2014 Ram Laramie 3.0L Diesel 1/4 Mile/0-60?

[Tomfoolery]

It detects the presence of the trailer through resistance of the brake lights, which is why you can't use LED lighting on the trailer. Tried it. instability is detected by an electronic 3-axis accelerometer.

I don't like the sound of that. Most trailers these days seem to be made with LED lighting. I'd be curious to know what part of the circuit it's sensing, as you could always parallel a resistor to add some load and give the system something to sense, wattage rating depending on resistance value of course. But I would have thought LED lighting would have been a design consideration on the part of the auto makers.

[ROAD Soldier]

It detects the presence of the trailer through resistance of the brake lights, which is why you can't use LED lighting on the trailer. Tried it. instability is detected by an electronic 3-axis accelerometer.

I don't like the sound of that. Most trailers these days seem to be made with LED lighting. I'd be curious to know what part of the circuit it's sensing, as you could always parallel a resistor to add some load and give the system something to sense, wattage rating depending on resistance value of course. But I would have thought LED lighting would have been a design consideration on the part of the auto makers.

old issue fixed on new vehicles in various ways depending on brand. Ram uses a tow button you push to let the vehicle know it is towing something. It affects not only stability but how the engine runs and when the transmission will shift.

[Tomfoolery]

It detects the presence of the trailer through resistance of the brake lights, which is why you can't use LED lighting on the trailer. Tried it. instability is detected by an electronic 3-axis accelerometer.

I don't like the sound of that. Most trailers these days seem to be made with LED lighting. I'd be curious to know what part of the circuit it's sensing, as you could always parallel a resistor to add some load and give the system something to sense, wattage rating depending on resistance value of course. But I would have thought LED lighting would have been a design consideration on the part of the auto makers.

old issue fixed on new vehicles in various ways depending on brand. Ram uses a tow button you push to let the vehicle know it is towing something. It affects not only stability but how the engine runs and when the transmission will shift.

Would you know if the Dodge SUVs also use such a system? I would guess they would, as they're likely a pickup truck with cab extended to the back, but I have to replace my Highlander in the fall, and I'm doing research now. It's down to a 4Runner, Durango, and Grand Cherokee, all of which I believe have some sort of trailer stability system, which I definitely want since it's mature technology at this point, and seems to garner approval from everyone who has it.

[raycarlson]

The Mopar version of veh stability control does not care weather you have a trailer or not... it uses the same parameters to control sway based on side to side acceleration of the rear end regardless if you have anything in tow. It is just an advanced evolution of the anti-lock braking system in all vehicles, sway is detected by accelerometers and wheel speed sensors,and the brake controller applies brakes at one or more wheels to counter the sway or wheel slip, really not that complicated at all, that's why the Feds have mandated it for all vehicles, once all vehicles had computer assisted anti-loc brakes this was just the natural next version of the computerized braking system, also combined with traction control, instead of having limited slip differentials the vehicle uses the braking system to apply brake on spinning wheel which directs torque to non-spinner.Not sure why LED's affect Benz products but I do know that Mopar vehicles(jeeps,Rams) do not care what you use on the trailers your towing, I have nothing but LED trailer lights and have never experienced any abnormalities or electrical gremlin's in day to day use.

[yukonbob]

Ford has the same. Trailer sway is part of the electronic stability / roll over control. You can lock that out for 4x4 ing. The tow/haul mode is selectable and also does the same thing. The tow/haul is only required towing in hilly areas as it does use more fuel with the lower shifts ect. The one other thing I like it uphill assist. It automatically applies brakes when starting on a hill or boat ramp until sufficient power is produced to move you forward. So no roll back

[mastreb]

According to the Benz forums, using incandescent bulb resistance to detect trailers is a common problem on European vehicles. I suppose that method is more likely used there. My SUV is a 2011 (and built in Georgia), so it can't be that old of a problem.

I found this out the hard way when I rewired the trailer to LED, then couldn't get it to detect, and wound up taking the LED parts back and getting regular incandescent lights. I suppose I could have just put a resistor across the plug, but I didn't have the tools with me to do that on the road.

[ROAD Soldier]

Funny thing about all these new mandated safety, traction, anti-lock, and tire pressure gismos it sure has driven up the prices in a short amount of time. I am paying as much for this 2014 fully loaded as I can do to curb weight regulations Ram truck as I did for my wife’s top of the line 2004 Jeep Liberty and my 2003 top of the line Jeep Rubicon combined. Yep folks this is what happens when the nannies take over. Luckily the 3.0L Ecodiesel has the word Eco in it to temporary keep those nannies happy. I am buying it for the Torque and money saving in fuel MPG. I could careless if it created its own driving hazard behind it by causing everyone to turn on their fog lights in the middle of a bright sunny day so they could see through the black smoke.

Now I suggest to everyone to by a diesel now why you can still fool those nannie environmentalists, who are also in support of everything else on the left and buy something with severe torque now before you cant. The next absolutely big thing those nannies are going to make mandated is on its way and it is anything but full of torque. See video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWa4xh6Ui58#t=528

[seahouse]

Although it was my thought as well, I suspect it involves more than adding a load or resistor too, as the trailer wiring becomes part of the car's logic circuit, and all the LED's switching might interfere with it. Of course, unless the resisitor is higher in value than the incandescent lights were, the advantage of the low current draw of LED's will be lost – you'd just be producing heat instead of light. Sigh - you can't just add wires to cars anymore for trailer lights – a logic module is required in the circuit.

The stability control that most cars have should not be confused with the trailering stabilty control; the two are separate and distinct from each other. The trailering stability control will be part of a trailering package, and some will apply the trailer's brakes (electric) for example.

Yeah ESC mandatory on all vehicles now. Haha – it used to be mandatory on certain individual unstable vehicles (because of steering-induced single vehicle rollovers). They would have been taken off the market had ESC not come along in a timely manner to the rescue (mid-2000's).

My wife and a salesperson wanted us to take one such vehicle for a test drive a few years back. Of course I didn't want to waste my time on a vehicle that was “artificially stable”, when there were other better choices that were inherently stable. I won't offend anyone if I don't mention the vehicle. It has since been redesigned and is now “inherently” stable (even without the ESC on).

[yukonbob]

The stability control that most cars have should not be confused with the trailering stabilty control; the two are separate and distinct from each other. The trailering stability control will be part of a trailering package, and some will apply the trailer's brakes (electric) for example.

Pretty sure the trailer sway works with or without tow/haul engaged as manual suggests takin out of tow/haul if not hilly to improve gas mileage. I'll have to look again to be sure. Didn't notice the trailer in or out of tow/haul.

[seahouse]

Yeah that might be the case, Bob, I'm not familiar with it.

I'm referring to vehicles that are not specifically equiped with the towing sway control, but are equiped with the standard stability control. The standard stability control doesn't provide the same benefits for trailering as a trailer-sway-control does.

Though I'm sure it's better than nothing; I have not seen a manufacturer suggest turning stability control off (though maybe some do that I don't know about) while pulling a trailer.

[ROAD Soldier]

Well I will definitely test all aspects of the vehicle when I get it. Just got a notification it should be shipped in about 10 days. I would think that tow haul mode would make the transmission shift into a higher gear slower to maximize the RPMs for power. However with the 3.0L Diesel torque maximizing at 2000 RPM I can only imagine there isn’t much difference between the software with or without tow haul on. If there is a difference I think it would only be to protect the transmission. Unlike the engine in your vehicle the automatic transmission runs cooler at higher RPMs because the fluid pump circulates the fluid more efficiently. Hence it is a good idea to be in tow haul mode in hilly areas to ensure you transmission is not in too high of a gear causing it to run slower and not circulate the fluid fast enough to cool it.

[ROAD Soldier]

Would you know if the Dodge SUVs also use such a system? I would guess they would, as they're likely a pickup truck with cab extended to the back, but I have to replace my Highlander in the fall, and I'm doing research now. It's down to a 4Runner, Durango, and Grand Cherokee, all of which I believe have some sort of trailer stability system, which I definitely want since it's mature technology at this point, and seems to garner approval from everyone who has it.

It comes down to price, needs, and comfort well at least between the Durango and Grand Cherokee. Toyota has not refreshed there products yet so they are currently behind in technology which I suspect that will change shortly. The Durango top of the line model fully loaded will be about $6000 cheaper than the Grand Cherokee Summit model that has the Diesel but the Diesel will save you money in the long run if you plan on towing a lot. If you want air suspension and plan on going off road no other SUV of any make or model comes anywhere near the new Grand Cherokee body design, 4WD system and all around off road capabilities. If you have a larger than normal family the Durango carries 7 people the Grand Cherokee only 5. If you want the comfort of air suspension Grand Cherokee has this option and Durango does not. All other mandated federal government options are the same for towing and stability.

[Tomfoolery]

I believe the Dodge PU has the same Italian Eco Diesel as the Grand Cherokee (even the pictures look the same, aside from the plastic cowl on top), so I'm curious as to how it performs when towing. The admiral would have me sleeping in the 'bed' of the PU if I brought one home (long story goes with that ), and an SUV would be more useful for me anyway, with the dog and luggage and other stuff. I have a small trailer I use for dirty and nasty stuff anyway.

I'll be watching to see how this vehicle, and especially the engine, works out for you, as I'm still interested in the Grand Cherokee diesel. Have to make a choice this coming fall.

[raycarlson]

Correct, once Fiat fully owned Chrysler they went with their Italian partners instead of the original plan of using the new cummins 5.0 V-8 diesel. Now Nissan and Toyota will be utilizing the cummins in their product line and jeep and half-ton Ram will get the little V-6 Motori Italian diesel of 3.0 L, . I would monitor one or two of the popular jeep or grand Cherokee forums for several months before making a purchase as you will see what defects and problems the new GC's are having, as they already have consistently bad electrical defects and with the addition of the new 8 speed auto trans and new diesel I would expect there will be quite a few bugs that they haven't adequately engineered fixes for in the rush to get it out on the showroom floor.One problem I'm sure they will have is with reliability issues with that light duty automatic trans behind the diesel, no way will it survive very long with a steady diet of 500 ftlb of torque being sent thru it, worse even if towing heavy you will see the little 8inch differentials failing too.

[ROAD Soldier]

It is the same diesel between the Grand Cherokee and the Ram Pickup except the oil pan and the exhaust routing for better ground clearance on the Grand Cherokee. I don't know if it changed the oil capacity or not. However since it has been in the Grand Cherokee for over a year now that is the forum you would probably want to check for any issues that may have a risen. I don't know any of yet except on the P/U in 2013 there was a recall for a software issue on the electronic stability control (ECS). In other words a geek issue nothing mechanical. There is one thing I am now wondering about is that I ordered the old anti slip rear differential technology with this truck which, makes me wonder if that is going to cause any issues when working with the new ECS technology Now as far as the transmissions there are two 8 speed trannies for the Ram 1/2 ton trucks. One weaker one for the 3.6L Penastar and one stronger one for the Hemi and Ecodiesel.