Traded my 2022 tundra in for a Ram Laramie

My last Dodge was an 04 Dakota I got rid of in 09 for my Crewmax. 4.7 V8 and 5 speed auto were solid but the suspension was trouble prone and no matter what I did it chewed up factory rotors like gum. I remember getting good will brake work done at under 12K because my truck was vibrating like a garbage truck on firm braking at 12K and being told "We'll help you this once but we can't chase down every little vibration problem forever" as if they were doing me a huge favor dealing with severe drivability issues at super low mileage. That and the way Dodge handled the compact truck ball joint problems in the early 2000s drove me away from the brand for a very long time. I eventually came around and was almost going to give the Ram a try this year before before I found out about the Ford Powerboost and the Propower on board system when I spotted my F150 on a lot. Had that not happened there's a decent chance I would have rolled the dice on a Ram due to the interiors.

I feel like with the complicated electronics and Turbo V6s gradually being normalized the long-haul quality race has been recalibrated and we won't know what's the best bet overall for another few years. If the Tundra had simply updated the 5.7 and 6 speed with its 15 years of field testing that would be an easy call for me but I feel like jumping on the TT V6 bandwagon evened out the playing field a bit. I'm no longer willing to give up features to chase the brand name and the reputation that it may or may not live up to in the next 5-10 years. I may be back next year kicking myself for it or I may not, I don't know. But when people go to Silverados, F150s and Rams I am not as inclined to poo poo their decision now as I was 5 years ago. Everything is changing technology-wise and Toyota seems to have made a conscious decision to rest on reputation and not be super competitive in any one column anymore because best in class numbers in a bunch of columns in 2007 didn't give them the sales progress they were looking for. Feel like it is asking a bit much to give up on board inverter capability, or a full time transfer case, flat rear load floor, more user friendly infotainment, or any number of other things for the "Toyota name."

 

Yeah, because the V8 wouldn't pass ever tightening emissions regs. It was either turbo small engine or drop the tundra entirely. Financially the smarter choice to go the same route Ford did with the Ecoboosts, they essentially exist for the same reason.

Reading more than 2 minutes about it, it's a new design from the Italian company Stellantis made in Mexico. It's manufactured by people earning our 2 gallons gas price per 12 hour workday. Honestly, if the hemi V8 is being dropped it's for emissions regs, abandonment of a design with a history of failure, or both. So, fair enough, I was wrong, it's not being used already elsewhere. As an I6... Personally, I see it as a conjunction of red flags that might make some power but I doubt it'll do so for long.

Edited to add, it's referred to as the GME-T6, basically a GME-T4 with 2 more cylinders, assuming build quality/design is essentially the same. Used by Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and Jeep, and in production since 2016. Largely, an unreliable and expensive to maintain engine.

 

Dunno if someone deleted their comment but according to moparinsiders.com the GMET6 is going to be made in the Saltillo engine plant

 

"Exhaust manifold integral to the cylinder head". Hmmm.

 

as much as I hate those (since I love headers/manifolds), they work, BMW has been doing it for years on the B58


GM has done it as well on the LFX (3.6L v6)

 

That was me, I was going to say the Ram 1500 is made in Michigan but I re-read your comment about the same time I hit the send button and realized you were talking about the engine and not the truck being made in Satillo (Mexico).

 

If it works, it works. My only thing is if there's any problems with the manifold that dictate replacement, that's an engine rebuild required. Wouldn't be required with a separate part, so I wonder why such a design was considered and chosen when separate manifolds have been a thing for decades.

 

I'm new to this thread, and don't yet have a horse in the game either. But...I did consider a RAM before deciding on a Tundra (2023 1794 arrives next week). I kept thinking "I wonder how RAM makes such good MPG on their V8? They must have some secret sauce." I suspect they too will be driven to turbo V6 for MPG, and that may already be in the news, seems I've read something to that effect.

Having been in consumer technology for decades I can say that what the consumer sees is just the end product of a LOT of decision making some of which is driven by patents, legal concerns, marketing whims and more. Even strong managerial personalities plays a role. So it's a super complicated process to decide on what's in and what's out in the high $$ auto industry.

I also wonder if Toyota will make some of these changes for a 2024 Tundra. Could it be that we 2022/2023 Tundra owners will be left selling used Tundras at a discount in the future because 2024+ Tundras will have fixed many of the shortcomings?

OK, let 'er rip, tear me apart on the above staring now

 

I believe ram is/was using cylinder deactivation, but could be wrong.

Hey man, you can do whatever you want. It's your money, so this is all just academic for me. I'd love to be wrong about anything above, that would be a lot more interesting than being right

 

I'm sure that Tundra 2024 will be better than 2022, but it would mostly have minor improvements... So weather striping seals, no whistling noise from mirrors, maybe quieter cabin, etc...

I'm pretty confident that most of our 2022 small issues will eventually be either figured out by the community or Toyota itself...

So no, there won't be any major selling of 2022 tundra at a big discount thing

 

Ramcharger
Interesting I am watching this.
On paper has what I have been looking for if I ever replace my Tundra.
Some EV range in a Gas truck.
Anyone else interested in this offering ?

https://insideevs.com/news/701194/2024-ram-1500-ramcharger-battery-range-gas-tank/

 

Really great idea.

 

this is cool. Existing EV’s have never been the answer. Hybrids are. Now maybe toyotas new solid state battery will change that, but current battery tech just isnt there for mass used vehicles imo

 

not with who is going to build it, I'd give it several years and see how its doing.

 

"We also knew that the total estimated range of the Ramcharger is 690 miles,"

When I drive my V8 gas guzzler like a government granny in EPA test, I get 480 miles until empty tank indicator lights up. Then I pour in 30 gallons into the 38 gallon tank. 480 / 30 * 38 = 608 miles. That RAM has 80 miles of extra range for like +$40k and ten times more electronics to fail?

 

Yeah it’s on my radar.

 

It also has a shit load more power than your Tundra.

Not sure what electronics you’re so afraid of failing. Electric motors are pretty reliable proven technology.

 

he just likes to crap on everyones party, never mind him.

everyone should just forget all this and go buy a 2019 Red sr5 truck, so we can be left in peace.

 

I fear anything electronic. The lesser electronics the better.

 

Yessir. I had a 98 Dakota, 5.2 318. I put 280k on it an only got rid of it when the transmission started to slip.

 

Your truck is about 30 years too new in that case.

 

ya, put away the timing light

 

How a Ramcharger works
In the case of the 2024 Ramcharger, a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine sits under the hood and its sole purpose in life is to spin a 130-kilowatt electric generator. The gas-burning engine is not connected to the wheels in any way, leaving the job of providing motivation to a pair of electric motors that get their juice from a 92-kilowatt-hour battery pack nestled between the chassis rails.

How a Diesel train works
The ignition of diesel fuel pushes pistons connected to an electric generator. The resulting electricity powers motors connected to the wheels of the locomotive. A “diesel” internal combustion engine uses the heat generated from the compression of air during the upward cycles of the stroke to ignite the fuel.

On battery power alone, the 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger–which is not the same as the upcoming all-electric Ram 1500 REV–can drive up to 141 miles, according to Stellantis. Furthermore, the fuel tank can hold 27 gallons of gasoline, which is more than what the 26-gallon tank of the 2024 Ram 1500 Crew Cab can hold.

Your calculation is bang on. With a fully loaded truck I use 12 liters per 100km when I travel.
Thats 20 mpg. This is in summer cruising 55 mph up and down hills.
However head into town and or, as soon as winter starts, add 3-4 liters more every 100km. 15 MPG.
So a Tundras range drops to 450 miles in the cold, or driving in town. Just saying.
Love my truck, I think it an engineering feat I get 20 mpg with 350 engine in summer.

I totally agree with this response to another member.
I have electric motors that have taken a licking and keep on ticking. And are easily repairable.
The only part that bothers me with all the new trucks, and I say this as an IT career guy that loves tech and I can actually solder if I want to.
Let me give an example.
I have spoken to people that run companies and when they order chips and circuits from China they say to them. I need to make sure 95% of the chips are good and the prices are set. This is part of the contract service level. With the Chinese when you receive your 100 circuits or chips, exactly 5 will be bad. Whether its weak/bad soldering or some other problem. They would not pass inspection. But are included to satisfy the contract. This is what I have heard from business people that run companies.
You don't get 100/100 with the Chinese when 95/100 is a pass.
So you buy a truck and a one of these 5 circuits/chips goes in to support a part of the truck.
How long before it fails? Maybe salt and rain will corrode it faster. If its an Arizona truck maybe it never fails.

 

Sounds like they take the maximum failure rate as an invite to slip some rejects into the pile to unload

 

You just made a million circuits with a 95% service level target.
One pile has 950000 that passed inspection. Then the other rejected pile beside has 50000.
Each circuit cost the same to make to your company.
Shareholders want maximum profit and return. What are you going to do ?

 

I don't think I've ever been in a Ram without a rattle.

 

My 2015 EcoD was rattle free when I traded it in with 90k for the Tundra. The 2013-2017 Rams were the best trucks on the market by far. The current generation they cheapened the medium and lower models to press people upward to the more expensive models. The 2022 Laramie I looked at was cheaper inside than a 2015 Big Horn but with partial leather seats onboard

Chrysler took the Toyota route. Stuck with the same platform, engine and tranny for a long time avd worked most of the bugs out. The new trucks will be a window into if they can produce a new design with decent quality or not

 

I’d rather get an old body style 1 ton Dodge Ram and retrofit it.

https://youtu.be/pD9qi90eSa8?si=C5djB8LSxTWhneEV

 

I don't know how it's going to work out but Ford is working pretty hard to claw back warranty expense from their suppliers in the scenario you describe above.

 

Rayaam. Dayaam.