OK - i have a question regarding 98-01 Ram 2500 4x4's. I'm looking to buy one, and i'm wondering if there's a difference between the suspensions on the Sport vs. the SLT. And what does the available Off-Road Package include (and what years was this offered?) i'm currently looking at a 1999 SLT, and i've also looked online at some Sport models, and this SLT appears to sit higher (might be an illusion) that the Sport models. i don't beleive the SLT has a lift of any type. I was just curious if this SLT has the Off-road package that might have added some height. it does have 4.10 gears, if that means anything... Any information on the Sport vs. SLT models, or info on the Off-road package would be GREATLY appreciated! thank you!

YB

 

not sure bout the 2500 but i got a 1500 sport offroad. factory options came with a paint front facia (the cool lookin bumper in the front) 136 amp alt. 2 inch lift and 4.10 gears... and i think thats it

 

LIGHTS!!! SPORT HEADLIGHTS!!!

 

My Sport O-R has the 3.92 gears, depends upon how it was ordered, there is no set package that i know of, whoever orders truck has unlimited options on options. You need to find the build sheet on the truck your buying, have dealer or individual pull it up on Dodge website, will tell you what u have.

 

Dunno, my Sport is both a Sport and a SLT according to the window sticker, but it doesn't have SLT badges anywhere on it. Off Road was a 1500 package not available on 2500 or 3500's. A truck with the plow group would sit higher, that might explain the SLT you saw sitting higher along with normal spring variations.

 

if it has a plow package it should have a tow package too... beefed up aux tranny cooler

 

Just because it has the plow package, doesn't mean it has the tow package

SLT Package was mostly interior options. The only exterior "SLT" item was the chinsey moulding with the fake chrome on it. I think chrome wheels were also an SLT option, but could easily be gotten without the package.

The painted front fascia was part of the SPORT package. Not all Off-Road package trucks have them.

The off-road package included these items:
136 amp Alternator
750 amp Battery
Aux. Tranny Cooler
Heavy duty cooling system package
Anti-lock Deleted
Goodyear Wrangler GSA LT275/70 R17s
17x8 Five Spoke Aluminum Wheels
Front Tow Hooks
4.10:1 Gear Ratio
Limited Slip Rear Differential
Reinforced front and rear differential housings
Heavy duty front & rear coils (that's where you get your lift from...basically a 3/4 ton suspension)
Special Red Bilstein shocks
Transfer case skid plate
Extra transfer case support bracing
Fuel tank skid plate

I almost bought a brand new Off-Road packaged quad cab back in 2001. They had it on the lot for $15,500. It was white & blue though [:'(]

As V10 mentioned, the off-road package was a 1/2 ton only package. The 3/4 tons already had a lot of these options standard especially if you had a V10/Diesel.

As for the original question in this post, I'm not sure how the sport suspension differed from the normal suspension on the 3/4 ton trucks. If you're going to do any heavy hauling or towing, you may want to shy away from a sport suspension. I guess it would help to know what you're going to use the truck for. Most people buy 3/4 tons to tow/haul. But some of us buy them to have fun [8D]

As far as the one truck sitting higher than the other, what V10 said could be the case. One truck could've had larger tires on than the other. Or like you said, it could just be an illusion.

 

Thank you for all of the replies!

So if I intend to use the 2500 for hauling/towing/plowing (which I do intend to do - not 100% of the time, but i want to be able to whenever), I should stay away from the Sport models? Why is this? If anyone knows what the difference between the Sport vs. Non-Sport models is, I'd be very interested. i'm looking at 2 trucks now - one is a Sport, and one is an SLT. both 2500 4x4's, with the 5.9L V8... Thanks again!

YB

 

I made the statement about staying away from the sport, becase I don't know what suspension the HD trucks had when the sport package was applied. On a 1/2 ton, the sport suspension is stiffer than the regular suspension. But since the 3/4 tons already had a stiffer suspension, I'm not sure what happened. Maybe a 3/4 ton with a sport package didn't change the suspension at all. Maybe someone else on the forum knows for sure.

The sport package didn't really change anything else that would affect towing/hauling. It was mostly an apperance package. Like I said before, the SLT was mostly an interior package. It usually meant nicer seats, audio, trim, etc. You'd really have to go look at the two different trucks to know the differences, because both the sport and slt packages had so many options.

As was mentioned before in this thread, the sport had really great headlights. 4 bulbs, instead of the regular 2

 

The sport package has nothing to do with the suspension at all. All it is, is a beatification package package (different front bumper, painted rear bumper, diff headlights and a few other things. The suspension would be no different than that found on an SLT truck which once again is an option package for luxuries and not suspension related. The only add ons I know of the would help the suspension would be if it had what I think is called the camper special package which adds overload springs to the rear of the truck.