Wait a little longer and maybe a Limited will show up!!

 

I believe you are correct that the lane departure has got to be done with the ultimate package on the platinum. I did not get the ultimate package because of the sun roof and I missed out on the lane departure. I do not think I missed out on anything else.
I can say that when you actually go to the dealer to order, have a printed list with you of what you want, just in case.

 

That is what I suspected. I've gotten used to the lane departure warning in my Denali and think I would miss it. I know my wife would as she gigs me every time it goes off. I have it set to only buzz my seat but she still knows.

I have a printed list I have given to a local dealer who has searched I think up to a 400 mile radius and no decent matches in a King Ranch or Platinum. Guess I'm too picky but I know what I want. One thing I'm kind of adamant about is the 3.55 rear end and most are 4.10. May need to get a little more flexible especially if the incentives go up, which I doubt. Anyway, looks like an 18 will be ordered as soon as they become available if the deal is right. Still haven't tried to work a deal but they have looked at my GMC. I'm thinking if I order I will have some time to try and sell it on my own like I've done before. It should be pretty desirable.

I wish I could get fleet pricing or X plan or whatever it is. The salesman said he would try to find a way to help me but not sure that will happen as I don't think I have anything that qualifies me. I can go thru Costco but the local dealer does not participate.

 

If your lucky maybe the lane depart will be a separate option on the 18s. I have never had it and wish I could have, but not and the cost of a sun roof.
I know I was under list, but I have bought a few vehicles from the same guy so I feel I did OK.

 

I wouldn't quibble too much about lane departure warning; these trucks can't correct you (our Lincoln will actually steer you back into your lane) but rather they only warn you. A dually fills up a lane pretty well. I'd find it annoying having it trigger all the time on narrower roads. And if the lane markings aren't bright the camera can't even pick them up half the time.

These trucks have plenty of other electronics not offered on a Denali that will keep you occupied. Blind spot monitor, adaptive cruise, collision warning with braking, auto high beam, rain sense wipers, keyless start and smart entry, etc.

 

Wow..it sounds like the truck is driving itself instead of the other way around!! Guess I'm still old school and rather do it myself...in fact I wouldn't even mind a 6 speed manual tranny!

 

I look at it this way. It is my responsibility to drive safely, period. The driver safety features are there to assist me when my human reaction time and attention are not where they should be and possibly avoid an accident. I for one appreciate the manufacturers offering this technology especially now that I'm in the elder citizen grouping getting ready to hit the big 70.

My wife's new Acadia has the lane keeping feature that steers it back into your lane if you drift over too far. It also has adaptive cruise. If the SD's had the lane keeping feature it almost could drive itself, at least on a nice highway with good lane markings. We've taken her Acadia on a few trips and if I set the cruise it is going to keep me a safe distance from the vehicle in front of me, no matter what speed, and keep me in my lane. I've told her I could take a quick nap as the car was essentially driving itself. She didn't go for it.

 

This is the only thing that could lure me over to a RAM truck...even with the horsepower and torque de-rates.

 

I somewhat disagree...I feel we're kind of "dumbing down" everything when we need all these nannies to basically drive the car for us. Not intended towards you, FishRanger, but for those folks who are not able to pay close enough attention to the road and other drivers and obstacles around them...for those who need adaptive cruise or lane keep or collision warning in order to be a safe driver...they should probably not be on the road. As we age, it is important to be aware that we may not be able to sustain many hours of driving without taking breaks and even taking a nap.

Government (well, maybe not this Admin) wants us to all be in vehicles with no steering wheel and no pedals. These "conveniences" are the first step in getting us acclimated. Personally, I enjoy physically driving a machine.

 

You might want to take a look at what speed you plan to climb mountains and how each gear performs at that speed before deciding. If I was getting a F350 DRW, I would get the 4.10 because the mountains that I climb are typically 70 MPH.

3.55 Climbing
65 MPH, 4th gear = 2828 RPM (no problem)
70 MPH, 4th gear = 3045 RPM (well past peak HP, likely would shift to 5th)
70 MPH, 5th gear = 2270 RPM (well below peak HP, ~ 365 HP (vs 440 for 2800)

4.10 Climbing
65 MPH, 5th gear = 2435 RPM (a little low, but plenty of headroom to pass)
70 MPH, 5th gear = 2622 RPM (no problem, near peak HP, can still pull to 75)
75 MPH, 5th gear = 2810 RPM (peak HP)

Now, I understand the passion people seem to have over their gear selection, and the argument that these trucks have plenty of power... I can tell you that my F450 4.30 gear CANNOT maintain the 70 MPH speed limit up sideling hill in MD at 26K GVW. (It's a few miles at 6% - 7%).

I start the hill around 70 MPH in 5th gear (right at the 2800 RPM peak HP), and slowly drop to 65 MPH during the WOT climb. This mean that I'm using every one of the 440 HP that my engine provides and it still won't hold the speed limit. (Don't get me wrong, this isn't a problem. I am just illustrating that, depending you what you are towing, you might not have that much "extra" power with the 6.7.

 

No offense taken. We are both in great health and are very active. We spend 6 weeks in Colorado every summer. We usually hike around 80 miles, not all at once, of course, and some of it above the timber line.

Anyway, I also agree somewhat with you. My point is technology has a short life span and must be replaced frequently with something bigger, better and faster that we are told we can't live without. Other wise companies like Samsung, Apple, etc. would die on the vine. Think of early cell phones and computers compared with what we have today. We gladly accept it and pay more for it even if our phone or computer is only a couple of years old. I don't see it as a nanny system as much as I do marketing and profit. People want these things and pay for them. Mostly I ignore the idea that my 2 year old Samsung S6 is woefully out of date but I can be convinced when I see a new technology actually works and maybe has some benefit.

 

You mention collision warning WITH braking??? Explain please. Mine sure doesn't. Not like other vehicles that have it. Sure the Adaptive cruise will initiate braking, but I have yet to have the collision feature initiate braking. The light comes on and warns of the imminent collision but no braking. Am I missing something?


Thx
Sam

 

Thanks for taking the time to do that. It is good information. We are mostly flatlanders but like I said above, do take a trip to Colorado once a year. Getting there is not too difficult for us coming from the east as we usually just go to Rocky Mountain NP. We tend to stay in one place with our fifth wheel and use the truck for running around. I guess my thinking is somewhat better fuel mileage with the 3.55 but it may not be enough to even matter. Like I've been told if you have to worry about mileage pulling a 16K fifth wheel you probably need to just stay home.

Maybe there is a reason that almost every truck I see on a dealer's lot has the 4.10. I always set the cruise for 67 mph when we tow. So, looking at the above do you think the 4.10 would work better with lower rpm's? Also, does lower rpm's translate into better fuel economy? I ask that wondering if I need to just stay home.

 

Yeah, I kind of screwed that up. Adaptive cruise will brake sharply if someone cuts you off. Collision warning just beeps and gives you the red lights. I believe it also "pre-charges" the brake pedal to give you maximum stopping power with less effort, but I could have been wrong about that.

 

I wouldn't read into the dealer lot axle ratios too much. The vast majority of folks on this board buying gas 6.2L trucks all state the 4.30 axle ratio is much superior to the 3.73 ratio. Yet almost all the dealer lot trucks have the 3.73 ratio.

Dealer managers place the orders for new trucks on the lot. They tend to, by and large, know very little about the vehicles they order. They simply order trucks optioned in a way that has proven to sell in the past.

On a dually, most folks are buying for maximum towing capacity. And the 4.10 delivers that maximum capacity, so it makes sense to order it. BUT...the 3.55 most certainly runs less RPMs just cruising down the road, loaded or empty. Yes, in the hills it will likely be slower and need to downshift more. But in reality, most of the driving we do is not up incredibly steep grades which are straining the engine. And for all that type of normal driving, the 3.55 will be turning less RPM, it will be quieter in the cab, use less fuel, and actually place less wear on the engine.

For example, if an F-350 dually with the 3.55 axle is turning 1600 RPM at 70mph (just guessing) than an F-350 dually with the 4.10 axle is turning 1800 RPM (again, just a guess). That means that for every minute you drive at that speed, the truck with the 4.10 axle ratio is moving its pistons up and down, operating its valves, and ultimately turning its crankshaft on its bearings 200 times more than the truck with the 3.55 axle.