Anyone have an '03 or '04 1500 with plow?

[szorno]

I am handing the 90 Ramcharger down to my daughter, so I will need another truck for my wife. She will be our backup truck so it won't be plowing heavily, but it will need to plow. Is anyone using an 03 or 04 1/2 ton? Which engine? They are offering some really good deals on the 4.7 powered 1500's. I know the 4.7 is better on gas than the hemi, but much lower on power. I need some feedback... :feedback

[Roger Dodger]

FWIW-
I just made the comment in another thread here that at my work, they have 2500 Hemis that plow lots all day long and the guys love the truck itself but not so much for plowing. They feel it's underpowered (they are used to the Chevy 6l vortec). They like the throttle response but it lacks the grunt needed to push and stack snow .... and that's a hemi vs the 4.7 you mention. On the RV forums, the 4.7 is not a winner by a long shot for towing anything of medium size. My neighbor got an '03 4.7 1500 and the fool pulls a 31' trailer with a full slideroom!!! He says he holds up traffic often. I say he should have used his head and not jumped into a rash decision so soon on the dealer's lot. That's gonna be one tired truck for someone else someday. A guy I work with has the 4.7 1500 (doesn't plow though) and tows a small camper. He doesn't like the 4.7 motor either and complains of the poor fuel economy given his choice to stay w/ a smaller motor. He claims "never again"!

My speculation is if you plow for yourself here and there, the hemi should be fine, but if you are in the business of it, the torque is in the high rpms and you'd be better suited with a better powerplant setup. You can always go the used route and get the reliable 360 motor or if you need new, wait a spell and get the V10 (that DC is reintroducing again I believe in '05) or the diesel (but that's pricey!!)

[Honest Mike]

Its very surprising to hear that guys are not happy with the Hemi motor. I know it has 345hp, which is ALOT, but how much torque does it put out? I think the GM 8.1L motor has more torque, but only 5hp less. I always see guys with them around here driving "fast". I guess it can go fast, but cant push snow well? Maybe its the way the motor makes the power? :confused: Mike

[90plow]

I've read reviews and heard people talking. Some guys like em (personal users) and the reviews were real bad. The Hemi isnt the same Hemi from back in the day I guess. Why not try chevy ;) or a ford f-150 4door saw one of those running around wiht a fisher 7.5 ld the other day looked pretty good?
Eric

[Lawngodfather]

I will make this easy for you, the 1500 cannot withstand the rigors of commercial plowing period. Engine choice does not matter if the truck its self can't do it.

There are a lot of things you get with a ¾ton truck that are so much heavier than the ½ ton.

My half tons did the job, but that's it, they also cost more money in maitenance than the 2500's.

Back up or not, atleast spend the money wisely and buy the right truck for the job. What you going to do if you main truck breaks and you take a medeoker truck out when you could of gotten the right truc to begin with.

I will never buy another 1500 truck again ever.

[Honest Mike]

We never had a storm here that my 1500 couldnt push. Its been through 2 blizzards as well. My friend cant believe how well my truck pushes snow. He has a Dodge 2500 with the 360 gas motor, few years old but he bought it new, with a Fisher MM 7.5' plow. He says when he plows big storms, he feels his truck lagging and vibrating like it cant do it, like it starts to chatter. :confused: I dont get any of that in my truck. :cool: Mike

[T-Zab]

I own a 03 2500 with the hemi. I plow commercial (not personal use) lots with this truck. I have no complaints about lack of power or low end grunt. Part of my route includes a 5 acre parking deck, this amounts too long windrows and major piles. This truck does not even stumble pushing back some of these piles. I run an 8' blade on it, and it will move the snow in front of it. I do realize this thing is not a diesal, or even a big block. It is a gas guzzling tire smoking small block. The torque is there for plowing including the wet slop we often get here. I pull a 24' boat with this truck and it does just fine. On a different note my buddy has the 03 2500 chevy with the small block, he feels his 99 2500 ram 360 has more guts then his new chevy. If your not pulling a rubber tire loader (THE hemi pulls the T-200 bobcat too 10,000#s with trailer) around the county dont sweet the hemi. My only complaint about this truck was a stalling problem (cleared up with computer reflash) and fuel economy. Anyway if you need big rig torque get a diesal, if not the hemi will get it done.
Todd

[John DiMartino]

Scott, I see a lot of 02-04 dodge 1500s with plows here locally. I do tend to agree with LGF,if your doing any kind of commercial plowing get a 2500,if its just your drive Id get a light sno way or similar plow,and it should do fine.
Mike ,no ones saying you cant plow with a 1500,I did it for yrs,one of mytrucks still is a 1500(the GMC),but the 2500 is better equipped to push snow,all other things being equal.

[szorno]

Thanks guys. I know a couple folks that have hemis and like the power but not the gas mileage. We may reconsider and just add another older Cummins to the fleet. I love mine. My son loves his. I was kind of hoping for the true 4 door like the 02-04 1500's. Can't afford a brand new 2500 Cummins with 4 doors so we will start watching for a 99 or 00 extend cab but likely not until summer now. Lots going on.
;)

[Lawngodfather]

Another thing that keeps getting over looked.

Gearing, if you're running 3:55 you don't have much low end torque at all, but put 4:10 in there, you can push mountins.

A 1500 is not going to have higher than 3:73 in it.

Tranny's clutches are at minimums. Trans Oils coolers are small if even has one becides the radiators.

Front bearings and axel are light rated

[Roger Dodger]

Originally posted by Lawngodfather
Front bearings and axel are light rated
Aptly so, and the rear axles are semi-floaters!:(

[mattg]

If you're looking at pre-owned (what a nausiating term) this wouldn't be an issue, but if you are buying new I understand that Dodge will not honor any warranty if you hang a blade on a 1500. Just something to think about. Look for a 2500. You'll probably thank yourself for it later.

[Lawngodfather]

Yes they will honor it, unless they can prove it was due to it plowing?

If tranny goes out in the summer, they really aint got a choice.

I have been around the block with the on this on may occasions wiht a 1500.

The extened warrenties are not included in this.

The factory warrenty they do not have an option unless you get hauled in on a wrecker with the plow on it, or out plowing.

[Roger Dodger]

LGF is right... I inquired at the dealer out of curiosity. They will honor factory warranty provided the malfunction isn't determined to be a result of plowing. However that still leaves a lot of open area for discussion between the owner, the service center, and DC regional C.S. rep.

[Adams Plowing]

Its very simple if there not going to honor it because the plow is on it just take it and the pushbar off before droping it at the dealer for major work... It really dosent matter about the wireing becides the burdon of proof would be on them to prove it was casued by plowing... which in essence if theres no pushbar on the truck it cant hold a plow therefore they have to fix...

[Roger Dodger]

Suppose it's an electrical problem and they see the plow harness spliced/plugged in? That's a plowing related mod to the truck?

And then if it's a steering or suspension item failure and they see the push plates or the plow's sub-frame bolted to the truck's frame, what then?

Prolly the best thing is to have the dealer install or have them send it out for a plow install and then get something in writing afterwards. For as many 1/2tons outfitted w/ plows are out there, if the makers wanted them to undergo snowplow duty, they wouldn't restrict their blessings and approvals to 3/4 and 1 tons then, right?

[szorno]

I found out that Dodge has a snowplow prep package for the 1500. You can get Timbrens for it too. I will probably hold out for the 2500, unless the Ramcharger dies an untimely death. (not likely) Just gotta confirm that the family can live with the extend cab, & not require the full 4 door.:confused:

[Lawngodfather]

The ram is only available with either tudor or fourdoors, no extended cab.

[Roger Dodger]

Originally posted by szorno
I found out that Dodge has a snowplow prep package for the 1500. :

Are you sure about that? My dealer claims no plow prep pkg. avail. on the 1500 models ... period. Straight from the mouths of the service manager and a salesman. Are they uninformed or correct?

Or is your source calling a plow prep pkg. an aftermarket upgrade of systems by the dealer, to better handle a plow?

[szorno]

I saw it in print somewhere, and now I can't find it. (4 wheeler or something similar) Yes, I did figure out that the "extend cab" had been discontinued. But, with my budget considerations, a 2000 or 2001 2500 CTD extend cab may be more reachable than a new CTD 4 dr. I will get on the Dodge web page and confirm or deny the snowplow prep package for 1500. I guess I shoulda done my homework first. Ooopps....:o

[Lawngodfather]

Do you know anyone that works for Chrysler or at a dealer, if not ask the dealer to do you as a green shet save 22½% off the sticker and still get the rebates. They can and will do it, it's called friends and family.

Tha's how I got all of mine.

[Crimedog]

Hey, what exactly is a green sheet?

[Lawngodfather]

Firends and family of any Chrysler supplier dealer etc.... DISCOUNT

[szorno]

I can get that kind of deal thru an employee purchase plan but only for GM and Ford. I may have to work on that green sheet LGF. Good idea. Thanks.:)