2002 Product Launch Tour

[socal_rattler]

On my way to lunch today, I passed by Los Alamitos race track (horses for those not familiar with it), and I saw a whole bunch of the 2002 Rams in the parking lot. There was a sign out front that said "The New Generation Ram Launch Tour". I almost got rearended as I stopped quickly to turn in and check it out.



They had probably 100 of the 2002 models there. . all black. I went into the tent they had set up and it turns out it was for dealers, but they will be having a day for customers later this week.



I looked at some of the trucks they had in the lot (they were locked ), but I peeked in the windows. The interior is quite different than my 2001... but in my opinion much cheaper looking. Hopefully the 2500 and 3500 models are better than the 1500. The dash guages were white (really cheap looking), and the rear seat had a slight cutout in the middle that made it smaller so it would not fit most people's rearends. There was a cup holder on the floor up next to the rear seat in the middle.



I did like the cleat-type tie downs front and rear in the bed. I don't know about the front end grille and lights... . I guess it will take some getting used to, but it looks more like the Phord than being 'different'.



All I can say is that if DC was betting so much on the next generation, they should have gone to the high-end on the interior instead of the cheap end.

 

[Jff24Gordn]

I was lookin at a 2002 1500 today.

Where should I start?

20 inch "homeboy" rims with 33" good year street tires

a they replaced the double u-joint on the front driveshaft on the t-case with a CV joint

alumnium front hog head

torsion bar IFS, bars reach to back of cab

TONS of room infront of the radiator and behind bumper (ill get into this later)

it was a "crew cab" the dakota crew cabs has more rear leg room

the rear seat folded up with a pullout metal floor, even had a cutout so you could still use the rear cup holder

the rear cup holder is in prime posistion for the guy riding b!tch to relieve him self in a drink.

Tons of room under the hood (more on this later)

really nice cupholder for the automatics, expect 5 speeds to have a gay cup holder on the floor again

seats felt comfy

SRS airbag emblems above the doors, must have side air bags hidden

Dash goes down farther before it curves back to the firewall

no engine size badging

radator isnt as wide as the grill, it shares space with a BIG auto cooler

white face gauges



NOW the really good/bad part

There is TONS of room under the hood and infront of the radator and behind the grill.

I knew the dodge rep, and asked him if all that room infront was for a intercooler, and he said YES. Aparently, the diffrence in the 1500 and 2500+ will be the frame and running gear. it will be the SAME sheetmetal. Inculding the seame choices in cab. NO real club cab, only the little one. There was enough room under the hood to put a blower and dual carbs and a short air filter on the gas engine. But atleast the 2500+ 4x4 will have a solid front axle. Thats all I know for now, ill try to get some pics tomorrow.

 

[plntmgr]

Sounds OK, but I'll wait to see the 2500/3500's. Need something with the Cummings.

 

[jwgary]

CV joint?

I thought that a CV joint was a double u-joint. Maybe I am mistaken, and all of my books are at work so I can't check it out. How does it look different? Are you sure it doesn't just have a dust boot on it? I'm corn-fused on this one.

 

[Doc Tinker]

jwgary



The two u-joint CV Joint that you describe is used on older GM rear wheel drive cars. There is a ballstud, ball seat, springs and a seal between the tow ujoints. I rebuilt one of these setups once and managed to mangle my hand pretty good in the process.



Here is a picture of what the beasts look like.

 

[Doc Tinker]

New front wheel drive cars, use a different kind of CV joint and I believe it is one of these that is likely to be on the front axle of the new pickups. I believe current front drive axles on the Dodges use standard ujoints, one on each end of the shaft.

 

[Jff24Gordn]

The truck had 3 traditional U joints on it. the rest, 5 wer the new front wheel drive car style CV joint. A weaker design, IMO.