Traded out my truck

pods8

pods8

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Dec 17, 2008
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Thornton, CO
Before doing the flatbed swap for my camper build I've been keeping my eye peeled for a reasonable deal on a 3/4T so I'd only have to do it once, not do it to my 1/2T and then again a year or two later. I wanted payload flexibility for what is now a family of 4, increased braking, and also a larger fuel capacity (26gal on my 1/2T). Anyways I've had my radar but for any reasonable deals and with the main camping trips for me accomplished this year I decided to pursue one last night.

So in place of my 2003 Dodge 1500 Quad SLT 4x4 5.7 with 49500mi I side stepped into a 2007 Dodge 2500 Quad SLT 4x4 5.7 with 52000mi (has a 34gal tank). I already know how the bulk of the systems on the truck work so that feels comfortable just need to get used to different cruise controls and looking out the tow mirrors (view is a little different). However I dislike the tires that are on it so those need to get swapped out ASAP (35x12.5 mud tread that walks around on the wet highway) and once those are done I'll give the brake and steering systems a once over.

7114cffcf15747419e0d0828b2e059b8.jpg
 
Nice looking truck. Looks like the previous owner put a leveling kit on to fit thoes Meats. I just put new shoes on my 06 CTD. Went with BFG KM2's in a 255/80/17. So far really digging these tires, tall and skinny. Am getting 18-19 City and 23-25 Hwy

marc
 
Thanks, the bed is clean and lined too so hopefully that makes it appealing for resale when I yank it. :p

Yeah there is a leveling kit, I haven't crawled under the front end to check it all out yet since it's been pouring around here the last couple days. I wouldn't be "shocked" if some linkage in the front might need some attention but it's really hard to tell right now with the current tires (I factored that into my pricing decision when buying). Need to do my homework on the HD front end running gear to make out a game plan but I don't need to drive this too much yet so no major rush.

Thanks for the tip I'll check out those tires/size, I wanted to land at about a 33" in the end. I know 285/70-17 are around there too, just need to look up various tire combos and wrap my brain around what real width/diameter they work out to. :p
 
How do the car seats fit in the back?

I steered away from the Dodges based on reports that the 'crew cab' just wasn't big enough for car seats and 6' adults in the front.
 
How do the car seats fit in the back?

I steered away from the Dodges based on reports that the 'crew cab' just wasn't big enough for car seats and 6' adults in the front.


Long explanation:

"Quad" cab dodge is the only manufacturer that I'd even consider using their middle style cab with 2 kids (with 1 kid you can fit stuff in the center of a ford super cab and whatever the other manufacturers call it).

Car seats are a progression and since we have two kids in close age (18mo and 1mo) we'll have more seat options than some others since the older one will get transitioned into different gear sooner since the younger one will need the seat.

The reversed infant and toddler seats mean one of the front seats needs to go up about 1/3 to 1/2, however my wife is 5'-6"? so the little one will go behind her when needed and the reversed car seat stage is short lived (I think we switched my older boy around 14mo).

The forward facing toddler seats aren't too bad, we've got two of them, one is the bigger more robust style that also functions as a rear facing and the other is just a forward facing but converts to a booster eventually and is less robust. The more robust one is the one they're in when still somewhat fragile/small but are able to forward face. This one needs the seat in front of it up about 3" so you're not hitting your kids feet (depends on how upright your seat is). I never put the less robust carseat into the old truck but it's base is shorter and tighter to the seat so it should be less needed.

After that comes booster seats which we're not into yet but that shouldn't cause any fit issue for kids. So right now the little man is in the infant seat and the older boy can use either toddler seat (we bought the second because we knew we'd eventually need to and it means less switching between cars in the meantime). When the little one goes to toddler seat he'll get the more robust one and the other will get the thinner one. Then the older will progress to a booster seat and the little one will take the old seat, etc. At all times the one that requires the least space will be behind my seat (I'm 6', I can handle moving the seat up 3" for a year or so considering this isn't a daily driver).

The quad cab is reasonably comfortable for adults in the back for for trips that aren't super long and should fit kids up into their teen years just fine. So for our family this cab style should work for at least a decade.
 
Thanks, the bed is clean and lined too so hopefully that makes it appealing for resale when I yank it. :p

Yeah there is a leveling kit, I haven't crawled under the front end to check it all out yet since it's been pouring around here the last couple days. I wouldn't be "shocked" if some linkage in the front might need some attention but it's really hard to tell right now with the current tires (I factored that into my pricing decision when buying). Need to do my homework on the HD front end running gear to make out a game plan but I don't need to drive this too much yet so no major rush.

Thanks for the tip I'll check out those tires/size, I wanted to land at about a 33" in the end. I know 285/70-17 are around there too, just need to look up various tire combos and wrap my brain around what real width/diameter they work out to. :p




I have numerous friends that have 3rd generation Dodge CTD's and they all love their trucks but complained about the front ends. After driving mine for a month I could understand why. So, after doing my home work, I purchased and installed a set of Lorenz Springs, drop link bars, Bilstein 5100's valved to my application and a Thuern adjustable track bar. This combo raised the front end about 2 1/2", smoothed out the ride and made all the difference in the world. I highly recomend the Lorenz sysstem.

marc
 
I have numerous friends that have 3rd generation Dodge CTD's and they all love their trucks but complained about the front ends. After driving mine for a month I could understand why. So, after doing my home work, I purchased and installed a set of Lorenz Springs, drop link bars, Bilstein 5100's valved to my application and a Thuern adjustable track bar. This combo raised the front end about 2 1/2", smoothed out the ride and made all the difference in the world. I highly recomend the Lorenz sysstem.

marc


I'll check it out, just getting my feet wet so far. Let me know any other tips or look intos you've got.


Also just read on tire sizing and refreshed my memory that the first number is the width so I'd don't want to look at 285s I'd rather keep to 265s or look at the 255s you mentioned. So those tires you have are a mud terrains, have you been in heavy rain with them yet? I don't like mudd tires on wet pavement and lean towards an all terrain.
 
Sweet, even if it is a gasser :cool:


Missed this one. :) I gave it some hard thought but as others here have decided as well a diesel just isn't needed for the price premium they are and extra considerations in running them for how I'll use it right now.
 
I traded my 2005 RAM 1500 short bed with 30,000 mi for a 2005 RAM 2500 with 55,000 2 years ago so I could carry a full size camper. Both were 5.7 Hemi gassers. So about the same swap.

I have about 18K miles on the 2500 now with many trips to eastern WA, Idaho, and Oregon, and one to Moab. My riding buddy has a RAM3500 CTD and we have been to Moab and Death Valley in it for 4 trips and I have logged plenty of miles sititng in the back seat.

I am 6" 1", my son is 6' 2". We both have spent all day back there on these trips and it is fine. There is enough room in the cab to move the front seat forward and have decent leg room in both front and back. Not palatial, with two 6 footers fore and aft, it works fine. The biggest improvement was adding a pillow to the rear seat as it gets a bit hard over time.

I have the stock 265/70/R17 tires (31.5") and they are not worn out yet, though I keep hoping they do so I can justify changing them out to larger tires. I have been comparing weights and diameters and anecdotal evidence about impact to mileage for various tires and am looking at probably Toyo Open Country AT 285/70/R17 or 275/70/R17 as they are close in weight and get me to 34 ior 33" without changing my rims or needing a lift. I have also been looking at what changing to 18 or 20" wheels does to the total weight, as the same series tire does tend to weigh less, but I cannot find what the wheels weigh to know if it is a wash or a lighter package.

I recently acquired a Diablosport Predator programmer U7167 and set it initially for 87 octane. It upgraded the stock program first and it also reprogrammed the transmission shifting profile. I have only got 200 miles on the change, and when I empty the tank will shift to 91 program and fuel and see how I like it.

The most obvious improvement is climbing hills. I have not gone over the passes yet, but I have a few shorter steep highway hills on my commute that I know very well and the stock program really annoyed me as it seemed to skip a gear and downshift to 2nd, accelerate at over 4K RPM, then back to 4th, lose speed, downshift, wind up and then repeat (gear hunting). This is with my Grandby fully loaded on. Going over the passes is the same thing, just more of it. There is plenty of power but the gear selection sucked. This is in tow/haul mode, I could not keep it in 3rd without playing accelerator pedal games, and that was more luck then anything else. Now it maintains 60 going up the hill at under 3K RPM very easily, it is the way it should have been stock. I am looking forward to seeing what 91 octane does for my mileage and fun factor.

I realized I am one gear off in the above: I have a 5 speed auto, not 4. :)
 
There is plenty of power but the gear selection sucked. This is in tow/haul mode, I could not keep it in 3rd without playing accelerator pedal games, and that was more luck then anything else.


That was a screw up by dodge on the 04 & 05 models which they fixed for the diesel guys but left the Hemi folks out on a limb. In 03, which I had before, there was an OD off rather than tow/haul, which locked out 4th & 5th which I was quite content with (frankly my 03 rarely ran in 4th). In 04/05 there was only tow haul which locks out 5th only and changes the shift points some, however 5th and 4th aren't all that different in gearing so it really doesn't do a good job, you really need to get into 3rd for climbing. Starting on 06 you had the tow/haul AND OD lockout (first push of the button was tow/haul, second was OD off).

Because of the above issue I actually passed on a 04 2500 I was looking at as well, similar miles/off road package (which included 3.92 gears)/etc. which would have otherwise been a good truck and saved cash as well. This 07 should have the MDS system which I'm curious to see how it performs but with the 35x12.5s on there right now I doubt it's ever getting a chance to cut out the cylinders, I need to lower the rolling resistance for sure.
 
New rubber on order, decided to give some Nitto Terra Grappler 285/70-17s a shot. I dwelled long and hard on these verse BFG KOs (which I had previously) and some others as well as sizes. Decided a 32.7" tire would be a good compromise for the stock gearing while still adding a little more clearance/better look over 265/17-17s. I almost went with the 285/75-17s but decided to stick with the much more common 285/70-17s for replacement availability if needed. On the tire choice I was thinking the Nittos would probably ride a bit better on the roads verse the BFGs. We shall see. I know they'll wear a bit faster but they cost about proportionally less as well.
 
New kicks are on the truck. A bit less aggressive looking than the 35s obviously but I think it's a decent balance. I'm planning to pull out the level kit spacers on the front and check it out with those out as well. These run quite a bit smoother/quieter and there was a 5% mpg difference (once correcting for tire diameters) under similar driving conditions.

Front end is still sloppy though so I'll be changing out/upgrading some components.

DSC_1404.jpg
 
5% worse mileage I assume?


No 5% better mileage with these 285/70-17s verse the 35x12.5-17s that were on the truck when I got it.
 
Also looking to do a flat bed swap. Do you know where your getting yours yet?


Probably either an aluminum UTE bed or something I fabricate myself, haven't decided yet.
 
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