Any news on a bigger gas engine?

[vipers1]

That is unloaded, 8-9.5mpg towing our 7K TT w 87. Using 91 octane yields marginally better mpg and power. Brutal mpg as compared to what? A CTD? I had a 2017 Tradesman CTD, it was a great engine, coupled to an emission system that I wasn't comfortable dealing with once the warranty ran out. The CTD was overkill for our 6.5K TT (at that time) and the 7.3 is in no way stressed pulling our current TT or our future target 5er: GD 278BH.

I'm a Ram guy. Having owned a 1500 BH 5.7 w 3.92, that was a great truck, just not enough payload and no option to upgrade to a 5th wheel. The 5.7 (no etorque) w the 3.92 and 8HP75 was a great combo. The 8HP75 is an excellent transmission. The 1500 pulled our current TT @ 65mph without issue, just required downshifts to maintain speed. I looked at a 2500 6.4/3.73 Megacab ("current" gen Ram CC is quite a bit smaller than the current Ford and GM CCs) and was underwhelmed coming out of the 5.7/3.92 and ended up buying the 2020 F250 7.3. The 7.3 makes effortless power (no not like a CTD or Powerstroke) and even pulling a 6% grade (section we routinely tow) for 8 miles at 65mph, I rarely see rpms above 3500rpm. The 7.3 is in a class by itself, for now. However, the 101R140 transmission, is completely outclassed by the 8HP75. Slow shifts, extra downshifts, and holding gears too long after downshifting are a few of the issues I've run into in the past 13 months/23K of ownership. The 10R140 programming is a mess for the 7.3 w 3.55. The 7.3/4.30 masks a lot of the issues and the 6.7PS has so much torque that it doesnt matter. As someone said in an earlier post my dream truck would be a 7.3 in a Ram body with a 8HP75 behind it.

So it brings me back to today, the 7.3 is great but I'm considering coming back to Ram for a 2500 6.4/4.10 combo (2021 truck on order). Smaller truck with a smaller engine (possibly thirstier with less power) than the 7.3. But overall the strong points of the SD are (for me): 7.3, interior volume, 34 gal fuel tank, longer wheelbase and 6'9" bed. The Ram has always been a better value proposition over Ford and GM and the overall product I think is superior too. It looks like I have 14-16 weeks to figure it...

BTW, 12qt oil changes (I did all my own maintenance), 2 fuel filters, DEF, fuel additives in the winter and no heat for the 1st 20mins of winters driving also were factors in me converting from diesel to gas. Diesels are awesome, just not what I need for my current DD and towing needs. As I recall, it would take me something like 15 years to recoup the initial and reoccurring costs of a diesel vs a gas truck.

I agree with everything you said there. Have you driven a 7.3 with the 4.30 gears? I've test driven three 7.3/4.30 fords and maybe 6 or so with 3.55's. The 4.30 trucks feal like a totally different truck in a good way and all the 4.30 trucks had the taller 35" duratracs compared to 33-34" 3.55 trucks. I think the 6.4/8speed feels smoother and more refined but damn that ford feels like puller and I actually thought it felt like they all shifted quicker than the ram but not as smooth. I still ponder on the ram 6.4 and 6.7 but really been leaning towards a 2022 7.3/4.30 lately. They'll have 12" sync 4 screen and wireless Android auto/car play for 2022 too. And a $1500 sport package with body color bumpers. Prolly run 5k more than a similar equipped ram hd but I'm so tempted.

 

[Epsilon Plus]

Since nobody is answering, care to share your thoughts on why that is?

Cylinder head flow. Example, the largest LSx small block head Air Flow Research (AFR) makes is 245cc. The smallest Big Block Chevy head they make is 265cc. The largest BBC head they make is 457cc.

No contest.

 

[raven_dt]

I agree with everything you said there. Have you driven a 7.3 with the 4.30 gears? I've test driven three 7.3/4.30 fords and maybe 6 or so with 3.55's. The 4.30 trucks feal like a totally different truck in a good way and all the 4.30 trucks had the taller 35" duratracs compared to 33-34" 3.55 trucks. I think the 6.4/8speed feels smoother and more refined but damn that ford feels like puller and I actually thought it felt like they all shifted quicker than the ram but not as smooth. I still ponder on the ram 6.4 and 6.7 but really been leaning towards a 2022 7.3/4.30 lately. They'll have 12" sync 4 screen and wireless Android auto/car play for 2022 too. And a $1500 sport package with body color bumpers. Prolly run 5k more than a similar equipped ram hd but I'm so tempted.

The 7.3 community is like every other truck community debating gears: 3.55/3.73 (F 350 only) and 4.30. I had a chance to get a 4.30 but was scared away by the potential hit to mpg. However 4SD owners state that there is only a 1-2 max mpg penalty for the 4.30. 4.30 owners rave about their 7.3/4.30 combo, while 3.55 owners are seemingly always on the defense wrt the 3.55s. I wish that I had the 4.30, not because I need it towing a 7K trailer but it would help with the transmission programming issues and not require locking gears out while towing. 10th gear is pretty useless for me towing (usually locked out), while sometime I will lock 9th out if we are towing in the "mountains". Keeping it in 8th gear is essentially 10th gear in a 4.30 truck (7th is 1:1). I think 10 speed transmissions are probably overkill, especially if you have to lock out 2 of the 3 OD gears when towing.

I was part of the debate on 3.92 vs 3.21 in the 1500 too, I loved my 3.92 and usually got around 17mpg in mixed driving. I never wished that I had 3.21s.

 

[raven_dt]

I agree with everything you said there. Have you driven a 7.3 with the 4.30 gears? I've test driven three 7.3/4.30 fords and maybe 6 or so with 3.55's. The 4.30 trucks feal like a totally different truck in a good way and all the 4.30 trucks had the taller 35" duratracs compared to 33-34" 3.55 trucks. I think the 6.4/8speed feels smoother and more refined but damn that ford feels like puller and I actually thought it felt like they all shifted quicker than the ram but not as smooth. I still ponder on the ram 6.4 and 6.7 but really been leaning towards a 2022 7.3/4.30 lately. They'll have 12" sync 4 screen and wireless Android auto/car play for 2022 too. And a $1500 sport package with body color bumpers. Prolly run 5k more than a similar equipped ram hd but I'm so tempted.

I'm not sure about Sync4 but Uconnect simply outclasses Sync3 (GUI, speed, functionality). And yes a similarly optioned SD usually costs at least 5K more than a similarly equipped Ram truck. I have a PCO for $2K that helps with the difference but those are somewhat random for buyers. I will add Ram has been rated higher in quality that Ford and GM over the past couple of years. The 2023 SD will probably be all new with the new F150 CC.

 

[nick112288]

I'm not sure about Sync4 but Uconnect simply outclasses Sync3 (GUI, speed, functionality). And yes a similarly optioned SD usually costs at least 5K more than a similarly equipped Ram truck. I have a PCO for $2K that helps with the difference but those are somewhat random for buyers. I will add Ram has been rated higher in quality that Ford and GM over the past couple of years. The 2023 SD will probably be all new with the new F150 CC.

Super Duty and F150 already share the same crew cab. Interior design is currently different though.

 

[raven_dt]

Super Duty and F150 already share the same crew cab. Interior design is currently different though.

The F150 was redesigned for 2021. The current Gen SD CC goes back to the 2015 last Gen F150 design.

 

[vipers1]

The 7.3 community is like every other truck community debating gears: 3.55/3.73 (F 350 only) and 4.30. I had a chance to get a 4.30 but was scared away by the potential hit to mpg. However 4SD owners state that there is only a 1-2 max mpg penalty for the 4.30. 4.30 owners rave about their 7.3/4.30 combo, while 3.55 owners are seemingly always on the defense wrt the 3.55s. I wish that I had the 4.30, not because I need it towing a 7K trailer but it would help with the transmission programming issues and not require locking gears out while towing. 10th gear is pretty useless for me towing (usually locked out), while sometime I will lock 9th out if we are towing in the "mountains". Keeping it in 8th gear is essentially 10th gear in a 4.30 truck (7th is 1:1). I think 10 speed transmissions are probably overkill, especially if you have to lock out 2 of the 3 OD gears when towing.

I was part of the debate on 3.92 vs 3.21 in the 1500 too, I loved my 3.92 and usually got around 17mpg in mixed driving. I never wished that I had 3.21s.

The 4.30 geared tremor with its stock duratracs cruises at 75mph at 2000rpm and my 3.73 6.2 cruises at 75mph at 2000rpm so less aggressive gearing would be going backwards in some ways to me. 9th and 10th in a 3.55 truck seemed good for mpg but I'm hunting more for powerful loaded acceleration and ability to hold a gear. The life average mpg on my 6.2 truck ranges from 11.3-12.8mpg depending on time of year and what I'm towing so I'm not afraid of poor mpg, it's the norm for me. I am 100% down for ram trying to best Fords power. My last 2 trucks were ram 5.7 and Dodge V10 and I would have no problem going back to ram.

 

[raven_dt]

I would be all in for a 7.0L HD specific truck engine (no mds or auto shutdown like the 7.3)

 

[vipers1]

I would be all in for a 7.0L HD specific truck engine (no mds or auto shutdown like the 7.3)

I agree on the mds, I tuned it out of my 5.7 hemi with a bully dog I believe it was. Whats this auto shut down you speak of? I know some diesels can be programmed for auto or timed shutdown to allow turbo too cool down but not sure thats what you mean.

 

[gimmie11s]

This thread is full of lol

 

[raven_dt]

I agree on the mds, I tuned it out of my 5.7 hemi with a bully dog I believe it was. Whats this auto shut down you speak of? I know some diesels can be programmed for auto or timed shutdown to allow turbo too cool down but not sure thats what you mean.

Auto stop start

 

[raven_dt]

Does the 7.3 have MDS as well?

No

 

[Threeper88]

The 7.3 has neither cylinder deactivation nor auto start/stop. The way an HD truck engine should be.

Back to Ram though. The 6.4 in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer is rated at something like 470hp/455tq. Anyone have insight as to whether this 6.4 is closer to the SRT 6.4 or closer to a tuned up HD 6.4?

If the latter, could this variant be headed to the HD Ram for 2023? Seems badly needed.

 

[raven_dt]

The 7.3 has neither cylinder deactivation nor auto start/stop. The way an HD truck engine should be.

Back to Ram though. The 6.4 in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer is rated at something like 470hp/455tq. Anyone have insight as to whether this 6.4 is closer to the SRT 6.4 or closer to a tuned up HD 6.4?

If the latter, could this variant be headed to the HD Ram for 2023? Seems badly needed.

It's not just the max power and torque output, it's having 80% of your max torque available at 1600rpm and a flat torque curve....a truck engine.

 

[jadmt]

The 7.3 has neither cylinder deactivation nor auto start/stop. The way an HD truck engine should be.

Back to Ram though. The 6.4 in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer is rated at something like 470hp/455tq. Anyone have insight as to whether this 6.4 is closer to the SRT 6.4 or closer to a tuned up HD 6.4?

If the latter, could this variant be headed to the HD Ram for 2023? Seems badly needed.

Pretty sure it was reported to be the srt variant just like the wrangler.

 

[jadmt]

It's not just the max power and torque output, it's having 80% of your max torque available at 1600rpm and a flat torque curve....a truck engine.

Ditto

 

[Threeper88]

Pretty sure it was reported to be the srt variant just like the wrangler.

Damn