Don's 2022 Ram 3500

[Flyin6]

This truck continues to impress. I get 18.5-20 MPG with each tank. I drive it slowly, and I drive it fast. I have towed light and heavy with it and have not discovered any nasty surprises. It does a great job and is even a comfortable daily driver with the FOX shocks.

[Flyin6]

Two more tankful's of fuel. I never see less than mid-18s. Yesterday's fill-up netted 20.3mpg.

This is using "top-tier" fuel from Costco.

I know there is extra care and handling as control measures for gasoline. I.E. the additive package is there, whereas sometimes in cheapo gas, it is not. Now pertaining to diesel, I am not all that sure as to what makes it top-tier. Perhaps it is in the filtering, since all the fuel from all the stations and brands likely cones from Ashland Kentucky's refinery. (Yes we have our own refinery in the tuck!)

Nevertheless, this truck is impressive for its big-time abundance of way-down-low torque. I feel it much more than I did in my Duramax. Not saying the Cummins is better, mind you, only that it acts like a straight six and is torquier ;-)

[JR]

The torque is why so many like them for towing.

Great mileage, I have been seeing above 19 for some time now, but all road trips.

[Flyin6]

First of all, the mileage is improving. I now routinely get 19.4 for a bottom number and something around 21.0 for the high end. This is a good mix of in-town/country road and highway driving.

I have had some problems getting back into my farm property. The first 100+ meters is almost impassible during these wet and rainy months. Because of that, I have had to switch to using only the Suburban to go to/from the place. The Suburban uses premium gas and a lot of it. The farm is 55 miles one way, so 110 for the round trip and the burb is running around 10mpg!

I squeaked two round trips out of it this past week and the refill cost me $77. So it is about $40 just to drive down and back. At 20 MPG, the Ram 3500 would double those numbers for about the same cost, costing me a mere $20 round trip. But I can't get back to the farm unless the ground is frozen.

Therefore, with only 7,000 miles on the truck, I may need to switch to an AT tire, or just leave it parked until summer.

Should I decide to go this route, I think I will keep the 20" rim size because I like how well the truck handles on these twisty roads. But I would like a larger diameter tire since I am constantly driving on rock and boulder-strewn roads with it. Therefore, I am thinking about skipping the 35" and going straight to the 47" fitment.

I've viewed a ton of videos by people who did this and vendors who sell the product. It seems as long as I use a 9" wide wheel with 5.75" Backspace (+18mm offset) the 37" tire/wheel combo goes right on the fifth-gen HD Ram with no issues at all.

Turns out that our very own Tate sells a nice Icon wheel in black to match the factory color scheme at a handsome price and he has some on hand already. I would go with my favorite Kanati Trail Hog AT tires to round out the package. Those Karnatis are a copy of the Goodyear DuraTrac tires.

[Flyin6]

To remove some low-hanging fruit because of all the off-roading I am doing with this truck, I removed the front air dam today. I never really cared for the look of it anyway.

I need a better "After" shot than these...

[Flyin6]

My truck as the active shutter system to regulate cooling air. You can see the largish scoop that was shrouded by the air dam, which is now open to the wind stream.

[Flyin6]

Before I could barely squeeze under the truck to service things and look around, but now I can!

It was drizzling outside, hence the blurred photos due to droplets on the lens.

But I did not drop the camera, nor did I back over it, nor did I leave it outside in the downpour.

Good on me!

[JR]

Well, you don't need to change wheels, but run what runs you.

Get an orange camera, prime target!

[Flyin6]

Well, you don't need to change wheels, but run what runs you.

Get an orange camera, prime target!

Actually need to change wheels. Factory ones have a huge negative BS. Can't run over stock size without hitting both the Sway Bar and the control arm! Need a new wheel to space the tire outboard a lot more than where it is now. Ram/Dodge is famous for this.

[Bigdave_185]

Why not just park the suburban on the other side of your gate and drive through 21mpg truck there ?


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[Flyin6]

Why not just park the suburban on the other side of your gate and drive through 21mpg truck there ?


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Actually not a bad idea. But no gate, just an open area next to the road. Once you're five feet off the road you are in 5" deep mud. No place to park anything, and I'm sure when I arrived I'd find a suburban frame stripped bare of anything useable.

[Flyin6]

I ordered the tires this AM

37 12.50R20 Kanati Trail Hogs

Sent a message to Tate to order the four new Icon wheels with the correct Back Spacing to fit with little-no rubbing.

I say little rubbing because at my 2.5" lift height and an 18mm backspacing on a 9" wheel and a 37" tire is not supposed to touch anything lock to lock. But then I see a tip of heating and pushing in the wheel liner in one spot to gain clearance.

Have to go watch my son graduate to become an infantryman. I'll do the swap when we get back.

Then I should be G-T-G to use the truck for muddy farm access. If not Tate will be getting another text from me for a grizzly and E-locker for the front.

[JR]

I like the tires, but maybe fix the road too? I mean if you can't drive to say the barn thats not good. May keep some out, but never all. Though you had a nice gate up there?

Son loves the ICONs, but they cost more than the truck.

[Bigdave_185]

What does that tire set your pocket book back each?


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[Flyin6]

What does that tire set your pocket book back each?


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They are well priced. Karnatis always are. I paid $1133 for four including shipping and $62 in taxes.

[Flyin6]

I like the tires, but maybe fix the road too? I mean if you can't drive to say the barn thats not good. May keep some out, but never all. Though you had a nice gate up there?

Son loves the ICONs, but they cost more than the truck.

I wanted to dump a load (26 tons) at the entrance over the bad part, but the owner says no and it's a waste. He tells me he still plans to take the entrance down another three feet.

Funny, but he can't even access his property. For almost two weeks now his dually and gooseneck has been parked on the driveway. I have been having to drive around it. He says it is too muddy to get back in to get a load of white oaks he cut a couple of years ago.

No one is getting back there, but eventually, all this will get sorted and we will have a decent gravel topcoat. Frankly, as long as my wife doesn't need to access it in her XT6 Caddy, who cares if it's muddy?

[Flyin6]

Thank you Tate,
wheels are on order as well

Long black splines for the wheels on order
The tire changing facility was notified.
They will remove sensors and place into new wheels so that it all works like a factory.
I will be using balance beads same as every other thing I own except for the Caddy.

Looking to swap next week.

Going to stay at this 2.5" front/1" rear lift height.

The current tire is around 33" tall and the new ones are 36.7" actual OD so the vehicle will sit 1.8" higher which I think is acceptable. With the wider track and the relatively low lift height, I expect to be very stable on cross slopes which I oftentimes see.

[Flyin6]

Tires and wheels showed up

I usually purchase tires from "Simple Tire." My other go-to for the lowest prices is Walmart. This time Simple Tire got the nod for the fifth set of these excellent Kanati tires. Very similar to the Datatrac's from Goodyear, the siping in these is deeper. Without a giant lift and unnecessary weight and gadgets, I am hoping to get some miles out of these. Whereas I normally swap them out at 1/2 tread depth, I think I will allow these to get down to 4/32nds this time.

37 12.50R20E

I am going with a more street-oriented 20"-wheel fitment to reduce sidewall which will bias the performance more toward cornering with a lot of air pressure. I use tall sidewall tires for off-road meaning a smaller diameter wheel. Stock wheel fitment is 20" on my truck. I am keeping the "E" load rating, and I wanted a narrow tire profile, but no metric equivalent (Narrower) is available so a good old American 12.50" it is.

The factory tire is 33" in diameter. This is a 4" increase. The truck will now sit 2" taller which will affect some things. I anticipate a small reduction in fuel economy and in power. With the great mileage it already delivers I am not concerned on that point. It also has SO MUCH torgue that I am hardly concerned about that either.

I will pick up some module to tune the computer for the new tire size to correct the speedo down the line sometime.

[Flyin6]

For the wheels, I am again choosing the Icon wheel that Tate sells through Randy's Worldwide.

These wheels have the +18mm (5.75" B.S.) that keeps everything inside the factory flares and is supposed to require little to no fender well modification to prevent rubbing.

I went with factory satin black colors to match the midnight edition Ram factory color scheme.

[JR]

Looked at those for my sons S10, but not made for size we want.

Looking at icons now.

[Flyin6]

Looked at those for my sons S10, but not made for size we want.

Looking at icons now.

Icon has the jeep 5x5 pattern...I purchased a set already!

[JR]

Yeah, but he wants a smaller dia than they show. Still a work in progress.

[Flyin6]

Here it is going into the shop to get the new wheels/tires in the driving rain...

[Flyin6]

Kyle and the boys at this little shop are pretty good. He oversees a well-run operation. They take their time as they did this AM on the Ram.

They had to pull the old wheels and then break down the top bead to enable access to the pressure monitoring sensors which they removed to reinstall on the new wheels.

And here's a shot of that full floater goodness that makes this truck as bulletproof as it can be in the 1-ton class.

[Flyin6]

I used balance beads yet again and the ride was perfect and vibration-free.

I once stated these are my firth set of Kanatis, but I think they are actually my fourth set.

I could just pick up a hint of hum and no wheel shake or vibration at all. I also noted that when I drove through 2"-3" of standing water, in the past the truck got a bit "giggy" as if it was not completely in control. This time, after the tire swap, all that was gone. I plowed through some good puddles, and it just went right through. I want to say there is just more room for water to escape now. I know that from driving the Duramax truck and the Suburban, these tires are just stable all the time. I have driven them now over every conceivable type of terrain, mud, and snow in many states and over the full temperature range from bubbling tar to frozen solid and never, not once have I had a tire-related problem.

And I am happy to report that this fitment, 5.75"/ +18mm and a 37" tire does not rub at all!!!!!!!!!!!

[Flyin6]

The wheel kept everything inside the wheel well flare which is what I wanted. Doing one's homework before acting does indeed pay off.

[Flyin6]

I think they fill the wheel well enough for this height of lift.

I would be remiss without thanking Tate and Randy's worldwide for providing us with a nice discount which made this all possible. THe Icon wheels came from them, and I truly appreciate their service.

[EL TATE]

Looking sharp there boss 

[oklawall]

Looks great and a good ride makes that a big win

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[Flyin6]

Thanks gents!

Had the opportunity to drive it at highway speeds

I noticed the Speedo is running slower than I think I am traveling.

There is a slight tire hum but it is well within the acceptable range.

I noticed a bit of loss of power which resulted from essentially a lower final drive ratio, but that's still OK.

The truck does not hunt for the crown of the road as badly as it used to. Just a few inches wider stance fixed that, it seems.

[JR]

Yeah, they look good. Water has a way out vs being stuck in those hwy tires.

How much taller are they?

[Flyin6]

Yeah, they look good. Water has a way out vs being stuck in those hwy tires.

How much taller are they?

old = 33"
New = 37"
1/2 diameter, truck stands 2" taller now.

[TexasRedNeck]

Looks well sorted out.  Nicely done.


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[Dustoff35]

Looks good!


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[Flyin6]

I made a massive modification to this vehicle yesterday.

Story tomorrow....   ;-)

[stlaser]

Compounds? A military grade trailer to haul H around for Ken? A dream catcher on the rear view? Or maybe some fuzzy pink dice and a spinning disco ball?

[Flyin6]

Dream catcher...hmmm, hadn't thought about that. Have an extra one you could spare? ;-)

[JR]

Disco Don?

[Flyin6]

Nope

You're gunna be surprised...

[Sammconn]

Camper cam early?

Or….



Sold it…?









Gonna get fired again….

[stlaser]

Maybe he bought that cyber truck at auction…… 

[JR]

I think EV vehicles are great. But until they figure out charging and range, not for me.

[stlaser]

Yeah, but Don’s got Tesla history…… 

[oklawall]

Maybe he traded for a duramax

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[Sammconn]

Hope he spills the beans soon or we’ll all be fired…

 

[JR]

[Flyin6]

Pics coming right up

Hint: I changed the fluids...

[JR]

That could mean anything!!!!

[Flyin6]

That could mean anything!!!!

Here's what it means JR:

[Flyin6]

And here's why... Look at the payload numbers for old truck vs new truck.

I went off the wrong numbers for payload when I purchased my Camper. Then when I checked after the fact, I found a huge (over 1,000 lb. Mistake!)

My old truck with that camper, me and Kat and a full tank of water left me 16 lbs remaining :-(

do you see it? 4027 vs 49xx. What a beginners mistake...