Funny you say that because I just bought my new truck from Texas.Unreal how clean it is compared to a WI rust bucket.

 

So njoverkill Did the insurence company pay off already on your stolen Ram?

Mine 2001.5 & my buddy has a 2002 the only visable difference we could find is his didn't have wheel well linners.

 

Given the choice I would far prefer an '01 over an 01.5 and 02.

I had the '01 which had features the later ones no longer had:

Lighted vanity mirror
Rear cupholders
Underhood liner
Underhood light
Painted engine and intercooler
Wheelwell liners
Tailgate applique (plastic trim piece along lower section).
There were a few more items, don't recall off top of my head.

Other than occasional adjustments the drum brakes worked great, almost as well as my '03's disk brakes.

Vaughn

 

2002 was the last year of the underhood light, as mine has it, all the other stuff is gone.

Full length side molding got shorter and shorter as the years went by, 2002 has it on the cab but nowhere else.
2000 had it full length, 2001 lost behind the rear tire, 2002 lost it from cab back.

Wheelwell liners and underhood light are still available from the parts department, just not from the factory.


phox

 

I just bought a 01 with the 6spd. It has 24k miles on it and spent 25k. I love it, but it has rear drum brakes.

 

Not really sure what mine is.It has rear disks,side moulding end at cab,under hood mat/light,rear cup holder,no lights in rear view mirror/vanity mirror,has fenderwell liners,painted intercooler & no tailgate applique.Maybe a mid year truck?

 

Can someone tell me if these blocks on the axle are factory of aftermarket?
http://carad.ebayimg.com/i7/03/a/02/5c/41/b2_4.JPG

 

they look aftermarket

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Im not sure how i feel about that....

 

There are 2 MAJOR issues that everyone has forgoten about. All the plastic goodies are nice and it would be a bummer to not get them just cause DC tried to save a buck on the last of the 2nd gens but you could buy ALL that stuff DC left off for less than it would be to replace say 1) a cracked #53 block that you might find in a '01. Maybe even in a '02 but very rare there. You mostly stopped getting them in '99 but there were some left that got in the '01's. And 2) the bad front end change DC made (for what ever reason) to the '02's. They removed the front axle vacumm disconnect system, which I think is lame because then you cant get the 2 lo kit, which I think is worth its wieght in gold. This change also makes the front driveshaft spin all the time. Not part time anymore. On top of this they changed the geometry of the front axle suspension pushing the housing forward 2" and pointing the pinion downward more. This move combined with the constant spinning driveshaft has caused many guys to complain about freeway speed vibrations and u-joints going bad in the front. Now not all '02's got this update cause they were probably really early '02's. So there is two things I wouldnt over look when shopping for your ride that I'm sure you want to last you for years to come.

 

Lack of front vacuum disconnect doesn't bother me mainly because I've never had a truck with it. My 98 Jeep and my 03 Dodge both spun all the time. 2LO with a 6SPD I hope is not necessary... 5.61:1 1st gear should take care of me. Also, all of these for sale trucks are implying that the 01s and 02s had 100k mile warranties not 70k?

 

Just taking to a fellow worker about his truck it,s a 01 but made in 09-00 and it has disk brakes in the rear. Just bought it 4 months ago 65000 miles black 4x4 auto fullllllllllll load $22000 engine compartment so clean you could eat off it

 

I got my truck out of TX. an 01 with rear disc still had the plastic inthe floor got it for $22000 drove it back to N.C. on 2-1/2 tanks of fuel only had 70k on when I got it and clean as a pin I say TX. is the place to buy a good used truck I'am as happy as a two tailed puppy with my truck 01 or 02 I think you will be happy with what ever you buy

 

The lack of a front axle disco is a plus in my book. More than once I've seen someone think they are in 4x and the keep getting stuck or spinning out, because of a vacuum leak.
I bought the wheel liners for my 02. Can't see how they go on.
If I have a 53 block, that would suk

 

My 01.5 has the liners, disc brakes, cup holders, underhood light, and a Mexican block. My auto is in good shape, original lift pump (12.5 psi fuel pressure while cruising), no front end wobble. I bought it used and checked the history from the dealer. I have 162k on it now and absolutely love it. My truck must have been built on a Wednesday! Every year has a few problems, and not every truck has them in that year. You already are a careful shopper, so just enjoy which ever truck you buy. I know you loved that 03 before the POS thieves took it, so have as much fun with your "new" one, and call it a life changing experience.