Reminiscing

[Glaze]

My wife just doesn't understand. Yesterday I took advantage of Dodge's "Employee discount" and purchased a 2005 Ram 2500 4x4 CTD Quad cab with an 8 foot bed. I look forward to future mods and plenty of road trips in the days to come. But today I've been remembering the truck I just traded in, my first diesel. It was a 1997 red and silver extended cab SLT Laramie 4x4 CTD. I bought it used from the local Dodge dealer at a fairground sale. The previous owner had added larger tires, Warn winch, and a light bar across the top. I added a pair of Ultima batteries, rims and Big O XTs. I was so excited to finally be able to purchase a Cummins. The first night I sat in the cab till midnight just listening to the stereo. The first road trip was deer season, and since it came with a camper shell I decided to forego the tent and slept in the back. Of course it rained and I got soaked because the weather stripping needed to be replaced. The truck hauled many deer and elk out of the woods for me, family and friends. I used it for hauling horses, dirt and materials for our first home. Spent many nights sitting in the back watching stars, fireworks, ball games, and rodeo's. I was driving this truck when I found my first lost hunter back in the search and rescue days. It has hauled hounddogs, inlaws and outlaws. There's so much more, but I think you guys get the idea. You see, my wife just doesn't understand. To her its just a truck. But when the time came to clean it out and say goodbye, I knew it had been a special part of my life.

Thanks for listening.

 

[Tim]

Had a decent, low mileage 12v and traded it in on a 3rd gen... with all thie reminiscing, you'd think you'd go get an evaluation as to why you traded it in, and didn't keep it like the majority of members.

 

[Slingblade]

I know how you feel. I like my '04 well enough, but I think about my '01 2500 almost every day. Yesterday on the way to work I saw an '01 3500 Dually for sale, so on the way home I stopped and drove it. The sound of the 24V Cummins, the look and feel of the interior had me thinking I wanted to sell my present truck and get the '01. Then I drove it. The steering and track bar were shot. I had to pull the wheel a 1/2 turn to the right to avoid taking out a gaurd rail. I only took it up to about 45-50 after that. The brakes were there but not like the 3rd gen trucks at all. I still like the look, sound and overall feel of the 2nd gen trucks better, but I now remember why I traded and appreciate what I have alot more.

 

[SHyans]

Had a decent, low mileage 12v and traded it in on a 3rd gen... with all thie reminiscing, you'd think you'd go get an evaluation as to why you traded it in, and didn't keep it like the majority of members.

Geeezzz.....

 

[SHyans]

Very cool Glaze... . there will be a lot more of this with the new ride... congrats.

 

[EBottema]

Glaze-

I'm sure you will be happier with your truck in the near future since it is for your family. However, for the simplicity and ease of mechanical functions, the 97 will out last your new truck by decades. Good luck with the new purchase... Should have kept your 97 for a huntin' truck!

 

[KBennett]

Congrats on the new truck. There are many guys on here with lots of hard miles on their 3rd Gens and have had very few problems with them.



Unfortunately, EBottema has to take a shot at us 3rd Gen trucks whenever he has an opportunity. Technology just scares the guy.

 

[EBottema]

The 3rd gen should be a good truck for the next ten years. Good luck getting all those parts from dodge in 10 years... Can you say dis-con-tin-ued?

 

[KBennett]

The 3rd gen should be a good truck for the next ten years. Good luck getting all those parts from dodge in 10 years... Can you say dis-con-tin-ued?

I don't care to argue with the uninformed. Enjoy the truck Glaze.

 

[EBottema]

Ditto KB, call dodge, find out how many parts are d/c for the 2nd gens, your truck is next buddy!-



Glaze, what do you plan on doing to your truck for bombs??

 

[SHyans]

I don't care to argue with the uninformed. Enjoy the truck Glaze.

Good for you KB. Don't get sucked in by TROLLers.

 

[Glaze]

For now I'd like to install a brush guard (Ranchhand) and K. C. lights. The stock tires will not be worth much if it starts raining during hunting season. Probably get stuck on wet grass. A spray in bedliner is almost a necessity, as is some sort of rocker panel protection. The sun, along with very hard water can do a number on paint.



The engine is plenty powerful for pulling horse trailers, so I'll leave it be for now. What mods would you reccomend?

 

[EBottema]

Start with an exhaust and intake forsure. Maybe add a edge chip for some power. Everything else is overkill unless you want big power...

 

[DPKetchum]

Darn MR KNOW IT ALL AGAIN! You can't even PUT a chip on yours! How would YOU know whats over kill or not.

 

[Amish Elegance]

Glaze, I know what you mean... . I thought I was the only one who did crazy stuff like sitting in the new truck all night trying to get aquainted. Even before I did any bombs, I spend several days just peering under the hood with a huge grin.



My pops just traded in his ole 96 gasser two weeks ago. He talks about it like selling out an old friend. More like putting an old horse out to pasture. :{ It drove like... . well herding an old mule. Steering was shot. Even after replacing the entire braking system it still couldn't stop for poo empty, let alone with his 4100 deere in tow. 125k on it and it knocked like a 12V. All it took was a couple times behind the wheel of my '03 and he was hooked.

His new '05 dually 610 kinda takes the sting out of it, but he still cant talk about his ole gasser without hangin his head. When he gets down, all he's gotta do is jump in the new one and he's back to chipper again. Cant even tell the deere is back there on this one.

Time will pass, bombs will come, soon your old truck will just be a fond memory. RIP old friend. Welcome to the 3rd gen club. Oo.



Pics in readers rig.

 

[SHyans]

Darn MR KNOW IT ALL AGAIN! You can't even PUT a chip on yours! How would YOU know whats over kill or not.

:-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf

Thanks DPKetchum!

 

[EBottema]

Darn MR KNOW IT ALL AGAIN! You can't even PUT a chip on yours! How would YOU know whats over kill or not.

Hey peanut,



I said Overkill unless you want big power. Most guys that use the rig for daily driving don't want to swap out injectors or turbos and do head porting, cams, etc. I cannot put a chip on mine, okay, what is your point? Wow you made a great point there. Being overkill or not is just personal preferance. Some guy might want 500hp and thats not overkill to him. Some other guy might want bolt ones and anything else it overkill. What are you doing with the truck and how much power do you want. Anything above what someone wants out of a truck is overkill. Now what does not make sense about that? I think your just giving me a hard time for no reason.

 

[geusterman]

Who is this frontal Ebottema? Ditto on the nostalgia Glaze. I liked the big cab on my 02... had to learn not to bang my head on the swept-back post... plus the door is 4" shorter. Missed the rattle and 6spd. It is a guy thing. Like the Indians and their ponies. Simplicity had me going too (mine an ST). BUT!!! WOW!!! The new ride is sure friendly. Those newer engines will outlast the old ones... . stronger all around. The new one STOPS and GOES. Goes quiet. Four doors and four windows to shoot gophers out of. Lots of frame and nicer ride. Starting to bond now. George

 

[DPKetchum]

You KNOW why people give you a hard time.

 

[EBottema]

DP-



You avoided ALL of my questions. Keep personally bashing me, shows your maturity. Your like twice my age last time I checked.