Do You Like The New HD Rams?

[stephen bolger]

I will have to keep my 2000 ram.

The 2003 looks like a ford. and if I wanted a ford. I would buy a real ford crew cab. They should of left well enough alone.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

After seeing Steve's article (very great acticle by the way!) here's my take on it:



What *I* like

It looks great

I thoroughly spec'd out a 1500 and really like the interior

I think the cab has plenty of room and I like the 4 doors

4 doors without full Crewcab so it isn't difficult to maneuver & park

A quieter engine

A Non-EGR engine for 2003 and first half of 2004

Standard 4" exhaust

It comes with more HP than a DuraMax



Negatives

BOMBing difficulties due to:

--cramped engine bay especially around intake/exhaust

--Deep cowl like Andy Perrault mentioned

--Expensive injectors

Also that goofy Valvecover! (is that the injection control module stuck on top or what??)

Shortened bed on SB model

No character lines around wheelweels



Well that's my $. 02

 

[Boldt's Wagon]

What I like is, I don't have to bomb the engine to be equal to the performance level I now have with the 12 valve. Joe Donnelly says there will be a real, full size crew cab at May Madness. Just need gauges, Rhino Liner, Putco running boards, and fuzzy dice.

 

[Archive]

It'll be the best heavy duty 1/2 Ton X-tra cab on the market. This is what I would have expected from Toyota or Nissan. Daimler-Desoto STILL doesn't get it... . "Crew Cab" boys.



Let's face it men. If Ford had pulled this same stunt of making a "one ton pickup" out of an F150 X-tra cab, we'd all be laughing our rear ends off at our Ford buddies. Unforfunately for DC, I'm not amused, and I'm not buying. I'll hope for better in 2010. JMHO.



Is the new engine installed from under the truck?

 

[Bad340fish]

Well, if they didn't stick the engine up under the cowl area they would have a problem. The hood on the truck would be like a 69 Lincoln. And then you guys would whine about the hood being to long lol. Then the solution would be a... a... a a a a a V8 AHHH no lol.



I kinda like it, I saw a black sport 1500 today that was killer looking!!

 

[JConley]

I like the truck, but had to vote NO since it doesnt have the one thing I want. 4 full size doors!

 

[Ramafid]

Looks too much like a ford for me. From the rear and sides you almost can't tell the difference between the two. The interior I'm not crazy about either. The HO engine sounds nice but its not enough to make me run out and buy one. I'll keep my Y2K for a LOOONG time.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Originally posted by Evan A. Beck

Do you like the new HD Rams?

NO



I will be buying a v6 psd F150 supercrew and have a less expensive truck with real 4 doors!

 

[Morphious]

The new models convinced me to put the money into the truck I have, convert it to a true crew cab, and bomb the hell out of it.



Morph.

 

[FFutch]

One question....

how much room do you guys need!My little brother just bought a 2002 1500 Q. C. and I've checked it over. It seems plenty roomy to me. They took it out last weekend and loaded 4 people in it. One guy was way over 6' tall and he rode in the back no problem. My bro also has two kids(3 and 6 yrs. old )and has no prob. with car seats ect. Also some freinds of mine just bought one. He's almost 7' tall 300 lbs. and says he has no problems getting into the back seat and riding comfortably. I think you guys ought to at least check one out before you condemn it and buy a Phord or Chubby . Doug

 

[Fish On]

man, I am so frustrated with DC!!! I have permission to go spend the money on a new rig but there is no way. I refuse to pay full price for less than a full truck. If i'm goning to spend the money I want a full 8' bed and 4 real doors that access a real crew cab. They just don't get it!!! I agree with other posts... I am a full size human being and it looks impossible to get in and work on the new motor given it's location. Looks like it is time to order DTT transmission stuff for the '96 and keep driving it!!!

 

[Cummins Corvette]

The ceo's or whoever at DC that made the choice for no crue cabs are dumber than bricks. DO YOU HERE ME DC??!!!!! D-U-M-B-E-R THAN BRICKS!!!!!! YOU ARE SUCH PATHETIC FOOLS!! Then there is this shoe-horn the engine in as tightly as possible and make it as difficult as possible to work on business. I wish they would just not have an opening hood so as not to toy with us. At least then we wouldn't even try to work on it and get all scraped up.



THIS IS TOTAL BULL DC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Maybe they are coming out with a true crue cab and think they are cute or something by waiting until the last second to bring it out or tell us about it. Well that makes Ford happy, all the people who are sick of waiting and need a real crue cab are buying Fords. DUMBER THAN BRICKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: One question....

Originally posted by FFutch



. I think you guys ought to at least check one out before you condemn it and buy a Phord or Chubby . Doug

I have to agree with you Doug. I have looked at the 1500 and set in the back. It's got plenty of room. I would hate to give up the Cummins for a few inches of rear space :--) . I don't think Dodge will lose any "real" Cummins guys to the Ford or Chevy Crew cabs. I also think they will pickup some Ford and Chevy buyers with this new configuration. Now if they could only come up with a way to make the new ISBe sound like the ISB, I would be happy

 

[kchristopher]

Re: Re: Do You Like The New HD Rams?

Originally posted by Smokin Joe





NO



I will be buying a v6 psd F150 supercrew and have a less expensive truck with real 4 doors!

I'm curious how many people who object have actually gone to the dealer and sat in the new cab. I did and the F150 supercrew had about the same room as the dodge. There wasn't a superduty around so I couldn't directly compare them.



I did sit in the rear of the dodge and get comfortable, then go to the front and find a comfortable driving position. After that, I returned to the rear and was still comfortable. Guys, I'm 6'4" and none of my rear seat passengers are anywhere close to my height. If you run a construction crew and everybody is over 6', then it may not be your truck if you believe in carpooling. Otherwise it seems to be okay. Dodge has identified a cab that will suit the needs of 95% of the population. Looking at the poll results, it appears to be a classic case of silent majority/vocal minority even on the hard-core TDR forum.

 

[stephen bolger]

you don't have to give up the cummins if you buy a ford. just get a real heavy duty ford like a 550 or 600 crew cab.

 

[wcaldwell]

I think whoever purchases this beast needs to also get the decal that says "Fear This" and put it on backwards on the windshield or bugshield so those in the baby pickups with the "No Fear" on their rear windows will be able to read "Fear This" in their rear-view mirrors. This beast looks extremely intimidating - about like the "Rotweiller" in the "I want a Rotweiller, not a Poodle" story. Oo.

 

[FATCAT]

I'll take one of the new ones if it has this on the outside AND on the INSIDE!!! Since they are shoehorning the ISBe into the truck, might as well shoehorn something worthwhile.





#ad

 

[Beast2B]

I drive a SuperDooky Phord CrewCab for work, and there is NO comparison in rear seat room. I am 6' tall, and with the front seat all the way back, in the rear there is at least ONE FOOT of space from my knees and the front seat!

My kids are 15 (6'1" boy) and 17 (5'9" girl), and when we take my QuadCab anywhere (rarely), they are cramped, I am cramped from moving my seat, and it's NOT comfortable for anyone except my 5'4" wife!

Give me my ETH/DEE with a real back seat and a shortbed and I will be happy! Look how many CrewCabs Ford sells... construction, landscaping, anywhere a crew of 5 or 6 needs to go with a load and I am VERY surprised that Dodge hasn't taken that market by storm!

Enough ranting? Sorry, but DC seems thick-skulled on this one!

 

[MCummings]

Originally posted by Beast2B

My kids are... and 17 (5'9" girl)...

Yah, Yah,, enough with all that QC ain't a foor door,,

Who's you Daughter? She good Lookin'?



LOL J/K I'm 19. Just givin' ya a good ribbin'



I've got an awesome girl, she loves my truck,, she loves me.

I was talking to her about my truck and about EGT's and she started asking "Why?" heh,, just the words I wanted to hear,, So I started explaining to her how all the motor works and she was just hangin' on the words.

I have a hard time believeing I found a HOT Girl with a brain similar to mine,, especially when it comes to cars/motors.



She says she likes to watch the other cars and drivers on the roads,, especially the imports,, who they think they are hot snot,,,, she likes to look at their expressions on their faces when we race 'em,,

:--)



LOL,, We have a good time,,



What were you saying again??

Oh yah, something about a QC,, I like mine,, It keeps kids from jumping around in the back. If it's tight,, too bad. You'll live. The new 4-doors will be a big improvement,, and you won't have to be able to touch the tailgate just to get stuff from the backseat when you are sitting in the front seats. You can also actually turn around in less than a city block.



Merrick Cummings

 

[Beast2B]

Lucky for her...

... she looks a lot more like her Mom!

To some extent, I agree with you Merrick. I don't ride in the back, and I wanted the Dodge Cummins, so tough S**T for everybody else! Comparing my 155" wheelbase to the 156" wheelbase of a Crewcab shortbed Phord tells me that handling/turning radius would be mighty close... I drive a crewcab Phord SuperDooky Powerjoke longggggggbed for work, and I think driving, parking, handling is all relative when you decide to drive a 20' rig like yours, mine or even a Phord!

:--) :--)