I took a trip off from my rail job so I can bring my Libby to get some work done, mostly Suncoast TC and other minor work. I noticed that the Ram 1500 that was en-route to a local dealership had arrived (I was actively checking 8 local dealerships). So, what did I do? I took the short trip to the dealership to take a test drive.

They brought it around to me, so it was running when I walked outside. I was amazed at how nice and quiet it was. I was up and under and all around that thing. Few things I noticed mechanically.
[*]Transmission pan is ribbed and aluminum, sort of like a Mag-hytec pan.
[*]Oil drain looks to be just just higher than the crossmember. I may be scared to put a Fumoto valve.
[*]Fan is a nice big electric
[*]There is so much available information on the multi-display. Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, Transmission Temp, Water Temp were the things I remembered.

Not driving a pickup since the 90s, I wasn't use to the harder ride, but it was comfortable. 1st gear, even with the 3.55 gears, was really low. Just like the CRD, it took a second to build a little boost to get full power. There were no problems accelerating. The transmission selection will take time to get use to. The rotary dial is different, and the +/- gear selection on the steering wheel was convenient. Just like my Caliber, if you want to go from manual selection to automatic, just hole the + or - button for a few seconds.

Driving was nice and quiet. Basically, you could not tell that it was a diesel. It was enjoyable.

Reasons why did I not buy it now.
1) No Integrated Trailer Brake. That is a deal breaker.
2) No Trailer Tow Mirrors. Deal breaker #2
3) 3.55 gears instead of 3.92 gears. 1000lb difference in tow rating.
4) Not an Outdoorsman with the LT tires. This is not a deal breaker, as I would get aftermarket rims and tires.
5) Bucket seats instead of 40/20/40 bench seat. Again, not a must have, but we occasionally want to have 6 people to go places and not want to take 2 vehicles.

On the way home, I spotted my first Libby CRD since July of last year. I need to make cards to hand out about this site.

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2006 Sport, GDE FT Eco Tune, Custom Trans Tune
2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn EcoDiesel, GDE Hot Tune

What was the sticker price? Been waiting for one to show up at a local dealer.Not gonna buy it just wanna check it out.

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2005 jeep liberty CRD GDE Full Torque Eco tune,Blue Samcos,Transgo shiftkit,Provent,V6 Airbox, Facet 40109 fuel pump ,Straight piped . OME lift 235/75/16 Hankook DynaPro ATM tires,weeks101 elbow kit FCV/EGR delete

$43,475 dealer discounted...

http://www.elmwoodcdjr.com/new/Ram/2014-Ram-1500-b8e1bf370a0a006405b3e048d9c329ac.htm

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2006 Sport, GDE FT Eco Tune, Custom Trans Tune
2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn EcoDiesel, GDE Hot Tune

Lots of "forecasters" are saying will have good sales then dropping off. Not much price difference than the 2500. Others are saying it's not a Cummin's.
If I ever replace my KK I'm going back to a pickup and would consider a diesel.

I priced out a 1500 and 2500, almost apples to apples, and the 2500 was about $7K more than the 1500.

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk

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2006 Sport, GDE FT Eco Tune, Custom Trans Tune
2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn EcoDiesel, GDE Hot Tune

A few corrections:

*The trans pan on the ZF 8spd is plastic, not aluminum.
*Oil pressure in the EVIC is a model, not real pressure (only a switch on the engine)
*LT tires not available on diesel models
*3.92 available only with 20" tires
*E-fan size depends on what you want to do with the truck

3.92 axle is the way to go BTW.

If the first gear is so low with the 3.55, how much is the 3.92 going to help? The thing has 8 speeds, it should be able to have a low first, a really tall 8th for highway, and any gear you could possibly want in between, regardless of axle ratio.

Edit: I just looked it up and that 8 speed has a 4.696 1st gear ratio, compared to the 545rfe that has a 3.00. With a 3.55 rear end, that first gear would be equal a 5.7:1 axle ratio on a 545rfe.

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2006 CRD - GTB2056 turbo by Dieselguy86, Eco Trans Tune, Lift Pump, Week's, HDS Tstat, Racor Filter, ARP's, OME 790's+Top Plate, JBA 2.5", JBA UCA, Moab's+265/75R16, ARB Bull Bar, 4.10's, TrueTracs

Is the ZF a standard or an auto transmission?

Is the engine VM?

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20 year owner of Libby CRD!
2006 LTD Bright Silver loaded with all the needed mods, CCV intact.
Equipped with HDS thermostat, plenty of heat, faster warm-ups, increased fuel mileage.

Masshole,

The 3.92 gears give the truck 1000 pound more "tow rating" than the 3.55 gears. I made this chart up to show the differences.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/501 ... 0Chart.pdf

flman

The ZF is an 8 speed automatic. There are 2 models. 1 for the V6 gasser, and a more robust one for the Hemi/Diesel.
The Motor is VM.

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2006 Sport, GDE FT Eco Tune, Custom Trans Tune
2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn EcoDiesel, GDE Hot Tune

Is it a reliability thing? It just seems weird with the amount a gears available in the 8 speed and how low 1st and 2nd are that the chassis would be the limiting factor regardless of axle ratio.

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2006 CRD - GTB2056 turbo by Dieselguy86, Eco Trans Tune, Lift Pump, Week's, HDS Tstat, Racor Filter, ARP's, OME 790's+Top Plate, JBA 2.5", JBA UCA, Moab's+265/75R16, ARB Bull Bar, 4.10's, TrueTracs

For 7K more I would much rather have the 2500 with a Cummins. I like the fact that there is a diesel option now but I would rather see it in a compact or midsize truck.

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05 CRD
97 Toyota FZJ80 12v Cummins/NV4500-build thread
96 Lexus LX 450
96 Ford F350 4x4

Does the ZF transmission have the ability to lock out individual overdrive gears? In the liberty when you lock out overdrive you are in 3rd gear.

Unless you need to tow over the 6900lbs I would stay with the 3.55's. The rpms are too high with the 3.92's and your mileage will be lower on the highway. The torque curve will allow good use of the 3.55 gear. If the top gear was a 3.73 I might consider it. They had the same issue when they changed from 3.55 to 3.73 in the 2500 with the Cummin's.

I am pretty sure it has a manual mode so you can put it in whatever gear you feel like

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2006 CRD - GTB2056 turbo by Dieselguy86, Eco Trans Tune, Lift Pump, Week's, HDS Tstat, Racor Filter, ARP's, OME 790's+Top Plate, JBA 2.5", JBA UCA, Moab's+265/75R16, ARB Bull Bar, 4.10's, TrueTracs

Joeluke, yes it does. There is a + and - on the steering wheel to select which gear you want. There is also a tow/haul mode.

Also, how can you say it is too high. Look at my chart on the previous page. In 8th with the 3.92, the engine is still turning LESS than or CRDs.

Cimarron, it may be 7k to start, but baloons from there. More fuel at $4 a gallon. Sales tax is higher. Registration fee goes from passenger to commercial. Property tax is higher. Ride quality is less.

If the 2500 had the 5.0 Cummins, then it would be a harder decision between the 2.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

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2006 Sport, GDE FT Eco Tune, Custom Trans Tune
2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn EcoDiesel, GDE Hot Tune

I would rather be running 1800rpms at 70 mph than near 2000rpms as your chart shows. I wish the Liberty had an extra transmission gear or came with 3.55 gears. I tend to like to run 75 - 80mph when traveling and would like the engine to run in that 2000 rpm range.

I drive in the 60 to 70 range and tow in the 50 to 60 range. So the 3.92 works for me.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

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2006 Sport, GDE FT Eco Tune, Custom Trans Tune
2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn EcoDiesel, GDE Hot Tune

Almost $44,000

It is ridic how expensive cars/trucks are getting these days. (Not just Dodge). Honestly, give me a simpler truck with the Diesel and an honest price...otherwise

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Founder of L.O.S.T.
2006 CRD Sport
Mods: GDE Hot Tune w/ 364#@2000rpm/Air Box /3" Str8 Exhaust/ASFIR Alum Skids/245-75R-16 Cooper STT PRO/OME LIFT w/Clevis & 4 Spring Isos/AirTabs/Rigid 10" S2 LED/4xGuard Ctr Matrix Bumper
Drag Strip:Reac=.1078_60ft=2.224_1/8=10.39@64.8mph_1/4+16.46@80.8mph

It sure is not going to make me run to the dealer and be the first kid on the block to own one. I have 5 diesels right now that serve me well. And I would be cautious of VM to begin with, so nothing at this point would even convince me to look at one.

Going to be interesting to see how all the modern emissions play out as well?

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20 year owner of Libby CRD!
2006 LTD Bright Silver loaded with all the needed mods, CCV intact.
Equipped with HDS thermostat, plenty of heat, faster warm-ups, increased fuel mileage.

Yeah I really started to notice for a couple years now (US) car commercials almost never advertise a purchase price anymore, any examples are given as a lease option with an enormous down payment. Can't even imagine what the pay-off/buy out would be on some.

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06 Jeep KJ CRD Sport full Mopar skids, front tow hooks, rear hitch shackle, Magnaflow muffler, Samco Sport CAC hoses, 02 Airbox mod, Unique series 42 steel wheels.