New Member-New 4500

[dquaney]

Harvey I made a mistake when I ordered my 4500. Thinking I would put a Texas deer catcher front bumper on this pickup I ordered the heavy duty front springs-Big mistake. No one makes a bumper for that 4500 and have decided against it now anyway. As far as the rear suspension it is really stiff even with this bed on it(CM Manufacturing ER bed). With the trailer on it the ride is nice but still thinking about pulling a leaf out possibly. With the rear suspension that stiff it feels like the rear end walks sideways periodically causing more steering correction than normal. Getting used to it.

 

[HBarlow]

dquaney,



Thanks for more info. You precisely described my dilemma. Rides great loaded but stiff as a daily driver. I'd bet a good spring shop could remove a leaf or two from the main spring packs and add one or two back to the auxiliary pack if needed when loaded.



BTW, during three years as a commerical RV transporter running all over the US and Canada I learned that simple five dollar deer whistles from Wal-Mart will provide huge protection from deer. I am a skeptic . . . the type of guy who says, "show me the proof" but the cheap little deer whistles have convinced me. They won't protect you from wandering lifestock, of course, but they do work on deer.



Thanks also for identifying the bed. I was guessing (dim light photo) that it is a CM ER bed because I could see the stainless fender extensions. I like CM beds and one of them will be my choice if I buy a c&c.



I guess I'll just have to decide which side of the compromise is most important to me - a smooth controlled ride with complete control when loaded and great brakes that can stop the load without trailer brakes but a stiff unloaded ride or a 3500 that rides well unloaded.



Please keep the reports coming. Your 4500 is the only one in service by a TDR member so far and there are probably several more on the site who are curious.



Harvey

 

[KBalzuweit]

Harvey, Think if you go 4500 the only way you would be happy would be going with some type of air ride suspension and maybe even an air seat. There is a guy over on the dtr that did Keldermans 2 bag rear and air seat bases with the stock seats(on a 3500) and I think he compared the ride and comfortnto a town car.

 

[HBarlow]

Karl,



Thanks. I'm afraid you are correct. It is challenging and expensive to overcome the laws of physics and that is probably what I'm asking Dodge to do. You can't have great carrying capacity and a smooth ride in the same truck unless you equip one with expensive and complex air suspension and I don't want to do that.



How's your collar bone healing? What do you hear from our buddies in the RV industry? A friend and fellow transporter I worked with was staying busy up until Xmas but I haven't talked with anyone since. My wife and I took an RVing trip during the Xmas holidays and saw almost zero RV transporters on the highways.



Harvey

 

[CUMMINZ]

Amazing,



We complain to dealers and to Dodge that our 3500 duallys need more carrying capacity. Now DC has built 4500/5500s and now we ride to rough???

 

[HBarlow]

Amazing,



We complain to dealers and to Dodge that our 3500 duallys need more carrying capacity. Now DC has built 4500/5500s and now we ride to rough???

Yep, that's about right. I guess what I wanted was a 4000 . . . something about halfway between my 3500 and a 4500.



Harvey

 

[NIsaacs]

Yup, 4000 would be just right:-laf



I think if it were me, I would go for the 4500 and derate/modify for lighter duty rather then uprate/modify the 3500 for heavier duty.





"NICK"

 

[CUMMINZ]

NI , I would agree with you. I plan to upgrade my truck. The great thing about the 4500/5500 is the better brakes and heavier front/rear end. You could probaby remove selective rear springs and help the ride. I think also deflating the rear tires would help alot. The rim bead is different on 19. 5s. So get some advice on how much you can deflate.

 

[HBarlow]

Yup, 4000 would be just right:-laf



I think if it were me, I would go for the 4500 and derate/modify for lighter duty rather then uprate/modify the 3500 for heavier duty.





"NICK"

I keep thinking along the same lines. The only significant drawback to a 4500 for anyone who pulls a heavy trailer is unloaded ride comfort. As suggested, the ride could probably be softened a little with selective removal of spring leaves.



The advantages of the 4500 are the safety and handling margins it provides: bigger brakes capable of stopping the truck and a heavy trailer if the seven pin plug fell out or the trailer brakes failed for some other reason, the weight handling margins, and the tighter turning radius provided by the front wheel cut which is much tighter than either the 3500 cab and chassis or pickup.



It is a tough call because buying a 4500 is venturing into unfamiliar territory. It would be troubling to buy one then find that I hate to drive it except when loaded.



Harvey

 

[dquaney]

I keep thinking along the same lines. The only significant drawback to a 4500 for anyone who pulls a heavy trailer is unloaded ride comfort. As suggested, the ride could probably be softened a little with selective removal of spring leaves.



The advantages of the 4500 are the safety and handling margins it provides: bigger brakes capable of stopping the truck and a heavy trailer if the seven pin plug fell out or the trailer brakes failed for some other reason, the weight handling margins, and the tighter turning radius provided by the front wheel cut which is much tighter than either the 3500 cab and chassis or pickup.



It is a tough call because buying a 4500 is venturing into unfamiliar territory. It would be troubling to buy one then find that I hate to drive it except when loaded.



Harvey

Harvey, The excitement of driving this 4500 far outweighs the concerns that I have listed in this thread. I went from pulling this trailer with a FL60 mini Freightliner with air brakes to this 4500 and feel just as safe with the way the 4500 handles the load as I did with the FL60. I think I will be able to eventually overcome my power problem in 6th gear, just a b**** having one of the earliest models and waiting for mods. I experienced my next problem with the pickup today. I had to drive 6 hours to the closest dealer that would order me this pickup in july because of this business link idea Dodge came up with. I think the guy that came up with this idea is the same one that had the idea to change the formula for Coca Cola after 100 years of success. we all know how that turned out. I thought I had found a dealer for warranty work but he called me today and said he was not eligible to do warrranty on 4500s. My next option is 130 miles away from my house. Thank you DC. Just in case you are reading this, if I had a Ford 450 I could get it worked on 1 mile from my house.

 

[HBarlow]

Well, it's interesting to learn that you replaced a FL with a Dodge 4500 and like the way it handles the load. That's a pretty strong statement of support.



I think I may go find another business link dealer in the next week or so and drive another 4500 and think about it some more. Like you said, the dealers are few and far between. The closest one to me is in Amarillo, another in Clyde, and then there are several over in the DFW area.



Harvey