Shop Stories – Page 2 – RoadTraveler.net

March 28, 2019December 23, 2020

Dodge Ram 2500 PSI

2014 Ram 2500 Tradesman EVIC display and TPMS waring light. Demanding 80 psi in the rear tires even if not necessary or optimal.

Oscar sent me a message asking the following TPMS question.

Question:

“I have a question involving the TPMS setting on my truck… I need to change the threshold on it; I have taken it to a dealer but they don’t want to do it.”

Answer:

Oscar,

My understanding is that dealers will not, or cannot, adjust TPMS thresholds on a Ram 2500s anymore, supposedly Ram removed their ability to make adjustments to the TPMS. That is what I was told by a local dealership when I asked, and they said they tried (I believe them), a few years ago. Idiotic, but even if dealers could still adjust the TPMS thresholds I’d not be surprised if most refused, given the highly litigious society we’ve created.

–

My very expensive solution more than a year ago was to buy a professional scan tool that allows me to reset the thresholds (and much more) on my two Ram Cummins 2500 trucks, though now there are cheaper options. Before buying the tool I just lived with the light on. (I frequently write light-truck tire evaluations, have several sets of wheels, and not all of them have TPMS sensors.)

Backgrounder and Addition Comments

UNDER-INFLATED TIRES ARE DANGEROUS

As many late model Dodge Ram 2500 truck owners have discovered, Ram Trucks eliminated the light-load TPMS driver-selectable feature after 2012, and began requiring maximum pressures in the tires regardless of the load to keep the TPMS light off.

2012 Ram 2500 with light load TPMS feature

That is fine if you are someone who uses your heavy-duty pickup to haul or pull big loads most of the time (the exception), but asinine if you are one of the many who moves big weight infrequently. Maximum pressure is required for safe operation with truly maximum loads, however is not required, and is actually detrimental, for moderate or minimum loads. The recommended and safe maximum pressure is also dependent on the specific tire size, rating, and construction. Tire and Rim Association load inflation charts exist for a reason.

Requiring the maximum PSI (or near max.) for both axles, particularly the rear, when loads are light is ridiculously idiotic and negatively impacts handling, traction, tire wear, and ride quality… but those things seem not to matter any longer; avoiding liability from irresponsible drivers is likely paramount.

2012 Ram 2500 tire pressure placard for heavy AND light loads

My preference for the standard G56, 6-speed manual transmission (lower engine power rating, and discontinued for 2019) behind my Cummins Diesel 6.7L engines means that both of my Ram 2500 trucks—a 2014 crew cab and a 2017 regular cab—are essentially the same as a 3500. The obvious exception being that late-model 2500s have rear coil springs instead of rear leaf springs. However, there is a TPMS system difference as well.

For those that don’t want to run maximum tire pressure with minimum loads, a strong argument can be made to choose a Ram 3500 over a 2500, because the 3500 TPMS system is informational, not a nagging nanny, and allows using lower pressures without a TPMS idiot light. At least that was how the 3500s pickups worked up to 2018, I don’t know how the 2019 or 2020 models function.

James Langan

February 26, 2019

Truck RV Battery Charging Isolator Wiring

James Langan

Resource links:

Hallmark Campers

CURT Manufacturing

WAGAN

February 1, 2019May 26, 2020

Dodge Ram rear coil spring overview

The factory rear coils on a Fourth Generation Dodge Ram Cummins 2500 are super easy to chnage. I removed them and added TUFTRUCK TTC-1225 heavy-duty replacement rear coil springs. Part one

James Langan

Resource: TUFTRUCK

November 5, 2018

Big Ass Fans AirEye Pedestal Fan

For years I’ve been casually looking for a good fan for my shop. There are many inexpensive ones, from under $100 to a several hundred, but less than a handful that look like they would last long or work well.

At the 2018 SEMA Show I found the Big Ass Fans display near closing time on Thursday. This particular fan, the AirEye Pedestal Fan, is $900 shipped (you assemble), and has a seven year warranty! I was impressed.

This Lexington, Kentucky, company also makes large industrial fans, like the one above in my video, which has a 15 year warranty (if I remember correctly).

Copyright James Langan/RoadTraveler

Resource:

Big Ass Fans

July 19, 2018July 23, 2018

Hand tools for truck travel, assembling a new kit.

It’s time to assemble a new traveling tool kit for the 2014 Dodge Ram Cummins crew cab.

Not so fast…changed directions before I got too far.

Starting with this. More to Come.

April 23, 2018

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) filling made easier

Filling the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tanks on my 2014 and 2017 Fourth Generation Ram/Cummins 2500 trucks is sometimes problematic, the DEF filler necks don’t swallow the reductant as well as fuel tanks gulp diesel. It’s worse on the ’17, which has an aluminum flatbed mounted with much less filler neck fall, however filling the DEF tank on the unmodified 2014 crew cab can also be a fiddly, messy hassle. Similar complaints in online forums confirm that plenty of folks have been challenged and frustrated by the design of pickup truck DEF systems.

The videos tell the rest of the story, but I may have found an inexpensive solution, a well designed DEF jug nozzle made by Motorcraft.

Motorcraft DEF filler on Amazon.com