First 2005 Here On Lot!! -- 8-13-04

[Tomeygun]

Well, the first 2005 diesel just rolled in not 5 minutes ago



I was the one to put the first mile on it, woo-hoo!



And the noted changes are:



1) lift pump not behind the filter (usually is right?)

2) badging in rear tailgate - "HEAVY DUTY" on left side, rams head in middle under handle

3) radio controls are different, the volume knob does not sink in anymore



the advertised HP is the same - 325, so no max hp changes



Let me know if anyone has any ?'s . . that i might be able to answer

 

[KCJackson]

Hmmmm... just "HEAVY DUTY" on the left tailgate? I know the new Dak says "DAKOTA" on the left, so I was expecting "RAM 2500/3500" there.



The lack of changes certainly puts more fuel to the projected freshening for MY06.

 

[thejeepdude]

The lack of changes certainly puts more fuel to the projected freshening for MY06.

Which, rumor has it, will include a grill more streamlined like that on the new dakota... blech... 2005, the last year of the REAL RAM trucks!



Hey Tom, was the 2005 you have a Laramie? If it's taupe, was the inset suede leather a different color than it used to be? I saw a few late 2004's with light gray inerts instead of the light tan that was in every other truck I saw, and wondered if that will be the new 2005 standard. Also, it had polished [not painted] aluminum rims, right? Did you get a chance to get it up to highway speed and reset the MPG and see what it averaged over a couple miles at 65? Man I can't wait for mine to get here!

Oo.

 

[XcumminsX]

pics of the ram head please?

 

[Helohauler]

Tom,

Any idea when you'll have full literature and specs for the '05?

I am chomping at the bit to get into a 3500 Laramie SRW, with all the goodies; not sure of short or long bed. I'm waiting to see all that DC is offering this model year.

Also where are you now on price related to Invoice?

Thanks,

Tim

 

[Mingoglia]

I think the new interior that's planned will make the new truck worth it. Looks more like the new Dakota and LESS like a Caravan. But the big change will be the rumored mega cab. The mega (lame name) cab is what I'm really waiting for. When the 3rd gen was released I refused to give Dodge anymore of my money until they came out with a REAL crew cab (Ford size). To me this is the only thing lacking in my 2nd gen and if I could have the mega crew in a 2nd gen I would jump at it.



IMHO, 3rd gen design flaws:

1) Softer suspension (and lower suspension). This is real lame.

2) Goodyear tires.

3) mini-van interior.

4) Dodge attemping to "throw us a bone" with their "interpretation" of a crew cab.

5) American axle (stout axle, lame limited slip, noisy)

6) Electric shift tranfer case in all but base model.



I think it's fairly well know that Chrysler has been pissy with Dana for several years. I remember back when I was looking at Jeeps hearing from multiple sources how Chrysler was mad at Dana because they wanted them to quiet down the Dana 44 on the Grand Cherokee because as they quieted down the vehicle more and more the axle whine was becoming a problem. Dana for the most part told them to screw off. I believe this was one of the things that started Chrysler down the path of looking for another vendor. Yeah, on paper it's a little stouter, but who really cares? I'm sure we'll start seeing Dana axles axed on upcoming redesigns of future DC vehicles. Jeep will probably be last because they may receive a public outcry from Jeep loyalists.



Mike

 

[Helohauler]

Tom,

Also, have you heard anything related to auty tran and exhaust brake?

DC really needs to get off their corporate butts on this issue.

 

[tschwab]

Tom,



Was it a Laramie? If so, did it still have the same polished silver/aluminum around the radio area? Did it have the polished aluminum wheels? What brand of tires? Is the Cummins badge at the front of the fender or at the rear of the front fender... . I have seen some 3500's SRW with them at the rear of the front fender.

 

[thejeepdude]

IMHO, 3rd gen design flaws:

1) Softer suspension (and lower suspension). This is real lame.

2) Goodyear tires.

3) mini-van interior.

4) Dodge attemping to "throw us a bone" with their "interpretation" of a crew cab.

5) American axle (stout axle, lame limited slip, noisy)

6) Electric shift tranfer case in all but base model.

1. The suspension on the 3rd gen is better than the 2nd gen. Period. If you want it higher, that's really simple to do. Who really cares if it's lower, since you can fit a larger tire stock than you could with a 2nd gen. Amazingly when I compared, a stock 3G sitting next to my 2G was actually TALLER, so I think it's just an optical illusion.



2. The stock tires always suck no matter what brand they are.



3. AGREED. I hate the 3rd gen interior and it's the biggest hangup I had when selling my 2G to upgrade. I like the 2G interior much better. But the 3G has enough other improvements to make it worthwhile, and at least there's a KFC hook now. hehe



4. DISAGREE... I don't think they were TRYING to make a full size crew cab. I think they knew a lot of people like their trucks because you can get 4 doors without having to drive a school bus down the road. I believe they will address the needs of those who want a larger cab, but they saw the niche in the market and took it. I hope when they come out with the Mega Cab they still keep the current quad cab design as an option!



5. AAM has it's ups and downs. The limited slip is BETTER than the Dana LSD in my opinion. It's just a different design that works with a different purpose in mind. What's the point of a LSD that relies on clutches when they only last about 30K then your LSD does NOTHING? While I like the Detroit True-Trac better as far as gear-style LSD's go, the AAM design isn't too bad, definitely better than the old "trash-lok". I still plan to put a real locker in someday, though.



6. Actually you have that flipped... it's MANUAL tcase lever in all but the HIGHEST model. I just ordered a fully loaded Laramie J package with the manual tcase lever because I don't want that electric crap. I'd hardly call that a base model.



Like you said... "IMHO"

 

[Mingoglia]

BTW, this is a friendly debate... no hard feelings.



1) My biggest point with the suspension is how stiff it is. Height isn't a real big deal to me, although I think a little higher looks better. I've never put a lift kit on anything I own which backs up that point. I do want a stiffer suspension though. My friends are always impressed how little my truck sags under my trailer. The friend I go with with a Chevy just bought air bags, and the other ('04 Ford) has some after market spring kludge to make his site level (he has slightly less tongue weight actually than me). Yeah, I can buy some airbags... but I believe a 1 ton truck shouldn't squat much past level on all but the heaviest travel trailers.



2) I disagree (IMHO) about the stock tires. The stock Michelin tires that used to come on the 2nd gen are outstanding tires. It is my opinion that these are the best load range E tires available. I wish the same tires were available on the new trucks but I understand that when you go with a bigger disk, you need bigger wheels and I believe the Michelin isn't available in the required size. This is how I understand it, haven't verified this first hand though. BTW, I had such good luck with the Michelin tires on my 2nd gen, that I put the exact same tires on when I replaced mine about 2 months ago.



3) Yes, the new improvements and increased fit and finish of the 3rd gen is very very nice. ... and well, we agree on the look.



4) I'm not sure what part of the country you're on, but in Arizona Dodge can learn from the product leader. It is very very rare to see a Ford Super Duty that is NOT a crew cab here. Ford's (up until the new coil front suspension that's just being released now) has an absolutely terrible turning radius which is made worse by the longer crew cab... but yet look at how many of these trucks are sold each year. This may not be the case in other states, so I may not be looking at the big picture here. I do agree about the current "crew" cab. I hope Dodge also offers it for the folks that don't require the increased space. Or personally, I think they could make it closer to the 2nd gen in size and then also offer the full crew. This way the folks that need the extra seat on occasion could have an even shorter truck if they want to...



5) Yeah, the LSD in the Dana is a joke. I never really take that into account because I really don't care much on a heavy duty truck. If it was my Jeep, I would take this into account, but I don't care on the truck. Unfortunately most people don't realize that the clutch packs have a very limited life.



6) I'll stand corrected on this one. I thought when I was looking at the 3rd gen originally that I was going to have a hard time finding a truck with a manual transfer case if I wanted an equiped truck. I really don't like the electric transfer cases. If something goes on the blink you can be screwed. I don't care too much if it's on my wife's Navigator (yeah, I have a Ford product) but we only use that every now and then in the snow when we go up north and I never use 4-lo. It just makes me very nervous that I may get stuck in 4-Lo at the dunes. I go to the dunes twice a month and pull my heavy trailer to our camping spot it 4-Lo. Sometimes I'm pretty hard on it while attempting to NOT get stuck (never had my Dodge stuck in the sand, btw). My biggest fear is getting stuck 300 miles from home watching the 4-lo light flashing at me because it can't disengage. At least with the shift lever and I can yank on it and swear if necessary to try to get it to disengage. I would feel like I was getting somewhere if me and two buddies had to all grab the handle and yank as hard as we could trying to get it disengaged... . the switch just doesn't have that satisfaction.



Mike

 

[lawdog]

The lift pump is gone as we knew it, It is now in the tank... ... ... on the 2005 that is

 

[Mingoglia]

You're kidding me? The pump is finally in the tank? Holy Crap! I may trade up just because of that. Finally, a pump that designed to push fuel is where it should be. That's actually very good news. Perhaps Dodge is listening. Would be cool if they would let us retrofit our existing trucks.

 

[Pawpaw]

2) I disagree (IMHO) about the stock tires. The stock Michelin tires that used to come on the 2nd gen are outstanding tires. It is my opinion that these are the best load range E tires available. I wish the same tires were available on the new trucks but I understand that when you go with a bigger disk, you need bigger wheels and I believe the Michelin isn't available in the required size. This is how I understand it, haven't verified this first hand though. BTW, I had such good luck with the Michelin tires on my 2nd gen, that I put the exact same tires on when I replaced mine about 2 months ago.

Michelins are still stock on 3rd Gens. Mine came with them.



Bob

 

[KCJackson]

For those wondering... this is the 05 Dak tailgate, but the Ram head logo is the same

 

[rashwor]

Now if the lift pump on the '05s will just last better than the carters on the side of the engine. More of a ***** to change if it goes out as often as the carters.



I do hope it is better.

 

[tschwab]

Tom,



No EGR... ..... Right?

 

[Mingoglia]

Now if the lift pump on the '05s will just last better than the carters on the side of the engine. More of a ***** to change if it goes out as often as the carters.



I do hope it is better.

I'm pretty confident that that will be the case. I don't think that the Carter's were that bad, they were just impleneted incorrectly. A fuel pump does a lot better pushing than pulling. I would say they probably will be an item now that you don't think about much such as a gasser's fuel pump... at least I hope.



Mike

 

[y-knot]

My second gen came with a very good set of GoodYear tires. The interior is very lame, almost to the point of being ugly. That was my biggest disapointment, the matterials look cheap and it does not look like it should be in a 2004 truck. The extra ponies were nice, but then again i was disapointed in the overall performance of the truck, I think I expected more from the readings I reveiwed. The new 4-door design is nice, and I am sure most welcome it. But it is not all that much more room for the rear seated pasengers, and falls short when compared to Ford and Chevy's models. I missed all the extras that were standard on the STL 2nd gen, the insulation of those models were marginal, but this new truck has almost none. It doesn't sound like the 2005 models will be anything big, the only great thing about the 2004's were the 600, 15 more foot pounds of torque, which could be matched 4 times over by a simple box. Maybe 2006? Maybe they will offer the Power Wagon in a diesel then?? The liberty is a move in the right direction, I would not want one, but I can see that other would, I hope it does well. Everyone is different, but for me getting a new 3rd gen truck would not be a up-grade at all, I don't think it's near the truck they once produced. Just my thoughts

 

[nickleinonen]

The stock Michelin tires that used to come on the 2nd gen are outstanding tires. It is my opinion that these are the best load range E tires available. I wish the same tires were available on the new trucks but I understand that when you go with a bigger disk, you need bigger wheels and I believe the Michelin isn't available in the required size. This is how I understand it, haven't verified this first hand though. BTW, I had such good luck with the Michelin tires on my 2nd gen, that I put the exact same tires on when I replaced mine about 2 months ago.

my truck came with the michelins in the 265/70 flavour. them POS's were under my truck for 5 days then i got rid of them. they look like little donuts under the truck...

 

[Tomeygun]

heck no, not that i could find...



I can say though, the truck had a bit more pick-up than i remember the 04 "600" have,



Like the bottom end was a bit stronger - so i hopped in my TST'ed SO/5-spd, AND i would still take my truck over the 05's power band



only time will let about the fuel pump - our techs say that was the idea though, to make like all the high HP guys do -use a pusher pump- ... Funny dodge finally took after the people who know, the big HP consumer that had to custom modify to make due



till later