ponyboy123

Going to pick up my new 2009 5500 CC this morning and plan on putting it to work ASAP. Can I run it with just lights and mud flaps or is there anything else that has to be done to make it road worthy?

67HotRod

Might want to tell us what state your going to license it in. Private or commerical use?

wannadiesel

Some states will require fenders over the duals if there's no trailer attached. You'll have to check your state laws.

ponyboy123

Just checked with the dealer here in Nova Scotia Canada and he tells me as long as I have the mud flaps, it's road legal. Hope he knows what he's talkin bout. I'm headed to PEI in the morning to pick up my trailer. What can a guy plan on hauling and manage to stay legal with one of these brutes?

Colo_River_Ram

I would definitely puts some fenders over the duals, a local hot-shotter was in the patch with his new truck (mudflaps only) he picked up a rock with the duals when it came loose it went through the back window, past his head and took out the front windshield as well.. He now has his flatbed on the truck..

Check out rfeiller pics of his fenders:

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...er.php?u=69831

Welcome to the 5500 club!

Here's a link to the up fitters guide pay attention to the electrical section as these new units are a pain in the harness at times:

http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2008/dm/dmmo.pdf

Here's a pic of mine to give you some rig up ideas:

ponyboy123

Hey Colo, thanks for the tips, sweet flatdeck. I like the extra storage on the underside. I have a local fab guy set up to build me one but just not too sure on the design yet. Thanks for the pics, gives me some new ideas already.

Colo_River_Ram

Your welcome ponyboy123,

The thing you have to watch with the lighting on a flatbed is split/balance the tail lights R&L (or you can get a lamp out indicator).. You need a min of 1- 1157 (approx 1.8 -2 amps) and a max of 2- 1157 on you circuits..

LED lighting has such a low amp draw you might need to install some resistors to prevent a no or fast flash depending on the number of lights you run.. Let me know if can can help on anything..

CRR

rfeiller

Colorado i understand from dodge that the 09 resolved the electrical problem.
check it out on the new 09 body builders guide, i may be wrong. the mix lighting was a real pain on the 08's

rich

Colo_River_Ram

Yes it was and I glad they did..I didn't think they had time nor the money to improve things so quick.. Thanks for the info Rich

Have you done anything different on your bed yet?

rfeiller

Colo river ram,
no, outside of putting the design on AutoCad haven't started building it yet.

construction is picking up painfully slow, so it will be awhile yet.

truck has 11,000 miles as of today and not a glitch. very pleased with the 5500. 100% city commuter driving and averaging 13.3-13.7mpg. with the 4.88's.

Colo_River_Ram

Rich,

I can relate to what your saying as the "patch' died painfully quick but is making a slow comeback as well..

My truck has 9500 miles on it (15 months old) now and has similar millage to what you list on the highway.. I still want to rig the hydraulic winches/welder/air comp but time will tell..

chaikwa

Did I read/interpret this right? You only get 13 MPG or so on the highway? Empty w/ no trailer?

chaikwa.

Colo_River_Ram

That is correct chaikwa highway is 13 average, I have seen 14 on one trip around town or towing heavy is 9-10 range.. The truck and bed weighs in at a little under 11K.. with the 4.88's and auto I'm turning 2500 RPM @ 75MPH. My 05 did not start getting good mileage until the 25-30K mark so it should improve... It is a beast of burden and requires a little more food..

rfeiller

my wife, german shepherd and i headed to Pismo Beach yesterday about a 390 mile ride round trip. the longest highway trip i've made in with this truck.

i have not penciled it out, but the overhead showed a high of 15.5 and a low of 13.8. my overhead is quite accurate. I do believe that it was regening at the low point. but at 70mph and 2300 rpm the mileage isn't great. but 4.88 rear axle is for work not mileage.

a big difference between Colorado Ram and i; i'm at or close to sea level, i believe he is a few thousand feet in the air, poorer mileage with altitude.

chaikwa

I was just curious because I get that with my International with the DT466 in it. A little better actually. It drops to 10 when it's towing a 12k trailer, but I still think that's not bad.

Thanks for the reply!

chaikwa.