I wasn't trying to start a hate campaign against Ram. But you lean heavily on previous ownership. So what?  I had a HQ holden in the day and can not compare it to a Holden of today. Similarly I am sure you ram was built just once. Before you make light of the brand new Ram coming out here then being pulled completely apart and you being happy to have that done, It speaks little of you assurance to any sort of a guarantee.

If it was made right hand drive at assembly that is a totally different proposition. I mean if you are going to disassemble a vehicle why not ship it here un-assembled? Now that makes sense. But no, it comes out here fully assembled as a left hand drive and the complete front end including the motor come out.

and you think that is ok?... Consider this... the Factory warranty is on a fully imported truck that leaves the factory or original manufacturer, completely off the hook. The vehicle now belongs to the Australian arm of the dealership holding. Actually a separate company.

 

This off the web from a vehicle tester copied at the time of the rams into in Australia. Feel free to track down the info for yourselves.

All I was doing was giving an alternative vehicle to use with a fifth wheeler not defending any vehicle. The pros and cons are of no interest to me as I have no skin in the game. If you happen to love the thing due to previous ownership ...well done.

                        ......................................................................................................................

The RAM 1500 is the shorter version in the range.

What safety equipment is fitted? What safety rating?

No ANCAP rating and theres no AEB, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert or adaptive cruise control. All of these features are now commonly found on utes costing less. The RAM 1500 Express is a unique offering in the Australian marketplace. If you can afford the near six-figure price tag, V8 thirst and youre not fussed about best-in-class safety, this big American pick-up offers a truckload of performance and sheer pose value that cant be matched.

$89,950

Based on new car retail price

These Australianised RAM trucks are built to a unique LHD export specification by parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in the US before being shipped to Australia, where the Walkinshaw Automotive Group (WAG) re-manufactures them in RHD.

This extensive body-off-frame process is performed on an ISO-quality production line at WAGs vast Clayton facility in Melbourne. This is done under contract to American Special Vehicles (ASV) owned by Ateco Automotive, which distributes these vehicles throughout Australia and New Zealand.

It's the only RAM Trucks importer in Australia officially sanctioned by FCA, resulting in a unique factory-approved vehicle that meets its strict OEM standards and is backed by a full factory warranty and national dealer network. Put simply, its as close as you can get to driving a brand new RHD version off the US production line.  My thoughts Yep close but not a new vehicle as removing the complete body to get at the steering is all at you cost in its price.

The dashboard and instrument layouts are logical and easy to use and front occupant comfort is good, even though the seats lack adjustment for lumbar support and base cushion rake.

Rear seat access is excellent and leg room, even for tall adults, is palatial with a wide and mostly flat floor with minimal transmission hump intrusion. Theres also ample head and shoulder room and three full lap-sash seatbelts and adjustable headrests.

However, the centre seats base cushion is considerably shorter than the two outer positions, to provide a cut-out to access the floor-mounted bottle holders. So theres virtually no under-thigh support, with all upper-body weight concentrated on your bum. And the back of your head often bumps the interior light protruding from the roof lining.

So centre rear seating is surprisingly poor, given that equal comfort for five should be a given in such a large and expensive vehicle.

With its 2620kg kerb weight and 3450kg GVM, our test vehicle has a relatively small 830kg payload rating. However, its massive 7237kg GCM (or how much it can legally carry and tow at the same time) is where the RAM 1500 does eat utes for breakfast, as it can legally tow up to 4.5 tonnes of braked trailer with a 70mm tow ball, which is one tonne more than its competitors.

However, keep in mind that up to 10 per cent of that trailer weight (450kg) is tow-ball download that must be included in the RAMs payload, which would leave just 380kg. And that could easily be used up by four adults alone without any luggage, so be sure to do your sums if towing this heavy.

We forklifted 710kg into the load tub which with our driver equalled a total payload of 810kg, only 20kg under its 830kg limit. The rear coil springs compressed a full 90mm resulting in a noticeable squat in the tail, yet with some useful travel remaining.

My thoughts. Yep thats 710 kg with just the driver.

dieseltojo wrote:

---

 

I wasn't trying to start a hate campaign against Ram. But you lean heavily on previous ownership. So what?  I had a HQ holden in the day and can not compare it to a Holden of today. Similarly I am sure you ram was built just once. Before you make light of the brand new Ram coming out here then being pulled completely apart and you being happy to have that done, It speaks little of you assurance to any sort of a guarantee.

If it was made right hand drive at assembly that is a totally different proposition. I mean if you are going to disassemble a vehicle why not ship it here un-assembled? Now that makes sense. But no, it comes out here fully assembled as a left hand drive and the complete front end including the motor come out.

and you think that is ok?... Consider this... the Factory warranty is on a fully imported truck that leaves the factory or original manufacturer, completely off the hook. The vehicle now belongs to the Australian arm of the dealership holding. Actually a separate company.

 

This off the web from a vehicle tester copied at the time of the rams into in Australia. Feel free to track down the info for yourselves.

All I was doing was giving an alternative vehicle to use with a fifth wheeler not defending any vehicle. The pros and cons are of no interest to me as I have no skin in the game. If you happen to love the thing due to previous ownership ...well done.

                        ......................................................................................................................

The RAM 1500 is the shorter version in the range.

What safety equipment is fitted? What safety rating?

No ANCAP rating and theres no AEB, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert or adaptive cruise control. All of these features are now commonly found on utes costing less. The RAM 1500 Express is a unique offering in the Australian marketplace. If you can afford the near six-figure price tag, V8 thirst and youre not fussed about best-in-class safety, this big American pick-up offers a truckload of performance and sheer pose value that cant be matched.

$89,950

Based on new car retail price

These Australianised RAM trucks are built to a unique LHD export specification by parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in the US before being shipped to Australia, where the Walkinshaw Automotive Group (WAG) re-manufactures them in RHD.

This extensive body-off-frame process is performed on an ISO-quality production line at WAGs vast Clayton facility in Melbourne. This is done under contract to American Special Vehicles (ASV) owned by Ateco Automotive, which distributes these vehicles throughout Australia and New Zealand.

It's the only RAM Trucks importer in Australia officially sanctioned by FCA, resulting in a unique factory-approved vehicle that meets its strict OEM standards and is backed by a full factory warranty and national dealer network. Put simply, its as close as you can get to driving a brand new RHD version off the US production line.  My thoughts Yep close but not a new vehicle as removing the complete body to get at the steering is all at you cost in its price.

The dashboard and instrument layouts are logical and easy to use and front occupant comfort is good, even though the seats lack adjustment for lumbar support and base cushion rake.

Rear seat access is excellent and leg room, even for tall adults, is palatial with a wide and mostly flat floor with minimal transmission hump intrusion. Theres also ample head and shoulder room and three full lap-sash seatbelts and adjustable headrests.

However, the centre seats base cushion is considerably shorter than the two outer positions, to provide a cut-out to access the floor-mounted bottle holders. So theres virtually no under-thigh support, with all upper-body weight concentrated on your bum. And the back of your head often bumps the interior light protruding from the roof lining.

So centre rear seating is surprisingly poor, given that equal comfort for five should be a given in such a large and expensive vehicle.

With its 2620kg kerb weight and 3450kg GVM, our test vehicle has a relatively small 830kg payload rating. However, its massive 7237kg GCM (or how much it can legally carry and tow at the same time) is where the RAM 1500 does eat utes for breakfast, as it can legally tow up to 4.5 tonnes of braked trailer with a 70mm tow ball, which is one tonne more than its competitors.

However, keep in mind that up to 10 per cent of that trailer weight (450kg) is tow-ball download that must be included in the RAMs payload, which would leave just 380kg. And that could easily be used up by four adults alone without any luggage, so be sure to do your sums if towing this heavy.

We forklifted 710kg into the load tub which with our driver equalled a total payload of 810kg, only 20kg under its 830kg limit. The rear coil springs compressed a full 90mm resulting in a noticeable squat in the tail, yet with some useful travel remaining.

My thoughts. Yep thats 710 kg with just the driver.

---

 Paul,you no doubt are aware that the chances of a Ram 1500 safely towing much more than about 3000kg ATM as a PIG trailer are zip,zero,zilch, nil,nada. The big problem is the lightweight 1770kg (recently increased to 1860kg,I believe?) rear axle.When I wrote to the Ram distributor,I received a list of specifications,which I studied in depth before replying to their email.Because I had provided all the detailed figures,based on wheelbase, TBO, GVM etc,I asked them to clearly explain to me how that car could safely tow much more than 3000kg ATM as a PIG  trailer. No reply as yet,but it was only 18 months ago. Big,luxurious,powerful it certainly is,but no chance of safely towing 4500kg ATM as a PIG trailer.Using the generally accepted 10% ball weight,you're stuck on around 3000kg ATM.This all was covered waaay back in a thread titled "Ram 1500",or similar,that you may be able to find,using "search".The BIG mistake people make when they waffle-on about being "Under my GVM" is that they haven't done individual axle weights. Cheers.

 

-- Edited by yobarr on Sunday 13th of June 2021 08:19:36 PM

KJB and Chris61 just out of curiosity what weights are your rigs imposing on your back axles, I do realize that you have not got the leverage that is normally applied by a conventional toe bar set up.
Landy

I remember the movie "A Long Long Trailer" where the 'rig' (I hate that American word!) had a two wheel dolly at the front. The van sat perfectly level with no downloading on the tow hitch. From other scenes in the movie, apparently a jockey wheel wasn't used either.

Maybe these dollys are fairly common in the US, which may possibly be why the Americans say their big trucks, like the Rams, are able to tow such high weights.

Some six months ago one of those dollys was for sale on eBay, at the time I thought others would come up for sale but haven't seen any since.

I wonder why the dolly system is not used more extensively? (Maybe the smaller diameter wheels are unable to handle the high speeds?)

Murray

bgt wrote:

---

The dolly would be a nightmare to back for many folks.

---

 Set your chair up with a beer in hand and watch the attempted reversings of many travellers setting up in a van park.....quite obvious any trailer to back up is a nightmare for many folks..

Not long ago we were in a showgrounds. The only site left was a back in. Along came a couple and we lost count of how many tries they. Eventually another camper offered to back in for them. Did in one go. 5th wheels are a different technique. So maybe thats a minus against 5th wheels.

yobarr wrote:

---

KJB wrote:

---

landy wrote:

---

KJB and Chris61 just out of curiosity what weights are your rigs imposing on your back axles, I do realize that you have not got the leverage that is normally applied by a conventional toe bar set up.
Landy

---

 The 75mm Ball  is directly above the rear axle of the 79 Series Land Cruiser and either approx. 340 Kg or approx. 380 Kg  depending whether I have my Motorbike (mini bike) on the rear of the van or not. I think, from memory, when fully loaded to travel the rear axle is 2100 Kg.(this includes a 3kva Genset , 180 L. fuel , 2 spare wheels , fridge etc. on the tray.

---

 That's a well set up unit,Kerry,and because it is a 79,at 2100kg rear axle weight,you still have 200kg to spare! And because there is no TBO,there is no risk of  the "Tail Wagging the Dog" .Well done.Cheers

---

 Thanks....my aim was to set up a Rig that was light, as short as possible ,easy to  maneuver  , good to drive , had all the mod. cons. but  was gravel/rough road capable but did not have the suspension and drive train operating at maximum capacity - hence less wear and tear , less overall running costs. The Land Cruiser is 16 years old and the van 15 years old and there is  no reason to even think of changing. We continue to enjoy and receive good overall value from our Rig.   

BGT: that happened to me once. Arrived at Mildura, went to the allotted site and tried to back in. There were rubbish bins almost in front and try as I might I couldn't get enough swing. A lady in the next van asked if she could help - I gratefully accepted and she did it in one go!

Luckily, I don't have much of an ego so I was thankful - I bought her chocolates as thanks.

Anyway, next morning I couldn't even get out of the site due to the rubbish bins in front. Then the penny dropped - I simply moved the bins! Don't ask why I didn't do that the night before (except that I thought the bins were on a raised slab).

Murray

diggerop wrote:

---

If you have trouble backing a 5th wheeler you will surely have trouble backing any caravan.

---

 Neither should be a problem and always longer is easier for the actual steering  providing you have clear access to the parking spot.  My Fifth Wheeler is short and the 4x4 has a larger turning circle so you have to have a couple of bites to "chase it " if short on room  but that is never a problem .Slow without radical steering adjustments  for anyone who is unsure......cannot get into trouble then.  

Um Wheres the 5th Wheeler gone ?

A question about suitable tow vehicles for 5th wheels. (And caravans for that matter).

A number of folks are using Iveco, Isuzu etc tugs. We are looking at moving from a motorhome to a caravan, or 5th wheel if possible. The question is - How usable are these 'truck' units for everyday use? ie are there comfort issues? Parking bay issues? Poking around tourist places?

I'm sold on the idea of using a Isuzu to tow a caravan or 5th wheel. Makes a lot of sense and eliminates the 'over loaded' issue. Iveco looks ok as well. So tell me how practical they really are. Or aren't.

bgt wrote:

---

A question about suitable tow vehicles for 5th wheels. (And caravans for that matter).

A number of folks are using Iveco, Isuzu etc tugs. We are looking at moving from a motorhome to a caravan, or 5th wheel if possible. The question is - How usable are these 'truck' units for everyday use? ie are there comfort issues? Parking bay issues? Poking around tourist places?

I'm sold on the idea of using a Isuzu to tow a caravan or 5th wheel. Makes a lot of sense and eliminates the 'over loaded' issue. Iveco looks ok as well. So tell me how practical they really are. Or aren't.

---

After looking at tow vehicles that fit My needs i have ordered an Iveco Daily E6 van. A C50 12cm 

I do not need a 4wd due to the things i will be taking with me.

Better equipped than most modern cars and suv"s. ALL the modern driver aids, again well in well in excess of 4wd specs.

I have ordered diff locks, and a few of the optional upgrade packs.

I will be towing a 3500 kg caravan.

Cost of the van, in the colour i wanted, in the spec i wanted. $84k

I do not know how much truth there is in this, but I have read somewhere that it depended on the position of the turntable in relation to the rear axle off the vehicle ( in front or behind ) whether or not it is classed as an articulated vehicle or not.

 

Thanks Yobarr...