AggiePhil

On the 2001.5 3/4 ton truck that I just bought, it has three or four straps sticking up from the top of the rear seat back and I can't figure out what they're for. I don't remember having those on the last 2001 truck that I owned. Anybody know what these are for?

jrs_dodge_diesel

I know exactly what they are for. They are for child seats. There is a clip on the back of the seat that will clip in to the metal ring. Helps keep the seat in one spot in a crash better than just the lap or shoulder/lap belts. I believe its called the LATCH system. Its a common attachment point in a lot of passenger vehicles.

AggiePhil

Does it come standard on our trucks? Maybe my last truck had them, but they were just hidden behind the seat back or something? I dunno...I want them out of the way, but I haven't really tried too hard yet to see if I can tuck them back there.

shawn085

When I had the rear seat out I just removed them. One bolt each takes only about 10 minutes to do. One of them had started to wear a hole in the back of the rear seat. It looked like it was only going to cause more problems by trying to stuff them down or flip them over to hide them.

phox_mulder

They became mandatory sometime in 2001.
Your first 2001 was probably built before the law took effect.


phox

jrs_dodge_diesel

I think you got something there phox. The early 01 model didn't have the attachment point, and they also had rear drum brakes. The 01.5 models had them and also had the rear discs also. My truck is a 01.5 and has them.

AggiePhil

That makes sense then cause my first truck was a 2001 and this one is a 2001.5. I tried to remove the seat so I could tuck the straps down below it or something, but I couldn't get the back of the seat off the back of the cab. So I just gave up and left them there. Oh well. Makes me feel better to know that they came from the factory that way. Do all new trucks have those too??

There are a few other differences between the two trucks that I'm still noticing. All-around disc brakes on the 2001.5 is fairly well known, but I've also noticed that the cruise control group seems to be different on the 2001.5. The "CRUISE" display in the cluster is orange instead of green, and I believe it lets you cruise at up to 90 MPH instead of just 85 MPH (not sure about this one yet though). Also, there are some stickers in the engine compartment that I don't believe the 2001 had (belt routing stickers and whatnot).

zukgod1

My 01 has them, rear disk as well.


dan