Dash repair for 2001 Ram 1500 4x4

[lloyd3]

Ma Mopar just doesn't make 'em like she used to.  The dash on my truck started to crack a few years ago and has gotten progressively worse with time. It's at a point now where I can't stand to look at it or listen to it. The rest of the truck has some minor issues I can live with at 100K, but this is irritating. After much research on YouTube and eBay, I settled on a vacuum-formed cover for the top and an aftermarket replacement instrument bezel for the front.  Any suggestions or warnings as to installation?

[kpkube]

Did you look at LMC  http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/de/search.aspx?searchTerms=dash

[TruckDriver]

You truck is the same as mine. I used the LMC one. It is made with ABS plastic, and is way better then they were new. Probably out last my truck. Pain in the ass to install though. If you got Facebook, Join my Ram group, and I got a LOT of photos I took when I installed mine a few years ago. I also have notes to what I had to do and did not do like that factory. Took me around 8 hours to do myself, and I did not reuse all the factory screws, because you can tell, that the dash covers were mounted BEFORE the whole dash was installed into the cab. By the way, if I remember right, they bought and use the same factory mold Dodge did the first time around. For the most part, it fit like a glove.

[lloyd3]

Truckdriver:  Thank you for that.  I'm not a Facebook guy but thankfully, there are lots of good videos on Youtube.  Anything will be better than what I've got now.

[TruckDriver]

Trust me, the YouTube videos do not show everything, and they also make it look easier then it really was. I seen them too

[TruckDriver]

I forgot I once had a thread on here about my truck. On page 2, are the same dash replacement photos I got on Facebook.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,85365.0/all.html

[lloyd3]

Good stuff, thank you for that. Mines an off-road package truck that has been used off-road with some frequency. All things considered, it's held up very well. The driveline is fine, heck, even the paint's not bad. But this dash......

After driving that old Ford up to Minnesota a month ago now ('97 F150XL 4x4) and seeing how well it's interior has held up, I'm thinking I'm about done with with any of the newer Chrysler stuff.  The '97 Ford wouldn't be as competent off-road as mine, but it sure would be easier to live with long term. Better ride, better interior quality, no rust issues at all (mine has had a few problems with the door bottoms, even out here in the high & dry) and much easier on gas. I liked the 16-inch tires too. Easier to find and much cheaper to replace than those bigger, taller units.

[TruckDriver]

By the way, my dash surround is a LMC replacement part now too. I cracked the original replacing the dash top. This past spring, I bought the replacement one. Very nice as well

[lloyd3]

Not as nice as when it was new, but certainly better than how it has looked recently (I should have taken a before pix).  The material may be better (more enduring) but..... the textures and even colors are noticeably different and if I was really fussy I'd probably be disappointed.  I haven't glued it down yet, but that's next.





I do hope the LMC stuff is a little better quality.  But...for about $200 I'm back in business.

[TruckDriver]

THAT is exactly why I did not buy the dash cover. I bought the exact dash top replacement for $270. I didn't know you were going the cheaper route. Mine match exactly as far as color and fit.

[lloyd3]

We'll see how this fix holds up.  If I need to do it again down the road, I'll go the full-replacement route.  Not sure how many more years of elk-hunting I have left in me. Once that is done I'll likely replace this truck with a milder version that is easier to live with, maybe even a Ford.

[lloyd3]

Post-script:  my old truck did her job last weekend and helped me fill the freezer yet again.





Got to love a dependable old pickup.