Anyone else find themselves franticly trying to raise funds to get a plow at this time of year?? I should have done something this summer, but procrastinated, and now due to the holidays, new kid, and other end of the year BS, find comming up with the 4k bit rough. Looks like its time to sell my mg34 or a few m1's.... :crying: *sigh* lol Just wondering if anyone else here has found them selves int his jam wether it now or the recent past.
Nope I hunted one down this summer. But their is a few 7.6's on CL for sale in nice shape. Fisher mm1 and Diamond are around 1800. One is off a 2gen Dodge and the other is the Maine guy who has all the setup you need and installs for 300 I think. So 2k gets you all setup. So my advice is hunt down a nice used MM2 if you can afford it. Do not waste your money on a new one. But Check out South Main st auto sales in VT http://www.southmainsalesandservice.com/
Anyone else find themselves franticly trying to raise funds to get a plow at this time of year??.... do you have any contracts?
wouldnt say contracts, just a few peoples driveway that I know, and a funeral home I worked for.
You're well behind the 8 ball man. I bought my last truck in June, and I have her ready to push by October (the latest) every season. I would look for a used setup in light of the time of year and lack of a large route.
See my original plan was to have traded in my current truck for a new 2500 and that ready this past spring, but low and behold had a son born in late april, so since then any and all extra money went to his benifit (built an addition ect). So between that im stuck with my 1500 that ive been eyeballing fisher' 7.6 LD or a blizzard 760lt for just to do a few small jobs. Only thing ive lucked out with so far, is the weather here has been real mild with no sign of let up for a few weeks... I shall prevail one way or the other before the first real snow hits.

I have a 96 Ram 1500 4x4 reg cab long box with 99,600 miles on it. It has developed a transmission problem after the meticulous care that has been taken of it. It is fine when shifting into second gear, however around 20-25 mph when it is supposed to shift into third it seems to slip or stick - it will shift but sometimes the rpm's kick up and then it shifts. Everything works fine except that issue with third gear - all other gears work good and the torque converter locks up as good as it always has. I always come to complete stops before shifting and I have it power flushed once per year. I can't figure it out and the dealer is next to useless on the situation - their theory is put a reman in it if it has a problem. I know it can be fixed if I had a clue of what it needs. It has only been very very lightly plowed with for two seasons and has pulled a trailer once and a while - nothing major though. Basically I am just looking for some input from those of you that have some more time under your belt than me. HELP! Thanks!
Have you ever had the bands adjusted??
Have you had the tranny flushed and the fluid changed?
P.s. watch the dealer, they tried to install a used tranny with 32k in my truck in stead of a remanufactured one..
There stance was. What's the problem with it we will warranty it...:dizzy: .....
I said No Way! Am I going to have a used tranny installed!!!!
Get a remanufactured one..... after that I took it to another dealer and got the
remanufactured one....
Your trans is gone or going. Mine did same thing, time for rebuild.
Dont ever do one of those quick oil change transmission services. All it does is take old fluid out and put new in. Filter needs to be changed too! But not only that, all the crap in the fluid or pan doesn't come out just stays in there and creates a problem down the road.
Rebuild it. Then make sure you have a tranny cooler, and run only synthetic oil. Makes all the difference in the world.
Before you waste your money on a rebuild. Go out and buy some lucas tranny fix. It will get you through the winter and stop the slipping. So then either start saving for a tranny or trade it in. But 100k is all you get out of the 47re or 47rh. But that stuff works. I got another 25k out of mine after adding it. And my tourqe convertor was blown also. I finally got sick of no low end power because of blown TC. I brought it in and had it rebuilt
If you have a shop near you have yours rebuilt- a reman is overpriced for a dealer to install it.
I wonder the same questions- I will go with the tranny needing a rebuild, but I wonder how meticulously the fluid and filter was changed and the bands adjusted.
I also question if you drive with the OD turned off when plowing and towing?
the OD is simply the 3rd gear band. By engaging the band on the 3rd gear drum they make it a 4 speed- or overdrive.
that's typical symptoms of a diesel ram that has been driven in OD all the time (you need to turn OD off in that generation diesel's unless your driving over 45mph consistantly- like on a highway due to the line pressure and shift points- or rebuild the tranny at around 100K because of the 3 high band)
Adjust the bands #1, Lucas #2 and start looking for a rebuild shop.
Wouldn't it make more sense to have it looked at and rebuilt now if it needs it? Rather than hoping the Lucas will get it through the winter and then it goes out in the middle of a snow storm?
Take it in to a reputable tranny shop, have them take a look at it and go from there.
yeah. Nothing sucks more than putting the truck in the shop in season, because it will snow as soon as they have the tranny out of the truck:jester:
I meant my last post in a short time frame- as in a week or so, not waiting till spring. Like get under there today and adjust the bands, find a shop to check it out and if it's going to be a time before they can get it in or before you can find one drp in the lucas.
Look up Goerend Bros. transmissions in IA. they are arguably the best in the nation for DCX trannies.
He has a 1/2 ton gasser not a CTD. So I would think a 5k in out of the question

My 98 ram 1500 4x4 auto, works fine in 4 high whenever I don't hit a bump or anything. But it pops out constantly when I'm 4 wheeling on the trails. However, 4 low has no problems at all?? whats wrong with my ram?
check trans mount,linkage
make sure the carpet isnt keeping the shiftr from moving all the way forward
cardoctor
Is the shifter actually popping out of 4HI or does the shifter stay put and you lose 4WD ?
If the shifter pops out,it may be an internal transfer case problem.If you losing 4WD and the shifter stays put,then it's a vacuum problem or the 4WD actuator
for example, I put it in 4 high, its moved about 20 feet, and then its in 2 wheel drive the lever bumped to 2 wheel drive

Just bought an 02 Quad Cab and was looking for some advice on wich plow to buy and how to set up my truck. Thanks in advance.
In my past experance, you will not want to OVERLOAD a small truck like yours.
With the amount of snow fall in your area, I'd think twice about even putting a plow on this truck.
I used a 1500 Ram for 2 yrs, and distroied the front end on it, the axel rating just is not heavy enough for plowing.
It was expencive and a big disapointment that the 1500 would not do what I thought it would do.
You can get plows for the smaller trucks, but if you are doing anything other than small areas, and getting the plow off the truck ASAP, you are going to overload the front end causing problems.
There are aftermarket overloads that you can use to keep the truck from drooping, but the weight is still there.
Another thing the think abiout is the transmission. You'll need to install a cooler on it or it will give out in you. Pushing snow will cause any tranny to run HOT.
When you add 700 / 800 Lbs of plow and another few hundred pounds of snow to the front a truck something is going to give.
Also check with your dealer, are they going to honor the warranty
when you have a problem???? And they see a plow mount on the truck.
I now use nothing but 3/4 ton with factory plow pkg. and 1 tons for plowing. Cost more up front but cost less in the long run.
Ploeing for 6 yrs & ready for snow
rick
Not to be negitive just experanced. But good luck
All depends on which dealer in your area provides the best and most convienent service. I think all the major manufacturers make plows for a Dakota. Check to make sure you stay within the requirements.

Does anyone know if Dodge makes a block heater for the HEMI engine?I know for years that they made one for the Cummins and older engines, but havn't heard of any for my HEMI.
I would like my truck to warm up quicker on those frosty cold mornings:nod:
Dumb question but are you sure you don't have a block heater? Our 98 Caravan has one and it came as standard equipment.
If dodge doesn't have one available for your engine, check on the internet for a more generic one that would go in place of a freeze plug if you can find some access. Maybe try an ebay search as well.
I found a block heater for you on ebay that is made just for your truck. Comes with the cord, heater and a wire tie or two, runs for about $57 plust shipping, looks to be a factory piece.
If your worried about getting into a warm truck get a remote starter. I had one in my 04 Ram and now it's in my 06. Check out Custom Radio (716) 634-6700 They have the best stuff around. I think they have a coupon in the phone book too.
and here you go for the block heater. http://www.mopar.com/m_acc_cat_part.jsp Click on lighting & electrical --->Electrical Accessories --->Engine Block Heaters and Battery Blanket
A remote starter is great. I have one but I still like to plug my trucks in on cold nights, easier and less wear on engines and instant heat. I have them on everything from my Jeep and Toyota to my 550.
You might want to try DodgeParts.Com I have gotten stuff from them before and they are pretty good. The link above has all the heaters listed for 2002+ Rams.
.mz
So I was searching for engine heaters this week and I can across something I did not know existed. It was a flexible mat that adheared to the bottom of the enginie oil pan.
It was in a JC whitney catalog and was wondering if anyone has ever had any experience this this product. It seemed like a interesting heater but was wondering what kind of long term reliability it had.
Anybody???
I know of some people who have tried those for use in their race cars to get the oil up to temp, but i do not know if it will give you the kind of results you are looking for in a block heater. if you have an ice cold engine with warm oil running through it, it probably won't take long for that oil to cool down as opposed to a heater that heats the coolant and keeps the whole engine at a certain temp.
You mite scrape that mat off going thorough snow banks..
I think there popular with folks who or are afraid to knock out a freeze plug and install a block heater.
They have magnetized heaters that you can remove before you use the truck..
You could put one on eather side of the block one on the oil-pan and one on the tranny pan.
Hey! how about a battery blanket too..lol
I think that a tank heater or block heater is the best way to go. jmo...
I also think a block heater is the best way to go. I was just curious if anyone ever tried "the Patch".
Thanks.:drinkup:
Does anyone know if Dodge makes a block heater for the HEMI engine?I know for years that they made one for the Cummins and older engines, but havn't heard of any for my HEMI.
I would like my truck to warm up quicker on those frosty cold mornings:nod: on a newer Hemi dodge makes a block heater that mounts in the block in a special port they made for a block heater at the factory there is no need to take out a frost plug