So I Went and Test Drove a 4Th Gen...

[bheiting]

Its funny you mention that, the dealer I stopped at seemed to be more interested in my truck than I was about their truck... Had the salesman, the used car manager, and the new truck sales manager all three asking if I was interested in selling it/trading it in...

I jokingly explained to them that the original window sticker was in the glovebox, and I was offering a 5K rebate if they purchased today. .



I think I have about decided to just keep my truck... Think I'm gonna get back into fixing it up. . maybe a little more power, go ahead and build up the trans, and do something with the cloth interior. .

I had mine in for service a few months ago - trying to convince the dealer to give me the '08 tie rod set up under the TSB. They wouldn't go for it, but the diesel tech wanted to buy my truck in the worst way. He said he had a half dozen friends who would do the same. I think we may have a prime future collectors item.

 

[Wingate]

I think you may be right. !. .

 

[AABEN]

I've been having that "itch" for something new recently... .

I stopped at the local dealership and climbed into a new 2011 Ram 2500 4x4 Laramie Longhorn.

First impressions, WOW. . the interior is absolutely stunning! heated AND COOLED seats!!!. . buttons, switches, touch screens, cameras for hooking to trailers. . , exhasut brake, intergrated brake controller, and it has the badge on the tailgate to let everybody know it was an 800 engine... window sticker was $60,945. . If that gives any idea of how loaded it was.

Things that concern me and that the salesman had no clue how to answer. .

Front suspension, is the steering/Death Wobble issue remedied on the new trucks? I realize that it has the updated stuff that my truck got, but some trucks experienced DW even after the update, so is it fixed?

The HVAC doors, do they still fall off/break??? A/C compressors, do they still grenade with low miles? Rear door wiring? Steering boxes?

Basically, all the incomplete/incompetent designed 3rd gen stuff, did Dodge actually correct the problems, or just put it in a new wrapper???

The best way to get your answer is talk to some one with a 2010 or a 2011 that has some milage. There is some 2010 out there with 75000 or more miles jest look and ask. == GOOD LUCK ==

 

[BIGNASTY]

Dont forget There is the Portable BBQ that you have to deal with. The truck isnt the problem the DPF AFTERBURNNER BS is just a MPITA who need's it.

 

[RustyJC]

Dont forget There is the Portable BBQ that you have to deal with. The truck isnt the problem the DPF AFTERBURNNER BS is just a MPITA who need's it.

Do you have one? If not, how do you know that is "... just a MPITA"? The operation of mine has been absolutely seamless. I've yet to receive a single message in the EVIC or a single Check Engine light over the past 1+ years I've owned the truck. So, how does that make it a MPITA?



Rusty

 

[BIGNASTY]

No dont have one just read the post's and dont need the headache see plenty of them in the shop . The mech at the shop said he loves the new anything they are some money makers for him. It just must be that the others are a POS and just 1 or 2 good ones got thru.

 

[RustyJC]

It just must be that the others are a POS and just 1 or 2 good ones got thru.

So it's your contention that all our 4th gens are a POS. I guess everyone is entitled to an opinion, even an uneducated one. Mine has never been in the shop for anything other than routine service. Look around in here - I daresay most of us 4th genners are very satisfied owners. If you don't want to buy one, just keep your wallet in your pocket and you'll be just like you are now - no skin in this game. There's no need to come in the 4G forum and trashmouth those of us who have bought new trucks and are enjoying them.



Rusty

 

[AH64ID]

The 2010+ trucks (really 2009+) are proving to be as reliable as any out there. At this point if I was shopping for a truck I wouldn't have an issue getting an 09+.

 

[rrnut-2]

I have had my 2010 for a year now, 21k on the speedo and have had no problems. I love mine and won't go back to an earlier one.

 

[crispyboy]

Dont forget There is the Portable BBQ that you have to deal with. The truck isnt the problem the DPF AFTERBURNNER BS is just a MPITA who need's it.

I have 30,000 miles on my 09' and I guess I am in the minority but I sort of like the exhaust after treatment system but I hate the EPA. My nose really doesn't like diesel fumes and I hate diesel smoke. So far it has not been a problem but I know that sometime in the future it will be a problem and the system will have to be maintained and it will be a pain for my wallet or greasy hands.

I previously owned a 97' Volkswagon Jetta TDI that had an egr valve and catalyst. The intake had to be disassembled at 60k intervals and cleaned (would soot itself closed). The catalyst lasted until 180k miles and clogged up so I can see many similarities in that at some point in time the intake and exhaust will probably have to be cleaned on the truck.

For now I will enjoy a stink free diesel truck except for the occasional regeneration mode.



Now that I have said this I am expecting a check engine light to show up... ... ... .

 

[gtoli]

No dont have one just read the post's and dont need the headache see plenty of them in the shop . The mech at the shop said he loves the new anything they are some money makers for him. It just must be that the others are a POS and just 1 or 2 good ones got thru.

Iv'e had mine for over a year and have had no issues and enjoy it very much.

 

[EGroeneveld]

15,715 miles and no issues on my 2011...

 

[Mike Ellis]

FYI, death wobble does happen occasionally with the 2nd gen 2wd trucks, although it has been pretty rare. Happened to me one time, while driving on an interstate in Arkansas at legal speeds (about 65 as I recall).



I was tooling along without a care in the world, when I hit a stretch of interstate that had been recently rebuilt. The expansion joints put a noticeable "thud thud thud" into the cab, and suddenly with no warning at all the truck began to porpoise back and forth like a bucking horse. It went from normal ride to bouncing madly, within a second or two. I was able to hit the brakes and it stopped but not before launching drink out of cupholder and throwing everything in the cab all over the place. The motion was incredibly violent, if I had not had on my seatbelt I might have been thrown out of the seat.



I figured it was a case of suspension resonance due to the excitation from the expansion joint thuds at that particular speed. Slowed down a few miles an hour and no problems. Has never happened again.



After a quick stop to straighten up the cabin and put on a clean pair of drawers, everything was OK. I am very alert to the sound of expansion joints when I drive nowadays though. Very alert indeed... :-laf :-laf

 

[AEdelheit]

FYI, death wobble does happen occasionally with the 2nd gen 2wd trucks, although it has been pretty rare. Happened to me one time, while driving on an interstate in Arkansas at legal speeds (about 65 as I recall).



I was tooling along without a care in the world, when I hit a stretch of interstate that had been recently rebuilt. The expansion joints put a noticeable "thud thud thud" into the cab, and suddenly with no warning at all the truck began to porpoise back and forth like a bucking horse. It went from normal ride to bouncing madly, within a second or two. I was able to hit the brakes and it stopped but not before launching drink out of cupholder and throwing everything in the cab all over the place. The motion was incredibly violent, if I had not had on my seatbelt I might have been thrown out of the seat.



I figured it was a case of suspension resonance due to the excitation from the expansion joint thuds at that particular speed. Slowed down a few miles an hour and no problems. Has never happened again.



After a quick stop to straighten up the cabin and put on a clean pair of drawers, everything was OK. I am very alert to the sound of expansion joints when I drive nowadays though. Very alert indeed... :-laf :-laf

yaa, I know the 2nd gen frames also have ALOT of flex, wouldnt be supprised if the suspension resonance from the expansion joints was timed just right to make the frame bounce just right to make it happen, deffenitly a scary feeling!

 

[Wingate]

FYI, death wobble does happen occasionally with the 2nd gen 2wd trucks, although it has been pretty rare. Happened to me one time, while driving on an interstate in Arkansas at legal speeds (about 65 as I recall).



I was tooling along without a care in the world, when I hit a stretch of interstate that had been recently rebuilt. The expansion joints put a noticeable "thud thud thud" into the cab, and suddenly with no warning at all the truck began to porpoise back and forth like a bucking horse. It went from normal ride to bouncing madly, within a second or two. I was able to hit the brakes and it stopped but not before launching drink out of cupholder and throwing everything in the cab all over the place. The motion was incredibly violent, if I had not had on my seatbelt I might have been thrown out of the seat.



I figured it was a case of suspension resonance due to the excitation from the expansion joint thuds at that particular speed. Slowed down a few miles an hour and no problems. Has never happened again.



After a quick stop to straighten up the cabin and put on a clean pair of drawers, everything was OK. I am very alert to the sound of expansion joints when I drive nowadays though. Very alert indeed... :-laf :-laf

This will happen in a 2011 Ford on the loop in Shreveport La. also... . Talk about crappy roads!!. .

I ahve decided to jsut keep my truck... I refuse to pay that much of a mileage penalty...