New Purchase: Would you do anything different?

[Crunch]

I've had my 03 for just over 4 months now. After reading TDR posts for several months I've come to the conclusion that the only thing I would do differently is buy the Laramie instead of the SLT. I've been over-paying my monthly $425/month and sending in $600. That calculates out to roughly an extra year or so of payments or a higher monthly payment on a Laramie. I could have handled the higher monthly payments, but was too cheap at the time and am not too fond of leather seats that aren't really leather. But if I could go back and do it all over again I would have got the Laramie. The extra electronics and comfort items look better every day. Anyone else discover things they would have done differently if they knew then what they know now?

 

[RankRam]

I would have bought the 6 shooter over the 48RE if had known I could not use an E-Brake, These (little) details never came about till a month after my purchase.



My 99 was a five speed and equipped with a Jake, at the time I let her go it had 55,443 miles and the brakes were at 90% new as far as wear was concerned.



When it came time to buy the 03 I made my list of gotta haves and left one up in the air, the transmission I could not make up my mind. If I knew at that time I could not use an E-Brake and keep my warranty I would have kept on looking for ETH/DEE combo. Oh well live and learn.



I will say that the 48RE is working very well, I now know that I like a stick over the auto.

 

[klenger]

I am struggling with the 2WD 4WD decision on an '04. Noticed that you have a 2WD. Any reservations about 2WD?



I see many advantages to 2WD (less weight - 500 lbs, less maintenance, better milage, lower height, bettering handleing, easier to tow 5er), and only 1 advantage to 4WD (more traction).

 

[socal_rattler]

Ditto what RankRam said.

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by klenger

I am struggling with the 2WD 4WD decision on an '04. Noticed that you have a 2WD. Any reservations about 2WD?

No regrets whatsoever. Don't use it for farm work, and I've never been shy about where I drive it and have never got a truck stuck. I was warned (after I bought this truck) that the Cummins is so heavy that I shouldn't park it on wet grass because the front end would sink into the dirt and the back wheels would spin. Have yet to see it happen. If my truck spent its days in a field, or I used it as a snow plow in winter I might consider it, but I've had friends with 4WD and it seems like all I heard was "transfer case this" and transfer case that".



Of course, if you look at the sigs here most of the trucks seem to be 4WD--that and the short box. People obviously love their 4X4s. And while I'm on it, I never understood the reasoning behind the short box. I don't think I'd have a truck with anything less than a full, 8' bed. Is the short box superior in some way, or just convenient?

 

[Tejasdge]

Manuverability!

People obviously love their 4X4s. And while I'm on it, I never understood the reasoning behind the short box. I don't think I'd have a truck with anything less than a full, 8' bed. Is the short box superior in some way, or just convenient? [/B]

The Quad 4x4 with short bed fills the bill for me. Parking with anything longer (IMHO) is a major PITA for a city truck. Took the truck hunting in Colorado last month and it went just about everywhere I wanted it to. Driver judgment was the only problem I had, got in a tight spot and had to back out of it. I was puckerfied and readjusted after that. I was also able to make most of the tight switchbacks in one shot.



As for the short bed, if I need more room I hitch up a trailer. Easier to load and unload, and I can leave it loaded and drive away.

 

[Peter Campbell]

I too do not understand why short beds are so popular. My 98. 5 has a refuel tank effectively making it a short bed. Short on convience short on hauling short on volume. But I did put the tank in I get some utility out of it. 8' pieces of trim or a sheet of material dictate that the tailgate would be down or tied up like a poser with a subaru brat. 10' sheetrock and bigger are out of the question. With a wood order I have even hauled 12' sheetrock with the full bed. If you never use your truck bed as a truck ( unfortunately the majority of truck purchases) then the shortbed lack of hauling utility does not come into play, and the inconvience of the extra wheelbase becomes important. I think the long bed is more important than the Quad cab( or whatever it is now) But the market thinks different. To get 3500 SRW I had to go with quad cab and long bed. The long bed was important. If short bed was available in regular cab- This would be real short wheelbase- that would be a nice 4X4 configuration. But you can build a better 4X4 at the jeep site.

 

[Bill Stockard]

If I ordered another one, I would order the exact same thing! I have never been more pleased with a new truck than this one. It's such a pleasure for both me and my wife to drive solo or loaded with the big heavy camper which it has on it's back 95% of the time.



Bill

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I've only had mine a month and a half, so it's a bit early to be unhappy

I got mine off the lot, and it had one option I didn't need, fog lamps. I would have chosen a couple things like the trailer mirrors and leather wrapped steering wheel. I have found the regular heated power mirrors are adequate for trailering with $3 convex 3" mirrors glued on the outside top corner.



I have SLT, 4x4, long bed, quad cab, HO 6 speed. White with gray interior [of course ] Would do the same again. How do I know? Well, it is pretty close to what I did 7 years ago. Now if the 12 valve was just an option, say MO (Maximum output)

 

[JWillms]

Hmm about the only thing I wish I would have gotten on mine would be front and rear back glass tented, tow hooks and fog lights. Yea I know I can get all those pretty esaly but its still something exrta I have to get after I got the truck, other then that I am happy with it.

Justin<><

 

[HEYBOSS]

If I were to do it again I would get a Duramax:-laf

 

[Wiredawg]

Wouldn't change a thang!

Fellow Rammers:



I wouldn't change a thing on our 03 or our 02 (See below). I love both of 'em. My wife's is quiet, highly manueverable and quick. Auto feels good and crisp. Love it!



Mine is noisey, big and quick... I love it!



FYI: I was real suprised (and happy) when my wife told me she wanted a Ram Diesel 4X4 SB QC. I tried to talk her into a long bed, but I'm glad I didn't.



Life is good...



Wiredawg

 

[Jengle]

Wouldn't change a thing. This is my first CTD and I should have got it a long time ago.

 

[MO'Donnell]

Only thing I would do differently is the tow mirrors.



If I didn't have to drive in town all the time, I would have got a long bed, but since this is my 2nd short bed, I've learned how to haul what I need to by being creative.

 

[Grayhackle]

I should have gotten the long bed! Not enough room in the short box!

 

[bighammer]

I might have chosen a different color and demanded floor mats in the back seat.



(but then again, it was the only one on the lot, I thought my old one was totaled, and it was priced at dealer cost, so I would've taken any color and still be happy)

 

[KBennett]

Very Happy!

I had a 03 SO 47RE for 3 months and was disappointed in the trans. The dealer made me a good deal on the 04 with the 6 speed and I have had no complaints. My only wishes are that Dodge had an off-road package... bigger tires, off-road suspension, rock guards, etc.



I think the truck is a perfect size for us. Dodge did a great job of combining enough cab with a decent size bed and with the SWB I don't feel like I am driving a bus. The truck is very tight and smooth. My Dad (who owns a 12V 98) drove it the other day and said it did not even seem like a diesel.



Some of the posts I have read about people that want louder or bigger but I really like this truck exactly the way it is. My only mods are probably going to be an exhaust with more rumble, bigger tires, better shocks, and guages.

 

[Blakers]

I'm very happy with my truck, but I think I would have gotten a long bed srw 1 ton. Shortbed 1 tons were about impossible to get at the time, so I settled for the 3/4.



I'm happy and not complaining.

 

[Swayse]

I wish I had the leather wrapped steering wheel and radio buttons on the steering wheel. Not much for chrome, a sport would have been nice. Sometimes I think I should have bought an auto HO. My knees are about shot and my wife hates driving a stick. But, I love my 5 speed.



Oh well, I'm getting a new truck in a year and a half anyway, I can think about it untill then. 30,000 miles and counting

 

[JPM]

Originally posted by Peter Campbell

I too do not understand why short beds are so popular. My 98. 5 has a refuel tank effectively making it a short bed. Short on convience short on hauling short on volume. But I did put the tank in I get some utility out of it. 8' pieces of trim or a sheet of material dictate that the tailgate would be down or tied up like a poser with a subaru brat. 10' sheetrock and bigger are out of the question. With a wood order I have even hauled 12' sheetrock with the full bed. If you never use your truck bed as a truck ( unfortunately the majority of truck purchases) then the shortbed lack of hauling utility does not come into play, and the inconvience of the extra wheelbase becomes important. I think the long bed is more important than the Quad cab( or whatever it is now) But the market thinks different. To get 3500 SRW I had to go with quad cab and long bed. The long bed was important. If short bed was available in regular cab- This would be real short wheelbase- that would be a nice 4X4 configuration. But you can build a better 4X4 at the jeep site.

I thought the same thing about short boxes until I bought a 14 foot enclosed trailer. You can haul,store and use the contents as needed. Such as drywall,plywood, etc.