Well a 6 banger with 2 hot running turbos I doubt would be a good truck for a daily trailer puller. I think the bigger engines will outlast, even though they get worse mileage I believe over time the ecoboost will cost in repairs, which will make its fuel economy moot. It just makes sense. I have issues believing these tests, I hauled 1700 plus bags of cement not even knowing the max is 1400 but no matter did not even feel like anything back there. Only thing was a droopy *** but it never bottomed out and I drove like I would an empty truck. I am a skeptic and I have 355 gears.

 

LOL........1954radio, good post.

 

had someone told me 20 years ago that a full size 4x4 truck in a 1/2 ton with a 3.5L V6 would pull 9000#s up a 6% grade as well as a 5.7 hemi, I would have laughed - can't do it, no way.

This is a commercial, Mike Rowe is a Ford spoke man, but, this is motor Trend Magazine - aren't they reputable? Motor Trend was at a Ford commercial and Ford most likely provided the info MT published. So I think that yes, the little V6 did what the writer saw, but, it takes fuel to make power, and to tow that rig up the grade, the turbos were feeding the beast and I'm sure it got the same or worst gas mileage than the Ram.

I'm still amazed of what engineers are doing with engines!

 

Very true. It is amazing what they have done with their new motor lineup. Its about time ford had a decent motor in a pickup. Kudo's to anyone who buys one. Having said that I will now say that it most likely wont get any better mpg while towing and I do question how hot things get under the hood while towing up a hill. And that thing will never sound as good as a hemi rolling down the road.

 

I love my new truck, but if Chrysler put a 6 speed tranny in the Ram 1500 and knew how to program it correctly for trailering in tow mode, it would be a far better truck. It seems like the engine is either reving 2,500 or 4,300 rpms at 65 with a 5,000 lb trailer, nothing in between. Yes, I know I can invest in a programer, but I think you shouldn't have to.

 

They already have two six speeders...one in the diesel and one coming in the new 2011 Challenger (I think), so they know how to program them. We just need to get them to not detune them so much for their own interest...the warranty. I'm sure we will soon see the six speed integrated into the 1500...maybe even the 6.1 engine...I doubt we will see the 6.4 though.

 

What makes you say these motors are detuned? does dodge have our 5.7 hemi in another vehicle that is making more power?

 

"The transmission behind the HEMI is already a six-speed."
It has first (1), second (2), second prime (3), third (4), fourth (5), and fifth (6).
This was stated by the Chrysler engineers, at last weeks Live Chat, regarding the 545RFE.
They mentioned that they are going to call it a six-speed transmission, in future literature?

 

Forget the 6 speed, they're coming out with an 8 speed in a couple of years

 

Thats alot of shifting. I bet there will be more prime gears like our second prime. What if you could order an 8 speed in a manual....that would be tiresome