Starting to look for a DRW

[garyp4951]

I'm at the max for my 03 Dodge 2500 4x4 QCSB, and it does good, but I have the DRW bug because of the added payload, and stablity.
I can only afford up to a 2010, and today drove a 05 Dodge 3500 QCLB. It drove great, and could tell it was stout, but the leather seats are like sitting on a folding metal chair with a little cushion. Also the fiberglass fenders look flimsy, and wavy. I'm in no hurry so any suggestions are welcome.

[garyp4951]

Thats a nice bed, but you can't do this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DKN3gogbX8to

[chevor]

Pickup boxes on dualies are silly. Truck needs a flatbed. Here's mine.

[garyp4951]

2500 Grunt wrote:

garyp4951 wrote:
I'm at the max for my 03 Dodge 2500 4x4 QCSB, and it does good, but I have the DRW bug because of the added payload, and stablity.
I can only afford up to a 2010, and today drove a 05 Dodge 3500 QCLB. It drove great, and could tell it was stout, but the leather seats are like sitting on a folding metal chair with a little cushion. Also the fiberglass fenders look flimsy, and wavy. I'm in no hurry so any suggestions are welcome.

Why not do a SRW to DRW conversion. Much cheaper and you already know where and what your truck has been thru. A DRW has a lower GCWR than a SRW because of the extra DRW truck parts or weight that is added (for my 05 anyway?). Same axle too just shorter?? Stability is your only benefit by going to DRW. Adding an exhaust brake with a controller will cost about $1500 for parts or subtract $300 from that and add a lock up switch ($10 in parts). You will lose mileage with a newer 2010 too because of the added emissions compared to your current truck.

Good idea, I will also check on the trans upgrades.

[jasult]

I just moved up to a DRW F350 to pull my fiver.
A 1999 and it is a much better ride and stable.
I installed a PHP-HYDRA chip for better towing and pulling and it is great.

[NC_Hauler]

FishOnOne wrote:

larry barnhart wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:
I like the metal fenders better myself.. To the OP, I had a 2010 Ram 3500 DRW/CC/LB/4X4 in Laramie trim, towed my 16,000# 5er through the mountains of NC, SC, TN, VA and WVa, truck did an awesome job...The much maligned 68RFE tranny performed flawlessly The EB was aweseome.. I could highly recommend one if you're thinking about getting one..Looks great, inside and out.

Funny how you hear how bad the 68RFE is but I never see any evidence of that unless someone has added a tuner.

My combined weight is 28K and with 42K on the truck the trans is great. Very solid shifting.

If it is so great and I think it probably is, why not keep it???


It is kinda like saving money for future!!!
But of course it is you wife's money so enjoy.
chevman

I for once would like to see someone here with a newer 6.7 cummins keep a truck until it had some real miles on the truck! :R

I guess any truck is great if you dump it every couple of years! :W

Wow, didn't know at almost 64 years of age, I had to ask YOU if I could trade trucks....been doing it since I was financially able to do it.....I figure I EARNED the money, I should be able to spend it the way "I" want to....I had an 01, 03, 05, 07.5 Chevy's D'A's...sorry to have not included you in my decisions....

Maybe pick out someone that lives in your area, maybe a friend...and monitor them. I and my wife will do as we please with our money and what we want for us...If I had purchased Fords, I would have done the same thing....Maybe, if I don't die first, I'll be able to keep you posted on this one...it's my retirement truck.....then again, I really don't care what you think of my life style...believed I'VE earned the right to do whatever I want to with the money I've earned from working....

[2500_Grunt]

garyp4951 wrote:
I'm at the max for my 03 Dodge 2500 4x4 QCSB, and it does good, but I have the DRW bug because of the added payload, and stablity.
I can only afford up to a 2010, and today drove a 05 Dodge 3500 QCLB. It drove great, and could tell it was stout, but the leather seats are like sitting on a folding metal chair with a little cushion. Also the fiberglass fenders look flimsy, and wavy. I'm in no hurry so any suggestions are welcome.

Why not do a SRW to DRW conversion. Much cheaper and you already know where and what your truck has been thru. A DRW has a lower GCWR than a SRW because of the extra DRW truck parts or weight that is added (for my 05 anyway?). Same axle too just shorter?? Stability is your only benefit by going to DRW. Adding an exhaust brake with a controller will cost about $1500 for parts or subtract $300 from that and add a lock up switch ($10 in parts). You will lose mileage with a newer 2010 too because of the added emissions compared to your current truck.

[FishOnOne]

larry barnhart wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:
I like the metal fenders better myself.. To the OP, I had a 2010 Ram 3500 DRW/CC/LB/4X4 in Laramie trim, towed my 16,000# 5er through the mountains of NC, SC, TN, VA and WVa, truck did an awesome job...The much maligned 68RFE tranny performed flawlessly The EB was aweseome.. I could highly recommend one if you're thinking about getting one..Looks great, inside and out.

Funny how you hear how bad the 68RFE is but I never see any evidence of that unless someone has added a tuner.

My combined weight is 28K and with 42K on the truck the trans is great. Very solid shifting.

If it is so great and I think it probably is, why not keep it???


It is kinda like saving money for future!!!
But of course it is you wife's money so enjoy.
chevman

I for once would like to see someone here with a newer 6.7 cummins keep a truck until it had some real miles on the truck! :R

I guess any truck is great if you dump it every couple of years! :W

[NC_Hauler]

I wanted the higher rating HP and TQ and to get it you had to go medium duty tranny, which was a bonus to me:B

[Cummins12V98]

larry barnhart wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:
I like the metal fenders better myself.. To the OP, I had a 2010 Ram 3500 DRW/CC/LB/4X4 in Laramie trim, towed my 16,000# 5er through the mountains of NC, SC, TN, VA and WVa, truck did an awesome job...The much maligned 68RFE tranny performed flawlessly The EB was aweseome.. I could highly recommend one if you're thinking about getting one..Looks great, inside and out.

Funny how you hear how bad the 68RFE is but I never see any evidence of that unless someone has added a tuner.

My combined weight is 28K and with 42K on the truck the trans is great. Very solid shifting.

If it is so great and I think it probably is, why not keep it???


It is kinda like saving money for future!!!
But of course it is you wife's money so enjoy.
chevman

BecauseI want the next best thing and for the first time in my life I can afford to do so.

Someone will get a great truck when I trade this one in.

[larry_barnhart]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:
I like the metal fenders better myself.. To the OP, I had a 2010 Ram 3500 DRW/CC/LB/4X4 in Laramie trim, towed my 16,000# 5er through the mountains of NC, SC, TN, VA and WVa, truck did an awesome job...The much maligned 68RFE tranny performed flawlessly The EB was aweseome.. I could highly recommend one if you're thinking about getting one..Looks great, inside and out.

Funny how you hear how bad the 68RFE is but I never see any evidence of that unless someone has added a tuner.

My combined weight is 28K and with 42K on the truck the trans is great. Very solid shifting.

If it is so great and I think it probably is, why not keep it???


It is kinda like saving money for future!!!
But of course it is you wife's money so enjoy.
chevman

[Cummins12V98]

NC Hauler wrote:
I like the metal fenders better myself.. To the OP, I had a 2010 Ram 3500 DRW/CC/LB/4X4 in Laramie trim, towed my 16,000# 5er through the mountains of NC, SC, TN, VA and WVa, truck did an awesome job...The much maligned 68RFE tranny performed flawlessly The EB was aweseome.. I could highly recommend one if you're thinking about getting one..Looks great, inside and out.

Funny how you hear how bad the 68RFE is but I never see any evidence of that unless someone has added a tuner.

My combined weight is 28K and with 42K on the truck the trans is great. Very solid shifting.

[NC_Hauler]

I like the metal fenders better myself.. To the OP, I had a 2010 Ram 3500 DRW/CC/LB/4X4 in Laramie trim, towed my 16,000# 5er through the mountains of NC, SC, TN, VA and WVa, truck did an awesome job...The much maligned 68RFE tranny performed flawlessly The EB was aweseome.. I could highly recommend one if you're thinking about getting one..Looks great, inside and out.

[FishOnOne]

45Ricochet wrote:

eHoefler wrote:


You might ought to go out and try to stick a magnet to your dually fenders, they are fiberglass. The steel one piece bed and dually fenders did not come out until 2010.

I stand corrected :S

Yeah I was wondering what Rick was drinking :W

Anyways I still prefer the plastic bolt on fenders on the dually fenders because if you ever damage it, it's an easy replacement that will take only a few hours to remove and replace with a new painted piece, whereas the one piece fenders like the current RAM and Chevys require the complete bed panel to be replaced and repainted which means your truck will be in a body shop for a few days.

[45Ricochet]

eHoefler wrote:


You might ought to go out and try to stick a magnet to your dually fenders, they are fiberglass. The steel one piece bed and dually fenders did not come out until 2010.

I stand corrected :S