mackinaw Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 From today's Automotive News: DETROIT -- Chrysler Group dealers ordered more than 8,000 diesel-powered Ram 1500 pickups in the first weekend that they could do so -- a figure that represents nearly half of the light-duty pickup's normal monthly production. That's about five times the normal percentage of sold orders for a typical prelaunch vehicle, said Bob Hegbloom, director of the Ram brand. "This just helps to solidify in our minds that we did the right thing with this truck," Hegbloom told Automotive News today. The percentage of initial diesel orders by dealers is about double or triple what brand executives had anticipated, Hegbloom said. "Everybody's gung-ho about it," said Eddy, owner of Bob & Chuck Eddy Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram near Youngstown, Ohio. "The factory's just not going to have enough to go around, at least for a while." Full article here: http://www.autonews.com/article/20140218/RETAIL01/140219854/dealers-order-more-than-8000-diesel-powered-ram-1500s-in-3-days?cciid=email-autonews-daily&r=8221J0649801H2C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucky2 Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I'm a pretty big Clean Diesel proponent, and while this is good news it really needs to be seen how their long term sales trend. A few months of pent up demand which are then exhausted don't indicate long term how this option will do. That said, I think it'll do just fine (as VAG, BMW, and Mercedes have seen) but it will be interesting to see how it plays out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerM Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I wonder if the DEF pumps will become more prevalent (alongside the diesel pumps), as well. You see them at the truck stops now (Love's, Flying J, Pilot, etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CKNSLS Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 (edited) Wait until those who buy one find out that the payload is so low on the Ram 1500 Diesel they won't be able to tow a trailer over 6,000 pounds. There was a guy on another truck forum that stated he ordered one just for the diesel motor and he knows he will be over payload with his existing trailer. If he runs in to somebody the other guy's lawyer will have a field day with that aspect. It's amazing to me how the word "payload" is not known to those who tow. Edited February 21, 2014 by CKNSLS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 (edited) It's amazing to me how the word "payload" is not known to those who tow. Maybe because most half ton truck owners se their trucks for towing trailers or worse, as a large sedan... 8,000 dealer orders and just over 400 of them are actual customer purchases.... At least Ram dealers will have plenty of stock on hand for walk in buyers. Edited February 21, 2014 by jpd80 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Maybe because most half ton truck owners se their trucks for towing trailers or worse, as a large sedan... But you still need payload to tow trailers. 10-15% of the total trailer weight needs to be on the tongue for safe towing. That tongue weight is counted as payload. So, for instance, your trailer weight is 7k lbs. You need at the very minimum 700 lbs on the tongue, which means you need 700 lbs of payload just for the trailer. That doesn't count the hitch or any passengers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 But you still need payload to tow trailers. 10-15% of the total trailer weight needs to be on the tongue for safe towing. That tongue weight is counted as payload. So, for instance, your trailer weight is 7k lbs. You need at the very minimum 700 lbs on the tongue, which means you need 700 lbs of payload just for the trailer. That doesn't count the hitch or any passengers. Pretty sure jpd80 meant "don't use their trucks for towing" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Pretty sure jpd80 meant "don't use their trucks for towing" That very well could be. I figured he knew that towing required payload, but laid it out anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Pretty sure jpd80 meant "don't use their trucks for towing" That's right,.......keyboard operator malfunction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 But you still need payload to tow trailers. 10-15% of the total trailer weight needs to be on the tongue for safe towing. That tongue weight is counted as payload. So, for instance, your trailer weight is 7k lbs. You need at the very minimum 700 lbs on the tongue, which means you need 700 lbs of payload just for the trailer. That doesn't count the hitch or any passengers. I understand that but all of that would be covered in both capability tables for towing and payload down force. if you're towing a larger trailer as a 5th wheel, it's obvious that you're not using as much of the tray as he turntable takes up that room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 I understand that but all of that would be covered in both capability tables for towing and payload down force. No, not really. The Ram is rated to tow 8200 lbs. But the latest Ram diesel tested by PUTC.com had a payload of 490 lbs. So, Joe Shmoe hooks up a trailer weight 8k lbs. He's over weight if it has the proper weight distribution on the trailer, and specs do not reflect that at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 No, not really. The Ram is rated to tow 8200 lbs. But the latest Ram diesel tested by PUTC.com had a payload of 490 lbs. So, Joe Shmoe hooks up a trailer weight 8k lbs. He's over weight if it has the proper weight distribution on the trailer, and specs do not reflect that at all. Yeah, the minimum payload for Ram 1500 diesel goes to a Laramie Crewcab at 859 lb..... (that's pretty low) Now, if you were towing up to the maximum 8,000 lbs, then there would be no payload capacity. Most people load the trailer up with stuff rather than trying to load up the rear box.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CKNSLS Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 (edited) With the exception of the EcoBoost Max tow package, In reality the heaviest trailers most competitive half-tons can tow is 7,000 pounds dry. That amount would leave room for passengers and cargo. HOWEVER, one still needs to pack diligently. The general rule of thumb is half-ton trucks can't tow the maximum capacity rated by the manufacturer due to payload constraints. If one goes camping alone then you MAY be able to get by with a maximum capacity. Edited February 22, 2014 by CKNSLS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan1 Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 8000 in 3 days or 8000 in 4-6 months or so because this all they can do. A fact that a poster on putc just found out when the dealer told him he couldn't order one. "On a side note, I went to a local ram dealer yesterday to inquire about ordering an ecodiesel 1500. It turns out that they have halted all orders due to "configuration issues" and will not accept orders until early July!! This is just way too many setbacks and ultimately has me looking elsewhere. Posted by: The Big O | Mar 13, 2014 11:52:42 AM" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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