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Dodge Ram - II
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Comments
I'll give some serious thought to the 6.5 foot and a camper trailer. I do have a utility trailer that works well if I carry plywood so will probably go with the short box.
I would think that a good welder could do the same so that you could get a 8 foot camper in a 6 foot bed. (Talk to the welder first though)
Also, my sister's boyfriend told me he saw a picture of the 2001 prototypes in a recent magazine. He said the styling on the front end was very different from what it is now. Does anyone know if this is true?
If I remember correctly, the 265's are a $415.00 option. Hardly worth the money, especially if they are Goodyear. I just got back from my SECOND trip to my friendly Goodyear dealer. Last Wednesday they replaced one of the rear tires and told me the other rear tire was OK. Today they replaced the other rear tire (yes, the one they previously said was OK) and one of the front tires. This does appear to have solved the vibration/bounce problem I was having. Another day or two and I'll know for sure. I do have to give them credit for standing behind their product, it just shouldn't have taken as much friendly persuasion on my part.
My recommendation to you would be this: As soon as you drive your truck off the lot, go to a reputable tire dealer and ask how much they will trade you for the larger tires. It should easily be less than $415.00. If not, shop elsewhere.
Thanks for the advice..never thought of taking the stock tires and trading them in but it makes sense. I'll remember that when I order the truck...it'll definitely make make my wife a little happier given all the other toys (options) I plan to include.
Driving directly to a tire dealer to swap for different tires is a great idea, but doesn't always work! I tried that and every one of them turned me down. No matter what the price!!! I even told them I would only take 50% of the value of the tires currently on the truck, but they still said "No"! They told me they couldn't sell the tires as new tires even though they only had 50 miles on them. They also wouldn't be able to honor the warranty of the tires being traded in. I was told this same story by three different tire dealers.
To Ram4x4,
Before you opt for the 245's thinking you can swap them... find a tire dealer willing to do this first! Over all, you want to go with the 265's, however you work it out.
BTW... I have the Michelin (spelling?) tires on my 99 2500 QC 4x4 and I've never experienced the vibration that the GoodYear tires have. I would ask your dealer rep if you can swap the tires if the truck gets delivered with GoodYear tires on it. Never assume anything! Make arrangements BEFORE closing the deal to avoid any future hassels.
Good Luck,
Brett
My Dodge dealer told me they have had a lot of problems with the Goodyear Wrangler RT-S tires. Have you noticed that most manufacturers are moving away from Goodyear. Ford and Chevy use a lot of Firestone's. The new Dodge's are coming with some Michelin's.
As far as trading your tires in, you will most likely have to go to a tire dealer that puts a lot of tires on vehicles for local used car lots. Most used car dealers don't care if a tire has a few hundred miles on it. Although my local tire dealer would trade me for about 50% of the value of the newer tires, I opted to keep the 245's until they wear out and replace them with the tires of my choice.
Truck is great but the goodyear wrangler rts tires suck. I had one blow out. One tire chipped a lug off and offroad they suck. They are awful in the wet stuff (esp mud, they d clog up). I will get Bridgestone Desert Dulers AT very soon.
and had it scheduled yet? I ordered mine at the
end of last month and am still waiting. I know the six speed is very limited but I just wanted to
find out if anyone else had any luck.
I was told by DC that it is a week to week restriction and they are only releasing them in small batches.
Anyone have any information about the black vinyl flooring vs. carpet for sound insulation--the carpet is over a pad,is the vinyl?
Have seen disc brake upgrades for rear axle quoted for around $1200, anyone had this done? Have heard lack of this option as criticism for the 2000.
Finally,regarding major redesign in 2002 vs 2000-- any specific info regarding changes to Cummins engine being contemplated besides uprates(eg. eth option)
Thanks in advance for your help.
berky@amigo.net Thanks, Joe
I don't want to repeat points made by others on merits of Gas vs. Diesel when it comes to longevity, maintenance etc. Have a look at the Diesel vs. Gasoline topic for some good thoughts.
In terms of cold weather operation, I know a lot of guys here in Ontario who operate Diesels with out any problems. And trust me we would welcome -20 up here - we call that mild.
What a lot of them do (if block heater isn't practical) is use one of the better quality remote starters. The best ones of these have sensors that will automatically start the engine and run it for a few minutes in severe weather. Don't know whether the sensitivity can be adjusted to allow for the reduced cold weather tolerance of Diesel, but they seem to manage.
I concur with "1500" while your tie-rod should move and will move too much play is a problem as well. Especially if there is a klunk. Is the klunk sound made when the tie rod rotates at the end and meets the fitting? If so it sounds like a bad tie rod end which is an easy repair.
Good luck. I have the 99 quad 1500 4x4 and have no problems with anything except for one weatherstrip that the dealer is having replaced for me by a glass shop. Knock on wood. All is OK.
Good luck. Also try the popular mechanics website for information on tie rods if you need more information.
Vital Statistics:
2000 1500 QC 4X4, SLT, 5.9LV8, Auto, Light Driftwood.
Got a good deal for this area at about 3.5% over Edmunds' "Dealer Invoice". I used all the internet pricing services as well as carsdirect.com and faxing requests for bid to my five closest Dodge Dealers. Picked the lowest out-the-door quote which also was the closest to me. Did not negotiate or dicker and only set foot in the dealership to deliver my deposit check. So far, a very pleasant experience.
My truck is in "D" status and should go to "D1" with a firm build date soon.
Question: from that build date, how long does it actually take to build the truck? i.e. how many days from the build date until they ship it from St Louis North assembly plant?
Is building a vehicle a pretty continuous process or does it complete one stage and then sit for a while waiting for something else to be put in/on, etc? I envision an assembly line as a continuously moving conveyor belt and that once the first piece of the vehicle is laid on in step 1, it's just a matter of hours until a completed vehicle pops out the other end of the plant.
Am I over simplifying?
Bill
From D1 status, your truck should take a few days to build, and anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks to ship. The stumbling blocks are parts delays in production and rail delays in shipping.
dodgeram,
Until someone actually takes delivery of one, the Dodge website will be the only place to see it. You can try going to Dodge or Jeep dealers, as Patriot Blue was used on the Durango and Grand Cherokee for all of the 1999 model year to see if you like the shade.
kcram
Community Leader/Smart Shopper Conference
I have a friend who just took possession of a new 2500/QC/SB/Cummins/Autotrans/4:10, and his intention was to do some serious plowing this winter. I have given him some precautionary warnings concerning this, but I need more information from an objective source.
My dealer said that without the Cummins, the Snow Plow Prep package supplies stiffer undercarriage components, but that these components are automatically included when ordering the Cummins due to the additional weight on the frontend. Although they said there shouldn't be any problems ( what else could they say... ) I remember the many postings regarding front end wear and damage when using a plow, in addition to the -many- failed transmissions used in this service.
I have also seen a few postings stating a fairly logical fact, and that is that when Dodge gave us a big truck that rides like a car, they had to give up a beefy front end that would also result in the traditional "truck" ride.
So at any rate, somewhere in here lies the truth, or variations of it. Could someone please enlighten me as to how durable my friends truck is with respect to snowplowing? He feels kind of bad right now with the expectations of plowing all winter, but I said he will feel worse in three years when his front end is shot and he's blown two transmissions. Any information will be appreciated, good or bad.
rk
I asked about this in an earlier post, #188, but nobody was able to respond.. Seems to me that in other forums people had decided to order the snow plow prep,with the diesel to specifically beef up the front end--never having any intention to plow.
If this were true, then maybe one of the changes in the 2k Ram w/ cummins is the snowplow prep is now automatically included, as your dealer says. I wonder though what components exactly are included- are all included?
In the options the snowplow prep is "N/A w/ ETC.".
No answers, just more info perhaps.
I thinj in the end he may wish for the 6 speed trans..
His 2500 is a 99, not a 2k.
rk
now my problem (a minor one) does anyone know if your dealer is required to carry touch-up paint of all the available colors. my truck is solar yellow and i did not get any mudflaps now it has a small near the front drivers wheel well. what is the best way to "touch up" any blemishes?
kcram
Community Leader/Smart Shopper Conference
I looked into this myself. Some remote starter / alarm system are designed for diesels and some aren't. I was only able to find one campatable with diesels in my area (Columbus, Ohio). It was a system by "Ungo" which actually "looked" for the light to go out (or "looked" at a sensor) before engaging the starter. I'd check with the place you purchased the system. I personally wouldn't use it unless the system waited for the "Wait to Start" light to go out before actually starting the engine. If it didn't matter, then why would Dodge tell you to wait before starting in the manual?
Good luck...
Check with cumins to be sure, but I think this is all.
In other words in summer you should be fine without waiting fot the light. In winter you may go from a situation where the truck would barely start to one where it won't.
Thanks,
Wildman
the Cummins. I had originally ordered it with the
6-speed but they kept telling me it was on
restriction. After a month, I changed to a 5- speed
and now My shipping date is 10-25. DC said the
6-speed restriction probably would not be released
until the end of the year. I hope they were not
lying to me! Oh well, 5 or 6 speed is not that big
a deal to me but it would have been nice.
Truck is being built in St. Louis. Any Ideas on
how long it will take to get to Georgia?
Truck went to "KZ" status (released by plant - invoiced) on October 5.
Customer service has given me estimated shipping time to Eastern West Virginia anywhere from 12 days to three weeks.
Have not been able to pull up the VIN thru the Burlington Northern tracing site yet so I guess it's still waiting to get put on a train.
Thanks.
If only an hour before starting, will leaving it plugged in all night hurt anything?
Also, does the block heater include keeping the fuel in the tank from "Gel"ing?
I've heard it's best to let the Cummins (or any diesel) warm up before driving. What kind of damage (if any) can occur from starting and immediately driving it?
So far for me it has only returned "equipment not found" though.
My truck was released from the factory on Tuesday so I suspect it hasn't gotten loaded on a rail car yet. Customer service has the shipper code as "CASS" which I suspect is Cassens Transport which is the Haulaway truck contractor that serves the BN loading point at Valley Park MO.
All of this is deduction on my part since Customer Service only gave me Originating Point "FNTN" (Fenton MO - the address of St Louis North Plant I guess), Destination "CTWN" (Charles Town WV - my dealer's address) and the "CASS".
What an adventure!
Ooppps...Correction.
My finger slipped and I wrote -10 deg, when I meant +10 deg. I hate that when it happens :-)
Thanks in advance for any help.
Here is the published curves for all the Dodge gas truck engines for 99.
http://dodgeram.com/technical/Gas/specs_gas.htm
I suggest writing the webmaster for this site for the 97 curves.
rk