Funny smell after towing ?

[Kimo7]

I’ve had a bunch of trucks throughout my life ranging from 1 RAM diesel 2500 HD to a lot of gas engines and towed stuff with most all of them. I recently purchased a new 2500 Laramie with the 6.4 Hemi and just got back from picking up a new travel trailer that weighs 9,100 lbs, very heavy. I constantly monitored the EVIC and all operating systems were normal the entire 200 mile trip. I stopped twice during the trip and both times I smelled something akin to a hot transmission, brakes, and/or maybe hot rubber. I can’t say specifically which one or combination of any. I checked everything I could on the truck and nothing was out of the ordinary. The smell was coming from the rear of the truck, couldn’t narrow to left or right side since the wind was blowing pretty strong. The gain on the electric trailer was spot on so it’s not that. I don‘t recall this happening with the diesel 2500 but I have CRS which affects my ability to remember.. Has anyone experienced this and found out what it was ? I’m wondering if it isn’t the factory Firestone tires heating up under the pressure and friction. I’m not knocking the tires, the pin weight of the trailer is 1130 lbs, thats heavy so it would be understandable it were the tires. Overall the truck performed great with the gas engine and I’m VERY happy with it.

I’m going to post the same in the tires section and anywhere else I think it fits. I’ve heard back from someone on another forum who said his muffler was the cause of a bad smell for about a month but it eventually passed. Looking forward to hearing what you guys think. Thanks for your responses.

 

[Deleted member 80]

How many miles on the truck? You will get some stench from the exhaust for a bit when it gets good and hot for the first few times. 1,130 lbs is not a lot. I pulled my gooseneck toy hauler with my 2015 2500 6.4 gasser, and it put over 4,800 lbs on the hitch(went across the scales at 23,160)with no tire smell. Of course the Firestones were long gone by then, but still unlikely to be tires.

 

[Brutal_HO]

LOL, this is like a bad game of telephone.

OP says Travel Trailer and "pin weight." Assuming you meant tongue weight.

Respondent talks about gooseneck and fifth wheel weights.

It's that new truck smell inside and out.

 

[Kimo7]

How many miles on the truck? You will get some stench from the exhaust for a bit when it gets good and hot for the first few times. 1,130 lbs is not a lot. I pulled my gooseneck toy hauler with my 2015 2500 6.4 gasser, and it put over 4,800 lbs on the hitch(went across the scales at 23,160)with no tire smell. Of course the Firestones were long gone by then, but still unlikely to be tires.

Thanks for the feedback HasBeen. The truck is very new, less than 1k on it. This smell is different than the usual scent of a new car breaking in and burning off paint and coatings. This is my 5th Dodge/RAM and don’ recall this happening before. I suppose it could’ve happened with previous trucks, I just don’t remember it. The exhaust would definitely have been hot , fingers crossed that’s all it was. Thanks again

 

[Deleted member 80]

LOL, this is like a bad game of telephone.

OP says Travel Trailer and "pin weight." Assuming you meant tongue weight.

Respondent talks about gooseneck and fifth wheel weights.

It's that new truck smell inside and out.

I am well aware of what he said and what he meant, but take the leverage of the bumper pull hitch weight(tongue weight), and I do not suspect it will be equivalent to 4,860 on the axle. That was my point. The OP could put in on a scale and determine the axle weight, if that makes you happy

 

[Northstarfire0693]

Thanks for the feedback HasBeen. The truck is very new, less than 1k on it. This smell is different than the usual scent of a new car breaking in and burning off paint and coatings. This is my 5th Dodge/RAM and don’ recall this happening before. I suppose it could’ve happened with previous trucks, I just don’t remember it. The exhaust would definitely have been hot , fingers crossed that’s all it was. Thanks again

Being a new truck I would suspect the DPF system. Keep an eye to see if you smell it again and keep us posted.

 

[Deleted member 80]

6.4 gasser, no DPF.

 

[Northstarfire0693]

6.4 gasser, no DPF.

Sorry. I wonder if it could be the cat

 

[RamCares]

I’ve had a bunch of trucks throughout my life ranging from 1 RAM diesel 2500 HD to a lot of gas engines and towed stuff with most all of them. I recently purchased a new 2500 Laramie with the 6.4 Hemi and just got back from picking up a new travel trailer that weighs 9,100 lbs, very heavy. I constantly monitored the EVIC and all operating systems were normal the entire 200 mile trip. I stopped twice during the trip and both times I smelled something akin to a hot transmission, brakes, and/or maybe hot rubber. I can’t say specifically which one or combination of any. I checked everything I could on the truck and nothing was out of the ordinary. The smell was coming from the rear of the truck, couldn’t narrow to left or right side since the wind was blowing pretty strong. The gain on the electric trailer was spot on so it’s not that. I don‘t recall this happening with the diesel 2500 but I have CRS which affects my ability to remember.. Has anyone experienced this and found out what it was ? I’m wondering if it isn’t the factory Firestone tires heating up under the pressure and friction. I’m not knocking the tires, the pin weight of the trailer is 1130 lbs, thats heavy so it would be understandable it were the tires. Overall the truck performed great with the gas engine and I’m VERY happy with it.

I’m going to post the same in the tires section and anywhere else I think it fits. I’ve heard back from someone on another forum who said his muffler was the cause of a bad smell for about a month but it eventually passed. Looking forward to hearing what you guys think. Thanks for your responses.

Hi Kimo7,

I certainly understand why this would be concerning. If you end up having to address this with your dealer, please be sure to follow up with us via private message. We are more than happy to provide you with an additional layer of support for that process.

Mark
RamCares

 

[Kimo7]

Hi Kimo7,

I certainly understand why this would be concerning. If you end up having to address this with your dealer, please be sure to follow up with us via private message. We are more than happy to provide you with an additional layer of support for that process.

Mark
RamCares

Thank you for the follow up. I will definitely reach out if the problem persists. I’m hoping it was some sort of coating that just needed to burn off and it will go away.

 

[RamCares]

Thank you for the follow up. I will definitely reach out if the problem persists. I’m hoping it was some sort of coating that just needed to burn off and it will go away.

You are most welcome, I certainly understand your thoughts on this! We are always just a PM away if needed.

Mark
RamCares