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Comments
I'm just about ready to order . . .there aren't any 2x4's w/ extended cabs out here.
I'd wait until summer, but I'm not sure my current LeSabre will. I think the tranny is starting to slip.
Anyway, I appreciate your help.
What exactly does Dodge mean when they say "Maximum Engine Cooling" and "Maximum Power Steering Cooling" in the HD Service Group for the 99 Dakota? Bigger radiator, hoses, etc?? What are the benefits over the "standard" cooling that comes with the truck? I live in Southern California and occasionally venture out to the Desert, though this won't be the main use for the truck. It will mainly be used for city (freeway) driving with light to medium loads and no towing. I do plan to keep the truck for a long time and am concerned about long-term reliability. Do I need HD Service?
The heavy duty service group is required for maximum towing capabilities, however if you think you may tow only occasionally and are concerned about overheating you may want to invest in this option....the HD group comes with max engine cooling)larger radiator) trans oil cooler(automatic only) larger output alternator, larger battery and a skid plate for your transfer case(4x4 only)....Thanks for the question.....T REX
A NEW DODGE RAMCHARGER IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO. I
KNOW THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY MADE IN MEXICO BUT NOT IMPORTED. ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE STORY IS? ANY
CHANCE THAT THE CUMMINS WOULD BE AN OPTION? THANKS
Do you have any info on the six speed manual trans. Several sites have posts that indicate a problem with a bearing in the trans is the hold up and no quick fix is anticipated. The other rumor is that there are so many orders that they can't fill them. Any idea when the 6 speed will come off restriction?
Thanks
What's the scuttlebut on the upcoming Presidents' Day sales? Any dealer incentives going to be offered?
My new Ram is due in on Monday and I was hoping to take advantage of any rebates or incentives that may become available. As of now, there's nothing being offered on the 99 Rams.
Matt D
I will be ordering a '99 2500QC ISB 6 Sp LSD3.54
and was wondering, can the AHD pkg be ordered with the ISB, and if it can, then is the DHG pkg. a duplicate?
AHD HD Snow Plow Prep Group (4WD)
Includes computer selected springs, auto trans oil overheat light and shift-on-the-fly transfer case. Front clearance lights (LNC) are recommended. REQUIRES ADJ, AHC and EML.
DHG Shift-On-The-Fly Transfer Case (4WD)
ADJ-HD Service Group (Included w/ISB)
AHC-Trailer Tow (Will be ordering this with truck)
EML-5.9L gas (this is REQUIRED?)or does that mean a minimum power requirement.
If my homework is correct, when the snowplow prep group is ordered, it includes the NV241 HD right? Therefore, the DHG option can be omitted?
Am I way off base here, or in the neighborhood?
I'm also aware of the delays w/the DSA option and the six speed.
Mike
The Snow Plow Prep package is not available with the Cummins AND the Quad Cab because the weight of the cab and the engine leaves no room for the weight of the plow. If you buy a plow, you will max the front GAWR.
A local dealer has a '98 Dakota SLT in stock. It has everything I'm looking for (ext. cab, auto, a/c) and a lot more. He's agreed to a price $1,000 under invoice.
I don't know how to value a 'new' vehicle that will be a year and a half old as soon as I drive it off the lot.
Bottom line, is this a good deal?
When I checked Edmund's pricing for a used vehicle, a few of the items this truck has have actually risen in value.
Any input would be appreciated.
MJNAK
Correct, the diesel can have the plow package with the regular cab. The only 2500/3500 Quad Cab engine that is available with the factory plow prep package is the 5.9L V8.
I think I'll be biting the bullet within a day or so.
Just to confirm, the truck has about 70 miles on it. I think that qualifies as 'new' (I don't think you can get a vehicle w/ -0- miles).
Anyway, I appreciate your thoughts.
Once registered after purchase, an owner must sell it as used. Even if it was not driven (however you would manage this.)
Papers, Papers, Papers. Shuffle, Shuffle, Shuffle.
I expect that it would have to have been six months since a ’98 would have been delivered to a dealer.
Was there a reason that it was not available for sale before? Shipment damage? Recall repair with back order of parts?
Dealer Salespersons: How does this compute for you? If I found a situation like this, what questions should I be asking? Are those red flags I see waving? Has the dealer been to “proud” of his trucks to let them go for a price anyone wanted to pay?
depends on the state - some states allow stock to be used for test drives and remain new, others require demos to be registered by the dealer, then sold as used (i.e., classed as a company car). Check with your local DMV for the rules in your sttae. If it's only 250 miles, I wouldn't worry too much, but 1000 or more, I'd stay away unless there was a substantial (used car) discount..
P.S Im planning to put timbrens on the front axle.
I've got them on my truck now, and they work great, for putting heavy loads on the front end. They suspensin barley sinksdown at low.
Timbren- a round rubber suspension, about 5inches tall, 3inches wide.
Thanks for the advice. You said the transmission could overheat, and engine air blockage causing fluid to over heat. How does having a quad cab do all that. That would mean the regular cabs would be facing the same problems. If my engine did breakdown, they should fix it under warranty. having the extra weight on the front end of a quad cab, should have no affect on the engine. It only affects the suspension components. As well with the tranny. But I doubt that the engine will ever have any problems during the warranty period any way. And as for the tranny, if I buy the allison, I shouldn't have any trouble there either. But Im glad to here that all else is coverd still under warranty. Im not woried about the brakes, because they only have a 12000 km warranty anyway.
Dodge trucks suspensions are one of the best in my books, and adding a plow, I know it won't hurt the suspensio one bit. Just yesterday we went to the home depot, which from our place is about and 1 hr. We went to buy water softner salt, and alot of it, since it was at a great price, and we did not want to come back and fourth. We took our 2500 reg. cab 4x4 ram to get it. When we asked the teller to ring up 40 40KG bags of salt, she was shocked and had to ask two more times. Within minutes there were 5 employees including the manager, amazed by the amount of salt we had asked for. We told them we have a 3/4 ton pick up, that we were going to take it home in. So they got the first 30 bags on one skid and fork lifted it on to the back half of the box. The truck sank about 5-6inches, and the fork lift guy says this is way to much weight to put in the back of this truck.
We told him to do it any way. Then they tell us that we should go drop off what we have and come back for the rest, we said no just put the rest in now. So he put the last 10 bags in and the truck didn't go down any more, since the timbrens were maxed out. Ounce the timbrens are maxed, you can load as much weight on until your axle snaps, but it won't go down any further. There were five home depot employess just amazed at the amount of weight in the truck, and could not beleive that it was holding the weight. were talikng about 3200lbs in the back of a 3/4 ton. any way the truck pulled the weight like it wasn't almost there, I even got the truck going 90mph with the that weight, glad I didn't have to do any emergecy stopping. My point is even with 3200 pounds on the axle, it didn't break. So I don't think that puting a plow that weighs a measly 950lbs+engine 1500-2000lbs,+ cab, 500lbs will damage the front end. It will be heavy, but not to the extreme of axle snapping.
P.S Should I tell the dealer that I m am going to put a plow on the truck, or not?
little engineering lesson.
Your axle won't snap. You CAN'T snap it, not just sitting in the parking lot, anyway. i dare you to try. pickup axles are way overdesigned and can carry static loads of ~5-6 times the trucks rated weight. that shouldn't impress you very much.
So what do you do when you overload? you overstress the suspension. your suspension goes thru extreme stress cycles. it will do internal damage to the material, not damage you could see, but damage such as reduced stiffness and reduced ductility, things that are crucial for a suspension. same for the axle you put the axle tubes at dynamic loads that aren't meant to cycle. kinda lock a fat guy sitting on a diving board. if he just sits there, it will last forever, but if he bounces up and down on it, it will eventually break.
Same goes for the tires. axle hubs take lot of abuse.
Materials on trucks are designed within their endurance limit, which means under normal stresses, the part will never fail. When you overload this level of stress, you move into a finite life region, which simply means, your clock is ticking. It may not break this time, it may not break next time, but the higher the overload you put on a material, the faster the countdown to failure. you may overload your truck successfully for 3 years, then that fourth year you put 500 lbs of feed in the back, and something snaps. Why? because you used up that parts finite life by overloading it.
Its real simple. If you use your vehicle within the company's limits, you never reach that finite life region, and it should last forever.
Remember, you loaded the rear leaf springs with that salt - the front coils need a higher spring rate to support pushing snow around.
Ok who asked about the hp on the 4.7??? I know the 4.7 is 235 hp on the grand cherokee so if it stays the same it will be 5 more hp than the 5.2 and get better mileage......
Oh and if somebody still wants to know about old inventory....we have about 8 assorted minivans on our lot still that are "new" 98's....and we also have 2 competition neons there also that are "new" 98's....and that can be because of many reasons....in the case of the neons...a sales manager that did our ordering and is no longer with us made some rather dumb orders last year...and by dumb I mean.....ordering a competition pkg neon with all the bells and whistles but the smaller of the two engines....well whos gonna spend 17 grand on a neon with the small motor when you can get an R/T for the same $$$?????
anyways...same with the vans we have....all 22t packages...4 cyl air and nuthin else......for a thousand more you get power locks the driverside slider tinted glass and a v-6....so yes there are some 98's still around...lol
This topic is getting more interesting every day...................T REX
Cdean, my truck is equipped with timbrens, this rubber suspenson is designed to carry enormous amounts of weight, up to 12000lbs, which not even i would attempt to load. My truck will only sink 5-6inches maximum, when loaded down, at this point the weight is all on the timbrens. The timbrens are suported by a 1 inch plate which it sits on. So when I start driving the truck with the load e.g with the salt, there still is alot of suspension travel left, as the timbren has enough give for the suspension to travel up and down 3inches or so. Likewise in the front. I my truck now, my timbrens are always touching the plate, even when the plow is off. So when the plow is on it only sinks a inch or so, leaving a lot travel room for the suspension. i know it is harder on the axle, but as you said its rated 5-6 times more, and adding the extra weight of the plow on the diesel won't affect the suspension travel all that much. I don't really know how to expalin this, without pictures, but mabye if I get a chance i'll take some pictures of the suspension and scan them through.
I have ever seen a white ram sport, with a blue strip running from the grill upto the top, looks very sharp, it has the special star wheels too. I found those wheels on dodge website, and want to ask you how much do you charge for upgrading those wheels(wheels are $700+) and painting?
Thanks in advance
Because if you do you won't find it. Dodge is discontinuing the ram sst for the 99 model year. Look for a R/T version probably next year, or the half way through 2000. I know for sure there will be a R/T ram, just not sure exactly when.
if you want a ss/t you will have to buy used. Not sure on price, but it isn't all that much more. You get the 5.9l gas, or diesel in some up here in canada, the stripes, dual exaust, a headturning exaust note ( Ive have heard it and it's real bass-y), and chrome star wheels, SST badging, and sport tuned suspension. The R/T Ram will have the replacement of the 5.9l magnum, most likley the 5.5l Powertech, and sport tuned suspension, and who knows what else, but it have to be good, to compete against the lighting, and 6.0l gm sport truck when it comes out. Should make for one hec of a comaprsion.
I do have the new brochure, and there is no SST listed. however, I have seen two in different colors recently, so thought it's a brand new version.
I am currently in the market for a new Ram p/u. I have gone to 3-4 local dealers and have yet to find a truck that even comes close to what I want. All the salespeople I have spoke with said that they could order it from the factory though. My question is, how long does it usually take on average to receive it if I order it? Also, do I have to pay for it upfront or place a deposit? Thanks for any and all help.
I did a factory order through my dealer at $99 over invoice and had no hassles. The only problem is I ordered a 99 QC w/ cummins and six speed. The six speed is on hold indefinitly. I am at 8 weeks right now with no build date in sight. If you order the 5 speed or automatic they are quoting 8 weeks. A friend got his in 10 weeks.
Dealer: http://www.rcdodge.com
I just took delivery of my Ram 1500 SLT 4x4 quad cab on Friday, 2/19. The order was placed on 1/5. You only have to give them a deposit when you order. Mine was $200. However, when you negotiate the price before ordering, see if you can get them to put in writing that the quoted price won't change at delivery. I was able to get that done, so I didn't have to worry about the manufacturer changing the price before delivery and then being told that I'd have to pay more than I'd expected.
I'd like to buy a Cummins, but Dodge doesn't sell a SRW one ton. Is there an e-mail address at Dodge or DaimlerChrysler that you can give me, so that I can try to convince someone to build a SRW 3500? Or, is there a SRW 3500 in the works? Thanks.
Sorry, I didn't look to see who started this discussion group until after I posted my message to you.
Trex99 and everyone:
Please see #146. Does anyone have answers? Thanks.
Try this address. I wrote them back in May with a "wish list" for the next generation Ram, and got a very nice response from this office about two weeks later.
Jeep/Truck Operations
DaimlerChrysler AG
800 Chrysler Drive East
Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326
Interesting side note - I signed my letter "KC Jackson" as I usually do, but the letter was returned addressed to my full name, meaning they actually looked me up in the database to see that I was a Ram owner, and thus took me seriously.
Trex, How much power will the 5.7l powertech, have? hp, and torque?
All they said was they had begun work on the next generation Ram in the spring of 1998, so under the usual 3 year development, expect it to show up in either summer or fall of 2001 as a 2002 model. Since then, however, Jeep/Truck has expressed interest in developing a chassis competitive with the Ford Super Duty line, so that may show up a year later in HD 3/4 ton, 1 ton, and hopefully 1-1/4 ton (class 4) trim.
Thanks. I'll write a letter and let you know what I hear back.
Thanks
Thanks
Still debating the purchase of a Dakota Reg Cab 2WD with short box. I'm getting conflicting anwswers to my questions from dealers. Some of Dodge's own literature seems to contradict info on its website. Can any dealers on this list help?
1. Does the Tire and Handling package include the rear stabilizer bar? Or is it only included in 4WD? Does it include wheel flares?
2. Does the Sport + package require the 5.2l V8? Is it included in the price of the package?
3. Does the SLT package include tilt/cruise? Or do I have to pay for the option?
4. Are all the colors available in all trim grades? Dodge website does not include Light Driftwood Satin Glow and Metallic Red in its listings for Sport. Some dealers say no problem, some say impossible. Which one is it? What about two-tone paint schemes (like SST Rams had)?
5. What exactly is included in the Trailer Tow Group and can it be ordered with 2WD Reg Cab Short Box? Would you recommend towing a 2200 lb car with anything other than the V8?
I know these questions are answered in various places (lists/internet sites), but several of the sources contradict each other. I need to know from someone who can actually order this stuff.
Thanks