Here I am

I HAVE SEEN THE 4DR 2003 RAMS!!!!!!!!!!!

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff

transmission repair in record time long

draining automatic trans

Status
Not open for further replies.
Gentlemen can I have your attention please, I have a VISUAL confirmation of the next gen. RAMS. They WILL be avaliable with 4 FULL SIZE DOORS on 3/4 and 1 tons. Please let me explain.

I live about 20 miles south of Houston Tex. , about half way between the coastal city of Galveston and Houston. Business takes me to Galveston often. Tuesday around 11:00 am as I am heading over the bridge that connects the Island to the mainland I see 4 strange looking trucks ahead of me in the center lane. They are completely, and I mean completely covered (except the front and back glass and driver and passenger glass) with bra material (the kind for the front of vehicles, not your wifes, girlfriends, significant others chest support). They were in order, a 1 ton, two 3/4 tons and a single half ton. They all had Michigan Manufactures plates, and had a driver and a passenger. They had what appeared to be a dash mounted laptop computer assessible for the passenger. They also had some sort of wind gauge on top of each truck. Here are some of the vitals i could see while traveling beside them for several miles.

1. Four FULL size doors on both the one and 3/4 tons.
2. FOUR wheel disc brakes on all trucks.
3. A redesigned dash (I could not get a very good look but could tell it was different than todays).
4. 4 wheel drives (only one of the 3/4 ton trucks) will be independent suspension.
5. The diesels were very quiet. You could not here the Diesel noise at 70 mph until you got to the front of the truck. You could not tell it was diesel at the exhaust at 70 mph.
6. The front end has been changed but not sure how much. They had the single high intensity headlamps.
7. They also appeared to be riding on larger than 16 inch wheels, except the 1/2 ton.


There was absolutely no badgeing on these trucks what so ever. You had to get to the very front and see the front end (under the light mask to allow full air flow) to be able to make out that they were Dodges. I spent approx. 2-3 miles riding beside each truck. I would have killed to have had a camera or video. The guys in the trucks only glanced over at me once and smiled and nodded. Words can't describe how pumped I was when I saw them. I wanted to get on line last night and pass this on but was not able to get access.

My only question is why were they in Texas?? We aren't close to the border if say they were built in Satillo Mex. then driven across to return to Michigan. They could have been testing the 4 wheel drives out in the sand (this I doubt).

It was painfully obvious that the 1 ton and two 3/4 tons were 4 doors. If anyone else in Texas or beyond has seen this QUAD traveling along with two chase trucks let me know. By the way the chase trucks were a 1/2 yellow sport quad cab 4 WD, and a V-8 TOYota tundra, blue I believe. Like I said they all had Michigan Manufactures plates, Light Blue in color.




------------------
92 Ext. Cab, Auto trans. , 3. 54 Non-LS, Isspro Tach and Pyro (pre-turbo), 200,500+ miles, old and abused but still running strong!!!!
 
Hey Shrimpy;
IFS front end on 4X4?!?!?
I'll keep the Quad if, to get the Crew cab, I'd have to lose my Dana 60. It seems to me that a heavy duty 4X4 needs a straight axle. Rams, Yup!. Ford SDs, Yup! Chevy HDs, nope (but it seems to be one of the more popular conversions these days to sling a Dana 60 under those IFS trucks).
If I have to give up my straight front end,... . I'd have to get a Ford #ad
. A F-550 with a Cummins of course!
I'm sure that Ramers will flock towards the Crew Cab, but I think more of those with 4X4 would just grimmace and stick with their old reliable friend.
BOMBing with a horizontal front end, Josiah

------------------
Y2K 2500, 4X4, Auto, Quad Cab, SWB, 4. 10, Black. VA Box, Line-X, PE Roll top bed cover, Stainless add-ons. Jardine 4".
 
I sincerely hope that the 4x's aren't going to go to independent suspensions - I'll be jumping ship to Ford when I mileage out my truck if so! Too many years experience with Chevy's pitiful IFS front to go back there.



------------------
-Steve St. Laurent - President of the Great Lakes TDR, Chapter Forums Moderator
'98 QC LB (CMNSPWR), 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 4. 10 LSD, Prime-loc, SW fuel pressure gauge, boost & pyro gauges, TST Powermax, muffler eliminator, polished valve cover, BD exhaust brake, Isspro turbo temp monitor, Mag Hy-tec rear diff cover, Permatech liner, Grizzly SS nerf bars, Stull SS grill & bumper inserts, front Draw-Tite receiver, rear Draw-Tite class V receiver, BFG 285/75R16 AT KO's
 
"They" test down our way regulary, when the viper was in "development" my buds and I frequently saw engineer convoys of two in corpus christi and the BRAND F guys have been seen out hwy 90 toward del rio on many occassions.

Must admit to being rather pleased about the full sized rear doors. Lack of engine noise concerns me a bit as it may be a different mill as rumored. Granted MB makes a great motor, but they lack the parts distribution support Cummins has here. You are as likely to find a Cummins dealer as you are diesel fuel in the parts.
 
I just ordered a 2001. 5 ETH that will be here this week. I thought that I was gonna have to buy a new truck in 2003 right up until I read that "IFS" part.

IFS and a quite diesel... Their ruining the truck. #ad
I guess when you have hit the peek on a design and made a machine this perfect, it's only down hill from there. They can only make it worse! I don't know if I can bring myself to buying a PHOWD. 4-doors is not worth dealing with IFS to me...

My two cents...

Craig
 
May I ask what is the big deal about IFS? I know the Hummer has it.

Shrimpy: They might be testing the cooling system.

BigUgly: It would probably be easier to put a straight axle on the Dodge than a Cummins in a F-550.
 
kaffine krazed,,,the cummins is available nowinthe f-550...

------------------
'95 xt cab,slt,4. 10,auto,285 BFG all terrains on Centerline Extreme Billit Comet 3's,K&N,tst 230/605, silencer ring in top of toolbox, boost and pyro in full pillar mt. 159,000 mi and climbing... went to feed the cat and it was GONE !!!!!
 
Kaffine Krazed;
Many (me included) question the general strength of an IFS system. From what I've heard (I used to be a Chevy nut) the Half shafts would be weak and the whole assimbly isn't considered strong enough for some good off-roading. There generally aren't any ways to lift the IFS and get better flex, at least it's a lot harder than to do the same with a straight axle. Now, that's a good point about the Hummer, it has IFS and IRS, but the Hummer's systems are built mondo bullet-proof and probably weigh more than a straight axle. DC probably wouldn't make a IFS as strong as the Dana 60 in there now, it would probably have to be overbuilt to handle the weight and shaft-snapping torgue of our beasts, and hence very heavy.
On the F-550, I thought that you could order a Heavy-SD with a Cummins. I might be wrong, but that is what I was implying, if I couldn't get the Ford with the Cummins, I would get a Dodge and sling a real Dana axle under her, maybe a Dana 70!.
Keep cool in this heat gang, Josiah
 
I saw those truck also. I work in Wylie, TX, 20 miles north-northeast of Dallas. I was on my way back from lunch when they passed me going the other way. I didn't get a good look at them, but the last one, the 3500, caught my eye and I recognized it having some Dodge styling. I didn't notice the crew cab though. We were all doing 50mph going opposite directions.
 
Hopefully some of the DC engineers and marketing read this forum. With the IFS I am putting in for a "Lowboy" option for us fifth wheel haulers. Hopefully the 2003 3500 crew cab 4x4 long bed will have a bed rail height no higher than my 97 2500 2x4.
 
Yaahooo #ad
#ad
#ad
:
After taking my 5th an a long trip with another couple in the truck I can't wait- we did ride in the trailer- thank god #ad
but in 95+ degree heat that's no fun- if dc offered one now I'd be first in line at my local dealer for a 4 door cab chassis tomorrow #ad
#ad
- I'll want a different bed a hiwayman they're the bomb for 5'er hauling.
Thanks Guys for the hope---


[This message has been edited by dabubba (edited 08-10-2000). ]

[This message has been edited by dabubba (edited 08-10-2000). ]

[This message has been edited by dabubba (edited 08-10-2000). ]
 
I hate to admit it but I've been checking out Fords cause I really want a four door. If dodge doesn't get their S*it together and build a crew cab I'm forced to buy an inferior engine just to get enough interior room. Come on guys build the trucks we want!

------------------
98 2500 SLT, QC 12V, 4X4, Auto, 4:10's, SB, 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
 
I have seen photos of the new 2001 Chevy HD's front IFS setup. IT is BEEFY. No worries there about strength and you can adjust caster and camber with an IFS as opposed to the non adjustable solid axle trucks. I can't help but wonder if some of these wander problems on the dodge are at least partially because of the solid axle design?
 
Shrimpy gets the RECON award--I also have seen a more "run-of-the mill" trio here in Las Vegas, northbound on Rainbow,between US 95's overpass and Cheyenne, a 4door dakota, and the 2 larger Rams--- the V10 was in the lead... needless to say, when I hit 3-Lock the unplanned drag race was over #ad
----A buddy of mine (used to work parts @ brand F) says the "big 3" now do severe climate (HOT) testing around here (Death Valley, Mt Charleston, etc. )
 
Independent front suspension?

First of all, just because its being road tested does not mean that it will be used in production. All sorts of things are looked at, tested, and then not used.

Second, I see a hell of a lot of posts on this board about steering wander, brake pulling, track-bars etc etc. So the solid front axles are all that great? If a newly designed IFS can meet the load ratings maybe a lot of these problems will go away. Maybe it will handle better than todays trucks. Seems the 4x4's spend a lot more time driving 75 MPH plus on the highway than on the jeep trails anyway. Most of the off-roaders big complaints about IFS center on the fact that it makes it expensive to do a monster-truck type lift with this setup. Not a reason to disregard IFS in my book. If it works better use it.

------------------
Wait'n for my 2001 2500 QC, SB, 4x4, ETH 6-sp, 3. 54 LSD, SLT++ (everything but those silly looking lights on top of the roof), White over Silver, Tan leather.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top