New member from Detroit

4465 Views 16 Replies 5 Participants Last post by L.O.A., Jun 5, 2014

TomG

Discussion Starter · Apr 28, 2014

I ordered mine yesterday and thought it would make an appropriate first post. I've always wanted a truck but couldn't justify it due to my long commute, but the mileage of the EcoDiesel has put owning one in reach.

DS6H98 - 1500 SLT CREW CAB 4X4 w'5' 7" box
28T - Outdoorsman Package
EXF - 3.0L EcoDiesel Engine
DFD - 8 Spd. Auto 8HP70 Trans
PAU - Granite Crystal Met. Clear Coat
APA - Monotone Paint
MJ - Premium Cloth Bucket Seats
X8 - Black/Diesel Gray
XAC - ParkView Rear Back-up Camera
SER - Air Suspension 4-Corner
GWA - Power Sun Roof
RC3 - 9 Amplified Speakers w/Subwoofer
WHE - 20X8 Aluminum Wheels
GFA - Rear Window Defroster
XMF - Spray in Bedliner

They are talking 2 weeks until VIN and 6-8 weeks delivery. The plant where it'll be built is about 20 minutes form my house, I wonder if they'll let me drop by and watch?

The pic below shows the monotone paint scheme on the Outdoorsman and the 20" aluminum wheels. Of course mine won't have a Hemi emblem.

Tom

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TomG

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 28, 2014

No, the snow is gone here, but just barely. We set an all time seasonal record here in Michigan with about 95". Some areas of the U.P. got 350". I haven't been to our cottage in a while, but I understand the lake (Michigan) is still frozen over in that area and the is still several feet of snow on the ground.

It would have been a good winter for a 4X4 truck.

Tom

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TomG

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 29, 2014

Accused said:
welcome aboard Tom and congrats on the order! Are you completely sold on the air suspension? I have to say I've read some not so glorious things about them from the Jeep community (RAM system is about as close to identical as you can get) and a rew as well from HEMI RAM guys.

If its a comfort thing the stock coils should give you a comparatively smooth ride, nothing like the live axle rear shim sham they used to do a couple years back

Thanks,

We have a place in the U.P. with access to 36,000 acres of forest and logging trails so the air suspension will definitely get a workout. Hopefully it's late enough in the game than any "issues" have been addressed.

Tom

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TomG

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 6, 2014

I stopped by the dealer to check on the status of my order and found that the truck is scheduled for build (D1) with a 5/15 ship date. That was quite a surprise since I was told 6-8 weeks when I placed the order. Three weeks is much better in my opinion.

I tried punching the VIN in the Vehicle Order Tracking System, but it didn't appear to be working.

Tom

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TomG

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 4, 2014

It's in my driveway!

It was built on 5/15, but it took another two weeks to get it the 16 miles to my driveway. No worries though, since it arrived the day before my birthday (the big 60

). This is quite a step up (literally) from the civic I've been driving for the last 14 years. The air suspension makes for a super smooth ride and the small but mighty diesel pulls like crazy when needed. I have a couple of 75 mile round trips in to work (mostly highway) and the travel computer is showing a little over 27mpg. Not sure how accurate those computers are, but it sounds promising.

DS6H98 - 1500 SLT CREW CAB 4X4 w'5' 7" box
28T - Outdoorsman Package
EXF - 3.0L EcoDiesel Engine
DFD - 8 Spd. Auto 8HP70 Trans
PAU - Granite Crystal Met. Clear Coat
APA - Monotone Paint
MJ - Premium Cloth Bucket Seats
X8 - Black/Diesel Gray
XAC - ParkView Rear Back-up Camera
SER - Air Suspension 4-Corner
GWA - Power Sun Roof
RC3 - 9 Amplified Speakers w/Subwoofer
WHE - 20X8 Aluminum Wheels
GFA - Rear Window Defroster
XMF - Spray in Bedliner

Tom

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TomG

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jun 4, 2014

The first thing I did was remover the urethane sound insulation from under the engine cover. Now it sounds like a proper diesel. I'm sure Dodge put a lot of engineering into making it quiet, but it was too quiet for me.

I ordered a soft tonneau cover that should be in today, so that will be tonight's project.

After that I plan on wrapping the lower part of the doors and fenders with satin vinyl to simulate the factory two tone paint. I didn't order it that way because they used gloss black paint and I didn't feel it would hold up well on the trails. If the vinyl gets scratched, it is easily replaced.

I also plan to add a set of N-Fab step bars. The air ride suspension gets it pretty low, but the wife still complains about having to "climb" in. They are 3" in diameter and tucked up next to the rocker panels, with a step for each door. They look pretty cool and don't hang down like most of the step bars.

A long term project that I have in mind is to install a winch behind the factory bumper. There is plenty of room for both the winch and the fabricated structure to attach it to the frame rails. It'll be a little painful to make the cut-out in the bumper for the fairlead, but it'll look a lot better than mounting the winch externally. I'll document the build when I get around to it because I think it will generate a fair amount of interest.

The 20" wheels were not an option. I was forced into them by the factory because they had no more 17's left. That ticked me off a bit because the extra $1400 wasn't part of the budget.

Tom

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TomG

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 5, 2014

I haven't seen one either, but there are Hemi's EVERYWHERE.

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