life a lot easier. If I'm running with an X5 I will be more focused on the vehicle than the job at hand (like hauling trash)
 
So, a diesel SUV won’t fit your needs.
A 3/4 ton diesel truck is too large.
A 1/2 ton diesel truck will fit.
Vehicle cost and mpg/fuel cost aren’t a big concern.

It sounds like the only questions are which brand (I know you said Ram) and are there any issues you need to be aware of.
 
Jerzsubbie said:
So, a diesel SUV won’t fit your needs.
A 3/4 ton diesel truck is too large.
A 1/2 ton diesel truck will fit.
Vehicle cost and mpg/fuel cost aren’t a big concern.

It sounds like the only questions are which brand (I know you said Ram) and are there any issues you need to be aware of.
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Correct. I’m open to other options of trucks they fit this criteria but I’ve had great success with Ram.
And yes issues was the main concern. I did do a google search and see potential problems but everything would be covered under warranty. Also, I’d like it to have enough motor that if anything happened to my wife’s truck or it needed service should could load up without any worries.

866DC994-D506-49E4-98A3-92E22CE65D6A.png
 
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recreationalhandgrenade said:
if you're willing to burn money to make parking with a trailer easier. I mean go ahead. I just don't understand why you're not just using your 6.7. Diesel repair is insane when it comes to cost and I don't know of any aftermarket help for these v6s. Just delete your cummins to save some mpg and use it.
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aaannndddd......he's finally gone. Eventually all of the miscreants that sneak back in get found out. Buh-Bye to 'notacop' version 2.0

I'm sure he'll try again.
 
Tim said:
aaannndddd......he's finally gone. Eventually all of the miscreants that sneak back in get found out. Buh-Bye to 'notacop' version 2.0

I'm sure he'll try again.
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I knew there was something odd about him! He joined and almost immediately jumped into the fray, seemingly trying to start arguments.
 
So just got a quote for the current Ram 1500. It's a 2014 with 53k miles on it. The power steering rack and pinion needs to be replaced. $2700.

OEM Part is 2k msrp ($1300 if I purchase not from a dealer) and 4.5 hours of labor.
 
GoWolfpack said:
The trail boss is one sexy looking vehicle.
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Thats the only issue I have with the new ram. Without a leveling kit and 35 inch tires it looks like its one step away from wearing these.

1661797122501.png
 
amnesia said:
Thats the only issue I have with the new ram. Without a leveling kit and 35 inch tires it looks like its one step away from wearing these.

View attachment 517384
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I just took the 35" tires off my truck and put the factory 31s back on. They look like space saver spares.

But I'll be able to scare 20 mpg with them
 
I bought a used 2016 F350 with 6.7. Hands above my old 1997 7.3 F250 that blew a head gasket at 535K. Really? Only 535K!
One great feature is the 6 speed tranny. It will back an 8K trailer over a curb like it’s not even there. The 4 speed F250 had to have a running start! I hear the new Fords have a 10 speed!
One bad feature is stiff suspension. I’ll never buy another F350. F250 is plenty for my requirements.
The 20” tires that came from factory with it made it a bear to get in and out of. I found a set of 2020 18” take off rims and tires and changed them. Makes getting in and working from tail gate sooo much better. Hey I’m short!
*Ill add, other than normal wear items, the engine, tranny and differential were never touched. A tranny with 535,000 miles—wow!
 
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BlackGun said:
Never getting another diesel. To get good gas mileage you pay 6k up front and a Dollar more per gallon. Plus diesel repairs labor and parts are almost double. How does that save money?
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That was my concern with them as well. Just doesn't make sense to me, although if the neighbor ever sells his '98 Cummins 5 spd dually, we may hafta talk.

My only real diesel experience is with cars, specifically the 150hp Golf TDi & a 270hp Benz E-Klasse, both rentals. Incredible cars, fun, great power & great mileage, even with sustained 100+ mph Autobahn runs.
 
catpop said:
I bought a used 2016 F350 with 6.7. Hands above my old 1997 7.3 F250 that blew a head gasket at 535K. Really? Only 535K!
One great feature is the 6 speed tranny. It will back an 8K trailer over a curb like it’s not even there. The 4 speed F250 had to have a running start! I hear the new Fords have a 10 speed!
One bad feature is stiff suspension. I’ll never buy another F350. F250 is plenty for my requirements.
The 20” tires that came from factory with it made it a bear to get in and out of. I found a set of 2020 18” take off rims and tires and changed them. Makes getting in and working from tail gate sooo much better. Hey I’m short!
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Wanna sell the 20s
 
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