Here is an update on our fleet. We have been getting a lot of new trucks in. Ram ProMasters and HDs for the truck rental operation and Ram Classics, DT Big Horns and Laramies for our daily rentals. The big surprise was getting in a pack of Rebels. One of them sits in an executive spot at the base. I have no rational reason to own Ram Rebel, but I want one badly.
This morning I parked at base in the worker drone's lot at the operations base, as is my usual custom. (I don't get a reserved spot with Rebel company vehicle to park it in.

) I went to the lot where the cars ready to be placed back into operations are available to drive to the rental operations at the airport. Most of the vehicles are pulled for routine maintenance and returned quickly, but also the new vehicles are prepped and then put in the line with the ones returning from maintenance. I got to finish the rest of my journey to work in a brand new Ram 1500 Quad Cab with Laramie trim. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it.
The big surprise with this Ram was the message on the dash that said stop/start system is not ready. I'm used to to seeing it on other vehicles and having Lincolns die in the car wash by barely touching the brake pedal, but I've never seen that message on a Ram truck. First of all most stop/start systems don't work on a cold motor. That's why there is a message saying S/S isn't available. I began to suspect that I had a Ram with the BSG. I popped the hood when I got it to the cleaning station and there was a Hemi with the BSG as I suspected.
The Hemi with the BSG is very smooth and quiet. The tach read somewhere between 1,300 and 1,400 RPM at 60 mph. Ram people have stated the mild hybrid system only works below 2,000 RPM. I was able to hold 1,300 RPM while cruising and there was no drama. The journalists that complain the system doesn't work should go back to driving school. The truck is a very relaxed highway cruiser. The Ram was also very polite in the parking garage. The BSG is not jerky-jerky like the small Jeeps, and most other brands. The system needs very little throttle input and moves easily. Going up the ramp was the exact opposite of the Ford EcoBoost, 10-speeds. I have driven enough F-150 Fords with the off-road package to know from the dash readout that our ramp is a 7% incline. I drive up 3 stories. Where as the Ford goes up in fits and starts, the Ram quietly moves along at 1,200 RPM. Rams without the BSG require a delicate touch because the tires will break loose with any throttle input and they can't handle the incline at 1,200 RPM. The ramp surface is usually wet since the vehicles are coming out of the car wash.
Someone else also had a new Ram at work today. They backed over the spikes at one of the gates and ruined the left rear tire. Never trust the backup camera.