some strait 04 skinny (sorry no EGR info)

[DLeno]

ok guys, this is strait from the dealer's own materials which I studied with my own eyes:



2004 std equipment changes for Laramie:

1. added: Chrome body side moldings

2. added: Silver door and I/P bezels

3. added: chrome grille Surround w/ chrome billet insert

4. deleted: woodgrain bezels

5. deleted: body color grill surround and honeycomb insert

6. deleted: body color side moldings



2004 std equipment changes for SLT

1. added: keyless entry

2. deleted: heated (std) mirrors



Prices are IN. incentives are NOT in yet.



The "protection group" is skid plates for xfer case and fuel tank, plus tow hooks. not sure if that is different from 2003 or not.



The "offroad group" is nothing more than a new bundle of familiar options: it is essentially the protection group plus a 4. 10 axle, so beware of that if you care about 4. 10 vs 3. 73. there is nothing more "offroad like" (shocks, for example) apart from a std 4wd model with the protection group. However if you DO want the 4. 10, the "offroad" group is the only way to get it (on a short box 3500)



I didn't look at DRW models or long boxes.



Dark Garnet Red is gone, and in its place there is a deep molten red color -- same as on the 2003 Caravans. yuck. Its way too purple/brown to put on a truck, for me anyway. the rest of the colors from 2003 are in 2004 as well. Patriot blue or black is starting to look mighty fine to me!



The only way to get the passenger side power seat is to go leather/Laramie



The only way to get the universal garage door opener is to go leather/Laramie



The only way to get dual climate controls is to go leather/laramie



The electronic xfer case looks stupid in combination with the 6-speed. my opinion of course. the extra floor space you get from removing the shift lever is taken up by extra floor console plastic junk holder thingies



The electronic xfer case is manditory with Laramie, even with the 6 speed. just me, but that's yucko.



Yes, the engine block heater is an option: a whopping $10 MSRP.



I have a question for you 2003 owners: does the ($100) flat load floor option in the rear seat take away storage space under the seat? or is this just an additional flat steel plate that fits over the top of the storage area so that you still have the under-seat storage. Perhaps you might loose a couple of inches vertical space now that the steel floor fits tight over the storage area?



Here are MSRP prices for a non-laramie from my pending order. who knows I just might join the 04 ranks! My only dissapointment is that you can't get the universal garage door opener w/o leather-laramie. dual climate controls are cool but I wasn't willing to pay $2K for that and leather.



37,230 DR8H41 QC 3500 SLT short box, ETH+DEE (HO 6-speed)

455 M9 premium cloth power bench

80 power trailer tow folding mirrors

140 rear sliding window

345 aluminum wheels

175 light group (ash tray, hood, visor vanity, auto-dim mirror)

275 trailer tow group

140 fog lamps

200 265/70 17 on/off road tires

10 block heater

100 folding flat load floor

285 limited slip

45 leather wrapped wheel (req. for stereo cntrols)

75 steering wheel stereo controls

225 security group (alarm, engine immobilizer)

490 suplemental side air bags

950 6 disk Infinity sound system

140 protection group (skid plates and tow hooks)

120 power adjustable pedals for the wife

75 body side moldings

795 destination

-500 regional discount



MSRP is 41,850



Invoice is 37,355

 

[nwjetboat]

I have the fold flat floor and still have the storage areas under seats.

Just went out and measured the storage area. It's 6 3/4" deep.

The fold flat floor folded up is 1 1/2" tall. (can you say that 3 times?)

Who ever thought that up at Dodge needs recognition!

 

[DHess]

I don't think the flat floor takes away any storage space. As far as I'm concerned, there isn't that much storage space to begin with. Had a lot more space in my '99. I have found that I'm leaving the flat floor unfolded on the passenger side and using the space between the floor and flat floor to carry things. It's only me and an occasional passenger so I don't care about the rear seat - even though at 6'3" 235lbs I fit pretty good back there (but that's another thread).



Wonder if the 3500 SRW is available in a regular cab for '04?



Dave

 

[DLeno]

Originally posted by DHess

I have found that I'm leaving the flat floor unfolded on the passenger side and using the space between the floor and flat floor to carry things. It's only me and an occasional passenger so I don't care about the rear seat - even though at 6'3" 235lbs I fit pretty good back there (but that's another thread).



Wonder if the 3500 SRW is available in a regular cab for '04?



Dave

first, thanks for the comment about the flat floor and that it doesn't take away any space that was there to begin with. good to know. now then, pardon me while I attempt to understand this: your flat floor is "unfolded", meaning "not folded" -- is this the same as "flat" or "ready to support something?



also, when you say "space between the floor and the flat floor", that sounds like "under the flat floor" to me. Do you mean that the seat itself is folded up (no one can sit there) and the flat floor is exposed (ready to accept something) but that you (usually) don't put anything on top of the flat floor but instead store a few things under the flat floor just as you would normally with under steat storage? that is, you keep the flat floor available for temporary storage but more often utilize the area under the flat floor for small items storage that you don't want to be visible?



I need to go see one of these things. appologies if I haven't grasped something correctly here...

 

[brillmtb]

Well, I paid 35,200 for my 03 HO Laramine with I think everything except snow plow group. Even added the A/T tires option so " adding "2K" really didnt equate to something I was concerned with. As far as the electronic shift for 4wd some believe it is better due to the fact that this is not an AWD that can safely be driven on transition surfaces such as going from pavement to snow to pavement. They have made up for this by ****ing electronically which is quicker rather than chancing keeping it in 4wd or 2wd throughout the transitions.



I believe that "reliability" concerns will have to wait. There is no data that I know of and no reports of any problems with using the electric switch.





Any word on whether the running gear in the 3500 vs 2500 is any different?



Any word on whether the exhaust brake is approved or not for the Autos. Heck we are on the second year trucks and no word on whether the warrenty will be voided. ... . thanks poor customer service if you ask me.

 

[DLeno]

Originally posted by brillmtb Well, I paid 35,200 for my 03 HO Laramine with I think everything except snow plow group. Even added the A/T tires option so " adding "2K" really didnt equate to something I was concerned with.

sounds like you got a good price. the $2K I was refering to happend to be the price difference between the non-laramie truck I spec'd out (options important to me) and the laramie that included more non-essential things.

As far as the electronic shift for 4wd some believe it is better due to the fact that this is not an AWD that can safely be driven on transition surfaces such as going from pavement to snow to pavement. They have made up for this by ****ing electronically which is quicker rather than chancing keeping it in 4wd or 2wd throughout the transitions.

thats a good point. and especially appropriate std equipment for Laramie automatics. just not important to me with a 6 speed.

I believe that "reliability" concerns will have to wait. There is no data that I know of and no reports of any problems with using the electric switch.

yea, agreed there. I don't think there is any disadvantage, reliability wise. its a good convinience item with no drawbacks.

Any word on whether the running gear in the 3500 vs 2500 is any different?

no different -- you can pick 3. 73 or 4. 10 in either one.

Any word on whether the exhaust brake is approved or not for the Autos. Heck we are on the second year trucks and no word on whether the warrenty will be voided. ... . thanks poor customer service if you ask me. [/B]

sorry I don't know the answer to this one. I'm with you; they need to make a statement. the silence suggests to me that they might be going through a qualification step and the results are not yet available. just speculation though.

 

[Shooter]

DLENO



Get the fold flat floor , Yes you can leave it unfolded and store stuff under the unfolded flat floor and have the seat unfolded to hide whats under the seat in the underseat storage. Worth the 80 bucks.



JMHO

 

[kompressor]

Does anyone know if there are any planned incentives for the 2004 models. The early deliveries may not get them if they aren't out soon.

 

[DLeno]

no info yet. my dealer said two things: one, if there are any incentives, DC will probably announce August 1. 2nd, if they are trying to move 03 inventory, they won't offer an incentive until January. my (hopeful) speculation is that they will want to move 04 inventory to make some $$ before EGR kills their profits