We've used our 2016 RAM 1500 Ecodiesel mostly for long trailering trips from our home in Washington State. By June of this year that was about 42,000 miles total on the truck, with 28,000 of it towing our Creekside 20FQ - 4700lbs dry, about 5400 fully loaded (7610 is maximum.)
The rig is small enough for national parks and forests, and super comfortable off-grid. With nearly 30 mpg when we're not towing we've loved the handling and the range of this combination.
Apart from warranty replacement of an AGM battery early on and some weird smells coming from the ventilation system we've had no problems with our Ecodiesel.
After new tires, oil change, and the recommended SOFTWARE UPDATE (plus extensive electrical upgrades to the trailer that made it a little lighter) we started July 9th with visits to Glacier and Yellowstone NPs circling across Nevada to Yosemite to meet family. I noticed the additional turbo lag that others have mentioned after the upgrade, but my mileage and performance seemed pretty much as before.
On Sunday 7/28 outside San Andreas, CA, just after I noticed the diesel had a funny noise and was running a little rough, the Engine and ETC lights came on and engine power dropped way down. We limped to an RV park. On Monday I made an appointment with the dealer in Sonora for Wednesday and we took the bus for a couple of days.
Crawling to the shop on Wednesday morning performance was the same (non-existent) but ECT the light began to flash ominously.
The Sonora Dealer found a melted hole in the turbo intake manifold and a possibly damaged catalytic converter. No one can explain why this has happened, but the circumstance of 43,000 miles of good performance prior to the “software update” and engine failure 4,000 miles after - despite exactly the same service - is hard for me to ignore.
Now, after waiting a week for parts at the Fairgrounds in Sonora, we may have to stay through another weekend for the repair and testing. Glad we have the extended warranty - and pleased with the Sonora Dealer's efforts on behalf of a stranger from out-of town - but I feel like I've lost an old friend and wonder how I can trust it for our trip home, or any trips after.
The rig is small enough for national parks and forests, and super comfortable off-grid. With nearly 30 mpg when we're not towing we've loved the handling and the range of this combination.
Apart from warranty replacement of an AGM battery early on and some weird smells coming from the ventilation system we've had no problems with our Ecodiesel.
After new tires, oil change, and the recommended SOFTWARE UPDATE (plus extensive electrical upgrades to the trailer that made it a little lighter) we started July 9th with visits to Glacier and Yellowstone NPs circling across Nevada to Yosemite to meet family. I noticed the additional turbo lag that others have mentioned after the upgrade, but my mileage and performance seemed pretty much as before.
On Sunday 7/28 outside San Andreas, CA, just after I noticed the diesel had a funny noise and was running a little rough, the Engine and ETC lights came on and engine power dropped way down. We limped to an RV park. On Monday I made an appointment with the dealer in Sonora for Wednesday and we took the bus for a couple of days.
Crawling to the shop on Wednesday morning performance was the same (non-existent) but ECT the light began to flash ominously.
The Sonora Dealer found a melted hole in the turbo intake manifold and a possibly damaged catalytic converter. No one can explain why this has happened, but the circumstance of 43,000 miles of good performance prior to the “software update” and engine failure 4,000 miles after - despite exactly the same service - is hard for me to ignore.
Now, after waiting a week for parts at the Fairgrounds in Sonora, we may have to stay through another weekend for the repair and testing. Glad we have the extended warranty - and pleased with the Sonora Dealer's efforts on behalf of a stranger from out-of town - but I feel like I've lost an old friend and wonder how I can trust it for our trip home, or any trips after.
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