RAM 5500 Chassis

[dodge man]

Nice looking truck. I hope you can get your flat bed soon. Around here farming is considered an essential service.

 

[Hay Dude]

Nice looking truck. I hope you can get your flat bed soon. Around here farming is considered an essential service.

Thanks my friend!
I am having the stock Continental tires removed today and installing (6) Kelly max traction tires in their place.
I ran the Kellys for years on my Ford chassis and a large dump truck I had and really liked them.
There’s really no brand name traction radials made in a 19.5 that works well. Combine that with high inflation pressure and it is a battle with off road traction. Michelin makes a nice 19.5, but they are expensive!

 

[Hay Dude]

Took a couple pics today while having new maximum traction tires installed.

 

[Tomtint]

Took a couple pics today while having new maximum traction tires installed.

I Have a 17 F450 with 19.5s, the stock tireswere goodyears I believe. They are fine in the spring summer and fall. But suck in the snow. I got a set of those Kelly's you have for the winter and snow plowing. Much better but very loud on the highway.

 

[Hay Dude]

I Have a 17 F450 with 19.5s, the stock tireswere goodyears I believe. They are fine in the spring summer and fall. But suck in the snow. I got a set of those Kelly's you have for the winter and snow plowing. Much better but very loud on the highway.

I have these Kellys on my 550 and the humming noise is noticeable.
I’ve been at this for many years and one thing I have found is if they’re loud, they get good off road traction.

 

[dodge man]

It’s too nice to use, park it, wax it twice a year and drive on sunny days only.

 

[Hay Dude]

It’s too nice to use, park it, wax it twice a year and drive on sunny days only.

I know, right? Can’t imagine first dent/scratch/seat rip

 

[countrybumpkin]

Looks great, cover that back glass with something if your going to drive it much with out the bed, surprised the dealer didn’t. Local dealer here will not let them leave without cardboard over them due to how many they have had broken by a small rock.

 

[Hay Dude]

Looks great, cover that back glass with something if your going to drive it much with out the bed, surprised the dealer didn’t. Local dealer here will not let them leave without cardboard over them due to how many they have had broken by a small rock.

I will have to bring that to their attention. It’s leaving from stealership on Monday to have the aluminum flatbed installed.
With any luck, I might have it by end of next week! :cool2:

 

[countrybumpkin]

Ah ok, I took it as you already had the truck and would. Be driving it a bit till the bed was ready which may be a few weeks. But yes I’d mention it to them , even if it’s on them, I’d hate to have a broken glass in a new truck.

 

[Hay Dude]

Well it finally got its flatbed body installed. Took a quick picture in the garage yesterday.
First impressions and comparisons to my previous F550.
Cons: It rides harder and the turning radius is a little disappointing. The Ford wide track front axle has amazing tight turning radius. Im attributing the stiffer ride to it being new with new max traction tires. The edge of the suspension stiffness will subside with age. The mirrors are lagging behind even the older Ford. Sure, the have power and heated glass, but you have to manually flip them up and out to get them to become a wide towing mirror. Even my 08 Ford came with power folding and extending option. I think the upper level RAM might have them, but I dont know for sure.
Pros: the list is pretty long. The engine pulls very hard, even in its detuned level, it has a torque monster feel. The Aisin transmission has a different feel to it in the way it shifts. It has a military vehicle feel to the shifting in tow haul mode. It downshifts very strong (being unloaded makes it feel too sharp, in any of the downshifting trucks). The exhaust brake is excellent. In the full on mode, it slows the truck down to the point where the service brakes are almost not needed. I would expect brakes to last a very long time before replacement. There is also a gear limiting feature right on the steering wheel to keep her geared down for hill descending. The downshift, exhaust brake and gear limiting make for the trucks 43,000lb GCWR to be realized.
The interior is very nice. Seats are pretty comfortable and attractive with heat/ventilation features. RAM has an excellent center console on the Laramie edition. Its convertible into a lot of different configurations and lots of room for all the junk I can seemingly never stop carrying around. Theres a double stack glove compartment with a really slick top glove compartment kind of hidden in the middle of the dash.
The back seat area has a lot of room and options for folding down the heated rear seats into cargo space. They just fold up-no awkward latches to grab and with other hand yank on the seat. They just fold up and down effortlessly.
Lighting is over the top with puddle lamps, corner lamps, back up lamps floor area lighting and its all LED. Fog lamps are not a joke. The shine far and wide. The instrument cluster is a technological wonder. It has probably 6 different modes. Normal, fuel economy, towing, entertainment, tire pressure monitoring to name a few. You can also monitor your trailer tire pressures up to 12 tires. The center cluster has a 8-1/2” main screen. From there I get a back up camera and a bed-area camera which is great for trailer hook up. You also have Apple Play and Sirius. Also, almost all cab functions (seat heat, air temp, etc) can be controlled by driver of passenger from screen virtually.
Just getting to know the truck, so I will check back and add as I go.

 

[dodge man]

I’m more than a little jealous even though I don’t need a truck like that. It looks really nice.

 

[Peter 315]

Nice ride poor farmer..........:laughing:

 

[Hay Dude]

Nice ride poor farmer..........:laughing:

Scary thing is the little horsey girls I sell hay to have even nicer rides than mine :laughing:

You know seriously thats the first new truck I bought in 12 years (2007 Duramax 3500)

 

[Peter 315]

Scary thing is the little horsey girls I sell hay to have even nicer rides than mine :laughing:

You know seriously that痴 the first new truck I bought in 12 years (2007 Duramax 3500)

I know nice truck.. You have a nice home also.

 

[Hay Dude]

I equipped this truck with a 45,000lb gooseneck hitch and a 3” ball. It has interchangeable 3” and 2-5/16” balls. With the new incoming trailer being 38,000lbs, I will need it.
I can remove it easily and drop in a smaller ball for smaller trailers.

 

[Peter 315]

Where is the new trailer ?

 

[Peter 315]

Does the poor farmer have to pay the FET tax?

 

[Hay Dude]

Does the poor farmer have to pay the FET tax?

Yep! No exception on a truck or trailer with a license plate.

 

[Hay Dude]

Where is the new trailer ?

It’s being built. Things proceed slowly when the country is shut down.....