Do You Like The New HD Rams?

[EMD Diesel Power]

No Dana!!!!

Well... hmmmm... . :-{}



Looks like I'll be looking for a 2nd Gen truck like my old '96 when I get out of college... ... even if its got a 100k plus miles on it. :-D I'll just put new Danas and the 6-speed under it..... and of course the whole list of other stuff I want to do... . can u say :--) to the price tag? :-D :-D



Im growing onto the looks of the new HDs... . but it looks like DC went the ways of the cheap bids when they did the underpinnings. I BOMB for high HP and I expect it to stay together. Dana has always done that... . cant say that for American Axles with thier clunks that always seem to come with them. As for the engineroom..... well... Im not too happy there either... . not complaining on the maintenance end, but there isnt going to be much room for BOMBing projects on this puppy. take note of the turbo clearance by the shocktower. #@$%! #@$%!



If somebody just wants to throw money at me... Oo. Oo. Oo. I'll buy a new HD and one of those SRT10s... . :-D :-D Can never get enough power... . guess thats what I get for being an ex-locomotive technician.

 

[bschmidt]

An overall YES! but first my complaints! I don't like how low the front end is, but I've seen 1500's lifted and MY O MY do they demand authority! The same applies to the rear-end, just too low. As a landscaper, I am in and out of the bed literally dozens of times a day, and although getting stuff in and out can be difficult, I wouldn't want it any other way because everytime I'm behind the beast I'm just in AWE! OK NEXT, The dash is just too flat! I like some curves on the dash!! Although I'm a little dissapointed Dodge still doesn't offer a Crew Cab, I really don't mind because I'd be driving the rig. The only thing a real Crew Cab does for me is make the truck look bigger and hence meaner! And perhaps my biggest problem is with a quieter Cummins. I mean really, if you want quiet, buy a Duramax. I'd rather listen to that engine/turbo CUMMIN than anything, in fact I don't even know why I have a radio??? But I haven't heard one yet and therefore I can only HOPE it still sounds as distinct, and great, as they do now! O'Yeah, how could I forget the PACKED engine and the American Axles! They just get a DARN!

I realize my few is a bit partial in that most of my complaints are probably pluses for those TDR guys that just tow for miles, which I suspect is a majority, because my Landscape Oriented Upgrade Questions usually go unanswered! Besides, I want to justify myself in owning the "last of a great breed!!!"



So way to go DC! Nice "LOOKIN" truck!

~Brandon

 

[rmrc]

On second thought!!!!!

Ya know,,,,,,. The more I think about it, the more 'P Oed' I get regarding how DC shoe horned that new Cummins into the reduced engine compartment!



I'll still go and see one for myself when they come out later this year, but at this point,,,, I'm pretty sure that I'll just look for a good used 1st or 2nd generation truck. It's a matter of principle. DC, IMHO, has sent a clear message that they could care less for the owners or personnel that will service these trucks! I have always done my own maintainance and I think that what ever enjoyment I would get from owning this new model would be ruined when I have to go under the hood!!!!!



Time will tell!

 

[Archive]

Hiding half of the engine under a "cab forward" design IS a issue with me. I ran a search on head gasket failures and was none to happy with what I read. I'll wait and see what the fatherland comes up with on the 4500 series.

 

[PAYCHECK]

My Wife has a new 2002 1500 4 door(q. c. ). It has alot more room that my 2001 Q. C. I get to compare them side by side every night. They both look good in theryre own way. I like mine better(cummins?). We use her's around town and mine for the towing. Will i buy a new one? NO! I have a one ton swb now whats too improve?

 

[RWinkler]

I liked it so well I just bought one. 2004 dually 4x4. And I love it.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Even though they changed to AAM axles, death wobble is still standard.



Seams the coil sprung four link design is the contributing factor since Jeeps do it too.



Now Ford is switching to coil sprung fronts. It'll be interesting to see if Fords can keep it in check.

 

[DPelletier]

Wow,

Talk about a thread being resurrected from the dead.

Dave

 

[Blufrog]

Fun to read the post then look at the sig lines of each poster... hehehe

 

[Wiredawg]

Yep

New HDs are the logical next "evolution" in the big truck look. I have both 2d and 3d gen trucks, and I like the new one's as much as the older ones.



Wiredawg

 

[klenger]

When this poll was originally posted, we were voting pretty much on apearance only. Now that they have been out a couple of years, we have much more info to go on. If they had come out with a 4 door version using the 2nd gen styling, I think it would have been a winner. There are many improvements in the 3rd gens beyond the body styling.

 

[DGFoster]

I like mine,but if I had to do it all over again I would have kept my 2000.

 

[FDrake]

I like it!

http://members.aol.com/sirdrakejr/2004combo

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I like mine but if I had to do it all over again I'd put my 98 12v into my 04 3500.

 

[thejeepdude]

Originally posted by Yo Hoot

Even though they changed to AAM axles, death wobble is still standard.



Seams the coil sprung four link design is the contributing factor since Jeeps do it too.

I have a '98 Jeep TJ with 4. 5" lifted coils and 33" tires and have NEVER had death wobble... and there's gotta be at least 30 degrees of free play in my steering from smashing it on so many rocks (it's a play toy... well and a daily driver while I'm waiting for my '05 CTD). Also, my '99 CTD with coils in the front NEVER had death wobble, and trust me I've given it every chance to (driving fast over bumpy, negative sloped, sharp turns... jumping it across intersections with too much "hump" in the middle... ). Anyways, didn't want any potential buyers to read this thread and think it's really a problem with every truck... in fact given the percentage of people complaining about it, I'd say it's quite rare. I'll take the 4 arm, coil sprung, solid axle front end ANY DAY over a stupid IFS front end that doesn't belong on a REAL 4x4 TRUCK. Check this thread if you don't believe me, and pay close attention to what kentkroeker says is the very reason he designed his T-Rex suspension for these trucks instead of any other maker's.

 

[thejeepdude]

Originally posted by DGFoster

I like mine,but if I had to do it all over again I would have kept my 2000.

Why is that? I'm looking forward to all the advantages my '05 will have over the '99. Sure, I'll miss the beautifully loud rumble of the old 24V, but the new one won't eat through front brakes like tommy chong goes through a bag of Doritos. I also won't be worried about the &%^$ VP44 biting the dust when I'm 200 miles from civilization. Sure, I loved that truck, but that's exactly WHY I'm getting a 3G.

 

[DGFoster]

Originally posted by thejeepdude

Why is that? I'm looking forward to all the advantages my '05 will have over the '99. Sure, I'll miss the beautifully loud rumble of the old 24V, but the new one won't eat through front brakes like tommy chong goes through a bag of Doritos. I also won't be worried about the &%^$ VP44 biting the dust when I'm 200 miles from civilization. Sure, I loved that truck, but that's exactly WHY I'm getting a 3G.

I had quite a bit wrapped up in the 2000,only reason to trade was I had the #53 block and it scared me to death,but it was a great truck. This one is a good one also,so far not one problem,I just miss the ole girl:{