2006 rubber/plastic weather shield

[DJennings]

When I popped the hood on my 2004, there was a rubber weather shield on each side of the intercooler/trans-cooler.



On the 06, there is only a rubber boot on the passenger side. On the driver side, you can see right in to the engine bay. You can actually see the windshield fluid reservoir through the grill.



Anyone else notice this, or is my truck missing something?

 

[TEaton]

Just went out and looked at mine, it's the same way. :{

DC's way to save a buck!!!

Troy

 

[JArbini]

"DC's way to save a buck!!!" i thought they already accomplished that with thin sheet metal & thin paint. sometimes i wonder if they're trying to build a truck or soapbox derby entry. i love my ctd but there is some room for improvement on chrysler's end especially what we pay for them, they aren't exactly neons.

 

[steved]

It an option... some got it, others didn't.



If you look on your build sheet, it will be spelled out.



steved

 

[ohnoitsyu]

they aren't exactly neons.

Yeah, our trucks have the CTD in it... otherwise they're the same build quality as a neon.

 

[TSpecht]

Personally I'd hate to see what these trucks would weigh if we went back to the same sheet metal thickness of even the 80's. They'd have to put 19. 5's on from the factory, as well as bigger axles and brakes. Not to mention of course the cost would probably go up faster than the weight would.

But more on topic, my 05 has the one on the passenger side but I think does not have the one on the drivers side.

 

[mlewis73]

Personally I'd hate to see what these trucks would weigh if we went back to the same sheet metal thickness of even the 80's. They'd have to put 19. 5's on from the factory, as well as bigger axles and brakes. Not to mention of course the cost would probably go up faster than the weight would.



But more on topic, my 05 has the one on the passenger side but I think does not have the one on the drivers side.

Quality steps are lacking.



My '91 Ford has flaps in the dually wheel wells. No new truck does. There is no excuse to be taking out quality improvement parts to cut costs on a $35,000 truck. None whatsoever. These trucks should come from the factory built to last the owner 10+ years.

 

[JonathanBurk]

Unfortunately for us, Dodge is a business, and there is reason to skimp on little parts.



They cut a $50 part off a truck, and they sell 350,000 of those trucks, they just saved themselves over $17 million.



Now imagine if they cut 8 or 9 parts like that, you're talkin' hundreds of millions easily across different models of vehicles.

 

[abdiver]

Unfortunately for us, Dodge is a business, and there is reason to skimp on little parts.



They cut a $50 part off a truck, and they sell 350,000 of those trucks, they just saved themselves over $17 million.



Now imagine if they cut 8 or 9 parts like that, you're talkin' hundreds of millions easily across different models of vehicles.

I remember how disappointed I was with how thin the body sheetmetal was on my 84 Ford vs my 78 Ford. Compared to my 05 Dodge the 84 now seems thick. If you ever get a chance check out a 1940 truck body NOW that's metal not sheetmetal.



To many short cuts taken with today's trucks, But the majority of sales are to truck owners that really don't use these trucks as trucks were originally meant to be used. Here I have a 1 Ton truck that I can't place a real bumper and a decent winch on it, without going over the front axle weight. Wish I could put a camper on it too.



Detroit is in trouble, wait till Toyota or Honda introduce a real 3/4 or 1 ton truck. I love my Cummins Just wish I could place the weight in the bed the Cummins was meant to handle.