Capt Skup
Southern Maryland/Nantucket
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Joined: 05/14/2004
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From Pickuptrucks.com:http://www.pickuptrucks.com/html/2009/do........e/2009-dodge-ram-1500-first-drive-1.html
Capt Skup
AD-1(AW)USN Ret.
Wonderful Wife, 3 beautiful Daughters
"Never get in a battle of wits with an unarmed man"
2008 F-450 Lariat 4x4
2008 Honda Odyssey EX-L
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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Rear coil springs is an interesting touch. I wonder if they'll be as rebust as the leafs. The Hemi has more power but at what fuel mileage cost?
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4 Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
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Fast Mopar
Houston, TX
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Joined: 05/03/2005
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Nice write up. I was initially a little surprised that they are offering both the quad cab with small doors and the full crew cab. But, I guess it makes sense since some people compare the quad cab to the "extended cab" models from Ford and Chevy.
Thanks for the link.
2004 Ford Freestar 4.2 liter
2003 Jayco Qwest 12A
preserve the Second Amendment
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larry barnhart
wenatchee. wa usa
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We had a 60's 2500 gmc with coil springs that were ok until we loaded our 8 ft camper. then if the wind blew it leaned so far it was tough to drive. Up and down it was good but after trading it for a 250 ford with leaf springs the wind problems were over. 1/2 ton might work ok.
chevman
chevman
2001 35 ft avalon alpenlite RK
2005 3500 2wd duramax CC dually
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eightballsidepocket
San Jose, California, USA
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Joined: 09/20/2004
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larry barnhart wrote:We had a 60's 2500 gmc with coil springs that were ok until we loaded our 8 ft camper. then if the wind blew it leaned so far it was tough to drive. Up and down it was good but after trading it for a 250 ford with leaf springs the wind problems were over. 1/2 ton might work ok.
chevman
I think 40+ years of truck/auto technology in building better/improved vehicles might make a rear coil springed P.U. not quite like your negative 1960's example.
Also keep in mind that most cabover campers are generally too heavy and exceed the payloads of most 1/2 tons nowadays. Even 3/4 tons are marginal with most of the new Cabover campers.
So I doubt that the 1500 2009 Dodge Ram with rear coils will be a popular candidate for a slide-in Cabover camper, any more than a 1/2 ton Ford or GM P.U. with their leaf sprung rear-ends.
I was shocked when I was at a recent RV show. The lightest Cabover campers were marginal for my 2500 Cummins Dodge Ram Quad cab, long bed.
Most folks are putting their Cabovers on 1 ton p.u.'s. Just check out the weight of those Cab overs........you'd be surprised. They're hefty in the weight department.
Regards, Eightballsidepocket
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT 4x2 Quad Cab, Cummins, 48RE Tranny, Lg Bed, Line-X Spray-on Bed Liner.
06 T25BS Komfort Trailblazer TT
"If you can't say it in person, it isn't worth saying while hiding behind an anonymous P.C.!"
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bimbert84
MI
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Fast Mopar wrote:I was initially a little surprised that they are offering both the quad cab with small doors and the full crew cab. But, I guess it makes sense since some people compare the quad cab to the "extended cab" models from Ford and Chevy. Bear in mind that the crew cab comes at the expense of a shortened bed.
-- Rob
2003 Ram 1500 QC 4x2, 5.7L Hemi, 3.92 (GCWR=14000, GVWR=6650, WB=140")
2004 Springdale 295BHL, 31'5" (DVW=5800, UVW=6200, GVW=7400)
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Capt Skup
Southern Maryland/Nantucket
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What if..... What if indeed the baby Cummins makes it into the new 1500 series pickups. With the power this engine is advertised capable of, won't buyers be tempted to hitch up some large trailers, or carry heavy loads. Wonder how the coil sprung rear end will react to weight distributing hitches. No matter, 95% of 1/2 truck buyers will never haul much more than a few bags of mulch or some lumber from Home Depot. I think Chrysler/Dodge is positioning the truck at just the right place for our current energy price market. Nice riding, good looking family pickup.
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~DJ~
Boise, Idaho
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Joined: 05/10/2005
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I'll have one of the little red R/T's please!! 
05 Dodge Ram 3500 SLT SC DRW 4X4 CTD G56 373's CAI,Edge Juice/Attitude,Jake,Rancho9000x,Torklift tie downs,Superhitch,Stable Loads
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surveyorjp
Missouri
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Joined: 09/05/2005
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ScottG wrote:Rear coil springs is an interesting touch. I wonder if they'll be as rebust as the leafs. The Hemi has more power but at what fuel mileage cost?
The new, more powerful Hemi is supposed to be more fuel efficient as well due to some reprogramming of the MDS to allow it to stay on longer. I am sure, however, that if you are towing a trailer the MDS will not be a factor unless you are heading down a long hill.
I think I will let the new buyers be the lab rats for this truck for a couple years, and if all works out maybe buy one to replace my current truck about 2011 or so. It sure looks like a nice 1/2 ton, but that rear suspension has me keeping a close eye on what buyers say when towing a 5000 to 7000 lb trailer similar to mine. I have to agree with Capt. Skup (I know, hard to believe ), the way the new coil spring setup responds with some weight distribution will be of great importance to me deciding whether to go with a 1/2 ton Dodge with the new setup, or 3/4 ton Dodge with the more traditional leaf spring setup.
2005 Surveyor SV-291 Tows smooth as silk!
1995 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie SLT 4x4 5.9L V8 low miles, It ain't pretty, but it's paid for!
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larry barnhart
wenatchee. wa usa
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I agree 40 years is a long time so if the sway can be controlled it could be great. chevman
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