What I like least about my 03

[dPierce]

I for one continue to love this truck and wish I could spend more time driving it. I commute 60 miles each way to work every day and could not think of a better vehicle for the job.



I always fill up at truck stops with the larger fuel nozzle and fill-up is very fast. I find you can sqeeze another 3 to 4 gallons after the initial shut-off, but it takes a while.



Can anyone verify the idea of cutting the breather hose shorter? I would like to try this, but don't want any leakage problems? Does this work and how much should be/could be cut off safely?



BTW, I'll be hitting 5K miles by next weekend and plan on changing oil + filter, front and rear diff fluid, and transmission fluid + filter. I plan on over-maintaining this truck to keep it going for the long haul.



Every 5K miles: Engine oil + filter

Every 10K miles: Fuel Filter and Air Filter

Every 25K miles: transmission fluid + filter, Front and rear diff fluid.



Good luck with all your rigs!

 

[brillmtb]

Rear view mirror should be bigger.

 

[DHess]

Have to agree with topping off the tank. One time I got 6 more gallons in and took 15 minutes using the small nozzle to run the fuel slow and keep the foam to a minimum.



Also, shifting the 6 speed into 3rd is notchy most of the time and even grinding once in a while.



Overall, I like this truck. Only thing is I wanted the 3500 SRW in a Regular cab but this one is a keeper.



Dave

 

[DLeno]

Originally posted by Blakers

17" rims, making all previously owned rims and tires completely unusable on the new truck.

I hear ya there. But I understand and agree with the decision to go to 17" -- there's not enough room for the new brakes with 16" rims, and the new brakes are awsome.

No ... underhood light.

the 04 light group includes one.

Loss of 3" in bed length on shortbed. (But bed is deeper than previous).

agreed! why not make the truck 2" longer than it is. 1" loss would have been more palatable -- my 02 can fit 92" studs corner-to-corner with 2" to spare. I haven't validated this in practice, but the math doesn't look good for doing this on the 03s. makes you imagine the product requirements team sitting in smoke filled think tanks agonizing over total truck length. I wish I knew their resoning.

 

[dPierce]

I have read that inside dimension of bed was reduced by just over one inch, someone posted actual on here somewhere, so it is not 3", that is probably the outside dimension. Notice how the front of the bed is curved to allow for cab clearance, without shortening the bed more on the inside dimension.

 

[DLeno]

could be -- at least consistent with a couple of other datapoints:



1. I "measured" (with my finger-tip to finger-tip distance, out-stretched arms) the two beds 02 versus 03) side by side. It didn't feel like a 3" difference to me; more like 2" max.



2. Pullrite (maker of superglide 5th wheel sliding hitch for short bed trucks) told me the axle to cab distance changed by 3". that may not reflect actual total bed length change, as the axle overhang could be greater than 02 as well.



-Doug

 

[davidclark]

Originally posted by Blakers

I think it is the clutch disc releasing while under engine torque.

Hmmm, well I hear a clunk and I have no clutch to release. This thread mentions the wastegate noise on the auto trannys. So i dunno...

 

[zari]

Well...

... I like the whole package .



Pulling power is awesome, even stock (I pull a 11332 actual lbs 5th wheel), and as to 'plastic' dashes etc. , the Dodge is centuries ahead of the Chevy's - talk about cheap plastic and yuppie trucks (used to own a Silverado 1500)...



I love my Daimler

 

[DLeno]

Originally posted by dPierce

I have read that inside dimension of bed was reduced by just over one inch, someone posted actual on here somewhere, so it is not 3", that is probably the outside dimension. Notice how the front of the bed is curved to allow for cab clearance, without shortening the bed more on the inside dimension.

yup, you're right. I took a tape measure out to the dealer. when you measure the shortest inside dimmension (rail to tailgate) my 02 bed is only like 1. 5 or maybe 1. 75" longer. And yea, the front curved section looks to compensate nicely for that. Over all, there is very little sacrifice which makes me think that their goal was "no difference in functionality", "very little length change". looks like they were succesful.

 

[dPierce]

Good homework DLeno. I'm happy to give up less than 2" in bed length for a the increased room in the rear seat. With one kid and another on the way, the new cab configuration makes the truck much more family friendly, even for adult passengers, it's pretty comfortable.



Also on the overall length, my garage is 20' feet deep, which is pretty standard. My rig, which is a QC SWB, barely fits with a couple inches at each end. Also barely fits under the standard 6'8" height.

 

[BillGotthelf]

Two problems.

The first one is the fuel fill, I can't stand spending 8 minutes getting the last 4 gallons in. Yes I do alot of highway driving.

The second is the front seat comfort. I have the leather seats which I have been told are 2-3 inches shorter in length than the standard seats. My 99 power seat has the ability to pivot the seat where it meets the back (up and down) so the lumbar support location can be adjusted higher or lower. The 2003 does not the seat and back are locked together and the whole seat pivots. Also for my longer legs the seat bottom is too short to support my legs like the 99 seat does. Bummer. Otherwise I love the truck.

 

[RBender]

I sometimes think that it would be easier, after the fuel nozzle clicked off for the second or third time, just to take the nozzle and fill up one of those cool yellow plastic 5 gallon containers that Blitz makes for diesel. Then fill the tank the rest of way from the Blitz can. Can't be any slower than the nozzle

 

[amsoilman]

I put the nozzle on the slowest auto fill I can, and when it shuts off, I slowly put in another gallon. Seems to be full. I've never had the problem of having to mess with filling it up further.



I LOVE MY TRUCK!



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[RBender]

seems to be full

Do you fill it up until there's diesel visible when you look into the filler neck? I fill mine up until the diesel is just below where the vent tube meets the filler neck. That's what I'm saying, it's 4 gallons from when it starts to foam up, and fill real slowly, to that point.

 

[amsoilman]

I have always been told NOT to fill a Diesel Tank TO THE TOP of the opening. The reason is the fuel that is not used by the engine operation and is being returned to the tank needs to have room to enter the tank. Our Mechanics in the Bus Maintenance shop goes over this very subject quite often. Don't know how critical this is, but my trucks have always been filled this way, and they have seemd to be full. As I recall, the owners manual states "when the nozzel "clicks" or shuts off, the tank is full".



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[DPKetchum]

Due to the vented systems I was always warned on gas and diesel not to PACK the tank. It prevents proper venting. Have seen on gas the carbon cannister full of fuel and was told that packing the tank help or caused the valving to rupture. More so in high temp days etc.

 

[LightmanE300]

Folks, hate to cross reference, but this issue is very old on TDI's and has been beaten to death. Diesel fuel does NOT expand with heat like gasoline does, and therefore the venting systems aren't necessary. As far as volume coming back from the engine, in my opinion, the total volume wouldn't be offset by whats in the engine, because it's shooting back fuel as it's pulling new fuel in.



Tdi's are equipped with a little vent button inside the filler neck, for the gasoline models, to allow for expansion. Most tdi'ers performed a 'ventectomy' and removed the vent guts. This allowed us to fill fuel in that airspace previously saved for expansion, and fill another 2 extra gallons or so in!(100 miles on a TDI). I live in FL, and ALWAYS fill my TDI up to the neck, so that I can visibly see the fuel. Yes it takes a little while at the end waiting for the foam to go down, and ppl look at you like you're a moron who's never filled up a tank before. However if you fill to the same exact place each time, you have very accurate mpg calculations as a side benefit.



I haven't seen the inside of the ram filler neck, but it's possible that it's made the same way as all of the gas counterparts for the same cost cutting reason vw did it, and that it can be removed or trimmed down. What does it look like, does anyone have a pic to post?

 

[gsbrockman]

I wanna know, too ! I could top off my '00 RAM 2500 in no time; the '03 is a pain. I like to top off for consistency as well as the extra 60 - 80 miles plus of cruising range per tank.

Greg

 

[Matt S]

I beg to differ on the fuel expansion. I always remembered the time I filled my saddle tank on the Class 8 truck to the lip with full. The next afternoon it was running down the side and onto the parking lot. The boss took an exception to that as I recall for wasting fuel, creating a hazmat situation, and making the fuel tank look like crap. Now this tank was metal and exposed to direct sunlight where as the Dodge is both platic (I think but have not checked a new truck) and hidden. Might not be as much of a problem.



Matt

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by BillGotthelf

I can't stand spending 8 minutes getting the last 4 gallons in.

Solution: remove fuel tank and drill 1/4" vent hole in top of tank. Re-install tank. Now you can fill it to the top until the fuel runs out. If the fuel expands from letting truck sit in hot sun for hours, the excess will just come out the hole in the top. Problem solved!