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2000 Dodge Ram - II
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I actually got my partial VIN number today. According to the seventh digit ('J'), it looks like it is being built in St. Louis, Jackson instead of Mexico. Where's Jackson?
-ddd
You got me on the Jackson thing, I know the plant is in Fenton MO. 10 minutes from St. Louis, maybe it is Jackson County, I will check my MO. county map at work. You should see all the trucks they load out of there when you drive by, it is right next to the I-44 Freeway. I have compared Super Duty prices here in MO. and they are very comparable to Ram prices i.e. top of the line Ram Sport, Cummins, QC, 6spd. Dually loaded $39,000, top Super Duty Dually, PS, Extra Cab, loaded, $39,000. It depends on what part of the country you buy your truck, no mark-up here on prices, MSRP is it, then you debate the price down. I know both dealers very well here and they don't car jack you on prices.......Bill
-ddd
the 5.9cummings is rated for an average life before major work at 300000mile's the powerstroke was rated at 250000miles thats a fact!!
as far as the cummings in the F650 and up trucks ...is only one engine thats offered. They also use the 7.3powerstroke and the caterpillar3126B diesels! The cummings diesel is no more exspensive than the powerstroke..I do think the cummings is the best of the two(not by much),but the navistar is more flexable and will do more work.The cummings is an very go engine! As far as the dana80...Ford uses some dana80's but they also use the better spieser differental's.Also again,comparing the ram to the superduty.I found the other things...rear wheel disc brakes(dodge still uses drum's),aluminum wheels(instead of wheel covers on the ram)the cheep looking dash (on the ram),the overall fit
and finish of of the ram and please tell me why are the whell well's so large?It's ok on 2wdrives but not on the 4wheeler's!
One more thing on the diesel's Ford is introducing an all new naivistar 6liter v8 diesel,that said to be the most durable diesel ever to be placed in a lightduty truck in 2003..
and a 4.5liter v6 diesel by navistar coming out in 2002,the v6 will go in full size SUV's and F150's...But anyway i think the new RAM (aka POWERWAGON)coming in 2002 is going to be really cool truck!what do you think?
davidb10: The Powerwagon and the RAM will remain as separate vehicles. I am not sure when the Powerwagon is due to be released. The RAM is getting redesigned in 2002. The Powerwagon I saw at the Montery Historics was a very intimidating piece of machinery. It was powered by a cat! I really wonder how much will make it over to production, however. As far as your comments concerning the Ram, as I previously mentioned, we would have nothing to discuss around the campfire if we both drove the same vehicles.
-ddd
Q: Why would someone who owns a Powerstroke surf a Dodge Ram Forum?
A. Deep down inside he/she knows the Cummins (not Cummings) is a far superior engine, and is afraid to come out of the closet and admit it.
B. Likes to argue with Ram owners, who just want information and experiences from other Ram owners.
C. Wants a Cummins owner who paid $30,000+ for a vehicle to just up and trade it for another $30,000+ Navistar.
D. All of the above
Just poking some fun, no seriuosness intended...........LOL.....Bill
-ddd
I saw a new Dually on the Dodge lot today where I bought my truck, I will check if it is a 2001........Bill
-ddd
I'm considering a 3500 Quad Cab 4x4 with a Cummins. I own a '94 F350 7.3 non turbo. The truck has been good to me, I have 110000 on it. I have had to replace the transmission once and I'm not thrilled with the brakes, but overall I like the truck. I've driven a powerstroke and I really like it. It seems much better than my old 7.3. Let me get to the point, I'm in the market for a new P/U and I just want to check out the Dodge before I buy Ford. I'm not 100% sold on the looks of the new Superduties. Also most dealers in the NY area do not have much in stock. So it seems that I'll have to order one and that may take till summer. I see that most local Dodge dealers near me have 3500 DRW Quads in stock. I just want anyones honest opinion on this truck. Most of my driving is Hwy stuck in traffic. Sometimes I pull a 16' open trailer with a 4000lb
machine on it. I'm looking for comfort and power. I also plow snow and I'm a little bit concerned about the front coils.
Thanks In Advance
Trig"R"
I took a look at the (2) Duallys on the lot, they are 2000 Cummins, QC, 5spd's, both have a sticker of $36,000. He has a 2001 dually that he is suppose to receive soon, and all have stake pockets. I checked out the new tow mirrors, they were pretty slick, I think I will bring my tools and steal a pair tonight. LOL. I knew not everyone would like my Powerstroke Trivia.....Bill
the 3500Ram with the cummins is a good HD truck,
that can only be had in the duallie form do you want a duallie?...Do you want an auto or manual trans?
To be qwite honest i think the superduty trucks are the best overall trucks! You should drive and compare them all....But the Dodge does have a good Diesel(cummins)thats good for an average of 300000miles..Check out "TruckTrend.com" for a comparision of the Powerstroke vs.Cummins there both good !!
I have a 97 3500 cummins4+2,a 96 3/4 powerstroke
4+4.....both are good trucks.I use my powerstroke
more often cause it seams to handle the work better..and i like the seat better...I'm a welder/farmer with a 31ft stock trailer,37ft.
fithwheel camper among other things that i transport.. What ever you do Diesels are the best choice if your going to work your truck!
Just came across another interesting bit of news: Chrysler Motors will no longer accept orders at the factory for all 2001 Dodge Ram Pickup/C&C/Club/Quad past 4/14/00 (w/special equipment/paint: 3/24/00). I'm sure that they will get enough trucks out to the dealers to meet the demand, but I think they are making the transition to the totally new 2002 Ram. My truck is going to be obsolete before I even see it! And your truck, Bill, is going to be pushing three years old! I haven't seen pictures of the new Ram, but I hear it is suppose to be a cross between the current Ram and the Powerwagon. The Powerwagon is still due to be released separately. The "new" Ram is suppose to be completely different though (new axles, frame, engines, etc.). And one day Bill, somebody is going to spot a smooth railed Ram!
-ddd
exhaust system,good for 10hp..Or better the
Brola stainless headers(about a grand)but good for
23hp...And yes your gas mileage will improve...
I work with a guy who did it and whent from,
11mpg to 13mpg
I will refrain from anymore PS bashing, not!
I think the smooth railed Ram is like Sasquatch or Bigfoot, take a picture if you see one. I had to trailer a broke down 1978 Pontiac Grand Prix tonight, the thing was a tank, small block 400 and all. The Cummins just ripped it down the road at 75mph like clock work. Almost slid it off the trailer unloading it, due to the ice on the trailer deck, we still have 5" of snow on the ground here.........Bill
-ddd
Them darn hole puncher's, do they have a hole puncher union? Got to go to Oklahaoma this weekend and pickup a buddies Chevy, I will let you know the fuel mileage when I get back. You should hear how deep the Cummins sounds when you load it up, it just says work me like a dog.......Bill
Have you done the gauge thing? I'm debating whether I'm going to install a pyrometer and boost gauge. Their suppose to be pretty informative when hauling. My only concern is that the pyrometer probe lives in a pretty harsh environment (tapped into the exhaust manifold pre-turbo), and am worried that over time the probe might decompose and get sucked into the turbo. I once blew the Oxygen sensor into my catalytic converter on my car.
-ddd
Yes to all of the hauling stuff. I want to do the gauge thing, I just have not got around to it or done any pricing. I would not worry about the sensor sucking thing, I have never seen a Pyro get sucked, or heard of it in all the Tractor trailers I have driven, but that is not to say the world is not perfect , and that it sometimes sucks. I do not want to even paint that picture about the damage to the turbo if that happened, it would be like throwing a 1/2" Breaker Bar into a jet engine.............Bill
-ddd
-ddd
I'm at a loss for an explanation. I bet the dealer wouldn't even know why.
-ddd
Just got back from Oklhoma City late last night from picking up a Chevy Beretta, and a spare engine approx. 850 miles round trip. I did not check MPG going down (because I was hauling a**), but coming back loaded, Beretta, spare engine, and two axle trailer, I got 13.6 at 74 MPH (approx. 4500+ lbs). It seems like the more miles I put on it loaded, my MPG's go up alot faster. I will take it in for my first oil change next week (free of charge), almost 5000 miles, no problems yet, no defects. I don't really care for the P265 Michelins much, they suck in the snow even with 12 sand bags in the bed, and they load up in the mud, but they are incredibly smooth on the highway, and have an E load range.
-ddd
What kind of car do you have? 250,000 is great for a car, is it a Cummins car? LOL. I did not plan on going to Synthetics, I will just change the almost 3 gallons (11 Qts.) of oil every 5,000 miles. I understand the factory uses Havoline Blue, I will check when I get my oil changed, I will use that or Rotella T.......Bill
The Cummins will probably be changed every 5000-6,000 miles due to the extra capacity. I probably won't ever work this truck to its full capabilities, but I'm not going to baby it either. I'm happy to hear that somebody out there isn't pushing the Amsoil oil. I have nothing against it, but then I don't feel like adding a by-pass filter and having the oil analyzed, etc.
While I've got you, what do you think about bedliners? I've actually been leaning toward the spray-in Rhino liner. Any thoughts or suggestions? Will be down in Anaheim for a couple of days for a meeting-talk to you when I get back.
-ddd
I have a a snap in Bedliner (under rail), I can't complain they threw it in for free, I would rather have a spray in liner (because they look better and have non slip surface), but the price is a killer. I have spray in Rhino liner's at work in a couple pickups, and they are nice except they chip sometimes, and you still get dents when you toss something heavy in the bed. I have abused my Bedliner, it has cuts and gouges in it, but no dents in my bed, it can be slick when it gets wet.
It must be a Frisco thing to have a BMW, I had a 318is when I lived there, I remember doing 105+ quite frequently over the Bay Bridge and the San Mateo Bridge, what a blast, no room for cops to park on the side..........Bill
Where can I get a bed liner like yours with the same price? Apparently the new Mopar liners (I've heard they are made by Penda) are a non-slip surface on both sides now to prevent them sliding around in the bed. I'm thinking of trying this route first. I was almost sold on the spray in liners by either Line-X or Rhino, but then I started hearing how they grind off your new paint job (sometimes down to bare metal) to make sure the Polyurethane adheres to the surface. Furthermore, I heard it is of utmost importance to get a shop who can do it right. I was also thinking of an over-the-rail but was concerned how straight the lines would be and also worried that there might be some overspray. I guess that I still have time to decide.
Received an email from Cummins today regarding my question about the Jacobs E-Brake for the ETH engine. I knew that the E-brake has been redesigned for the new engine, but the email went on to state:
"The brake is retrofittable to all model years from 1989 through 1997, one exception being that it must NOT be installed on engines fitted with Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valves. This restriction is not unique to our product. Engines fitted with EGR must NOT have an exhaust brake of any type installed. The EGR valve is a CARB emissions requirement for vehicles sold and operated in California."
I sure hope that this guy doesn't know what he is talking about because I've heard of many people in California using the exhaust brake. Additionally, the San Leandro Cummins Service Center said that they would sell me the brake and even install it if I wanted. Or, could it be just an ETH thing???
I'm new to this dealer experience. I've always bought my rides from individuals or auctions. What are allocations? Is this something I need to ask the dealer about when ordering?
nascar6
I have some nice over the rail liners sprayed on. When I had the bedliners sprayed on my trucks at work they had to sand down the bed surface to rough it up, but it still chips from abuse. I would probably just get rail caps if you were worried about the straightness, I would like some stainless steel rail caps to match my bed
box, I have already scratched my rails from loading gear. I think I would go with the non slip insert, I wish I had that option before, but I can't beat the price.........Bill...P.S. How was Anahiem, smog as usual?
Sounds like the exhaust brake is not an issue. They will sell them in California and for the ETH. The guy at Cummins must just have been terribly confused. Usually, they are very knowledgeable.
Anaheim? They never called so I never went down. I'll find out more in a phone conference this morning.
Tomorrow I will give DC a buzz and see where I am-hopefully, I am beyond D1.
-ddd
It's great. And once you've got the rail car number you can trace it no matter what railway is pulling it.
"The H.O. Turbo Diesel churns out 505 lb-ft of torque, for a gross towing capacity in excess of 7 1/2 tons (15,150 lb to be exact). That's more than Ford with a PowerStroke or Chevy/GMC Silverado."
For a glimps at the 2002 Ram:
http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/future/dodge/02ram.html
-ddd
nascar6