Buying a 600 ram a few questions

[911RAM]

Hi all I think I talked the wife into trading off her yukon,she wants a auto 4 door what options should I get, (rear end and what not) thanks in advance Oo.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Rear end ratio will depend on what you are going to do with the truck. If it will be a heavy towing machine Dodge recomends the 4:11 rear. I prefer the 3:73s as you can shift down for hills and still have a good overdrive ratio for lighter loads or running empty. I would get the towing package. From there it is just personel preference.

 

[jgillott]

I am going through the same process with my wife right now. She wants to get rid of her Jeep GC to get a 4 door ram. We have looked at a bunch of them over the last few weeks, and we still havn't decided exactly what we want. I'm leaning toward a 2500 or 3500 QC, short bed, 4x4, auto, 3. 73. I really would prefer a long bed personally, but I know that the short will be a little easier for her to handle in parking lots and such.



My brother-in-law purchased a 2500 QC 4x4 sport 600 auto with 3. 73's about a month ago. It is really a nice set up. I have driven it several times now, and I am really impressed with the way it drives and rides.



Justin

 

[klenger]

911RAM: Absolutely make sure you get the flat folding storage floor in the back. It's a $100 option, but costs $1000 to buy the parts after delivery. I tow a 10K 5er with 3. 73's and have no complaints, but that's with the 6 speed. If you are towing heavy with the auto, then 4. 11's are a consideration. See my sig for details on my truck.

 

[swexlin]

I'll second that folding flat floor. Why didn't someone think of that YEARS ago? What a handy-dandy item.

 

[WMcGuire]

Ditto on the fold flat floor w/premium cloth seats, go with the SLT package unless you just gotta have the leather and electronic gimmicks (kinky?), the breakaway towing mirrors are in my estimation pick two, followed by #3, the towing package, it'll be there if you ever need it.

 

[patrickreyn]

wait until 2005 and you wont get a defective rear that howls and that chysler will not fix. they have notified dealers that they will not replace any more noisy rear ends.

 

[JPalese]

Here are what my wife LOVES about the quad cab we got:



heated seats

folding rear floor--great for groceries et al

towing mirrors



It's a 3. 73 with 48RE, tow package, leather seats & fog lights.

 

[swexlin]

wait until 2005 and you wont get a defective rear that howls and that chysler will not fix. they have notified dealers that they will not replace any more noisy rear ends

Patrick, you have now spammed several threads with this. We get the idea that somehow you have been wronged by DC, and you may have a legitimate complaint. I did notify the site moderator.

 

[opjohnny]

My wife likes the radio controls on the backside of the steering wheel. It is a tough call between the SLT and the Larim "lite" package. I have not seen the price diff but it might be worth a close look. I saw an st in Fla that had a chrome grill with the stock wheels and it still looked good. I second the load floor and tow package, the cab lights fog lights and tow mirrors can be added later. The prem seat with the extra storage is worth the price of addmission.

 

[ksadz]

just made the same move - yukon denali to 3500. absolutely no comparison in power, that cummins is awesome. i agree about the folding back seat platform thing. i'll miss the enclosed storage of the yukon and that's a decent substitue. my gut feel is that the 3. 73 should be fine for anything but the heaviest loads. i've got the auto, 3. 73 because i have to commute in it but i can't imagine this truck having any problems pulling my current 2 horse bumper pull and soon to come 3 horse gooseneck.



One thing she probably Won't like is the cab smell at idle that's been discussed a lot. That's the only thing my wife didn't like and I agree with her.

 

[Thoennes]

cab smell

i have a new 04 305 and my sister has a new 04 325 both with about 1000 miles and they have had very little cab smell and i only had it for about 300 miles . every once in a while you may get a slight odor if door is opened and engine is running but we got use to it. my wife drives truck to work everyday and loves it.

 

[RankRam]

Thoennes welcome to TDR and how does the 305 and 325 compare mileage wise?

 

[Thoennes]

i get 20-22 mpg running 65. in town 16-18 . the 325 gets 16 -17. 5 running 65 , 12 -14 in town. we both took traval trailers out over the weekend , 30 mile trip running 50mph i got 17-18 they got 12-12. 5 my trailer weighs 6000lbs sisters trailer about 6500. trucks are not broke in by no means and i have seen the 325 hit 18. 2 at 65 on a 40 mile trip on interstate. we have had 8 new rams since 95 between us and all were 360 gas so the 04 ctd was a big step up and well worth it. both trucks are 2500 short bed 4-doors with auto and 3. 73 rears.

 

[RankRam]

Thanks for the head to head info!

 

[911RAM]

Thanks for all the great info. We are going today to look at some and maybe buy one If the price Is right we will see and I'll let you know.

 

[911RAM]

Well we went to look at trucks, and she said that back seat is too



small. So we went to the ford dealer and she says thats what I



want a bigger back seat. I can't say I blame her but what about



the problems there haveing with the mpg on the cummins verses



the problems with the power Joke any comments thanks

 

[ceastmen]

I find with the flat load floor (100% worth the money) the dodge cab is great for cargo.



As far as more people room you'll probably have to wait until Dodge comes out with a full crew cab - 'cause you don't want to buy anything else.



My Laramie Quadcab longbox 04. 5 4x4 has a ton of storage room and all the gadgets you could ever want.



F**d may reconcile their probs, but the cummins is bulletproof from the get go, there are a few minor probs, but is mostly the junk surrounding the powerplant and not the powerplant itself. IMO.



good luck

 

[roperteacher]

I don't know about the rear end refusal to fix by DC, but my NEW rear end was put in today at 2200 miles... . No problems. I even asked about what I had heard and how they were supposedly not fixing noisy rear ends anymore... he said if a part fails, they have to honor the warranty. The rear in my truck went to howling and the replaced it. . just today!

 

[Mingoglia]

That's too bad about the rear ends. I wish they stuck with the Dana axles. I know some will swear the new axles are stronger... and they might be, but how often do folks really blow out a Dana 80h? ... even sled pulling.