2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger PHEV

[UncleDave]

I wonder why the Dodge boys, Ram or Stellantis, whatever you want to call them didn't select a more proven hybrid system where the gas engine can provide drive directly to the wheels, you know, like Toyota and Honda while the electric motors are there to help out as battery capacity is available while also allowing bursts of EV mode operation?
This would seem to provide efficiency gains over the diesel locomotive system this pickup uses.
Too difficult and expensive to develop?

I'm always interested to hear how the choices get made on these things.

We know in the case of providing at least a mechanical final that efficiency improves- in between that well.. hard to say.

Have we seen planetary cvt drivetrains scale to a 14K tow weight ?

With this system its entirely possible for a wide % of US commuters (80%) to commute/ grocery get on the battery solely and use gas only when towing.

 

[JeffKeryk]

But should aircraft be on that much of a different level? That's my point here, the licensing system is inadequate, but it is maintained at this level because the industry's current setup could not absorb the cost of making it sufficiently rigorous and the loss of human capital, in the form of drivers that don't make the cut, would be massive.

I posted transport trucks, but the same argument applies to straight trucks, which I also noted, which are just slightly smaller and with the trailer as part of the chassis and as you say here:

You could have gotten behind the wheel of, despite feeling you aren't qualified to be doing so.

Just like there's a difference between a Cessna and a helicopter, there's a difference between a pick-up and a Hino, and a Hino and straight frame, and between a straight frame and a day cab hauling hay and a day cab hauling hay and a full loaded sleeper hauling scrap steel. But even if you get into the licensing for B-trains, despite the considerable increase in liability, there is not the commensurate increase in licensing requirements and accompanied hours like there is with the different tiers of aviation licenses.

@OVERKILL we are respectfully at odds on this one. I believe in personal responsibility; I had no business driving that truck especially on busy 4 and 5 lane freeways. Mark offered to coach me on wide open roads in West TX, New Mexico, etc. It was not the right choice for me.

Just because regulations are inadequate is no reason to disregard them or my personal responsibility.
Years ago one of the filthy rich, highly accomplished VPs at work explained to me the studying and work to get her helicopter license. I respected her responsible actions.

 

[hemioiler]

I'm worried about pick-ups too, particularly the ones with like a 1 foot lift kit where their bumper is level with my windshield. What's your position on mall crawlers and the Carolina Squat?

What position should I have? It's their truck, their money, they pay their taxes on the road, if the truck meets all current safety standards then they're free to do what they want. Freedom, that's what separates us in the west.

My kind? Forget it, you aren't worth my energy.

The kind that wants to legislate everything to death just because they don't see the need for it.

I’m all for personal choice but these oversized illegally modded vehicles that share the same roads as me will encroach on my freedom when it hits me.

You share the road with bikers, cyclists, people walking on paths 2 feet away, your little golf will take out their legs just as quickly as you hitting a mack truck. And why don't legally govern all cars to 150 hp? That's all my parents needed, your little 4 wheel bubbles have far too much power, you might endanger someone else while you recklessly accelerate faster than needed.

Lets ban mustangs, camaros, corvettes, porches, anything that isn't basic and utiliarian. Gotta keep them kids safe right?

You will find many kids on reddit, an entire subreddit of children who would like to ban all cars too, your logic taken only one step further.

 

[Torrid]

What position should I have? It's their truck, their money, they pay their taxes on the road, if the truck meets all current safety standards then they're free to do what they want. Freedom, that's what separates us in the west.



The kind that wants to legislate everything to death just because they don't see the need for it.



You share the road with bikers, cyclists, people walking on paths 2 feet away, your little golf will take out their legs just as quickly as you hitting a mack truck. And why don't legally govern all cars to 150 hp? That's all my parents needed, your little 4 wheel bubbles have far too much power, you might endanger someone else while you recklessly accelerate faster than needed.

Lets ban mustangs, camaros, corvettes, porches, anything that isn't basic and utiliarian. Gotta keep them kids safe right?

You will find many kids on reddit who would like to ban all cars too, your logic taken only one step further.

You can’t tell me there shouldn’t be some form of limit. At minimum the lifted ones that don’t meet light level standards should be impounded. Nothing is being done about it. I rarely have an issue with anyone in a stock truck. I’m convinced it’s a person issue and not the truck itself. Then again when I drove a truck I didn’t jack it to the sky and full throttle from every light.

As far as speed goes that pales in comparison to weight. It’s already illegal to speed. That seems to be enforced though. Illegally modified trucks in flyover country? Come one, come all apparently.

It’s not seeing a lack of need. It’s about just being a responsible human. Cry about freedom all you want. You have to share this world with the people around you. Some feel the need to shove their “freedom” in your face. That takes from mine.

 

[4WD]

Well folks … there are some insanely fast cars on the road too …

 

[Torrid]

Well folks … there are some insanely fast cars on the road too …

Some of them are 6,000 lbs trucks.

 

[OVERKILL]

What position should I have? It's their truck, their money, they pay their taxes on the road, if the truck meets all current safety standards then they're free to do what they want. Freedom, that's what separates us in the west.

How can it possibly meet current safety standards if the bumper is a foot higher than it's supposed to be?

Operating on the relatively safe premise that these modifications are not legal, but lack of enforcement allows them to persist, which is the same reason there's no cracking-down on Chinese LED's and HID's fit in reflector housings, which are the furthest thing from DOT legal, do you think there should be more focus placed on enforcement?

Also, careful stereotyping the West, we just had handguns made completely illegal in Canada along with millions of hunting rifles because we are governed by a narcissistic man child who can't stand not being supported by the anti-gun lobby. My position on regulation is probably more nuanced than yours by virtue of living north of you, but do not confuse that with a desire to be a door mat.

 

[4WD]

Some of them are 6,000 lbs trucks.

Well - I live in a predominantly LT region - and the body shops are not full of trucks …

 

[4WD]

How can it possibly meet current safety standards if the bumper is a foot higher than it's supposed to be?

Operating on the premise that these modifications are not legal, but lack of enforcement allows them to persist, which is the same reason there's no cracking-down on on Chinese LED's and HID's fit in reflector housings, which are the furthest thing from DOT legal. Do you think there should be more focus placed on enforcement?

I don’t know how many of them are legal - but it seems nobody is willing to deal with it … or many other vehicle issues these days …
Our LEO’s are ate up with people and drugs …

 

[Torrid]

I don’t know how many of them are legal - but it seems nobody is willing to deal with it … or many other vehicle issues these days …
Our LEO’s are ate up with people and drugs …

I think that’s the problem. It’s not a priority.

Well - I live in a predominantly LT region - and the body shops are not full of trucks …

Probably because they got in an accident with a truck. It happened twice with me. Parts swap fixed the bumper both times. The other vehicle in one case, a Chrysler Town & Country was totaled. My total bill for repair of my vehicle was $75 for the accident that totaled the van. That seems a bit odd doesn’t it? To be fair I did not cause the accident and they failed to stop for standing traffic.

If I need to tow in the future I’ll deal with that. I’ll never daily a large vehicle again. It’s irresponsible and an absolute waste of resources.

 

[OVERKILL]

I don’t know how many of them are legal - but it seems nobody is willing to deal with it … or many other vehicle issues these days …
Our LEO’s are ate up with people and drugs …

Yep, precisely.

I'm not concerned about trucks on the road, we have one, and we've owned large SUV's. At stock ride height, they are compliant with all existing crash test regulations and safety standards, I'm far more concerned about the distracted transport truck on the 401 drifting lane to lane. I do however take exception to the vehicles I've described in this thread, operated by people demonstrating a flagrant disregard to legality, knowing there is no enforcement.

This idiot is a prime example:

LED's in reflector housings, can't see 100ft in front of the vehicle, bumper 12" above where it should be, massively compromised handling and braking, it's a rolling death trap and huge liability. These should be dragged off the road and impounded and if the owner wants it back, they need to pay to have it reverted to a state of compliance. The lack of enforcement simply encourages this sort of behaviour.

 

[hemioiler]

You can’t tell me there shouldn’t be some form of limit. At minimum the lifted ones that don’t meet light level standards should be impounded. Nothing is being done about it. I rarely have an issue with anyone in a stock truck. I’m convinced it’s a person issue and not the truck itself. Then again when I drove a truck I didn’t jack it to the sky and full throttle from every light.

The limit should be exactly as it is now. People want to lift their truck, that's their prerogative.

As far as speed goes that pales in comparison to weight. It’s already illegal to speed. That seems to be enforced though. Illegally modified trucks in flyover country? Come one, come all apparently.

You're changing the argument here. What we have on the one hand is a lifted truck driving responsibly, and the other hand we have a corvette with what, 600+ hp? Both have the potential to kill you when driven recklessly. Your argument wasn't about reckless driving, you wanted to ban trucks simply because they weighed more than some silly value in your head.

If you want to ban stuff because of the potential to put you in the hospital, that's a path you haven't thought through, because any car more than 150 hp is "overkill". You don't need more than 150 hp in a camry if everyone else has that same 0-60 or power to weight ratio. But you won't ban that because then your cars are just as guilty.

It’s not seeing a lack of need. It’s about just being a responsible human. Cry about freedom all you want. You have to share this world with the people around you. Some feel the need to shove their “freedom” in your face. That takes from mine.

This is about personal responsibility? Then take a chill pill and stay off the roads while the rest of society carries on. You do whatever you need to get through the day and leave the rest of us alone. Because I guarantee you I can find things in your life that are excessive, dangerous, or hard on the environment etc etc. The next guy will want to ban homes more than 800 sq/ft because of heating/cooling costs, excessive land use or whatever other stuff they drag up to support their silly assertions.

 

[Torrid]

The limit should be exactly as it is now. People want to lift their truck, that's their prerogative.



You're changing the argument here. What we have on the one hand is a lifted truck driving responsibly, and the other hand we have a corvette with what, 600+ hp? Both have the potential to kill you when driven recklessly. Your argument wasn't about reckless driving, you wanted to ban trucks simply because they weighed more than some silly value in your head.

If you want to ban stuff because of the potential to put you in the hospital, that's a path you haven't thought through, because any car more than 150 hp is "overkill". You don't need more than 150 hp in a camry if everyone else has that same 0-60 or power to weight ratio. But you won't ban that because then your cars are just as guilty.




This is about personal responsibility? Then take a chill pill and stay off the roads while the rest of society carries on. You do whatever you need to get through the day and leave the rest of us alone. Because I guarantee you I can find things in your life that are excessive, dangerous, or hard on the environment etc etc. The next guy will want to ban homes more than 800 sq/ft because of heating/cooling costs, excessive land use or whatever other stuff they drag up to support their silly assertions.

You’re clueless. I’m literally on the road for the requirements of my career. I could afford 5 trucks if the only goal was being a brick wall for the vehicle hitting me. Enjoy your life. I’m done conversing with you if you don’t understand what was said.

 

[4WD]

Yep, precisely.

I'm not concerned about trucks on the road, we have one, and we've owned large SUV's. At stock ride height, they are compliant with all existing crash test regulations and safety standards, I'm far more concerned about the distracted transport truck on the 401 drifting lane to lane. I do however take exception to the vehicles I've described in this thread, operated by people demonstrating a flagrant disregard to legality, knowing there is no enforcement.

This idiot is a prime example:
View attachment 188238
LED's in reflector housings, can't see 100ft in front of the vehicle, bumper 12" above where it should be, massively compromised handling and braking, it's a rolling death trap and huge liability. These should be dragged off the road and impounded and if the owner wants it back, they need to pay to have it reverted to a state of compliance. The lack of enforcement simply encourages this sort of behaviour.

I won’t drive my Rubicon over 70 mph - personal choice - so if I try to drive in the RH lane on the interstate - I’m tailgated by everything from Kia to Kenworth - but it’s the driver in all cases - they had plenty of room if they’d had head out of tail and started early -
Well, I just gave up and take the back roads … 3 hours vs 4 hours - but the stress is gone - I removed it …

 

[hemioiler]

How can it possibly meet current safety standards if the bumper is a foot higher than it's supposed to be?

Operating on the relatively safe premise that these modifications are not legal, but lack of enforcement allows them to persist, which is the same reason there's no cracking-down on Chinese LED's and HID's fit in reflector housings, which are the furthest thing from DOT legal, do you think there should be more focus placed on enforcement?

Also, careful stereotyping the West, we just had handguns made completely illegal in Canada along with millions of hunting rifles because we are governed by a narcissistic man child who can't stand not being supported by the anti-gun lobby. My position on regulation is probably more nuanced than yours by virtue of living north of you, but do not confuse that with a desire to be a door mat.

Yeah I'm well of how much JT has wrecked Canada, I'm north of the border. And that's exactly my point. They banned all kinds of guns because some people thought them unsafe, when in reality the people affected by these laws are just going about their day and harming no one. Criminals won't be stopped by these laws of course, it's all virtue signalling and pandering to his base, that's been his mode of operation from day 1.

There is a difference between LEDs that are improperly focused and failing regulation, blinding everybody as they go by. That's not at all the same as banning personal trucks simply because they weigh more than some arbitrary number which is what originally triggered this little discussion. In the first case you're literally affecting everybody and blinding them, in the second case it's just a truck going about his way and minding his business. If a truck is lifted, it would need his lights aimed further down, that goes without saying.

 

[hemioiler]

You’re clueless. I’m literally on the road for the requirements of my career. I could afford 5 trucks if the only goal was being a brick wall for the vehicle hitting me. Enjoy your life. I’m done conversing with you if you don’t understand what was said.

Let me quote your words back to you:

People shouldn’t be able to privately purchase 7,000lb+ vehicles for road use.

It’s dangerous that the average person can buy something that heavy. I have no problem with people towing that need to tow. People using them as grocery getters that are inattentive and aren’t tuned to stopping distances like someone that uses a truck to it’s potential literally shouldn’t be able to have them.

Do you need the link?

You don't even know what your arguing anymore because you're constantly shifting the goal posts and trying to squirm out of your illogical position.

That's OK if you want to move on, that's obviously for the best.

 

[4WD]

Yeah I'm well of how much JT has wrecked Canada, I'm north of the border. And that's exactly my point. They banned all kinds of guns because some people thought them unsafe, when in reality the people affected by these laws are just going about their day and harming no one. Criminals won't be stopped by these laws of course, it's all virtue signalling and pandering to his base, that's been his mode of operation from day 1.

There is a difference between LEDs that are improperly focused and failing regulation, blinding everybody as they go by. That's not at all the same as banning personal trucks simply because they weigh more than some arbitrary number which is what originally triggered this little discussion. In the first case you're literally affecting everybody and blinding them, in the second case it's just a truck going about his way and minding his business. If a truck is lifted, it would need his lights aimed further down, that goes without saying.

The worst headlights I face are the entry level F250/350 factory units - they shine east and west and not even that good to the north …

 

[Torrid]

Let me quote your words back to you:




Do you need the link?

You don't even know what your arguing anymore because you're constantly shifting the goal posts and trying to squirm out of your illogical position.

That's OK if you want to move on, that's obviously for the best.

No one shifted anything. Fine you want to do this? What do you tow? How much do you make per year? Do you make money towing or is it for recreation? If it’s for recreation does that thing have an engine and bound for the water? If so you’re doing better than 90% of the people out there. If you can’t afford to drive anything else but the truck as a daily because you bought the boat you’re property rich and money poor.

Responsibility is dead.

 

[4WD]

Yep, precisely.

I'm not concerned about trucks on the road, we have one, and we've owned large SUV's. At stock ride height, they are compliant with all existing crash test regulations and safety standards, I'm far more concerned about the distracted transport truck on the 401 drifting lane to lane. I do however take exception to the vehicles I've described in this thread, operated by people demonstrating a flagrant disregard to legality, knowing there is no enforcement.

This idiot is a prime example:
View attachment 188238
LED's in reflector housings, can't see 100ft in front of the vehicle, bumper 12" above where it should be, massively compromised handling and braking, it's a rolling death trap and huge liability. These should be dragged off the road and impounded and if the owner wants it back, they need to pay to have it reverted to a state of compliance. The lack of enforcement simply encourages this sort of behaviour.

Easy now - he identifies as a suburban coon hunter and needs to see the trees at night …

 

[hemioiler]

And just for the record, I absolutely loath bro trucks of any kind. I'll never own one, my truck is basically stock. But I fully support everyone's personal freedom to drive what they want, provided it meets current safety regulations and driven responsibly.