I think the snow plow prep package also includes a HD TF case with a wider chain to handle the 4x4 strain.

 

I've personally owned three 3rd gen 2500 Cummins powered Rams and all were plow prepped equipped so heres my opinion on this topic.

First, all Cummins equipped Rams have the 136 amp alternator regardless of plow prep or not.

Second, I've compared spring #'s between plow prepped trucks and non plow prepped trucks and the numbers are different. For reference my '04 Q/C 2500 Plow prep truck has a 986AA drivers spring and a 985AA passenger spring. Those spring numbers were also the same on my '03 Q/C and '03 regular cab.

Third, there is no heavy duty transfer case option in the the 3rd gen trucks. You can opt for either an electric shift or a manual shift but both are available with the plow prep. However, on the 2nd gen 2500's if you ordered the plow prep you got the NV241HD over the regular NV241. This may be where the confusion is coming from.

Fourth, all dealers are different. Just because one will warranty front end work on a non plow prep equipped plow truck does not mean another dealer down the road will.

Finally, I plowed with my two 03's and these are awesome plow trucks. However, if you're actually going to plow snow I advise you to get the 4.10 gears. My first '03 had the 4.10's and my second had 3.73's and I noticed a big difference. With the 3.73's I needed way more pedal to push the snow and this was especially apparent when I was stacking piles.

 

I agree with everything you said except the 160 amp alternator. The snow plow prep at least for 05 comes with a 160 amp alternator. Not sure about the 04 but I truly remember seeing it some where in my documentation but can't seem to find it now.

 

The alternator one is easy - it's printed on the back in white letters. Mine is a 136. I'll be ordering a "86" spring. I should say a 1/2 pallet of salt - I split it with my buddy, but it still sits on a pallet.
We all got NV271s or NV273s (man or elec).
Thanks for all the help. I think I'm on my way...

 

Let me jump back in here. What Big ED posted is right on the money. The snow plow pkg ON THE DIESEL does NOT include the HD alternator, only on the HEMI. The transfer case is the same for plow/non plow trucks. You get to option whether its electric or not.

 

Priced out the ...86 spring, $114.40 from the dealer. Holy cow!!!

 

BigEd,
What are you r rear springs. Dealer said they were different too. That doesn't make since, then it would be other than a 3/4 ton, right. I trust them as far as I can throw them, wnd they're big guys

 

FastZilla...call one of the dodge internet dealers. Do a search and you will find several listed in different threads. The $114 is LIST price. Jobber price is $87 for that spring. Also note that the price for the springs are different- as the part numbers on the springs go up so does the price. In other words a 986 spring is more than an 984 spring.

 

I just check my 03 and they must have come with the heaver set up. Like I stated before there was no plow option when I ordered mine. 985aa on passanger side, 986aa on drivers side.

 

Is your truck a 2500 or a 3500srw. If it's a 3500srw then that may explain why you have those sping #'s. If it's a 2500 then you may have lucked out and they were out of the standard springs.

 

Mine have the 986AA Driver side and 985AA passenger side...finally got around to looking .

 

mine is a 03 2500.

 

Yeah me again... let me clear up what I posted. Your truck may have the 985/986 combination and NOT have the PLOW PKG. What DODGE does is if you do get the plow pkg it uses a spring "1" higher than the truck would have been built with. So those here who have the 985/986 springs and no PLOW PKG, if you found an identical truck as yours and just added the plow pkg to it then it would have 986/987 as the front springs. The springs themselves are not PLOW PKG specific. Ordering a truck with this pkg pushes the spring "pair" up one notch. Hope I explained this in a way everyone understands. Gladly answer any questions.

PS-as a footnote here, my 2004.5 R/C CTD 6sp-Sport came with the 984/985 combo. I wanted to level the truck and did this by going +2 on the springs ( 986/987 ) and using a 1.25 steel spacer with the springs. Got the lift, heavier springs and NO problems at all, didnt even need to realign front end.

 

Anybody wanna buy an 84 and 85 spring?

 

The plow package also has a different transfer case. A heavier duty case .
Check it out here:
http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/tranfer_case.htm

Look at the 241HD as compared to the 241D