want to order new 3500/4500

[dja48]

When are the 2021 Ram 3500 Duallys going to be online to be ordered or configured? Plus second question, Is there a company that puts the pickup bed on the 4500 cab and chassis?
Thanks
DJ

 

[Wiredawg]

Don't know the first answer... I googled ram 4500 bed conversion and found:
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=pra5umdab&oeidk=a07e7pe15de4d99a612

Hope that part helps at least.

Cheers, Ron

 

[dieselshadow]

That’s cool!

 

[lpennock]

I've always thought RAM is missing the boat by not have a competitor for the F450 Consumer model. I had a 08 5500 with a Truck box added. The conventional box is the reason I was able to get non-commercial insurance from my insurance company, flat bed or Utility bed they wouldn't insure.

 

[Wiredawg]

I've always thought RAM is missing the boat by not have a competitor for the F450 Consumer model. I had a 08 5500 with a Truck box added. The conventional box is the reason I was able to get non-commercial insurance from my insurance company, flat bed or Utility bed they wouldn't insure.

I hear ya on the insurance.... I still pay too much on my 5500. I could have insured it as an RV as primary purpose for purchasing is to tow our 5er. But, the caveats of not using it for other uses like towing my enclosed car hauler and dump trailer made it too worrisome. I do like the hauler bed better than pickup bed for better 5er clearance to bed, built in storage compartments on the sides, and loading/ unloading from the sides.

I priced the P/U bed conversion back in 09 and it was too pricey at over $10K. Have no idea how much now. I recall a talented TDR member did it and it looked good.

More folks are buying high end 5500s towing RVs, horse trailers, hotshotting, and big box trailers. Great option instead of a Freightliner Sport Chassis.

Cheers, Ron

 

[lpennock]

I had bought the 08/ 5500 as I was running at the limits of the rear axle weight on a 06/3500SRW when carrying my truck camper. By the time I would upgrade to that vintage of 3500DRW I would still be right at/or over GVWR. So I decided to go big and found the used 08/5500 that had a pickup bed installed. Turned out to be a bad purchase as it had a lot of issues so traded in on a 18/3500DRW. I'm running right a GVWR but nowhere near GAWR so I just live with it. Had there been a 4500 or 5500 option with a pickup bed I would have been all over it, but about spending $5-10K or more to put any bed on the chassis cab just didn't make financial sense for me. I just prefer the look of the pickup beds over flat and utility beds even though I see the advantage to them.

ps. I think an air suspension 5500 would be the ideal Truck Camper Hauler. Even the big triple slides wouldn't put it over GVWR.

 

[gsbrockman]

I hear ya on the insurance.... I still pay too much on my 5500.

I still bet it’s under $7,059.12 per year though

 

[Wiredawg]

I still bet it’s under $7,059.12 per year though

Yep, somethin like $2800/yr.

 

[TFucili]

Not knocking its success, but Ford has a lot of peopl

I still bet it’s under $7,059.12 per year though

Couldn't even knock the twelve cents off, eh?

 

[AH64ID]

I've always thought RAM is missing the boat by not have a competitor for the F450 Consumer model. I had a 08 5500 with a Truck box added. The conventional box is the reason I was able to get non-commercial insurance from my insurance company, flat bed or Utility bed they wouldn't insure.

The F450 pickup model still has a 14K GVWR, just like the Ram 3500. I recall the F450 pickup being Fords response to the Ram 3500’s ratings, thou the F450 is weaker, on paper, than the F350 due to its weight.

So it comes down to wether or not you live somewhere that GVWR matters or not. If it matters your Ram 3500 is more capable than the F450.

I only bring it up since you mentioned being at your GVWR.

I agree that a air suspension 5500 would be a sweet camper hauler!

 

[dja48]

Is the 2021 order guide out from Dodge for the Ram trucks. 3500 and 4500. Don't know if a 5500 is needed. Just want a vehicle for towing a ATC 36' Toy hauler. Does the 3500 with max toy haul option come with the wider axle like the F-450? It would be nice to price the truck. Ford is delaying the Super Duties as well. If the manufacturers think this will make me anxious to purchase they are dead wrong. Put people back to work and make the vehicles available. We are into November and they are still delaying the new vehicles. Their problem not mine. My money will keep. Just wanted to update my F-350 Dually after 20 years.
Thanks
DJ

 

[Wiredawg]

Is the 2021 order guide out from Dodge for the Ram trucks. 3500 and 4500. Don't know if a 5500 is needed. Just want a vehicle for towing a ATC 36' Toy hauler. Does the 3500 with max toy haul option come with the wider axle like the F-450? It would be nice to price the truck. Ford is delaying the Super Duties as well. If the manufacturers think this will make me anxious to purchase they are dead wrong. Put people back to work and make the vehicles available. We are into November and they are still delaying the new vehicles. Their problem not mine. My money will keep. Just wanted to update my F-350 Dually after 20 years.
Thanks
DJ

I don't know the answer about C&C 3500 comparison with 4500/5500 off the top of my head, but easy enough to find on the 2020 specs on Ram website. I dont think the 3500 has the wider axle and doesn't have 19.5 tires, though.

I think whatever you determine your max GVW requirements are you'll be able to determine which platform works best. A 5500 merely has the highest load capacity with 19K or 19.5KLbs depending on Cab to Axle length. A 4500 has 16.5K GVWR and I'm pretty sure a 3500 has 14K GVWR. My perspective on buying my 2017 was to buy the highest GVWR truck and still have trailer rating almost 30KLbs.

After installing a moderately heavy CM ER tow body, with 60 gal aux tank, and a few hundred pounds of tools, 20ton hyd jack, two 3 ton jack stands, etc. I still have 7K lbs rated capacity on the bed.

As for production strategy by the big 3, hard to say... I never ordered a truck so never dealt with that end of the process.

Cheers, Ron

 

[TFucili]

The ATC fivers are very light for their size. A 3500 dually is more than enough truck. If you don't use the whole 200 gallon fresh capacity, it is probably within the payload realm of a SRW.