Clunk Underneath The Bed

[Punkineater]

Hi all, I'm new here to TDR. I'm a first time diesel owner, but this is my fourth Dodge Ram. I own a 2004 2500 HO longbed with the 6-speed and have right around 700 miles on the odometer. My one and only problem is that when I hit a good sized bump or severe washboard road I can hear a distinct clunk coming from somewhere under the bed. The more severe the road or bump, the more severe the clunk. At first I thought the spare tire was loose, but that checks out nice and snug. Is anyone else experiencing this problem?



I'm learning a great deal here on TDR and this site helped me cement my decision to go Dodge again and this time to step up to a diesel (best decision I've made in a long time)... ... ... . Well the dieselstop website helped as well, but it only cemented my decision not to waste time with the new 6. 0 Powerstroke. I look forward to becoming a contributing member.

 

[SRadke]

Welcome to the site! I hope you can take away as much as I have.



As for your clunk I've got so much stuff in the back with the toolbox and all I just ignore the stuff bouncing from the bumps. Just how big are these bumps we're talking about? Speed bumps in a parking lot?



-Scott

 

[Punkineater]

I've never heard it at crawl speeds such as over a speed bump. It happens when traveling at speed, say 20 - 45 MPH over a washboard road or hitting a rough spot in the road.

 

[Blakers]

Check to see if your exhaust is hitting something when the truck flexes a little. Get under there and wiggle it around some. It's rubber mounted and there's some give, so if it moves, it may hit something.



Good luck,

Blake

 

[TW1]

My 2003 has the same noise, and I have not had the energy to check things out. I thought that the culprit may be the overload springs making contact with the regular springs... just a guess. I will be home in two weeks and will check into it further then.

 

[Task125]

Mine does it too,thought it might be the tailgate,I will check it out when temp goes above 0

 

[rbattelle]

First thing I'd check is the spare tire. Make sure it's tight up there. If it's not that, could be overloads (as mentioned), or exhaust (as mentioned). If it's none of those, it could be a loose fuel tank?

 

[PSAJB1]

Mine does it too! I though it was the factory bed liner lifting from the bed and flopping down. Been meaning to put some bags of sand or something in there to hold it down to see if it still does it. My 2 cents!

 

[BSkinner]

Do you have a fold flat floor? Is it snapped down?



Bob

 

[Ted Constantine]

Depending on the type of sound you are heard both exhaust and over loads are good options but I would check the rear sway bar links. They can be loose or sloppy at the frame end even at a young age.



HTH

Ted

 

[KBennett]

I have the noise as well. I only hear it when I leave my driveway in the morning and making slow turns where there is a dip in the pavement. It sounds to me like the bed or frame is twisting and causing something to rub or bang together.



Ted, I don't think we have sway bars on the 3G's, mine doesn't anyway.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Overload Springs

bCrowther I'm sure it's your overload springs. Mine does it all the time. There are overload perches where the overload springs make contact and they do it with a solid "thump!"



Vaughn

 

[Punkineater]

Thanks for the replies guys. Have to get out in the cold to install the new mudguards anyway so I'll get under there this weekend and do some thorough checking.

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by Ted Constantine

Depending on the type of sound you are heard both exhaust and over loads are good options but I would check the rear sway bar links. They can be loose or sloppy at the frame end even at a young age.



HTH

Ted

There is no rear sway bar on the 03 trucks. Didn't need one (apparently) due to the extra-stiff frame rails.

 

[Tony T.]

I to have heard this noise when hitting a bump or small dip in the road. Lot of times on the way to work, have this one certain place where it's unavoidable to miss this small bump. At first, I suspected the plastic bed-liner too, because it almost sounded like it lifting up an popping back down. It very well may be the overloads though.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Re: Overload Springs

Originally posted by Vaughn MacKenzie

bCrowther I'm sure it's your overload springs. Mine does it all the time. There are overload perches where the overload springs make contact and they do it with a solid "thump!"



Vaughn

Vaughn, I didn't think that 2500s had overloads for 03/04. Maybe they changed this because a number of guys have pointed the finger at these. My first guess was the exhaust hitting the frame but if the 2500s have overloads then that certainly is a distinct possibility. Cheers.



Casey

 

[ralphr]

I have heard the same "clunk" assumed it was my tool box and have not checked further. It makes the noise on a slow right turn, at least thats when I've noticed it.

 

[Lazy-Boy]

A handful of us with the 2nd Gen trucks had a thump. It sounded like it was coming from the bed but it was the front. Turned out to be the lower bolts that hold the front shocks in place (one on each side).

Tightened them once and never heard it again.

 

[InThinAir]

I have the same sound. It is definately not the spare. I heard it on the way home from the dealer. I pulled over immediately to check the spare, was completely tight. Watched someone almost kill an entire family with the spare falling out and hitting another car. So the overload idea is something I had not thought of. I have been under the truck looking for the sound and the fuel tank is tight and the driveshaft is tight. I will check the exhaust system also.



If anyone has come up with the fix let me know!!



---Doug

 

[willy1947]

I've heard the same thing. Got less than 1500 miles on my truck. I'll be checking it soon.



Thanks,

Dave