Oh Lord Stuck in Old Lodi....

[4X4Dodger]

Well Cheyenne Wy. actually. (apologies to CCR)

My new 2014 Dodge threw the pin in it's differential putting a hole in the casing and bringing me to a halt by the side of the road in a construction zone 39 miles from Cheyenne.

Now I called the Chrysler/Dodge road side Assistance and they had a tow truck to me within an hour and towed me and my trailer to the KOA in Cheyenne and then my truck to the dealer. At the dealer they ordered a new rear axle assembly while I stood there and put me in a brand new Dodge Durango FREE. They apologized for not having a 3/4 ton truck for me so I could continue my trip!

Along with the fact that the Dodge warranty is a good long one on the drive train, 100,000 miles and 3/36 on the rest of the truck with this road side assistance and the free car it really took the sting out of the whole debacle.

I have been very impressed with the way this has been handled so far.

Makes me wonder how GSE RSA might compare?

This KOA is simple but clean and the owners have been very nice.

This is when you start looking for ways to make Lemonade out of Lemons.

As for my trailer a 2007 Gulfstream Innsbruck, it has performed perfectly. Tows straight as an arrow (no sway apparatus) and has had no problems. My years-old Goodyear tires with great tread were inflated to 65psi and other than the routine checks one makes before any trip I did nothing special to get ready for this trip from Minot, ND to San Francisco to the Grand Canyon and back.

Unfortunately the one thing I had no way of checking was the thing that broke...on my brand new truck.

[ScottG]

4X4Dodger wrote:

DutchmenSport wrote:
I'm glad this turned into "lemon-aid" for you! It sure could have been worse. Hope your truck gets repaired in a timely manner so you can get on with your trip too. Enjoy the "down time" and take the opportunity to just relax a little.

About your choice of trucks. I "could" say something but I'm not going to. I have made comments about different trucks on these forums and been beat up pretty bad from time to time. I've learned that everyone is going to get the truck or tow vehicle they want and all the persuasion in the world won't change anyone opinion. If you are still happy with your truck, your purchase deal, your warranties, your service plan, .... that's really all that matters!

I am a firm believer though ... if you begin to have problems with your current tow vehicle and trailer combination, causing issues for the tow vehicle, then it's time to consider something else ... bigger or a different brand. But each person has to make their own choice what and when those choices are. Advise is OK, even criticism is OK, but in the end, it's your choice.

I really hope they fix your truck up and you'll have many more happy miles on the road! Good luck!

Well as for the breakage it was in the rear axle which is manufactured by Rockwell, Spicer or possibly Dana or Eaton. All US pickups use axles from these manufacturers and this didnt have anything to do with towing. As the dealer said this is clearly a manufacturing defect. Secondly my trailer is thousands of pounds under the capacity of the 2500 4x4 Dodge, even loaded. So I think the Tow vehicle trailer combination is sound.

But I can say this for sure right now I wouldnt trade this Chrysler Corp warranty for a GM or Ford one at this point.

I am happy with my truck and my long years of engineering background tells me that this is one of those occurrences that happens in every ten thousand or so vehicles that has nothing to do with who makes it. I had a Ford 7.3 Diesel many years ago (early "90's) that experienced a similar problem and had to have a completely new Axle assy put in it. This particular kind of breakage can happen in any axle.

And it would be really hard to beat the service I have gotten so far.

Time will tell.

The Rams diff, like the GM's, is made by AAM (American Axle Manufacturing) and not by any of the companies you listed. This is a joint operation by those two companies.

[westend]

4X4Dodger wrote:
It is a beautiful sunny day in Cheyenne, 75 degrees and a nice breeze.

There are some good things to do here for sure and some decent restaurants.

Cheyenne does have a collection of some very interesting architecture dating from the mid to late 1800's and many of the downtown buildings are from that era.

However, I think a week will be enough.

Yup, nice folks up there, as well. If you're bored, take the Durango down to Denver, it's only 100 mi. South on the Interstate.

[4X4Dodger]

It is a beautiful sunny day in Cheyenne, 75 degrees and a nice breeze.

There are some good things to do here for sure and some decent restaurants.

Cheyenne does have a collection of some very interesting architecture dating from the mid to late 1800's and many of the downtown buildings are from that era.

However, I think a week will be enough.

[4X4Dodger]

DutchmenSport wrote:
I'm glad this turned into "lemon-aid" for you! It sure could have been worse. Hope your truck gets repaired in a timely manner so you can get on with your trip too. Enjoy the "down time" and take the opportunity to just relax a little.

About your choice of trucks. I "could" say something but I'm not going to. I have made comments about different trucks on these forums and been beat up pretty bad from time to time. I've learned that everyone is going to get the truck or tow vehicle they want and all the persuasion in the world won't change anyone opinion. If you are still happy with your truck, your purchase deal, your warranties, your service plan, .... that's really all that matters!

I am a firm believer though ... if you begin to have problems with your current tow vehicle and trailer combination, causing issues for the tow vehicle, then it's time to consider something else ... bigger or a different brand. But each person has to make their own choice what and when those choices are. Advise is OK, even criticism is OK, but in the end, it's your choice.

I really hope they fix your truck up and you'll have many more happy miles on the road! Good luck!

Well as for the breakage it was in the rear axle which is manufactured by Rockwell, Spicer or possibly Dana or Eaton. All US pickups use axles from these manufacturers and this didnt have anything to do with towing. As the dealer said this is clearly a manufacturing defect. Secondly my trailer is thousands of pounds under the capacity of the 2500 4x4 Dodge, even loaded. So I think the Tow vehicle trailer combination is sound.

But I can say this for sure right now I wouldnt trade this Chrysler Corp warranty for a GM or Ford one at this point.

I am happy with my truck and my long years of engineering background tells me that this is one of those occurrences that happens in every ten thousand or so vehicles that has nothing to do with who makes it. I had a Ford 7.3 Diesel many years ago (early "90's) that experienced a similar problem and had to have a completely new Axle assy put in it. This particular kind of breakage can happen in any axle.

And it would be really hard to beat the service I have gotten so far.

Time will tell.

[john_bet]

If you are staying in Cheyenne for awhile might as well see the sights.The Union Pacific RR museum is a good one as well as the tours on the town. Be sure to check out the Big Boy steam engine the town has on display.

[ScottG]

DutchmenSport wrote:
I'm glad this turned into "lemon-aid" for you! It sure could have been worse. Hope your truck gets repaired in a timely manner so you can get on with your trip too. Enjoy the "down time" and take the opportunity to just relax a little.

About your choice of trucks. I "could" say something but I'm not going to. I have made comments about different trucks on these forums and been beat up pretty bad from time to time. I've learned that everyone is going to get the truck or tow vehicle they want and all the persuasion in the world won't change anyone opinion. If you are still happy with your truck, your purchase deal, your warranties, your service plan, .... that's really all that matters!

I am a firm believer though ... if you begin to have problems with your current tow vehicle and trailer combination, causing issues for the tow vehicle, then it's time to consider something else ... bigger or a different brand. But each person has to make their own choice what and when those choices are. Advise is OK, even criticism is OK, but in the end, it's your choice.

I really hope they fix your truck up and you'll have many more happy miles on the road! Good luck!

Wise advice and then there's the glass house thing since your Chev and the OP's truck use the same brand (AAM) of rear diffs. - The OP's being a larger version of yours. 😉

[RoyB]

It certainly pays to have a good dealer and connections for sure. My sister and her hubby from central Illinois got T-BONED at an intersection in middle Arkansas towing their Montana fifth wheel trailer on a trip. Totaled the truck. Their local CHEVY Dealer in Illinois sent out a new 3500 Chevy truck equipped to tow their trailer on a roll back and exchanged trucks in Arkansas at a local KOA... Didn't really lose anytime on their trip as Arkansas was a planned stop to visit friends anyway...

I know exactly what would have happened to this old PLOW BOY from Horse Creek Country in Southern Illinois hehe.... I'd still be there working odd jobs paying off my towing bill and trying to trade my trailer for some wheels to get home in..

Roy Ken

[DutchmenSport]

I'm glad this turned into "lemon-aid" for you! It sure could have been worse. Hope your truck gets repaired in a timely manner so you can get on with your trip too. Enjoy the "down time" and take the opportunity to just relax a little.

About your choice of trucks. I "could" say something but I'm not going to. I have made comments about different trucks on these forums and been beat up pretty bad from time to time. I've learned that everyone is going to get the truck or tow vehicle they want and all the persuasion in the world won't change anyone opinion. If you are still happy with your truck, your purchase deal, your warranties, your service plan, .... that's really all that matters!

I am a firm believer though ... if you begin to have problems with your current tow vehicle and trailer combination, causing issues for the tow vehicle, then it's time to consider something else ... bigger or a different brand. But each person has to make their own choice what and when those choices are. Advise is OK, even criticism is OK, but in the end, it's your choice.

I really hope they fix your truck up and you'll have many more happy miles on the road! Good luck!

[4X4Dodger]

westend wrote:
Sorry to hear about the truck problem but it sounds like you lucked into a good dealer. Also, in Wyoming, 39 miles from Cheyenne is very close to town. That kind of dealer service almost makes me want to get a Dodge.
Better luck wished for the rest of your travels!

Yes you are right. We were lucky we were so close to civilization. My Dodge dealer in Minot is very good too...

And yes I would consider this kind of service and warranty as part of any decision to buy a new truck. I had completely forgotten about it until I talked to the dealer (from the side of the road)and he told me to call them.

[dadmomh]

Oh, bummer! So sorry you're stuck, but at least it sounds like you have a dealer who's really going out of their way to get this resolved. Where were you in the schedule of stops? Going or coming? Well, maybe you always wanted to see Cheyenne, WY and just never realized it before. How long before you can be on your way again? Re the lemons.....just slice them and squeeze one into some sort of beverage and maybe the delay will be less painful.

[ChooChooMan74]

I see the problem. You should tow with a Ram. Dodges are nothing more than cars and SUVs.

Let us know if FCA makes good on your ordeal.

[westend]

Sorry to hear about the truck problem but it sounds like you lucked into a good dealer. Also, in Wyoming, 39 miles from Cheyenne is very close to town. That kind of dealer service almost makes me want to get a Dodge.
Better luck wished for the rest of your travels!