As you know, I am new to Dodge and diesel engines. I have seen references to carrying an extra fuel filter for roadside emergencies. Are there any other parts that you folks would recommend that I carry in the truck?

Thanks for all the good ideas! I will be including a fuel filter, assortment of fuses, serp. belt and a headlight and tail/stop light bulb in my emergency pack (glove box too small for the extra tranny & rear!).

 

I would recommend a extra transmission and a extra rear differental just incase. Theses are the vehicle weak points.. <br><br>Oh and I am not joking

 

And a utility trailer to carry the spares, Ha, Ha! A little leg pulling goin on here. <br><br>For safety sake I try to carry an extra headlight bulb when on a long trip outa town <br><br>Check the under hood fuses. If one of these blows you may be sittin by the road. In my area no places carry them except dealer, dealers not open weekends. ???

 

Really good advice on the fuses Phil! I am making a note of that myself. Been lucky traveling one coast to another at all hours and haven't needed one. But NOW that you have pointed that out I better get a BOX full! :'(

 

SFtopSGT, Truth regarding the fuses when I blew the 40 amp trailer circuit. Went to Napa to buy one, they had to order it. They are rather pricey at $3-$4 each. At that time the dealer didn't have any in stock. As a result I rigged up a 40 amp circuit breaker with long leads to attach to the male connection with crimp on connectors. The leads were long enough to exit the cover to the fuse block. I also rigged up an adapter to connect fuses of the correct size that were readily available in discount auto parts stores. <br><br>With computers controlling the entire power train on the 3rd generation Rams, I consider the fuse to be potentially the weak link in the power train. The $3 part that can disable a $40,000 vehicle at any time. :'(

 

Ok boys<br><br>I won't need the spare transmission, nor the spare rear end as I got a six shooter and the differential filled, sooooooo....<br><br>Being lazy Phil, what kinda fuses are so important to run Daisy?<br><br>Spare headlight bulb, good idea<br><br>Do I need a spare fuel filter? Will be heading for Mexico in not too long but no one has had fuel problems there, they are very meticulous about their diesel fuel as many many things run on it.<br><br>Anyone else, ideas on what to load up that Daisy might possibly need. I know they got a huge Dodge dealership in Mazatlan, but, between the border and there....well......<br><br>Hunter

 

Serpentine belt, aka fan belt, aka accessory drive belt.<br><br>Consider a &quot;baja fuel filter&quot; from West Marine. It is a large funnel with built in filter screens that is used to pre-filter diesel from suspicious sources. Might come in handy in rural Mexico.<br><br>www.westmarine.com

 

Hunter and All, under the hood there is a major fuse block covered with a screw know to remove. It is filled with big ones and minnis plus some circuit breakers. There red, positive battery cable connects here. Fuses for the following: Air conditioning, fuel injection, automatic tranny, master onboard computer, trailer hookup, every major electrical system on your new Ram has its main fuse here.

Under the cover of this fuse block there is a diagram of the fuse locations. Is something isn't working and you are sittin by the road, replacing a single blown fuse here could save you from waiting an hour and one-half for a tow to come. Here is what can shut of the juice that powers the central nervous system of your baby.

Nevada, the 2003 no longer has a serpentine belt, it is thin like one but doesn't have the grooves and ridges to match the pulleys. I don't know what they call it, it's like an alligator back or a cog belt, can't slip, has multiple rows of cogs the width of belt. Probably not in the local Napa yet. If one breaks, during the first few months call D-C for your free road service, They can bring you a new one and install it. Nevada, good idea to get one when they become available, probable cost over $50. :'( :'(

 

Sierra Phil and all - thanks for the good suggestions regarding spares. Will have to stock up now that my white ghost has arrived. Picked it up late last night and have 18 miles on it. Didn't realize the 4x2 sat so much lower than the 4x4. Could have saved money on the steps - oh well - some old guy might try to get in some day. Up until 0100 reading manuals. Did manage to get the garage door openers programed so far. No room under the seats for the important things like umbrellas, reflectors, etc. Will have to put them in back. Have to find room for at least half the junk that had accumulated in the old truck. Good to finally have it here at last - came with a full 35 gallons of Diesel. Good dealer over here in Carson City.

 

Sierra Phil-<br><br>Thanks for the heads up on the belt. I see that he has a Jake Brake on the way, and since that includes a new vacuum pump (as I understand it) I would hold off on the spare belt until I could get the part number off the belt AFTER the Jake install. I presume that the vacuum pump is belt driven. I am guessing that the belt would be different. Anybody know for sure?<br><br>TIA