Gave my pickup some TLC ...

[Shawn T. W.]

I bought this 2018 1500 back in October of '21, not much to choose from back then, but it's mine now!

I was planning on doing a few things to it when I got it, but ended up finding this current place 2 weeks later, and moved from Arizona ... Just one thing after another ...

Yesterday I got it up on 4 jack stands and removed the tires, scrubbed them, after they dried I applied a tire dressing that is supposed to reduce ozone degradation, I did both the inside and outside, I'm a long distance truck driver and leave my pickup at my company's terminal for weeks on end (I don't really go for the shiny tire look!)... Then started on a long overdue brake fluid flush ...

Unfortunately I only got one wheel done before running out of the quart! (Since I already had it in the air, and more things to do with the wheels off, I decided to get back to it later!)

Then I added 1.25" wheel spacers so I have the option of putting chains on ... Used the Orange thread locker, the gel doesn't go very far!

This morning I started on adding a 2" front leveling kit ... I was looking for a small lift "kit" but generally they start at 4" and I didn't want that much ... So I got the leveling kit, plus found a 1.5" rear lift ... I want to keep the almost stock "rake" with the tail higher than the front when empty.

Since I added wheel spacers, I decided to install small smooth fender flares.

When I got the truck it had black plastic wheel covers, I lost one, so I took off the other one on that side, so that side would match, but really don't like the look of the factory aluminum rims, and I liked the black and white theme I had going on, so I had to buy a four pack, didn't realize that they are a dull faded black, but they are on one side, I have the shiny black ones which I like better on the other side ... Then I rotated the tires since they were already off ...

I'm glad I didn't go with a 4" lift, this is plenty tall enough for me, probably will add a set of gramps steps!

Now I have room for chains!

I have a dentist appointment in the morning, so I'll pick up a couple more quarts of brake fluid and finish that job tomorrow ...

 

[JTKub]

Nice! My 2019 Ram 1500 classic, crew cab, hemi, 4x4 SLT was one of my all time favorite vehicles.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Yeah, this has been a good truck it's 4X4 with the Hemi ... Wish it had a longer bed, and a manual transmission ... Couldn't find a 3/4 ton back then, but I make do with this.

I only drive it about 1000 miles a year now, it was " high mileage" when I bought ... 86K now has 94K, but when I lived in Arizona I put a bunch of miles on it going to Tucson, and my job was 108 miles away (same trucking company) I used it to move here in Missouri, and made a trip to Charlotte, NC for my father's funeral ... But normally it just driven 30 miles to work and parked until I get back, once I home I rarely go anywhere, I have too much to do here ...

Was WAY overloaded on my move, had plenty of motor and brakes, but suspension was over taxed!

I got the new transmission oil pan with filter and fluid, but need to change it, and flush out the coolant too ...

 

[tacticalturnip]

That's a good truck, and you really did right by it. The leveling kit is sharp.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Nice! My 2019 Ram 1500 classic, crew cab, hemi, 4x4 SLT was one of my all time favorite vehicles.

I had an '18, it was my favorite truck, and to me it was fast. Unfortunately for the truck I made a string of bad choices that resulted in it giving it's life to protect me. God's grace and that machine are why I'm here right now.



Anyhow, these older Ram's are excellent half-ton trucks, the 5.7 and 8 speed are worth putting up with a dial shift.

 

[Runner]

That's what I call "Showin' it some love"!

 

[JTKub]

Anyhow, these older Ram's are excellent half-ton trucks, the 5.7 and 8 speed are worth putting up with a dial shift.

Agreed. I was never a fan of the dial shifter, but those ZF8's are excellent transmissions. The only thing I didn't care for on my 2019 classic 5.7 was the cylinder deactivation (MDS). When it bothered me, I'd select 8th gear with the steering wheel +/- shift limiter buttons to keep it from kicking in. I owned that truck from 10K to 70K miles. It was perfect the whole time.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Agreed. I was never a fan of the dial shifter, but those ZF8's are excellent transmissions. The only thing I didn't care for on my 2019 classic 5.7 was the cylinder deactivation (MDS). When it bothered me, I'd select 8th gear with the steering wheel +/- shift limiter buttons to keep it from kicking in. I owned that truck from 10K to 70K miles. It was perfect the whole time.

I don't believe I had the MDS, fortunately.

 

[dnw64]

I had both a 2015 and 2020 RAM 1500 with the 5.7 hemi.

Loved them both, other than the Cylinder Deactivation. Paid big bucks to get the ECM reprogrammed which allowed me to shut it off, prioritize for higher octane and re-program for tire size changes.

Only went to Ford when I "needed" (common sense, though the RAM theoretically could have handled) a truck to pull a 10k travel trailer.

Ford just had so much more to offer for my Wish List at a lower price.

Sold my 2015 RAM to my son for the price he could get for his 2011 SLT (10K). Offered him my '20 at the same deal, but I had put a 5" lift and 35" tires on the '20 and it wouldn't fit in his garage. He missed out on getting a $35k truck for $24k, but is what it is. He still has the '15, for which I am thankful, as it's in Blue Streak - My absolute favorite color to date. So at least I get to see it once in a while...

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I got a late start today, had a 08:00 dentist appointment, got there 10 minutes early to do paperwork as it's a new dentist that took over my old dentists patients who just retired ... Left there at 09:45! For a cleaning! Stopped at O'Reilly's and got brake fluid and concentrated coolant, plus some coolant flush ... then to grocery store for distilled water ... Got started on truck at 11:00!!!

Drained fluid, filled with well water, drained that, three times ... Added flush, topped up with water, drained that ... Filled and flushed with water three more times!

The last water fill I decided to try my new Schwaben coolant fill tool ... I got it mostly because I believe that my cabbed tractors heater core is actually in the roof, but I'm not sure about that ... Anyways it uses compressed air to create a vacuum to draw in the coolant, much faster, and eliminates air bubbles and "burping" ... The first six times took quite awhile, as it took awhile to get it through the heater core on my pickup ...

Then I added the coolant, RAM say original is good for 10 years, it's 7.5 years old, time to change it!

Then I got to finishing the brake flush, ran 2 more quarts through ... Nice and firm pedal now too!

Only casualty was at the very end ... Backed off the ramps and heard a strange sound! Uh Oh, I knew what it was, but got and and looked to confirm, yup ... I'm a forgetful old fart! UGG!

It has served me for probably 30 years ... The vinyl (?) cover was getting tears, and the wheels sometimes didn't swivel ... Time for a new one, maybe with bigger wheels, any suggestions?

 

[tacticalturnip]

When I was younger I found the dog bone style creepers to be quite comfortable. I don't recall the brand we had at Fort Hood, but it was well built, red, with big wheels.

 

[dieselscout80]

I don't believe I had the MDS, fortunately.

You had a 2018 from what you posted and so yes you did have MDS. MDS started in 2006 for all 1500 HEMIs with automatic transmissions.

Now even my 2020 2500 6.4 HEMI has MDS and I don’t mind having it.

 

[dnw64]

You had a 2018 from what you posted and so yes you did have MDS. MDS started in 2006 for all 1500 HEMIs with automatic transmissions.

Now even my 2020 2500 6.4 HEMI has MDS and I don’t mind having it.

What? I thought all HD/SDs didn't have MDS or the equivalent.

BTW, I hated MDS and paid over $1000 to get a new programmable PCM so I could disable it (and adjust tire size, fan cut-in/out temps, re-map engine tuning, etc). Both on my 2015 and 2020 RAM 1500s with the 5.7.

Now I have a 2024 F250 with the 7.3. No cylinder deactivation. Spent the money on an exhaust instead...

Now I am contemplating spending the Big Bucks for a Whipple Supercharger...

 

[sandman2234]

Yeah, this has been a good truck it's 4X4 with the Hemi ... Wish it had a longer bed, and a manual transmission ... Couldn't find a 3/4 ton back then, but I make do with this.

I just brought a 2003 2500 home with a stickshift!

Was WAY overloaded on my move, had plenty of motor and brakes, but suspension was over taxed!

View attachment 4286946

Glad you didn't have to come to Florida, as they like catching those doubles and writing tickets. Usually a camper with a boat behind it. I have dbls/triples on my CDL and can't do it! Been a time or two it would have made things easier, or I need a bigger trailer!
I was close to your place this week,
David from jax

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I find that the states that border the ocean seem to have some of the craziest or most restricted laws ...

I got home today for my regular scheduled time off ... A nice sunny fall day in the Ozarks, got up to 77°!

I decided I needed to get my truck ready for winter, so started with a wash and wax ... Cleaned the windows inside too ...

For a 2018 it cleans up pretty nice, but the wax is mostly for protection from the elements, as it spends most of its time parked up at my company's trucking terminal ...

Topped up the windshield washer fluid ...

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Then put my new creeper together, ships with the wheels separately ... It the Bone Rough Rider version, it goes over the cracks, and I actually took it out on the gravel, and works fairly well out there too!

I was trying on my new chains I got, now that I did the spacers, and lift there is plenty of room!

Probably don't even need the spider tightener ...

They have these "latches" on both sides, and you can get them pretty snug just with them ...

I also bought the optional version with "cams" ... This set has 4 of them on the outside, and a "L" shaped "wrench" to tighten them ... I could only tighten 2 of the 4, this one is not tightened ...

This one has been rotated and is in the tightened position ... (Tire is yellow from rubbing on my ramps last time!)

My plan was to run my "emergency chains" I bought for my semi-truck on the back ...

While there is room inside now ...

The wheels on my pickup are not really set up for this style of chains, which are basically a temporary deal to get unstuck, and up onto your real chains, or a short ways in a bad parking lot, I couldn't get them tight enough, and the extra chain would trash my wheels ... So I'm gonna buy another set like I got for the front ...

The new ones come in a nice bag! I'll put the emergency ones in my semi-truck for the winter !

 

[Hay Dude]

I had my Ram 5500 Aisin in for transmission fluid & filter service and my ram salesman told me they did away with the dial shifter.

 

[dieselscout80]

I had my Ram 5500 Aisin in for transmission fluid & filter service and my ram salesman told me they did away with the dial shifter.

I know they did for the HDs for 2025.

 

[Hay Dude]

I dislike steering column shifters. A 1950’s design that takes up too much physical space for it’s purpose. It’s no longer a shift stalk connected to cables. It’s a giant electronic switch.
Time to go to an Allison style push button key pad.

Or the Volvo truck shifter.

But our smaller trucks need a park pawl.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

My 2018 has the dial shifter, and the stupid mds ... If I remember I turn it off before going anywhere ... Once in Drive, gotta hit the - gear button, then the + gear button till it gets up to 8th gear, then it won't go into "eco mode" ... But every time I take it out of Drive, I gotta do it all over again!

Before I left out last time I did readjust the headlights down, I had marked them on the door, and moved them back down after the lift, but haven't driven in the dark, just here in the driveway ...

I'm not looking forward to the drain transmission, drop pan and throw it away, put new pan and new filter (part of the pan!) as it looks like I need to remove the exhaust to get to the drain plug, and the bolts that hold on the pan!