Confession to make ... I need Absolution!

[FATCAT]

Yesterday was Presidents day and for the first time in my working life I had it off.



Went to Home Depot to pick up some stuff and decided to stop by the Dodge dealer in Farmington NH.



Asked to see one of the new Diesel 3500's. Got the (what seems to be typical), "Sorry, we don't have any right now ... we don't even have a diesel in stock".



This is the 5th Dodge dealer I have stopped by that neither have had a 3500 and/or a diesel in stock.



Question: Is Dodge in the truck business any more or just in the flashy 1500 grocery getter truck business? WTF!!!! Apparently they just like to **** off the truck buying people.



So I went across the street to a new (old business just new location) Ford dealer to see what they had . . Humm F750's, f650's (some with crew cabs), and F550's gallor! I spoke with a salesman about the F550. They had a bunch, one very nice one with a 4yrd dump, superduty everything ... only bad thing was it was a automatic. And the price ... $42000 ... not bad I thought.

Then I saw a F550 Crew Cab 200" with a rackbody on it. Could easily put that 4yrd dump on it the guy said.



Man, I tell ya it was mighty tempting ... especially since my truck is down with a rear axle seal leak.



I am really getting sick and tired of this promise that "there is one coming in the next few years" I heard at one Dodge Dealership, then the salesman at the Dodge place yesterday said there was nothing in the works for 4500 or 5500 or Chaise Cabs!!!



Is it at least too much to ask for Dodge dealers to at least have at a minimum 3 or 4 3500's on the lot with at least 1 or two with a diesel?



It just seems that Dodge is selling promises, and Ford is selling reality.



Man I'm just ****** off ... help me get over it.

 

[JFinke]

Around here the majority of Dodge's are diesel 4X4. If you go to a dealer he will have about 8 4X4's maybe 1 2wd and 2-3 gassers. But it's only about 140 miles to Dave Smith, who typically has the lowest prices and at least 5-10 various optioned trucks in every color. A friend just got an 04 3500 SRW, and he was after a 2500, but they were selling the 3500 cheaper than the 2500 and not ordering the 2500's in uless they were special ordered.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Fatcat, if there's TONS of a certain product available, it should tell you something about the desirability (particularly lack thereof) of that product.



Also there's been a couple of early issues with the new 600s that may be slowing supply. Vaughn

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

IF we're talking versatility, and a BROAD ranging product line, you can't beat Ford with all their different levels of trucks and capabilities. Dodge is fine for the general towing, domestic and medium contractor/construction use - after that, they're out of it.



And anyone waiting for that bigger, better, larger Dodge somewhere around the bend better not be holding their breath!



If DC doesn't have the product you want NOW, it's likely you won't be seeing it in the near future! In a larger commercial truck, a Ford 650 or bigger with a Cat engine would be hard to beat!



Heresy perhaps, but the truth as *I* see it!

 

[SEmerson]

Daimler has no clue what the US market wants. And thay dont seem to care to find out. Maybe if we all learn to speak german we can be heard????:-{}

 

[Cummins4Life]

Thats weird, every dealer around here as about 2:1 diesels per gasser in 2500 and 3500.

 

[MO'Donnell]

Let your mouse do the walking...

In some areas Diesel's either don't move (and aren't stocked), or are bought as they are being backed off the transport truck. It isn't that Dodge ain't making them, the DEALERS are not (able) stock them. Go to the Dodge web site, and look for trucks. Start with your zip code and expand the net until you find what you're looking for.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"Go to the Dodge web site, and look for trucks. Start with your zip code and expand the net until you find what you're looking for. "



I'll take a full crewcab 550 cab-chassis - where do I look... ? ;

 

[FATCAT]

Ditto to what Gary said ...

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

"Go to the Dodge web site, and look for trucks. Start with your zip code and expand the net until you find what you're looking for. "



I'll take a full crewcab 550 cab-chassis - where do I look... ? ;

This is the gist of my dismay ... the availability of a 4500/5500 version ... not so much the lack of 3500's on the lot.



What would it take for them to upgrade the axle's (6K front, 12K rear) like the F550 and have it ready for 3rd party body installation.



Maybe there is a way to order a F550 with an engine/transmission DELETE. ???



One thing that was particularly disturbing was looking under the hood of the new F550 Powerstroke ... it was as horrifying as a nude picture of Rosie O'Donald. WHAT A NIGHTMARE ... how do these mechanics change the oil filter or fix anything in there!



And there is the major point of my dismay ... I do not want to give up the Cummins under any circumstances.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

WELL, I was only making a joking point last post...



Last I heard, you COULD get a Cummins, or Cat, in the 650 class Fords - might be worth checking out - probably a special order setup, due to the wide variations in specific applications in these class trucks - not the sort of thing you would expect to see sitting on a dealer lot...

 

[FATCAT]

Well, there was a nice Cherry read F650 sitting next to a F550.

All decked out with a 5-7 yrd dump, Cat 3126, 6 or 7 speed (could'nt quite see it through the window) ... all for $59,995.



I don't want something that big ... especially since they don't come in 4X4 unless you want to pay another 15 to 20K to retrofit it.



The F550 size has the payload/tow capasity that I want. It looks like the 3500 Ram Cummins comes very close in the towing weight, but nowhere near in the payload capasity.



Also, I went to www.dodge.com and did a build for a 3500. You could not get the Cummins unless you go with the SLT Larrime trim and only in a short bed??? Whats up with that!!!!



I don't want no stink'in power windows/locks, leather, etc...



So who else in the same "boat" as me? Waiting for something that probably will never be available.

 

[DMC]

Fatcat:



If I wanted a dump truck. I would at least buy a FL70 Freightliner or something like that. Those trucks have great power options and will work hard. You ought to look around at some used trucks in that class, many can be had with really a good warranty. Not to mention the payload options.



Good Luck



Don

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by Vaughn MacKenzie

Also there's been a couple of early issues with the new 600s that may be slowing supply. Vaughn

What kind of issues?

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

IF we're talking versatility, and a BROAD ranging product line, you can't beat Ford with all their different levels of trucks and capabilities. Dodge is fine for the general towing, domestic and medium contractor/construction use - after that, they're out of it.



And anyone waiting for that bigger, better, larger Dodge somewhere around the bend better not be holding their breath!



If DC doesn't have the product you want NOW, it's likely you won't be seeing it in the near future! In a larger commercial truck, a Ford 650 or bigger with a Cat engine would be hard to beat!



Heresy perhaps, but the truth as *I* see it!

Good point to a point. I thought the the general consensus on that 275 Cat or whatever size it is was not that great?



My hay supplier has several trucks. One of his favorites is his F550 4x4 with the 7. 3PS. His only problem was some kind of sensor on the camshaft or something like that. It quit on him while making a delivery just out of warrenty.

 

[RustyJC]

You know, with DaimlerChrysler owning Dodge, Sterling, Freightliner, Mercedes-Benz, Detroit Diesel, etc. , one would certainly think that they could figure out some way to fill the void between the Ram 3500 and the Freightliner FL60.



Rusty

 

[GOTSOOT]

4500 & 5500`s

Go down to Mexico and you can see the 4500 and the 5500`s they are a reality, but not here yet!:--)

 

[RustyJC]

Yep, and you can also see Ram-based SUV's, but I'm not holding my breath until DC decide to market these products in the U. S.



Rusty

 

[FATCAT]

Where can you ...

go to get your opinion heard at DC?



Send them an email to the corporate headquarters? Their Marketing department (where ever that is)? A Customer feedback line (where ever that is).



There has to be some way for consumers to express their desires for DC products other than what the sales figures show.