I plan to replace my 2010 3500 with a 2012.

My understanding is the order book usually opens in August. Is this still correct?

Also, if urea is coming for the 3500/2500 will it be after 2014? Again, my understanding is the DPF exotic metal emissions system is qualified for a few more model years.

For the 800 lb torque has the RFE been modified? Fuel ecomony materially worse?
Any other changes coming for 2012?

 

I dont have any answers to your questions but i am curious as to why you would want to get a 2012?

 

Our ranch is located in Arizona's remote and very rugged desert mountain back country. The nearest town is over 75 miles away and cel phones are only decorative.

Very few people use a truck as hard as I do.

24/7, I tow livestock and horses heavy and off road in 4x4 low and hi up into the canyons. I go through a set of A/T tires every 6-8 months. Replacing the truck every two years is a matter of safety for us plus with the dealer 150 miles away getting the truck fixed is inconvenient and expensive.

Over the past 40 years, I have owned most brands but the Cummins RAM 3,500 in my book is the only way to go.

 

I haven't heard anything about lower fuel economy yet and I doubt there would be a hit at all. In fact, I'd be willing to say that they will see a small increase in MPGs from the 6.7 to the 6.7HO.


My only concern right now is that Dodge/Ram/Chrysler has not said a word about what they did to the transmission. We have been in the market for a new HD truck to replace our 2004 F350 6.0L with 125,000 on the clock. Now, I've been pushing Ram for more than a few reasons but I'm reading a lot of posts where people with 2010's and 2011's were getting about 30,000 miles on the clock and tearing the transmissions out of them. With the new performance increase... That worries me. Granted, these people who were having the problems were also tuned, but the question still lingers in the back of my mind that if the factory transmission in the 2011 model run couldn't handle an extra 110HP and 120FT/TQ, then how does Ram expect them to handle an extra 200HP and 205 or more FT/TQ?

I hope they have revamped it quite a bit, but I'm still concerned. Mainly because I know that when we buy something, it's going to have 100,000 or more on the clock before we even begin to think about trading again.

 

I agree Laramie.

My understanding the RFE will not go to 8 gears from the 6 but wonder too about the HO haul on the present transmission.

I've owned a lot of manual boxes but the new auto RFE really is a great piece of work. I wouldn't go back to manual. Too old and lazy I guess. I do remember the "old days" of manual hubs and transmissions. I have had autos and electronic transfer cases since 2003 and never had a problem. I really work my RAM trucks hard in some punishing conditions.

The DPF emissions cleaner system is okay but urea probably will be coming in a few years. I think all of these system have their problems and drawbacks.

I figure by 2012 they should have it all pretty bullet proof. At least, I hope so.

 

Well, you can hope that they will have it figured out by then, but I doubt Ram will. On the 2012 model run, I suspect they will start using a urea system just like GM and Ford does right now and it will be a first run on their take of the system. As we all know, all brands have issues on their first model run of anything and Dodge/Ram/Chrysler isn't an exception to the idea.

As for manual hubs... Bah. Our 2004 has them and they are a complete pain in the ***. Not too bad if you hop out and lock them in before getting into trouble, but man, once you're in the muck and you need them, you have to crawl down and lock them in. Not fun if you're in mud that's 3' tall.

All in all, I'm not sure where we're going just yet. I've driven a 2011 F-350 with the 6.7 and it's nice, but to be fair, I'm going to have to drive all three before saying anything. I have a thread in the general section here talking about 1500's, and I'm hoping to finish that one up with the HD line as soon as I can get my hands on a new Ram.