My new Ram

[twodko]

Posting problems.........stand by

Crap! I can't attach the CL link because the seller removed the ad. In essence I bought a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 2wd Big Horn edition Hemi with 67k miles today from a private party.

The wild part of this dealio is I bought it from the son of a guy I worked with at ABC (still on the job). I retired in 2004!!!!

When I met up with the seller today and we exchanged some questions/answers it became clear that I met this guy when he was about 5 years old. His mom picked him up after the sale and she recognized me right away. I'm eager to hear from my former coworker now.

I'm buying lotto tickets tomorrow! More to follow. You just can not make this stuff up! Unreal.

[twodko]

This is the ad. I bought the truck for $18k. Pix to follow when I shoot them tomorrow.



Selling my 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Crew Cab Big Horn edition 2WD truck. The car has 67,500 miles on it, 60-70% of which are highway miles.It is the Big Horn edition so it has dual exhaust and 20" chrome wheels. Just replaced the tires at about 50k miles with upgraded, all weather tires. Engine is a 5.7L V8 HEMI.

Options Include:

Big Horn Package
5.7L V8 HEMI
Automatic 5-spd w/overdrive
2WD
Power Steering
AM/FM Radio
Single Disk MP3
Auxillary connection
Power Seat
Cloth Interior
Premium 20" Chrome wheels
115V Power Outlet
Bed Liner
Tow Assist
Loads of interior storage!
Automatic Sliding Rear window

Asking $19,500, the Kelly Blue Book Price for this condition is at $20,000, dealers are offering similar models for $23,000+. Make me an offer

[twodko]

A question. I'm going to pressure wash the engine bay this week. Nothing nasty, just 4 years of road dust etc.
Medium pressure wash nozzle for sure but are there areas I should be especially careful around?

[JB400]

Probably just the fuse block and  the coils.

Congrats on the new truck

[fy469rtse]

Congrats on the new truck, new you had been considering this for a while, had read your posts from months ago, good to see the right truck came along ? Late Christmas present to yourself

[hatersaurusrex]

Congrats - enjoy your 390 horsepower - I know I do every day

[twodko]

Here are a couple shot of my new Ram.

[JB400]

 

[lukedukem]

 

I like the tires. Gives it a bit of rugged look

Luke

[twodko]

The only complaint I have is the chrome clad wheel "covers" which are covered with disk brake dust.......that just won't come off!

A RamzForum member suggested Black Magic wheel cleaner. This product did nothing......no surprise there.
Nor has my original question of whether the cover itself can be replaced.
The only thing that takes some of it off is lacquer thinner. There has got to be a solution short of replacing
the entire wheel. Very frustrating.

Beyond this issue I happy with the truck so far. Tomorrow the engine bay gets a gentle pressure wash......it's very dusty in there. The owner used it during his first two years at ASU before transferring to UCLA.

[twodko]

Update.

This just in........

I'm screwed on these cheap wheel covers. They really cannot be cleaned and entire wheel replacement is necessary.
Since I'm so damned detail oriented new wheel research begins. I want the OEM look........of course right!


Not a problem......I've got bags 'o cash laying about the house. I may buy two new sets of wheels.......just in case.

It's a pre-owned vehicle......you get what you get. My bad for not doing a more through inspection.

F**k it.......Chardonnay will offer a new prospective.

[bill440rt]

I'm liking your new Ram!    Nice truck, and best of luck with it! 

I too have chrome-clad wheels on my '11 Ram. Give Griot's Garage Wheel Cleaner a whirl. It's strong enough to remove brake dust, yet gentle enough on these chrome clad wheels. You might have to give it a few shots with brushing in between. Don't use water until the final rinse.
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/wheel+cleaner+35+ounces.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=Search

If that doesn't do the trick, Adams makes a stronger wheel cleaner, called Deep Wheel Cleaner. I bought some from them when they were at Carlisle & tried it on my wife's minivan, but they are painted aluminum wheels. Strong stuff, but not caustic that it'll burn your lungs. It cleaned them up great. Their online video is good, too.
http://www.adamspolishes.com/p-884-adams-deep-wheel-cleaner.aspx

Between washes hit them with some spray wax. It seems to repel the brake dust better & makes cleanup next time a little easier. 

[68X426]

There has got to be a solution short of replacing the entire wheel.

What about painting them black? Or a powder coating black?

[moparsr2fast]

Nice truck    I love the front end of the newer Rams. I have an ' 01, and wish I had the power yours puts out!  

[twodko]

I'll look for Groits and Adams products. Thanks for the options.

Painting the wheels black is not my style. Bone stock........OEM........"from the factory" is what I'm about.

[68X426]

Painting the wheels black is not my style.

Then what about the plasticizing process that gets mentioned from time to time. Have them plastic coated in a silver or grey color, or a chrome-ish finish?

[twodko]

Hi Dan and Sarah!

OK, here's the skinny.

It may have been just once but I have seen the 68X426! There is nothing chrome-ish on your car Dan. There will never BE anything chrome-ish on that bad boy.

Dan has never paid me any money.....we don't owe each other any favors........and he's not holding the "farm animal" thing over my head. No coercion here. Honest.

The 68X426 is the real deal, purdy to a fault and scary fast......just ask Brock Samson. 

My Ram is just a truck but it will be the real deal like my Q5 or no deal at all. Just sayin'.........

Chrome-ish is like "gettin' some" with a love glove........not the same as the real deal. 

[hatersaurusrex]

You sure it's brake dust?   Plasti-dip overspray is really gritty and hard to get off.   Did the PO ever try and color the wheels?

[twodko]

No, it's DB dust for sure. Ponch offered a good idea to perhaps find some chrome clad aluminum wheels of an earlier Ram truck. I'm def OK with those type of wheels. This is my first experience with a chromed permanently attached plastic "hub cap" over a steel wheel. I understand the need to keep GVW as low as possible to meet gas mileage goals but for trucks this expensive that's just nasty.

[gschmidt211]

Have you ever tried a product called simple green.  Everywhere I have used it I am amazed at what it cleans.  I can't remember if I have ever cleaned brake dust with it.

[hatersaurusrex]

I'm a little distressed now... I just checked and it looks like you have the same wheels I do.  I never noticed that they were chrome-clad plastic - I've only had the truck a few months and thus far I've only had it cleaned at the car wash, so I never noticed the wheels

Is it actual chrome on there or just silver paint?  000 and 0000 steel wool and scotch brite all work wonders on small imperfections in actual chrome-clad steel without scratching it, but I'm not sure I want to mess around with steel wool on these.   If it's just paint on there it'll be boogered up fast.

I'm gonna go out and look at mine in the morning and see if I come up with anything.

[1974dodgecharger]

No meguiars products worked? They have some strong stuff.....it's purple spray bottle and a chrome version too.

[War wagon]

I'm a little distressed now... I just checked and it looks like you have the same wheels I do.  I never noticed that they were chrome-clad plastic - I've only had the truck a few months and thus far I've only had it cleaned at the car wash, so I never noticed the wheels

Is it actual chrome on there or just silver paint?  000 and 0000 steel wool and scotch brite all work wonders on small imperfections in actual chrome-clad steel without scratching it, but I'm not sure I want to mess around with steel wool on these.   If it's just paint on there it'll be boogered up fast.

I'm gonna go out and look at mine in the morning and see if I come up with anything.

Just say NO to steel wool with those rims. My 09 had them as well. They are plastic with chrome plate.
The rims are cast with plastic epoxied centres. That way they can use same basic rim on several trim levels by changing plastic insert at factory.
I found the optional FORGED rims for my ram online.
I've seen the plastic chrome clads with holes right thru the covers from rocks. They did and do make ALL aluminum rims for these trucks.
FYI the 13-14 sports come with nice aluminum rims and can be found online for reasonable prices.
The tpms is NOT interchangeable between the years as they use a different frequency
Good luck with your search

[War wagon]

These are the rims on the 13-14 Sports , ALL aluminum and no plastic


And these are the optional FORGED ALUMINUM rims that are and were AVALIABLE at the parts counter from 09 to current. I bought them in 09 from ebay $1000 to my door in Canada from the manufacturer in Florida . They list for $660.00 Canadian per rim and the latest versions are powder coated black

[twodko]

Those are very nice wheels. So far these plastic wheels are the only disappointment I have with my truck.
I did discover yesterday that the lumbar support thingy doesn't work.......it makes sort of a missing gear tooth sound.

God only knows how much Dodge wants to fix that. Next week I'll find out.

[War wagon]

I used the forged rims on my 09 for 3 1/2 yrs and then swapped them to my 13 when I got it. Been on there for another year and still look as new!! They are polished aluminum with some kind of clear coat that protects them even from brake dust. Very easy to keep clean.
The TPMS wouldn't work on the 13 truck so I had to buy new ones.... 
I still have the 09 sensors, if you need another set lmk

I will try and find the info of the wheel supplier I bought from as they are the OE provider for Ram and hundreds of others...
All I remember ATM is it's in Florida lol isn't getting old fun

[War wagon]

Oh here's a feature you prolly don't know you have lol. Push the unlock remote twice within 5 seconds and on the second button press continue pressure.
You can now remote down your front windows
The longer you hold the further down they go.
Awesome feature on a hot day...

They dropped that feature on the newest trucks

[72Charger-SE]

Great purchase!   Congrats on the truck!

[bill440rt]

Yeah, definitely NO to any steel wool on those chrome-clad wheels. It's just chrome plated plastic, anything like that WILL scratch them. Don't use chemicals that are too harsh, either.
If you can get them clean, a coat of wax or two will make cleaning them next time much easier.

[twodko]

I am so damned frustrated.....when am I going to get a brake?

I did my usual Sunday routine....stopped by the store to get the folks some pastries before heading up to the cemetery to spend a few minutes at my wife's grave.

The folks are doing fine when I get there and we chitchat like always. THEN I start getting flak for buying the truck because now they

say they can't get into it. When I first brought it by they raved about how comfy and safe it would be......happy I'm planning for

their future needs blah blah blah.

We go outside and my father-in-law gets in the truck fine but my mother-in-law pitches a freakin' fit!!!!!!!

Sorry for the rant. I know they're old and understand their physical limitations but what next?

[moparjohn]

people are people, let it go/do the best you can with the situation. As for the Ram, got my 09 in the fall of 12, it's such a great truck!  You will love it!  Mine came with 67K on it, at 91K now.  No problems!  (knock on wood), Hey what intervals do real people change the plugs on these Hemis? John

[JB400]

Looks like a set of running boards are in your near future.  Either that, or take their car next time.

[twodko]

Westin black non-lighted running boards arrived today. Install on Monday. They own an old Chebby Cavalier.......I'm embarrassed to tell you that at 6'1" 240#, that car and I are not ergonomically compatible. 

[68X426]

an old Chebby Cavalier.......I'm embarrassed to tell you that at 6'1" 240#, that car and I are not ergonomically compatible.  

Funny, the Cavalier said the same thing.  




(couldn't resist Tom - I can poke the bear since I got 20 pounds on ya... )

[twodko]

Anytime my friend!

Update.....I just took delivery of some Westin running boards to be installed Monday. These should make
it much easier for the folks to access the truck.......me too when my backs gives me grief which is daily. 

[ACUDANUT]

What is a new Ram ? they have had the same grill since 1994. 

[twodko]

Sadly very true.