new dodge height adjustment

[Montana_1892]

Hi, we got a new '05 Ram 3500, dually, six speed a month ago and have finially got all the toys attached. It replaced a 01 Ram 2500, so i hope all the weight police are happy now Any way the '05 sits a little higher than the '01 and to resolve this i went to the top adjustment on our Reese, 20k hitch and then went to Dodge to get ideas to fix the last inch of height difference.
a nice guy, Brian, came up with removing the 3 spaces from between the axle mount and the bottom of the sping package. Cost $75.00 for them to do it, and it made my 3670 and truck sit perfectly level on a level pavement with normal load out, including 1/3 fresh water tank.
this also gave me just over 8 inches clearance from bottom 5er front to truck bed.
the '01 had a Banks 3 chip and 4' exhaust and the '05 pulls better stock from the factory. all of the rpm drops during shifts are the same ... no big jump between gears like the '01. winding up to 2300 RPM drops you to peak torque rpm in the next gear, which means i don't have to wind her up in forth to catch fifth without lugging.

[Countryfolks]

Nice truck.
I put a aftermarket airfilter and 51" straight thru Donaldson muffler on ours. It supposedly helps lower the EGT on these late model Dodges. I've read that they run a little hotter than the older models. They do pull great, and a lot less in cab noise too.
I noticed the height difference also on our '04.5. I have a lot harder time reaching the hitch handle lock now. Did it change the clearance between the top of the 5er tires to the top of the wheelwell significantly?

Skip

[palebluedot]

Congrats on the new Ram, very nice machine. Regarding your comment about big jump between gears, I have three questions. Was the 01 a 5 or 6 speed? I know the 5 speed had an issue with that. Does your new 05 have the NV5600 or new G56 Mercedes 6 speed? If it is the new G56, how do you rate it so far as to smooth shifting? Thanks and happy camping !!

[Bob Pasternak]

I think some people have a misconception as to what constitutes "lugging". Over my 40+ years of (truck) windshield time, it was generally acknowledged that anytime you are at or a little below torque peak and can pick up RPM if you ease the throttle down, you're NOT lugging. If you're at or near the torque peak and it isn't gaining or is losing RPM, you're lugging. Just somehting learned over the years as engines improved over the years from the 6-71N Detroits 'til todays engines.

[sreigle]

Congratulations on the new TV, grey-ghost. Sounds like a very nice truck. Now you're good to go! Hope you have years of pleasure from it.

[Jeff Heiser]

Hey Grey-Ghost,
Congrats on the new truck. I just got the 2500 05 Dodge with the Quad Cab, LB and Cummins TD. MAN WHAT A TRUCK! 610 FT Lb. Torque is nothing to sneeze at. Dodge is doing there home work. Again, Congrats on the new TV.

Jeff Heiser
Merritt Island Florida

[BillyRay]

congrats! I think anytime you trade up a few years you see drastic improvements! I know my chevy 3500 dually deisel rides nicer than my 10 yr. old F-150 did.