Experence with not keeping the Ram in the garage or car port

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How do these trucks hold-up if your garage is not big enough to hold the truck? What colors stay looking good longer? Problems that you have found? Part of the reason I want a Reg. cab 3500 is because a QC 3500 won't fit in my garage. I live out on a private road so I am not affraid of it being stolen. But I don't want it to rust away sitting out side all of the time. Your thoughts

Dennis

Dennis

 

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I live in the rain belt and have had many vehicles that sat outside year round. I didn't feel that hurt them at all. More concern is the salt they put on the roads at times. I would get a portable shelter that you can buy at Costco for a reasonable price. More than a concern about rust, I just like to have a frost free windshield in the morning and no snow to sweep off. Luckily we get more rain than snow.

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98 2500 SLT, QC 12V, 4X4, Auto, 4:10's, SB, 285 BFG's on Mickey Thompson Challengers, LSD, Alpine alarm, Tekonsha brake controller, 5th wheel hitch, DeeZee stainless boards, Stull billet grille, MTX Thunder sub enclosure, Kenwood amp, Trans. temp gauge, CB radio, White/Driftwood, Camel interior. BINFORD TOOLS decal on rear window

[This message has been edited by Brian (edited 11-01-2000). ]

 

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I feel that sun on the interior is the biggest problem. Lots of shades on the market to fix that. As far as colors I'm partial to driftwood,it dosn't show dirt/watermarks much at all and is light enough to not get hot in the sun.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,driftwood,Banks&phscotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

 

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Originally posted by illflem:
I feel that sun on the interior is the biggest problem. Lots of shades on the market to fix that. As far as colors I'm partial to driftwood,it dosn't show dirt/watermarks much at all and is light enough to not get hot in the sun.

Driftwood is nice but no longer offered on the new ones. As you can see that is what I have and agree about not showing dirt etc.

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96 2500 4x4 Driftwood auto Waren 4x boards pyro,boost,trans temp on a piller mag hytec trans

[This message has been edited by TRACY MURPHY (edited 11-01-2000). ]

 

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I have the 01-2500 in white. It's close to the driftwood in not showing dirt but I try to keep it clean to avoid this. Also I have put 3 coats of teflon wax on since July. This helps bead the sun away and I use the foil type window insert for the dash. Seems to work pretty well. The paint and clear are thin on this truck. You would expect for a 30K truck more that a quart of paint would have been used.

 

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I have had 2 Dodge trucks, (first gas), and kept them both outside. Wash and wax regularly and you should have no problems. Live in Florida close to ocean, no rust no problem.

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1999 3500 quad cab, auto aero fendor trim and running boards,
bugflector II, K&N filter, Geno's monster tip

 

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The sun here in Florida is brutal on paint and interiors. Think of colors like what happens in the washing machine -- reds and blues fade badly. On a car, these are referred to as being "transparent" colors. Your truck's enemy is the sunlights UV rays. I agree that you MUST have tinted windows (aftermarket) and a windscreen sunshade. As for paint life, the colors most easily damaged by UVs are blue, red, silver metalic.
Silver is a red/blue-dominant color (paint mix). Keep a quailty 'wax' on it as well.

 

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I thought I was the only one with a garage not quite large enough to hold the beast! #ad
I enlarged the opening and modified my doors and it just fits! I have barn type doors and could not find anyone who makes a auto door opener so I designed my own using a "traditional" opener from Sears...

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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

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I have not kept my truck in the garage. Starting to notice some degradation on the dr side int door trim. Wish the first owner would have undercoated it. Doors have rusted, that problem was supposed to have been fixed. I do live in the salt belt though...
It's a pain scraping snow and ice. Flip your heat control to defrost when you park it, use a timer on the block heater and the windshield will clear faster in the morning.

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'94 3500 4x4, 201,000 miles, Never had a cat, Auto w/shift kit (currently under remodification), 3. 54 Gears, TST #5 plate, 235-85-16s, Rancho 9000s w/remote, Isspro gauges inplace of cupholder & Amsoil Bumper to Bumper. NRA member.
"Warrantee? We don't need no stinking warrantee!"

 

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Main reason I got white paint is its resistance to UV rays. That and a sun reflector behind the windshield and UV problems should be minimal, only need to worry about the rubber trim. I use a UV protectant designed for rubber rafts that works great (forgot the name however).

I can park inside the garage, but I only have about 2" clearance front-to-rear. Its such a hassle that I usually park outside.

During the winter keeping the truck inside in nice because the windows are clear and truck doesn't get so cold. With a block heater your OK outside, just need to clean off the windows when it snows.

For rust, the important thing is to clean off salt and dirt. Just being wet isn't going to hurt. If you put you truck in the garage all icy, its going to be wet all night anyway, might even be better to leave it outdoors with the ice frozen instead of having it melt all night long.

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Just got my 2001 2500 QC, SB, 4x4, ETH 6-sp, 3. 54 LSD, SLT++ (everything but those lights on top of the roof), White over Silver, Tan leather. Picked it up 8/31/00.

[This message has been edited by Ski Bum (edited 11-01-2000). ]

 

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Originally posted by Dane:
I have barn type doors and could not find anyone who makes a auto door opener

<font color = blue> We built our home in England about three years ago and our garage is definitely not UK-standard. It holds both the 3500QC and a tall 1982 Chevy K-5 on 40 inch tires. We found a company who deals in Industrial Door Openers here in England and they installed a wireless remote system which operates the two wooden sectioned doors independently 9. 5 feet wide and 13 feet tall for access clearance (The Chevy's roof is almost 11. 5 feet tall). These doors and the opening system are definitely heavy duty and well recommended.



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JMc

2001 Flame Red Sport 3500 QC, 5. 9L 24v Cummins, 4x4 Auto, 3. 54/LSD, 155 inch WB, Agate leather, Camper Special & Trailer Tow Groups , Sliding Rear Window, WAAG sidetubes with dually kickouts, Line-X UTR Bedliner & underseal, Grover Airhorns, Lance 1130 slide-in Camper, 60 gallon Aerotank, RS9000s, Reese Titan class 5 hitch, Roadmaster XX, in planning stages... . Gauges, Mag-Hytec, Exhaust Brake, Psychotty Air, Prime-Loc, 4" exhaust, Injectors, Rickson 19. 5" wheels, , Bill K. VB & TC.

 

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Dennis, Just wash the truck and wax it every once in a while and you will have no problems with the paint. None of mine have fit after I put bigger tires on them so they always sit outside. no problems yet. Pete

 

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I just finished building a new 24'x20' carport that will fit two Rams. Just a metal roof,4-6"x6"x12' treated posts,2-6x8-20' I-beams,rafters 1x4s and a gravel floor. Total cost was $939 including concrete for the posts. Metal roofing was on sale and lumber is at a all time low right now. I might add a couple of walls later. Took half a day to dig holes and set posts and another full day to finish the rest with just my daughter helping. If you have the room this is a good way to go,sure beats sweeping snow off the rigs,and the shade is nice also.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,driftwood,Banks&phscotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

 

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My white '96 has always sat out in the hot Texas or Louisiana sun.

I use a big windshield reflector to keep the cabin temp down. I also have tint all the way around (tint on tint).

I haven't noticed any discoloring of the inside or outside.

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'96 4x4, 2500 extended, 5-Stick, TST, big stereo, MP3 player, GPS, Kodiak Sidewinder steps.

 

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I'm doing the Costco $159. 00 tent thing. It's over two years old now, and will need to be replaced soon. I hope it stands through the winter.
It might *just* make it in the garage, but I'd have to move the toolbox, reloading bench, motorcycle..... the list goes on.
Besides, after a 14 hr day, I dont want to spend 1/2 hr shoehorning it in.
Mine is black (wash it, and 15 minutes later it's dirty) and I havent noticed any unusual discoloration on the paint or interior.
I try to wax it once a month, but this dont always work out.

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98 Quad cab 4X4 2500 12 valve,5 speed,3. 54 rears, 8' bed. Boost and egt gauges but basicly stock except for a "properly adjusted" AFC. Cat in the garage. Uniden HR 2510, Texas Star 1200 amp. 59,000 Mi as of 10/21/00.
NRA life member. High power/IDPA.

 

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I've got plenty of width and length, it's the vertical measurement that's the problem. The clearance lights just barely clear the door which rules out the raised roof campershell I wanted to put on it. Drag. #ad


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'01 2500 QC LB 2WD 6sp HO SLT+ leather 3. 54 ltd slp BLACK trailer tow and the all important cab lights. (for hauling motorcycles)

95 Freightliner FLD132 70" Condo 470 Detroit 13spd 3. 36 (to pay for motorcycles)
89 H-D FXRS, 99 Triumph 955i, 86 Suzuki GSXR750 ltd, 00 Aprillia SL1000

98 Yamaha YZF-R1(race), 95 Kawasaki ZX7(race)

 

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Let some air out of the tires.

 

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Originally posted by Ski Bum:
Main reason I got white paint is its resistance to UV rays... I use a UV protectant designed for rubber rafts that works great (forgot the name however).

My main reason for white is that it is soooo much cooler in the summer. I literally use the A/C two months less per year. The protectant you are thinking of is "303 Aerospace Protectant" http://www.httg.com/uv_protectant.htm
It is much better than the competition, IMHO. Rafters use it because it doesn't have silicon, which tends to prevent the adhesives from sticking. Not that anyone I know has ever needed to patch their raft... #ad


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2001 ETH, QC, LWB, 4WD, 3. 54, SPA Pyro & Boost, K&N RE-880 w/foam pre-cleaner, ARE Z-series Cab-high shell, Rear ARB locker, and all kinds of synthetic fluids...

 

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If you keep your Ram outside, like I am forced to do, the secret is to wash it every week and wax it at least twice a year. The biggest enemy of the paint is the pollution in the air that settles on the paint and eats away at it over the years. A good coat of wax is a good barrier to have in place.

I wash my truck whenever it looks like it needs to be washed. Sit in the drivers seat and look out the windshield. If it's dirty, it's time to wash it. I know that it's a task to wash these beasts, but if you want it to look good and get the most for it when you sell it or trade it, wash it every week.

By the way, I do my own handwashes. I'm not going through any automated carwash.

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CJ in RSM, CA
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT Quad Cab, 6spd,ETH,4x2,4. 10 Limited Slip, Trailer tow hitch, long bed

 

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365x24x7 My Ram sits outside with my 2 hybrids. They don't seem to mind and neither does the truck.

Wash frequently, nope. I live on a dirt road, so what is the point of a good wash except to help the mud stick to the paint. It seems to reach a level of grime and stays there until a good rain.

The first winter I had the truck, it went 6 weeks with the temp below freezing. No paint cracks or unexplained chips anywhere!

The ESPAR helps to save wear on the engine and I am a fanatic about taking care of fluids, etc. As for the paint,I live in Northern Vermont and just have to pay the price for wear and tear to enjoy the lifestyle I prefer.

I bought some property with a barn on it and planned to use it for the RAM. But, ... the wife got it first by bringing a horse home...

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99' SB 4x4 : DDI's, HOT PE, SPA dual gauge, ESPAR, Line-X OTR, Ladder bars, AMSOIL, etc (GPS,Cell,CB,... . )