RAM 3500 now 800lb.ft and 30,000lb GVWR!

[Egon]

You need to check out a current RAM and check for all of the chip and rock splash protection on the body. Also look at the hem flange sealing on all closure panels that Ford & GM do not offer./QUOTE]

I've been in Alberta for the past few weeks. Been looking for rusted out Dodges but they seem hard to find. Did notice that there were quite a few old Doges around but the other makes were mostly all new or only a few years old.

 

[RobertN]

My '01 Ram2500 does not have any rust. Been hunting fishing camping snow water mud Boy Scout campout trailer towing 5th wheel towing rock gravel hauling...

My 03 Ram 2500 rusted out in 2 years. I had rust at the bottom of both doors, the tail gate, and front fenders.

 

[slowzuki]

Hard to find anything rusted out in Alberta!

I've been in Alberta for the past few weeks. Been looking for rusted out Dodges but they seem hard to find. Did notice that there were quite a few old Doges around but the other makes were mostly all new or only a few years old.

 

[jinman]

5.9l 12-valve Cummins rule!!! Okay, got that out of my system. . .

I just got my ol' '96 Dodge Ram 2500 w/368,250 mi. out of the shop last week. It's been sitting for many months because it had a leak in the fuel tank return line and I've been procrastinating about fixing it myself. Finally, I went to Autozone and bought two new Duralast Gold batteries and installed them. My old ones were 10 and 6 years old. When I hit the key to start the truck, it fired immediately. What an amazing engine!:thumbsup:

I took my truck to a local guy who specializes in Cummins Dodges and told him I wanted the leaky hose replaced, fuel filter/separater changed, transmission filter changed, and the valves adjusted. I also told him anything else he noticed should be fixed. He called to tell me that I had a power steering hose leaking and the alternator I replaced last year had the wrong pulley. It was a 7-groove and the serpetine belt is 8-groove. The belt was destroyed and the tensioner was also. In addition to the pulley, belt, and tensioner, he adjusted my idle up and recalibrated the TPS. When he took the pan off the transmission, one of the bolts was crossthreaded and he had to retap that and install a new fastener. He went back to an OEM gasket instead of the cork gasket that was installed at my last filter change. He said the OEM rubber gaskets were far superior for sealing than the cork. That should take care of my dripping transmission leak.

The bill for all of that? $870.96 I was more than happy to pay it.

Did I mention than I LOVE my old '96 180 hp 12-valve Cummins that gets a consistent 22 mpg and seems to just keep goin' and goin' and goin'...:cool2:

I know those new trucks are powerful and can really do some work. If you need that kind of power, you certainly will have fun shopping for new trucks.:thumbsup: Now, if we could just get a Ford with a Cummins . . .:cloud9:

 

[Ford850]

Correct. Keeping up with the Jones has bankrupted a lot of people I know.

I think this would be closer to "Keeping up with the Johnsons"

 

[deerefan]

I think this would be closer to "Keeping up with the Johnsons"

Not sure who the Johnson's are, but if they are anything like the Jones then I agree.

 

[deerefan]

5.9l 12-valve Cummins rule!!! Okay, got that out of my system. . .

I just got my ol' '96 Dodge Ram 2500 w/368,250 mi. out of the shop last week. It's been sitting for many months because it had a leak in the fuel tank return line and I've been procrastinating about fixing it myself. Finally, I went to Autozone and bought two new Duralast Gold batteries and installed them. My old ones were 10 and 6 years old. When I hit the key to start the truck, it fired immediately. What an amazing engine!:thumbsup:

I took my truck to a local guy who specializes in Cummins Dodges and told him I wanted the leaky hose replaced, fuel filter/separater changed, transmission filter changed, and the valves adjusted. I also told him anything else he noticed should be fixed. He called to tell me that I had a power steering hose leaking and the alternator I replaced last year had the wrong pulley. It was a 7-groove and the serpetine belt is 8-groove. The belt was destroyed and the tensioner was also. In addition to the pulley, belt, and tensioner, he adjusted my idle up and recalibrated the TPS. When he took the pan off the transmission, one of the bolts was crossthreaded and he had to retap that and install a new fastener. He went back to an OEM gasket instead of the cork gasket that was installed at my last filter change. He said the OEM rubber gaskets were far superior for sealing than the cork. That should take care of my dripping transmission leak.

The bill for all of that? $870.96 I was more than happy to pay it.

Did I mention than I LOVE my old '96 180 hp 12-valve Cummins that gets a consistent 22 mpg and seems to just keep goin' and goin' and goin'...:cool2:

I know those new trucks are powerful and can really do some work. If you need that kind of power, you certainly will have fun shopping for new trucks.:thumbsup: Now, if we could just get a Ford with a Cummins . . .:cloud9:

That is hands down one of the best engines to ever end up in a truck. One of my firemen has a 96 also, 411k miles, original motor, 3rd transmission. The truck looks wore out, but it keeps going and going. You can hear it coming from a mile away. Easy to work on. Put diesel in it and go. No urea or other useless high priced junk to fail.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

My "rust-bucket" '95 with 5 spd manual and 138,000 miles (almost broken in), photo taken last summer. Astonishing as it may seem, 175 hp and 430 ft/lbs @ 1600 rpm have been quite satisfactory, thanks. If I could change anything, a 6 speed manual (not available then) with closer ratio gearing would make it even better.

It's just starting to bubble around the wheel wells. The full running boards probably helped a lot to ward off the corrosion to door bottoms, sills and wheel well area. The fuel filler pipe rusted from road spray, causing it to drip when filling. Replaced that and just fixed a power steering leak too. Otherwise, runs as good as when I bought it new. Injector pump was replaced under warranty but other than that, no major problems.

In 1995, Dodge had the best interior by far. The seats (40/20/40) were/are the most comfortable in anything I've owned.

When I open the hood of any future pickup I might own, it better only have ONE cylinder head. :laughing:

 

[Egon]

In 1995, Dodge had the best interior by far/QUOTE

Still like that interior.

Cup holders were they are easily reached and not down near the floor. Seat three in the front. Even the "Chintzy controls" seem to be in the right place and even work after 15 years. and the seats are comfortable.:thumbsup:

 

[Dmace]

My 03 Ram 2500 rusted out in 2 years.

I've been in Alberta for the past few weeks. Been looking for rusted out Dodges but they seem hard to find. Did notice that there were quite a few old Doges around but the other makes were mostly all new or only a few years old.

My '01 Ram2500 does not have any rust. Been hunting fishing camping snow water mud Boy Scout campout trailer towing 5th wheel towing rock gravel hauling...

Hard to find anything rusted out in Alberta!

My "rust-bucket" '95 with 5 spd manual and 138,000 miles (almost broken in), photo taken last summer.

Take everything DiamondPilot says with a grain of salt. The "problems" he reiterates over and over again like a HEMI lacking power (compared to his 290hp F-150 or 315hp Titan :laughing, rust issues, poor resale, and 45 rebuilt transmissions amazingly are typically completely opposite of the other RAM owners. Sometimes, I wonder if he actually owned one...
8 yrs old, 100k miles and I bet we get a TON more salt up here than those southern states. Not a spec of rust on the body...