Mr Budman, I just bought a 12 Ram 1500 Sport 1500. Went in to buy a Quad cab Express and came home with the 4x4 Crew Cab Sport. Beautiful truck. And I have always pooh-poohed Dodge......Used to drive Ford.

 

Thank you so much for all the great help. You guys are awesome. By the way, my username is because of my amazing Labrador Buddy and everyone calls him Mr.Budman. So smart and friendly. I hope he likes his new pickup when we go to the Bay for a swim!!!!!
It's looking like a dodge express. Hopefully. The only reason im thinking crew cab is for him really.
Any more advice please?

 

Those sports are so darn good looking. If I could win lotto, I'd get the sport. Can I ask why the sport and not an express? Thnx

 

After the ford, what made you go to ram after " poo pooing it"? I never was a big fan either until I had one as a rental and it was amazing. Those sport models are BEAUTIFUL!!
Contests on your badas@ good looking rig

 

Ford....well.....all you have to do is look at it and you will know why! HAHA!

IMO dodge is the only company to really change to good looking truck in the past 5 years. Chev and GM have kept their same basic concept, it does not look that bad but every now and then you want a change right? Not to mention I don't trust their vortec but thats another story. Ford has created this truck that looks to big and bulky for what it really is! Not to mention all their motors need a turbo. AGAIN nother story.

take a look at the 3rd gen dodge, then the 4th gen...the style is totally different! It looks slick, and that angry look it has when you see it in the rear view mirror is crazy. IMO no other truck maker has that. NOT to mention dodge has already released the fact that in 2013 their trucks are all getting facelifts. Gotta keep that styling going and keep the buyers eyes open. I know many die hard ford and GM guys are really considering a new dodge because they just love that look and style...which is amazing!

 

Couldn't agree more. Well said. Truly amazing front end. Didn't know about '13 new update. Maybe I should wait.............

 

There was a leak somewhere and the link was posted somewhere on this site I do believe...could be on the main page. Again that was just a leak, it wasn't saying the 2013 rams are DEFINITELY getting a facelift. Just something someone saw...but thats up to you.!

 

My 2011 Sport QC 4x4 HEMI is my 3rd Dodge and 4th Chrysler product. As with any car I've had issues here and there with each of these but my '11 seems to have a bit more (2 shift motors in 7k miles, partial throttle rattle). That said I just can't seem to figure out what I would replace it with if I had to. No other manufacturer has the HP and mpg that the HEMI does.

 

Everyone is talking about these tie rod issues and rear end issues. Any personal experiences agree with these issues or challenge them?

 

ALL the new trucks are dealing with tie rod and ball joint issues, be they GM, Ford, Dodge or 'Yota, whether they want to admit it or not. IMO it's the move by all toward non-greasable units.

The rear end issues are real, I know of two problems. First is a series of axle bearings used over about a 3 month period from late '09-early '10 were a bad batch and have been recalled.
The second is that Dodge changed from AAM axles to ZF axles for the 2011 trucks and there have been legitimate problems. According to reports, ZF basically got overwhelmed by the large contract and had some quality control issues which have been resolved (supposedly). This in not unlike the problems Toyota had in '09 on their Tundra trucks. The over-all percentage of trucks that have had an issue with the 9 1/4" rear differential are small, but the problem does exist.

On a side note, I bought my '04 new off the lot. I took it in for one warranty repair during the entire duration of the 3/36 bumper to bumper and 7/70 warranty periods. A failed stock shock in the first year I had it...