2015 Ram EcoDiesel Arrives – Toyota Tundra Comparison Begins
Tim Esterdahl | Feb 03, 2015 | Comments 19
The Ram EcoDiesel just got dropped off and I took some quick photos with my phone. It is an Outdoorsman trim level and with a crew cab. Listed price on the sticker is $50,790. It has the luxury group, comfort group, trailer tow and brake control group, 3.92 rear axle and the Uconnect system.
First impression? It is really stylish. Second, the belts are located under the engine and can be accessed from the ground. Third, there is an air suspension button located on the key fob to lower the truck to make it easier to get in and out as well as making the bed more accessible.
More to follow in the next few days.
For those wondering, I have driven the 2014 Toyota Tundra quite a bit and will be doing the comparison on that model as well as my 2013.
Filed Under: TundraHeadquarters.com
Do you plan on towing with it? Like 9K lbs?
LJC,
Yes. I just have to line up a trailer and/or load. I’ve got a few ideas.
-Tim
LJC,
Just wanted to follow up. I had a 7,500 lbs load lined up and, turns out, the Ram EcoDiesel will tow it with a weight distribution hitch only. It’s max rating is 8,560 lbs and anything over 5k needs the special hitch. Being that this one is going to many other jurors and I don’t want to use the hitch, I am going to find something that fits the bill easier.
-Tim
Thanks Tim.
A WD hitch is need for most if not all passenger pickup trucks when towing more the 5K.
http://www.trucktestdigest.com.....egally.htm
I’m curious to hear how both Tundra’s compare to the RAM when towing. The 8 speed will be advantageous for sure.
I see that the price for the diesel is about $4300, which includes a transmission upgrade. Interesting because Sweers states just the emission stuff for a diesel is about $3000.
LJC,
Thanks for the link. I learn something new everyday and that is great! I’ve never claimed to an expert and learning this stuff makes me a better automotive journalist.
Tomorrow, we plan to tow something less than 5k lbs with the EcoDiesel as well as the Tundra doing the same run. At a maximum tow rating of 8,560 lbs, I feel that the 5k lbs should suffice. Also, I spoke with Ram and he said the majority of their customers tow around 5k lbs. Hopefully this is a good test.
-Tim
-Tim
doesn’t look like you have any snow, but the 4wd auto is a nice setting when it’s mixed dry road and snow, etc.
also, check under the rear floor mats for more storage.
I am curious to what you think of the ZF 8. I think its the smoothest, fastest shifting trans I have ever owned. More so after a period of time when it adjust to your own driving style, which you may not have time to do, but it’s still a great trans, IMO
who would have thought great trans and ram, LOL..
BB,
Just got a healthy dose of snow this morning actually. I went for a short drive doing errands and didn’t need the 4WD at all.
Good call on the rear floor mat storage. I’ll take a closer look.
Early impressions of the ZF 8 is that it seems odd to fly through a lot of gears when getting up to speed. It is pretty smooth, though, I can just feel it shifting a touch and it seems like 1-4 shift quickly. I also noticed this in the Chrysler 200 with the 9-speed transmission as well. Seems like all the transmission wanted to do was shift to 5, 6 or 7.
-Tim
try the 4wd auto setting though, it’s something the tundra doesn’t have and works nice since you don’t have to worry about binding the driveline in mixed conditions of wet and dry.
BB,
I tried it today and noticed the same thing. No binding driveline issues. However, this has to mean the 4WD wasn’t truly engaged IMO. Everything I have read says when you lock the differential, you are going to have binding. It is physics and the way the differential works.
HOWEVER, I do need to take a closer look at this since I could completely be wrong.
-Tim
it does go through the gears quick, especially with a 3.92. First gear in the ZF is 4.71, so 3.92 * 4.71 = granny gear for sure.
it takes a little getting used to with the extra shifting but it’s so smooth and fast you really don’t notice much.
it does not gear hunt at all though, big difference between shifting more and hunting.
BB,
Yes big difference between shifting and hunting. I did a drive comparison today and when I get my head above water, I’ll put it all together.
-Tim
I too am interested in how the tran and torque converter do their job.
As for the idea of a great trans on a RAM,,,,,, it’s designed by ZF in Germany, so the good news is RAM had nothing to do with it.
3.9 gears with 8 speeds, that seems a bit high. What’s the RPM at 70 in top gear? And, when is low lock what’s the RPM in 1st gear at 5 MPH. Will it crawl?
50,000 dollars, kind of looks like a bankers truck. With diesel at a 1 dollar disadvantabe I look forward to you comments about the everyday millage. At a 4000 upgrade price for the diesel, DEF, 33 percent fuel price hit possible exhaust system repairs after a few years,I wonder if it can every pay off.
I have the hemi, not the ecodiesel but I have the 3.92 and ZF 8. I sit about 2K RPM at 75-77 mph
Interesting observation about the 8 speed shifting.
Coming from the days of 2 speed powerglides and 3 speed stick I wonder if there really is a need for an 8 speed or is it just marketing hype? The 6 speed in my Tundra seems to be more than adequate for any driving I do.
from my ownership so far, it’s the real deal. I have had the tundra 6 which is a great trans and the ZF 8 now. The ZF really keeps in in the heart of the powerband at all times with the gears being much closer together. You don’t pay the price for having granny gearing up front and then good highway cruising at the end with small spacing in between. Best of both worlds with better MPG…
Driving Empty
Theoretically, the diesel Ram with 8 speed should be able to hold gears longer and higher gears longer than the hemi 8 speed? Particularly with cruise control set on the highway, going up and down hills?
My understanding is there was a slight change in the gears starting with the 2014 Tundra vs prior years; which if the cruise control is set may cause it to downshift from 6 to 5 more often than the previous years when going up and down hills?
I could be wrong since I have not tested any of this myself.
I have had a 2007, 2010, 2012 and now a 2014 tundra. I am very in tune with the gear shifting and in my real world driving, the 2014 tundra downshifts much quicker into 5th gear lacking the punch the previos tundras had. They must have tweaked the 5.7L engine in 2014 for the worse since my 2014 tundra also gets the worst mpg by about 1.5 mpg less in the 1 year I have owned it as well. Plus, since I use cruise control a lot on hills in my area, I too agree the 2014 tundra downshifts a ton more in my 2014 tundra vs. prior tundra years. It cannot even hold 6th gear unloaded driving it by myself not towing going up a slight incline on the hwy. Not impressed.
You have had 4 Tundra trucks since 2007.
Why so many, were there major problems with the 3 before the 2014? Or is is nothing more then just liking to have a new truck every 2 years?
Just wondering.
The 2015 model is looking pretty sexy … can’t wait to take one for a test drive!