Pretty upset with new truck
Professional
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Tomball, Texas
The metal is thinner gauge high strength steel and has been used for a few years. The metal is lighter but actually stronger than stuff of the past. For instance the sheet metal has more tensile strength. The doors on the 4th gen feel lighter because they don't curve into the roof and don't flow past the rocker panels like the 3rd gen. Less mass = less weight not less strength
Record Breaker
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,513
Likes: 2
Many things have been improved over the years. Others not so much.
My 98 Dak was a super solid body. Closing the driver's door sounded like a Mercedes when I sold it 10 years later.
My 05 Dak was much more comfortable, economical and powerful but closing the front door sounded tinny.
My 09 Ram is absolutely awesome in most every category except for interior ergonomics and sheet metal "dentability" but I suspect that the excellent economy is a result of weight savings that had to come from somewhere...and sheet metal integrity was sacrificed.
My 98 Dak was a super solid body. Closing the driver's door sounded like a Mercedes when I sold it 10 years later.
My 05 Dak was much more comfortable, economical and powerful but closing the front door sounded tinny.
My 09 Ram is absolutely awesome in most every category except for interior ergonomics and sheet metal "dentability" but I suspect that the excellent economy is a result of weight savings that had to come from somewhere...and sheet metal integrity was sacrificed.
R.I.P. Dusty (Retired Moderator
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,471
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From: Alamosa, Colorado (200 yards from the Rio Grande)
Dusty
Rookie
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 60
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From: nevada
The sheetmetal can actually be thiner and stronger. The actual design of the body panel makes a huge difference in weather or not it will dent easily. The new ram has big flat panels so they are going to dent easier. the older rams had more curves and body lines. "How do you make a flat sheet of steel stronger put it through a bead roller and see what happens" this applies to the body of our new truck. its just the design. i have owned 1st through 4th the 2nd gen was probably the strongest design having the most curves and bends in the metal making it stronger.
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 296
Likes: 1
From: East TN
The sheetmetal can actually be thiner and stronger. The actual design of the body panel makes a huge difference in weather or not it will dent easily. The new ram has big flat panels so they are going to dent easier. the older rams had more curves and body lines. "How do you make a flat sheet of steel stronger put it through a bead roller and see what happens" this applies to the body of our new truck. its just the design. i have owned 1st through 4th the 2nd gen was probably the strongest design having the most curves and bends in the metal making it stronger.
My old 7800lb 2007 Diesel GMC had just as thin sheet metal, I left elbow dents on the hood just cleaning the windshield. But the doors had a deep crease and big thick body side molding right above it so it was pretty much door ding-proof from a car.
Overall I can say (and I have owned many pickups over the last 30 years) that this is one of my favorite trucks. My only complaint about the interior is the chrome bezels that reflect the sun in my eyes.
Record Breaker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Same gate swung into the Ram. Three dents that looked like Orion's Belt. Dent doctor could not get one of them out it was so deep.
Not exactly a scientific double blind study but you get the picture.