Ute Bullbar installation (pictures)

[dresslered]

John-

The leveling kit that you show looks very interesting and simple. However, I don't believe that it will work with our Rancho shocks (in fact it looks like they are only offering it with the Bilsteins). I have also looked at the Rancho website and have not found a front shock for a 2" lifted 4x4 3500. Good luck if you go this route but you might have to replace the shocks as well.



P. S. I found that if you throw the BIG slide-in on the back of your truck, the front will go back up.

 

[JHansen]

Hey John-I slid the bumper ahead as far as it would go to let the grille drop in behind it. Works for me so far-not as pretty possibly as it could be but it was the easiest option. As far as I can see there are 2 other options:



1. Cut the Sport grille off straight-not an option for me or probably anybody else... ...



2. Get a grille off the earlier model Sports-they are identical to the non-Sport grilles except painted. However... ... for me I would have to have it painted as you can't get it in Bright Silver to match my truck-other colors like Flame Red or Bright White are probably the same.



HTH

Jason

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Originally posted by JHansen

Hey John Get a grille off the earlier model Sports-they are identical to the non-Sport grilles except painted.

HTH

Jason

Jason, do you know in which year (1998-2000) of the 2nd gen truck's production run DC changed over to the late model front radiator grille styling? Would it be reasonable for me to assume that a replacement item, factory color coded with "in yer face flame red aka PM4", would be directly interchangeable and fully compatible..... ? Thanks for the prompt replies.



BTW David, did you factor in the airbags on my rear axle, when playing see-saw games?





JMc

 

[Cooker]

1999 was the first year of the newer styling. In order to swap between the two you will need the grille, grille bracket, and the rod that goes from the hood latch and the handle.

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Part numbers?

Originally posted by Cooker

1999 was the first year of the newer styling. In order to swap between the two you will need the grille, grille bracket, and the rod that goes from the hood latch and the handle.

Fantastic! Now does anybody have the relevant part numbers by any chance. Before I start talking with a repair&bodyshop/dealer, I'd like to know what this stuff goes for in the USA and it's relative availability. Similarly if anyone has done this conversion before, their experience would be a bonus and finally, are there any parts of my existing installation that can be reused, if fully interchangeable?



Cheers



JMc

 

[JHansen]

I don't have the part #'s handy..... but IIRC from the time I priced it out the grille is actually not that bad price-wise.



As long as Flame Red never changed formulation between 1997 and the newer trucks, you're golden..... I have a friend with a Flame Red '97 1500 Sport.



Something else to remember-if you have grille inserts like Cloud Rider screens or similar, you'll have to upgrade those too as the grille pockets are differently sized as well.



Jason

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

still lookin' ... .

Cheers Jason!!



JMc

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

UTE installation update.....

Just a quick update guys.....



Neil ( my "hands" model" ) for the photos got wheeled into hospital with a perforated appendix on the same morning last week we had scheduled to complete the install of the winch and complete the wiring loom cosmetics etc - leaving just the front radiator Sport grille swapout to resolve at some future date in the new year. Now I'm on business in Germany for a coupel of weeks and won't be back in England until just before Christmas.



I did forget to mention one other, very minor gripe - which probably affects all other potential UTE bumper owners too!. The pre-wired side marker and amber turn signals already installed in the UTE bumper came fitted with bulbs but they were 24vDC rather than 12vDC operation, so if your lights ain't bright enough, now you know why? Perhaps Randy (aka UTEman will enlighten us here... ?)



I'll post more pictures of the final bitz'n'pieces and keep RADodge off my back over the holidays or shortly afterwards... ...



JMc

 

[RCryer]

24v lights?

John,

I was not aware of the lights issue. Perhaps they got the fixtures confused with the Freightliner road-train lights. They are the same as the Ram light fixtures. I will check into it.



Cheers,

UteMan