4x4 conversion

[CBumgarner]

Hello all, been a while since I posted here. I am not exactly sure where to put this thread, mods feel free to move it if need be.



I have a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 CDT 4x2 truck, and was considering doing a 4x4 conversion on it. I went to a dealership and haggled for several hours trying to trade it in, and just get a 4x4, but I couldnt get it for the amount I was hoping/needing it to be at. I am coming into a little money, and thought maybe a 4x4 conversion on it might be do-able, but this is the first part of my research, I havent done any other looking yet.



Has anyone done this before? Is it even worth it? How much would something like this cost? I have about $5000 to invest into it, could it be done for that? Or should I just take my $5000 and put it as a down payment and trade it?



Thanks for the help,

Craig

 

[ohnoitsyu]

I think it's doable. The cost will depend on how/where you get the parts and how much you spend on labor. In both of these parts, you can spend a lot or a little.



The easiest method, I think would be to buy a wrecked or salvaged 4x4, and swap parts and sell the leftover. You may be able to completely swap the frame and driveline, if you're lucky. Considering you don't need the engine or the body, you can be really flexible in your finds.



Good luck!

 

[JEstes]

It's perfectly doable. It's all a question of how much you want to spend. I'm not sure about these trucks, but on alot of them there are some frame differences on 4X2 VS 4X4 that would make a swap too expensive to be worth it.

If you do decide to get one from a salvage yard, be careful. I know there are exceptions to this, but most of the totalled pickup trucks you'll find were either T-boned, or were front end collisions. Both of those have the real possibility of destroying the very parts you needed. Plus I doubt if it will have an engine. Most salvage yards grab the engine first thing.

If it were me though, I would just put the $5,000 towards another truck. You should be able to sell yours, and put that money towards another '05 in the same shape. If you trade straight across, you should have to spend little to nothing. Heck, if you find a good deal, you might even make a little. Either way, you should still have enough of that $5,000 left for a Smarty and some guages.

 

[CumminsBu]

I would sell it out right and buy a 4x4, less headache!!!

 

[jmccart]

Hey there. I really wanted to do that with my last truck. I had a Dana 60 front and wanted to run leaf spirings. I talked to two guys who did it on a black Chevy/Duramax that was in Diesel Power magazine. The dodge 2x4 has a rack/pinion (I think) and therefore they said steering would be a big pain. Ultimately, all the fabricators talked me out of the idea. But, if you love your truck, somebody has to be the first.

 

[AKaiser]

Hello all, been a while since I posted here. I am not exactly sure where to put this thread, mods feel free to move it if need be.



I have a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 CDT 4x2 truck, and was considering doing a 4x4 conversion on it. I went to a dealership and haggled for several hours trying to trade it in, and just get a 4x4, but I couldnt get it for the amount I was hoping/needing it to be at. I am coming into a little money, and thought maybe a 4x4 conversion on it might be do-able, but this is the first part of my research, I havent done any other looking yet.



Has anyone done this before? Is it even worth it? How much would something like this cost? I have about $5000 to invest into it, could it be done for that? Or should I just take my $5000 and put it as a down payment and trade it?



Thanks for the help,

Craig

I think you answered your question in the last sentence. If it was a previous generation, I'd say to go for it, but the 3d Gens are more pain and cost than the trade, I'm guessing, owing to the front end differences from 4x2 to 4x4.



Another thought: Have you looked at hunting down a private sale 4x4. The dealer always wants his cut, which is why you lose on a trade-in.

 

[CBumgarner]

Thanks to everyone that has replied. I called and talked to a few 4 wheel parts places 'round here, and due to my front end, it will either be really expensive, or not even do-able. Not to mention even if it was 100% do-able, I work out of my truck and pull a trailer almost daily, I really couldn't afford the down time anyway.

I think I have decided on just trading it on another, however I am not really prepared to buy a new $44,000 truck. I still owe about $28k on the one I got, and the best offer I have had on it was about $26k. I dont think I want to go from a $600/month payment up to a $800/month payment. Even putting $5000 down it would still be around $750 or so. I think I might just be hosed

 

[AKaiser]

I'd look and see if you can find a low mileage 03 or 04.

 

[WYoung]

Have you tried Pueblo Dodge? Their used trucks usually disappear fairly quickly, though I don't know what kind of deals they give on trade. I bought mine new from them and was quite pleased with price and service.

 

[BTighe]

26k sounds decent if that was a trade in offer. if you need a 4x4 that bad, i would trade it on the truck you want and take the loss. its not much and if your gonna have a little extra cash, might as well.

lemme guess, cant sell out right cause its your only work rig? been through that a few times