OK, gonna make it quick (believe it or not) - I have a VERY clean '03 Laramie; pretty much every option except that it's RWD, bought from a Family friend in Atlanta who was the 2nd owner. I'm in Michigan, so you just don't see trucks this old this nice around here very often. It's my tow vehicle for my car hauler and back-up for my '94 Jimmy. The Jimmy is 4x4, so the Ram just sits in the garage most of the winter.

However, I just recently got engaged, and will need 2 winter-worthy vehicles by next winter (her only car is a '77 Beetle). No, selling the Bug isn't an option. It's most cost effective to keep only 2 "daily" vehicles (Insurance, maintenance, etc), so I don't really want to consider getting a 3rd daily car (would be 6 cars total). I was going to buy a beater Ram 4x4 (rusty ones are a dime a dozen up here) with manual transfer case, and swap all the 4x4 parts to mine, all the RWD parts to the beater, and resell the beater. However, after looking at a 4x4 I was parked next to the other day, I realize the frame mounts for the front suspension are completely different, and the axle won't fit with the current front RWD springs.

I already have a feeling I'm going to be buying a different tow rig with 4x4, and selling the Ram, but before I actually pull the trigger on that plan, I need confirmation: is there any front suspension kit that would allow the clearance for the factory front axle shafts with the RWD frame as-is? I don't have the time or resources to do major fab work, swap frames, SFA conversion, etc. I just need to know 100% that there's no "simple" (bolt-on, or close to it) way to do it before I sell it and regret it later, after finding out it could have been done. Like I said, it's a really nice truck, with good history, so I'd hate to get rid of it if I don't have to. Thanks!

 

No. 4x4's went to IFS for the third gens, did they not? If so, then no, you would have to swap the entire frame over. Doable, but, an exercise.

 

3rd gen 1500's are IFS, 2500 and 3500 are sfa----like mine

 

This answer should be very helpful for your truck, albeit indirectly. Really sounds to me like it is time for the reckoning. Life events, especially when women are getting involved, trigger major changes rooted in necessity. You need to sit down and converse with your gal and get very real about your next 2 to 5 years together and what it means wrt vehicles. Get down to clearly define: one list of all that you mutually have, one list of thats are needed, one list thats are wanted. Then start reconciling the two. Begin by promptly tearing up, crumpling, and burning the wanted list. Then start crossing most of the stuff of the have list. What is left is only the haves that directly link/cover things on the needs list. Get rid of the rest. The reality is you are both going to need to get rid of stuff and acquire different stuff. Your new partnership is headed down new roads that neither of you would otherwise ever go down. Seeing you're just engaged, trust me on this when I say ... this is only the beginning of the concessions to be made (you both, but you especially).

Rolling the answer up up in to a nice neat package --> Your solution is sell ALL the vehicles mentioned, including the bug. Replace with: 1) get yourself into a mid grade reliable 4x4 truck that you use year round, 2) get her into a mid sized awd/4wd suv to use year round. When shopping and making choices, you must ensure that she gets the newer more expensive vehicle of the two.

Flush that pipe dream of converting 2wd to 4wd as well as any thoughts of having time or money to be working on such vehicle projects for the next 15-20 years. You are entering the life stage of being limited to just do what is needed to keep the wheels turning.

PS: Congratulations on your engagement!