Nice truck. I wish I shopped around d more and got the power windows. I got a 17 Tradesman regular cab long bed. It had the 3.0 radio, and I swapped in the 5.0. I added the rearview camera and it has been awesome. I also added the steering wheel audio controls. That was the easiest mod I have ever done.
David Awesome! I love the Tradesman. I’m not into all that chrome that seems to be on everything. I only wish that I had more time to find one with the 8’ bed, and the camera. I still think I’ll put a camera on mine. The butts on these trucks are tall. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Cant beat a regualr cab work truck. I have a 17 1500 Tradesman 2wd quad cab with the 3.6. I pull 8 9k pounds with it. Ive had 2300lbs in the box. Carries my family around. Trips to PA. Snow mud you name it. 25k out the door with 12 miles on it. Ive had 7 Ram/ Dodge trucks. These 4th gens are for sure the best quality. I actually like the ride. Its smooth as glass to me. But all ive had is ram trucks haha Couldnt agree more about those damn shutters. I need to figure out how to deactivate them. Because during the summer especially pulling load I will see 235 degrees. That's just way too high. Feb of 19 will be 2 years for me. I'm at 55k miles. All good so far. Service it myself. Awesome review man. Take care
1500 Mike what 2300lb in the box? And 9k pulling? Either your lying or your seriously overloading your truck. Ram coil rear end you have about around 1800lb for cargo capacity including passengers. Towing is around 7600 and that’s if you got the larger 3.92 axle.
@@vojnikjna30 Your right. Well not that I lie. You can find the tractor hauling video on my TH-cam channel.Ram sent me an email on my truck. Payload 1900 and towing 4,650. I seriously over do it hauling the tractor. But payload not so much. Also it isn't an everyday thing. I pull the large tractor maybe 5 times a year. Ive only had 2300lbs in the box once. A typical trailer load for me is around 2k-4k pounds. Rarely do I have more than 1k in the box. Ive had 7 Rams over 16 years. 5k miles away from the powertrain warranty being up on my current 17. If it breaks. I'll fix it. I'll even make a video about it 👍
1500 Mike your payload/ towing numbers are on your drivers door yellow and white sticker. With 2300lb in the bed your rear bumper will be slammed to the ground. I don’t know how you do it though lol.
1500 Mike I thank you for watching this video. Mine is a bit of a bumpy ride because I have E load rated tires and the pressure is maintained at 43 psi all year round. If I have the bed loaded up, it’s a really smooth ride. I have also overloaded the bed (weight wise) and cross my fingers for no problems and for no cops to be watching. LOL 😂 I will probably remove the grill shutters when the warranty is done. I will have owned this truck for 3 years come February 15. Right now I’m sitting at 61,100 miles. This has been a great truck so far, and I beat the living crap out of it.
I agree, that is until plastic parts start deforming on the engine and cause oil leaks. I’ll go more into that in a future video. Thanks for watching!!!!!
One of the best video l ever seen, very knowledgeable and professional comments. Even though the video was a little bit shaky but funny things didn’t bother me like most of the others. Good work and good luck. Thank you.
I have upgraded tires which are E-load rated. The sidewalls are super tough and make for a very stiff ride, especially when the tires get worn down. Thanks for watching.
Very nice tradesman,I have a 2013 V-6 8 speed auto very happy with work truck, not for sure why Ram trucks are shy about adding back up cameras (most) my Co- workers have Ram trucks with no back up cameras?
Michael Kurz, I hear you about the cameras on these trucks. It’s hard to judge where the back end is at when backing it up. But have no fear about cameras on vehicles in the future, because as of this year all vehicles sold in America are to have backup cameras from the factory.
My dad has a 2011 tradesman 1500 crew cab 109,000 miles he got it in 2012 great truck if you take care of it with basic maintenance it will last a very long time
Awesome!!!! My truck now has 204,000 miles on it and it is still going strong. I agree, basic maintenance will definitely keep anything going for a long time. I've been very pleased with this truck and I use it for so many different things and it has not let me down.
After having 2 5.7's and now 2 3.6's I prefer the V6. Cheaper and less maintenance. Cheaper and less gas. Only get a Hemi if you going to actually use or need the extra power. Just my 2 cents.
Hey there, i saw and commented on this video 3 years ago. Do you think we might be able to get an update on tbis truck? Hows it doing and what else have you done. Loking forward to a new video.
Hey, yeah sorry about not making a video of it yet. Life's been busy. I still own the truck though. It now has 212,000 miles, 3rd set of tires, 2nd set of brakes, and some good old fashioned RAM rust coming through on the bed. I've also had to replace the alternator, idler pulley and tensioner pulley. I've had the gaskets underneath the oil filter housing go bad twice and I've only done 1 tuneup @ 100,000 miles. The shocks need to be replaced finally, but I'm actually upgrading to a RAM 2500 with the 6.4 HEMI engine here real soon. This truck has been absolutely fantastic to own and drive. Oh yeah, the front wheel bearings have also been replaced twice now. I really can't complain at all about this truck. It has gone above and beyond my expectations and I will really hate to part ways with it, but hopefully it will do the next owner good as it has done so for me. But, if I get a chance to I will do a follow up video before I sell it. And thanks for checking back on this video, that is awesome!!!!
Awesome! I wish I could have found one with an 8’ bed before the incentives ended. I only had a few days to locate a truck and sign paperwork before I lost out on the deal. Thanks for watching and good luck with your truck.
Hey there, yes I do still have the truck. 212,000 miles and some change now. Another viewer just asked the same question about this truck a few days ago in the comments section. Looks like I'll be making another video of it before I sell it soon. By the way, it's been a fantastic truck for me. I'll go over the details about it in the next video. Thanks for asking!
Hi there, this truck handled very well with a full load in the bed or maxed out with a trailer behind it. I never once felt unsafe as long as I kept the load close to what the manufacturer had suggested.
Gilbert Quick, I patiently taped off the silver lip of the rims, piece of tape after piece of tape. It didn’t take very long to accomplish, and it’s held up just fine over the last 4 years. The grill and the bumpers came black from the factory. The badges were chrome, and I used Plasti Dip to cover them up.
alexv305, thank you for watching the video. Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures of the side of my truck. This video is all that I have of it. If there are any questions you have, ask me and I can tell you what I did to achieve my look with my truck. I’m planning on doing another update video here in about a week or so. So stay tuned to my channel if you want. I will add footage of all the sides, engine bay, interior and so forth.
Brennan Martini, mine seems to be alright. I’ve had to do some small maintenance stuff and 1 repair on the engine. I had to replace the oil filter housing because it was leaking oil at 100,000 miles. It was a little bit of work to replace it, but not bad. And so you know, the oil filter housing is prone to go bad right around 100k miles.
The dealership upgraded the tires when they ordered the truck from the factory. In this video these are Goodyear Wrangler silent armor all terrain tires. These are severe duty tires that are rated M+S (mud and snow), and they are E-load rated which makes them extremely rigid. These tires are what makes this truck a very stiff ride. After I made this video I bought another set of these exact same tires. They lasted a little over 90,000 miles. I just replaced them a week ago with BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO2’s, also severe rated M+S, and are also E-load rated. New video coming soon. Thanks for watching.
Um, I replaced the tires and I added some Bully side steps. That's about it for now. Also, I had to replace a wheel hub assembly because of a bad ABS sensor. It's about to go into the shop because of a mystery oil leak between the engine and transmission.
Carlos Sullivan , I actually do have an update now. The mystery oil leak is coming from the oil filter housing underneath the intake manifold. So, that’s getting replaced by myself tomorrow. At the same time I’m going to change the coolant, do an oil change, change the spark plugs, install a new serpentine belt, replace all of the pads and rotors, and rotate the tires. I might also clean my K&N filter while I’m at it. I had the interior detailed in December, and soon I will detail under the hood and do the rest of the truck.
Bushcraft North of 60 , me too! Plain trucks are awesome. I thought about doing a lift, but with my short wheel base and the lower chin spoiler removed, it has plenty of ground clearance now.
Thank you! I used a satin black premium enamel paint from Ace Hardware. It is there own brand of paint. I have been using there paint for many, many years, and on many different types of projects, and I have never been disappointed with the outcome. And I didn't use any clearcoat either. I just sanded the rim centers and sanded the plastic hub caps, and taped of the wheels and painted them with no primer. Over 2 years later, they still look great and it gives the wheels a totally different and better look, all for about $15.
Thanks buddy, just ordered one today. White, v6. I like what you had to say about it. So far drove 2003 with hemi 5.7 reg cab. Time to upgrade. Have to wait 4 weeks for delivery...
Howard Stewart, awesome! I never got around to removing the grill shutters. I’ve now got 115,000 miles on my truck. Crazy! Since I made this video, I have turned my truck into a storm chasing vehicle. I’ve always been interested in crazy storms, so I thought it was fitting. I’m going to make an update video on my truck here pretty soon I hope. I’ll go over all the details about what’s happened to it since I bought it new.
I've got a 2015 Tradesman Crewcab short box 4x with the V-6 / 8 SPD... What a great engine and trans combo. 55K on mine and the only thing besides oil changes is that I am getting ready to upgrade front brakes/rotors as I tow a 3K trailer a lot.
hankgs Awesome! I love my truck. It’s been a great workhorse for whatever I need it to do. I love the looks of this generation Ram. I don’t think I will buy the new style Ram as I don’t like the looks of them and I don’t like the options for the new models. I think the new Ram 1500 looks like the Toyota Tundra. Kinda sad because the Ram has always been a different looking truck.
I need you to paint my wheels for me! awesome truck, love your "simple" mods and overall review from someone who has actually owned and used the truck in their daily life.
I thank you for watching my video. Sorry for a super late response because I’ve been slammed with tons of work lately. 5-1/2 years later and I’m still driving it. I’ve got a few repairs to do on this truck and I plan on making another review on it. This truck has been awesome to me and I will go into further details on everything about it.
I have been looking for one of these i thought before buying one i have to watch a review so i know what its like from an owners perspective the 1500 would be better to drive around town than my big ass 5500
Thank you for watching my video. Overall this truck has been really good to me. I put it through a lot and it has really done me good. I plan on doing another video soon and I will go over everything that I like and dislike about it.
Nice truck. I had a 2016 single cab 5.7 long bed 2wd, loved it. Sold it for a profit with how the market has been lately and just now ordered a brand new 2022 1500 classic just like it but with the particular options (or lack of) that I want. Getting the vinyl floor this time and manual windows! I only recently found out they STILL make these alongside the new body style, so that's what I'm going with
That's awesome! I still have this truck and I now have 173,000 miles on it. I've been wanting to do another video about my truck but just haven't found the time to do it yet. If I were to sell this truck I would definitely upgrade to the 5.7 and have some other options that I don't have now. It's been a good truck to me and I've driven it across the country and I love it. The 4x4 setup is just awesome too! But my favorite feature about the truck is the vinyl floor. It's stupid easy to clean. Good luck with your new truck and thanks for watching.
Maybe just put a bypass switch on the grill shutters . I have a 2017, 4x4, quad cab pentastar, use it for work, large side tool boxes, ladder rack , awesome mpg, and super comfortable. Yeah they need better fabrics on the seats. Rear camera should be standard, and blue tooth for your phone...
I drove a 2019 classic and it had a lot of road noise with the vinyl flooring. Do you notice it as well specifically in the rain? Also the back end felt very bouncy if that makes sense.
The road noise for me is pretty good overall. My ride is very bouncy because of my tires which are E-load rated. Very stiff sidewalls which make it super bouncy when it’s unloaded.
Bradley Peoples , nice. I wish I had bought one with an 8’ bed. Just couldn’t find one in time. Yes, I sanded the rims and the center caps. Then I painted them with satin black spray paint. The paint is ACE Hardware’s premium enamel. Still holding up fine after 4 years. I didn’t use any primer either. Also, the factory silver that I left around the outside of the rim is starting to rust through. I might fix it, or I might just let it be. Good luck with your truck.
@@91rattoyota Awesome thank you! Yeah my rims are already showing signs of rust to. That's just from when they balanced wheels and messed up on the weights and peeled the paint. Shouldn't be too hard to fix. Thank you so much for responding I have been going back and forth on just getting new rooms or paint and I'm definitely painting now that I see these. Thank you
Bradley Peoples , no problem. I try to respond as quickly as I can. Right now I’m going through some training to become a National Weather Service SKYWARN storm spotter. So it’s taking up some of my time. Sanding the rim was easy, it was prepping the center cap that was more challenging. I ended up sanding what I could by hand, and then I used a stainless steel wire brush to get the harder to get to areas (like the RAM head). Then I cleaned all of the surfaces with some rubbing alcohol, taped off the rims, and then painted them. It took me about 4 hours or so from start to finish.
Hey there, sorry for the late response.......been busy at home. So yeah, awesome to hear that you're about to buy one. I love my truck (I still own it)! It has been pretty reliable so far. The only issues that I've had with it so far is a couple of front wheel bearings that went bad, and the o-rings underneath the oil filter housing went bad (kind of annoying and a pain to replace). Other than that.....it's been a fantastic truck and the 4x4 system is basically bulletproof. I've taken this truck across the country doing all types of work and it has performed very, very well for me. My truck is about to hit 200,000 miles and is still pulling strong. Good luck with your purchase and hopefully your truck will do good for you too.
@@bsauce1346 Awesome news!!!!!! Thank you for checking out my video as well. Good luck with your truck and let me know if you have any other questions about it.
Kelly Joplin , I hear you. I’m a true car guy. If it catches my attention and I like it, then so be it. I’m not biased when it comes to vehicles of any kind. If it has an engine, chances are that I will like it.
I used fishing line to separate the badges from the double sided tape. Then I just rolled the double sided tape off with my fingers (which was kind of a pain), and any residue that was left over was removed with a little gasoline on a soft rag. Then I gave the truck a bath, dried it, and then waxed the whole truck. It didn't hurt one little ounce of the paint, and it makes it look soooooo much cleaner. Oh, and if you're planning on removing your badges, do it on a warmer day (makes it easier to remove the tape). Some people use heat guns to remove theirs, but I would not suggest doing that as it may damage the paint job.
There is a Express/Tradesman for sale near me that is grey with all the chrome (which I dont mind personally) but it has the Hemi and the 4x4. But this video gave me some pretty sweet insight into what one of these trucks are gonna be like to own. So thanks for the informative video.
Alex . . . , no problem! I can’t say that all RAM 1500’s will be like mine. It depends on the cab/chassis size, engine, and ultimately what kind of tires are on the truck. Mine rides rough because of the size of my truck, engine, and the fact that I have E load rated tires. They’re awesome trucks for sure. But had I realized just how mine was going to ride in the future, I probably would have stepped up to a bigger truck with different tires. Thanks for watching my video.
Alex . . . , also, I love the HEMI. It’s a great engine, but would have been a little too much in my size truck. The 3.6 has been awesome for me since I don’t always have a trailer behind me. I think if I do buy another RAM 1500 it will have the HEMI in it.
91rattoyota Thank you for that info brother. I’m going actually today to look at two trucks, one being a ram and one being a Chevy. I love the smooth ride of the Chevy but the ram has that awesome hemi. I’m keeping an open mind and trying not to be brand biased because either way I want the best truck possible. At least your video was helpful and informative towards the dodge side. Too many Chevy fanboys around here! Lol
Alex . . . , I hear you man! I’m not biased at all myself. I am a true car guy. If it catches my attention and interest, I’m down with it. I looked at GM trucks too, but I just feel like they’re a little overpriced for what you get, and they’re crash tests didn’t come out on top. That’s where Ford and RAM succeeded. Good luck with whatever you buy man!
Brennan Martini, both engines are very reliable. But I would say that if you’re looking for more towing capacity and torque, go with the 5.7. If you’re looking for something to just get you around and maybe haul something or tow something from time to time, then the 3.6 V6 will probably work just fine for you. Go test drive both of the engines and see what works for you and your wallet.
91rattoyota thanks. Yea whatever deal I find that’s better. I’m okay with both and I love that hemi. I just put pressure wash equipment in the back trunk cause I pressure wash time to time so V6 is still great too. I hear the hemi 5.7L gets 17high 25city. How does your V6 do on gas ?
Brennan Martini, my truck gets around 19 city and about 24 highway. It could possibly be better but I do have a bit of a lead foot, and my truck has quite a few tools in it. For what I do with the truck, I think my next truck will have a V8 for sure. There have been many times where I needed the extra torque and towing capacity. And my wife wants a bigger cab, which I really don’t want. I would rather get an 8’ bed instead.
Brennan Martini, also.........don’t expect those mpg numbers right away, especially if you’re buying a new truck. Those numbers are based on when the engine is fully broken in and the engine well maintained. I’ve now got 115,000 miles, and after I did a tuneup at 100k the fuel economy went up considerably on my truck.
All the beds are the same across all of the models. What changes the size of the bed is based on the type of truck cab you have. The bigger the cab the smaller the bed.
BGKO1992, I used a satin black enamel paint from Ace Hardware. It’s their own paint brand, and I’ve been using their paint for well over 20 years. I highly recommend it. If you’re asking me how I did it, I simply sanded the inner part of the wheels as well as the center caps, cleaned them up with some alcohol. Then I taped off the outer rim with short pieces of tape, and then I painted the wheels and the center caps. Mine has held up for over 4 years now without any problems of paint flaking off.
It's not on all of the RAM trucks. It depends on which transmission you choose. I know that almost all (if not all) 2500's and up use the column shifter. I wasn't sure if I would like it myself, but I have come to love it over time. I would personally rather have a manual tranny, but that's not an option anymore in the 1500's.
Nice truck. I wish I shopped around d more and got the power windows. I got a 17 Tradesman regular cab long bed. It had the 3.0 radio, and I swapped in the 5.0. I added the rearview camera and it has been awesome. I also added the steering wheel audio controls. That was the easiest mod I have ever done.
David Awesome! I love the Tradesman. I’m not into all that chrome that seems to be on everything. I only wish that I had more time to find one with the 8’ bed, and the camera. I still think I’ll put a camera on mine. The butts on these trucks are tall. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Simple idea with the wheels, but they look really nice.
Stuart Stuart, thank you! They’re still holding up very well after 3 years.
Cant beat a regualr cab work truck. I have a 17 1500 Tradesman 2wd quad cab with the 3.6. I pull 8 9k pounds with it. Ive had 2300lbs in the box. Carries my family around. Trips to PA. Snow mud you name it. 25k out the door with 12 miles on it.
Ive had 7 Ram/ Dodge trucks. These 4th gens are for sure the best quality. I actually like the ride. Its smooth as glass to me. But all ive had is ram trucks haha
Couldnt agree more about those damn shutters. I need to figure out how to deactivate them. Because during the summer especially pulling load I will see 235 degrees. That's just way too high. Feb of 19 will be 2 years for me. I'm at 55k miles. All good so far. Service it myself.
Awesome review man. Take care
1500 Mike what 2300lb in the box? And 9k pulling? Either your lying or your seriously overloading your truck. Ram coil rear end you have about around 1800lb for cargo capacity including passengers. Towing is around 7600 and that’s if you got the larger 3.92 axle.
@@vojnikjna30 Your right. Well not that I lie. You can find the tractor hauling video on my TH-cam channel.Ram sent me an email on my truck. Payload 1900 and towing 4,650. I seriously over do it hauling the tractor. But payload not so much. Also it isn't an everyday thing. I pull the large tractor maybe 5 times a year. Ive only had 2300lbs in the box once. A typical trailer load for me is around 2k-4k pounds. Rarely do I have more than 1k in the box. Ive had 7 Rams over 16 years. 5k miles away from the powertrain warranty being up on my current 17. If it breaks. I'll fix it. I'll even make a video about it 👍
1500 Mike your payload/ towing numbers are on your drivers door yellow and white sticker. With 2300lb in the bed your rear bumper will be slammed to the ground. I don’t know how you do it though lol.
@@vojnikjna30 Lol I know. I choose to ignore that sticker haha. No it wasnt touching the ground. I have a photo. Not a video.
1500 Mike I thank you for watching this video. Mine is a bit of a bumpy ride because I have E load rated tires and the pressure is maintained at 43 psi all year round. If I have the bed loaded up, it’s a really smooth ride. I have also overloaded the bed (weight wise) and cross my fingers for no problems and for no cops to be watching. LOL 😂 I will probably remove the grill shutters when the warranty is done. I will have owned this truck for 3 years come February 15. Right now I’m sitting at 61,100 miles. This has been a great truck so far, and I beat the living crap out of it.
Standard opperating temp on a lot of vehicles is 215 degrees. 238 in summer on highway is nothing to be afraid about.
I agree, that is until plastic parts start deforming on the engine and cause oil leaks. I’ll go more into that in a future video. Thanks for watching!!!!!
One of the best video l ever seen, very knowledgeable and professional comments. Even though the video was a little bit shaky but funny things didn’t bother me like most of the others. Good work and good luck. Thank you.
Funny, I had one just like it and it rode very smooth.
I have upgraded tires which are E-load rated. The sidewalls are super tough and make for a very stiff ride, especially when the tires get worn down. Thanks for watching.
Very nice tradesman,I have a 2013 V-6 8 speed auto very happy with work truck, not for sure why Ram trucks are shy about adding back up cameras (most) my Co- workers have Ram trucks with no back up cameras?
Michael Kurz, I hear you about the cameras on these trucks. It’s hard to judge where the back end is at when backing it up. But have no fear about cameras on vehicles in the future, because as of this year all vehicles sold in America are to have backup cameras from the factory.
@@91rattoyota good to hear thank you: )
My 2018 has a camera but what sucks about it is that you view it on the rear view mirror
My dad has a 2011 tradesman 1500 crew cab 109,000 miles he got it in 2012 great truck if you take care of it with basic maintenance it will last a very long time
Awesome!!!! My truck now has 204,000 miles on it and it is still going strong. I agree, basic maintenance will definitely keep anything going for a long time. I've been very pleased with this truck and I use it for so many different things and it has not let me down.
After having 2 5.7's and now 2 3.6's I prefer the V6. Cheaper and less maintenance. Cheaper and less gas. Only get a Hemi if you going to actually use or need the extra power. Just my 2 cents.
So very true in everything you said!!! Thank you for watching!!!!!
Hey there, i saw and commented on this video 3 years ago. Do you think we might be able to get an update on tbis truck? Hows it doing and what else have you done. Loking forward to a new video.
Hey, yeah sorry about not making a video of it yet. Life's been busy. I still own the truck though. It now has 212,000 miles, 3rd set of tires, 2nd set of brakes, and some good old fashioned RAM rust coming through on the bed. I've also had to replace the alternator, idler pulley and tensioner pulley. I've had the gaskets underneath the oil filter housing go bad twice and I've only done 1 tuneup @ 100,000 miles. The shocks need to be replaced finally, but I'm actually upgrading to a RAM 2500 with the 6.4 HEMI engine here real soon. This truck has been absolutely fantastic to own and drive. Oh yeah, the front wheel bearings have also been replaced twice now. I really can't complain at all about this truck. It has gone above and beyond my expectations and I will really hate to part ways with it, but hopefully it will do the next owner good as it has done so for me. But, if I get a chance to I will do a follow up video before I sell it. And thanks for checking back on this video, that is awesome!!!!
Hi there, the new review video on this truck is finally done and uploaded. Thanks for watching!
Bro your truck looks great after what you did to it. I too don’t like all the chrome in trucks. The rims look really good. I might steel that idea.
Have at it my friend and thanks for commenting!!!!
Great video I watched it at 1.5 speed.
thank you. will be getting a classic with an 8ft bed.
Awesome! I wish I could have found one with an 8’ bed before the incentives ended. I only had a few days to locate a truck and sign paperwork before I lost out on the deal. Thanks for watching and good luck with your truck.
Curious to hear how the truck is doing 4 years later? Still have it?
Hey there, yes I do still have the truck. 212,000 miles and some change now. Another viewer just asked the same question about this truck a few days ago in the comments section. Looks like I'll be making another video of it before I sell it soon. By the way, it's been a fantastic truck for me. I'll go over the details about it in the next video. Thanks for asking!
Hi there, the new review video on this truck is finally done and uploaded. Thanks for watching!!!
Great video man. How tall are you? Tradesman trucks don't have power seats, does that affect your driving visibility at all?
i’m under 6 foot and i see perfect out of mine
@@ont3n I'm about 5'6'' do you think I would have any issues?
John Yang I would say you’re pushing it a bit as I am closer to 6 foot but hey, only one way to find out, get in thereee!
Just shy of 6 feet tall. I have plenty of headroom. Anyone shorter or taller than me should fit just fine. Thanks for watching!!!!
How well does it handle with a full load of cargo in the bed?
Hi there, this truck handled very well with a full load in the bed or maxed out with a trailer behind it. I never once felt unsafe as long as I kept the load close to what the manufacturer had suggested.
Love my ram single cab 5.7 4x4
How did u tape and paint the wheels and how did u black out front type of paint ECT.
Gilbert Quick, I patiently taped off the silver lip of the rims, piece of tape after piece of tape. It didn’t take very long to accomplish, and it’s held up just fine over the last 4 years. The grill and the bumpers came black from the factory. The badges were chrome, and I used Plasti Dip to cover them up.
Thanks 4 reply and info
Do you have any side pics of the truck? I'm looking to do something similar like you did. I really like the tradesman value
alexv305, thank you for watching the video. Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures of the side of my truck. This video is all that I have of it. If there are any questions you have, ask me and I can tell you what I did to achieve my look with my truck. I’m planning on doing another update video here in about a week or so. So stay tuned to my channel if you want. I will add footage of all the sides, engine bay, interior and so forth.
@@91rattoyota Awesome looking forward to it!
******* Factory tire size in this video, or larger?
These are the factory tires, just upgraded to load range E. Great tires!
@@91rattoyota thanx for the reply!!! I love a white truck, with white letter tires!!!
Looking to get a v6 Tradesman are they reliable? Thx
Brennan Martini, mine seems to be alright. I’ve had to do some small maintenance stuff and 1 repair on the engine. I had to replace the oil filter housing because it was leaking oil at 100,000 miles. It was a little bit of work to replace it, but not bad. And so you know, the oil filter housing is prone to go bad right around 100k miles.
What tires did u upgrade too
The dealership upgraded the tires when they ordered the truck from the factory. In this video these are Goodyear Wrangler silent armor all terrain tires. These are severe duty tires that are rated M+S (mud and snow), and they are E-load rated which makes them extremely rigid. These tires are what makes this truck a very stiff ride. After I made this video I bought another set of these exact same tires. They lasted a little over 90,000 miles. I just replaced them a week ago with BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO2’s, also severe rated M+S, and are also E-load rated. New video coming soon. Thanks for watching.
Any updates on the build
Um, I replaced the tires and I added some Bully side steps. That's about it for now. Also, I had to replace a wheel hub assembly because of a bad ABS sensor. It's about to go into the shop because of a mystery oil leak between the engine and transmission.
Carlos Sullivan , I actually do have an update now. The mystery oil leak is coming from the oil filter housing underneath the intake manifold. So, that’s getting replaced by myself tomorrow. At the same time I’m going to change the coolant, do an oil change, change the spark plugs, install a new serpentine belt, replace all of the pads and rotors, and rotate the tires. I might also clean my K&N filter while I’m at it. I had the interior detailed in December, and soon I will detail under the hood and do the rest of the truck.
What about mileage?
framfull , around town I average about 18-19 mpg. I can get up to about 22-23 on the highway.
why no 8foot bed?
Couldn’t find one with the 8’ bed in time and within my price point with the options that I wanted. Thanks for watching!
💯👍
remove those shutters or unhook them, trick the computer
Exactly what I was planning on doing. Thank you for watching!
This is exactly what I’d like for my next truck. Small lift, locker, skid plates, tires and cargo management. I love a plain truck.
Bushcraft North of 60 , me too! Plain trucks are awesome. I thought about doing a lift, but with my short wheel base and the lower chin spoiler removed, it has plenty of ground clearance now.
Beautiful truck! I am buying a 2015 next month. I love what you did with the wheels. What type of paint did you use?
Thank you! I used a satin black premium enamel paint from Ace Hardware. It is there own brand of paint. I have been using there paint for many, many years, and on many different types of projects, and I have never been disappointed with the outcome. And I didn't use any clearcoat either. I just sanded the rim centers and sanded the plastic hub caps, and taped of the wheels and painted them with no primer. Over 2 years later, they still look great and it gives the wheels a totally different and better look, all for about $15.
Thanks buddy, just ordered one today. White, v6. I like what you had to say about it. So far drove 2003 with hemi 5.7 reg cab. Time to upgrade. Have to wait 4 weeks for delivery...
Great review. Definitely a blue collar man who knows what he needs and doesn't need.
Texas 12valve, thank you! And your TH-cam name is awesome!!!!
@@91rattoyota thank you. texas_12valve is my instagram if you'd like to see my 12valve project and my 1500 ram daily.
I have almost same with the V8. I removed front grill spoiler too. Only trouble I've had a couple manifold bolts broke no worries.👍👍
Howard Stewart, awesome! I never got around to removing the grill shutters. I’ve now got 115,000 miles on my truck. Crazy! Since I made this video, I have turned my truck into a storm chasing vehicle. I’ve always been interested in crazy storms, so I thought it was fitting. I’m going to make an update video on my truck here pretty soon I hope. I’ll go over all the details about what’s happened to it since I bought it new.
I've got a 2015 Tradesman Crewcab short box 4x with the V-6 / 8 SPD... What a great engine and trans combo. 55K on mine and the only thing besides oil changes is that I am getting ready to upgrade front brakes/rotors as I tow a 3K trailer a lot.
hankgs Awesome! I love my truck. It’s been a great workhorse for whatever I need it to do. I love the looks of this generation Ram. I don’t think I will buy the new style Ram as I don’t like the looks of them and I don’t like the options for the new models. I think the new Ram 1500 looks like the Toyota Tundra. Kinda sad because the Ram has always been a different looking truck.
I need you to paint my wheels for me! awesome truck, love your "simple" mods and overall review from someone who has actually owned and used the truck in their daily life.
I thank you for watching my video. Sorry for a super late response because I’ve been slammed with tons of work lately. 5-1/2 years later and I’m still driving it. I’ve got a few repairs to do on this truck and I plan on making another review on it. This truck has been awesome to me and I will go into further details on everything about it.
The paint on the wheel and leaving the rim makes it stand out
86twin , thank you! I agree!
I have been looking for one of these i thought before buying one i have to watch a review so i know what its like from an owners perspective the 1500 would be better to drive around town than my big ass 5500
Thank you for watching my video. Overall this truck has been really good to me. I put it through a lot and it has really done me good. I plan on doing another video soon and I will go over everything that I like and dislike about it.
Nice truck. I had a 2016 single cab 5.7 long bed 2wd, loved it. Sold it for a profit with how the market has been lately and just now ordered a brand new 2022 1500 classic just like it but with the particular options (or lack of) that I want. Getting the vinyl floor this time and manual windows! I only recently found out they STILL make these alongside the new body style, so that's what I'm going with
That's awesome! I still have this truck and I now have 173,000 miles on it. I've been wanting to do another video about my truck but just haven't found the time to do it yet. If I were to sell this truck I would definitely upgrade to the 5.7 and have some other options that I don't have now. It's been a good truck to me and I've driven it across the country and I love it. The 4x4 setup is just awesome too! But my favorite feature about the truck is the vinyl floor. It's stupid easy to clean. Good luck with your new truck and thanks for watching.
Maybe just put a bypass switch on the grill shutters
. I have a 2017, 4x4, quad cab pentastar, use it for work, large side tool boxes, ladder rack , awesome mpg, and super comfortable. Yeah they need better fabrics on the seats. Rear camera should be standard, and blue tooth for your phone...
best trucks are basic 4x4 with largest engine available
If this truck was bigger, I would've gone with the HEMI V8. I do agree with what you said though.
Truth is politics forced the fuel economy need and this are the reason for the active grill shutters. The shutter delete kits are out there and cheap.
Nice job on wheels like to try it myself also how black out grill
Gilbert Quick, thank you for watching the video. I used Plasti Dip to cover the chrome badges on the front and back of my truck. Really easy to do.
Motor IS designed to run HOTTER on highway, as a HOT motor with cooler GAS = More MPG
Doug Williams , I agree with you. But I start to cringe when the temperature rises on the highway in the summer.
Good review.....to the point and informative
I drove a 2019 classic and it had a lot of road noise with the vinyl flooring. Do you notice it as well specifically in the rain? Also the back end felt very bouncy if that makes sense.
The road noise for me is pretty good overall. My ride is very bouncy because of my tires which are E-load rated. Very stiff sidewalls which make it super bouncy when it’s unloaded.
Did you have to sand rims before painting? I've really been wanting to do a very similar paint scheme on mine. Mine truck is a 2017 8ft bed.
Bradley Peoples , nice. I wish I had bought one with an 8’ bed. Just couldn’t find one in time. Yes, I sanded the rims and the center caps. Then I painted them with satin black spray paint. The paint is ACE Hardware’s premium enamel. Still holding up fine after 4 years. I didn’t use any primer either. Also, the factory silver that I left around the outside of the rim is starting to rust through. I might fix it, or I might just let it be. Good luck with your truck.
@@91rattoyota Awesome thank you! Yeah my rims are already showing signs of rust to. That's just from when they balanced wheels and messed up on the weights and peeled the paint. Shouldn't be too hard to fix. Thank you so much for responding I have been going back and forth on just getting new rooms or paint and I'm definitely painting now that I see these. Thank you
Bradley Peoples , no problem. I try to respond as quickly as I can. Right now I’m going through some training to become a National Weather Service SKYWARN storm spotter. So it’s taking up some of my time. Sanding the rim was easy, it was prepping the center cap that was more challenging. I ended up sanding what I could by hand, and then I used a stainless steel wire brush to get the harder to get to areas (like the RAM head). Then I cleaned all of the surfaces with some rubbing alcohol, taped off the rims, and then painted them. It took me about 4 hours or so from start to finish.
Im getting the same truck soon with an 8ft bed. 2017. hows the reliability and functions so far
Hey there, sorry for the late response.......been busy at home. So yeah, awesome to hear that you're about to buy one. I love my truck (I still own it)! It has been pretty reliable so far. The only issues that I've had with it so far is a couple of front wheel bearings that went bad, and the o-rings underneath the oil filter housing went bad (kind of annoying and a pain to replace). Other than that.....it's been a fantastic truck and the 4x4 system is basically bulletproof. I've taken this truck across the country doing all types of work and it has performed very, very well for me. My truck is about to hit 200,000 miles and is still pulling strong. Good luck with your purchase and hopefully your truck will do good for you too.
@@91rattoyota Thanks for the reply. I have the truck now. Love it
@@bsauce1346 Awesome news!!!!!! Thank you for checking out my video as well. Good luck with your truck and let me know if you have any other questions about it.
It’s Aug. 2023 …you still have this beauty ?
Yes I do! A few others have been asking about this truck so I'm going to make an updated video of it soon. Thanks for checking in on this.
Hi there, the new review video on this same truck is finally done and uploaded. Thanks for watching!!
2:30 - most antifreeze doesn't boil until 260°F to 280°F
Nice truck sir
Rob H. , thank you! It’s done me pretty good so far. I’ve now got about 79k miles on it now. It’s got a few small issues, but nothing serious.
91rattoyota I’ve been thinking about a 2007 Ford Fusion know anything about reliability?
I like Ram 1500 Classic 5.7 Hemi....
Love Ford trucks too
I just like trucks,
Go get one
Kelly Joplin , I hear you. I’m a true car guy. If it catches my attention and I like it, then so be it. I’m not biased when it comes to vehicles of any kind. If it has an engine, chances are that I will like it.
How did you remove the 1500 designations on both entry doors? I'd like to take mine off but concerned I may damage the paint.
I used fishing line to separate the badges from the double sided tape. Then I just rolled the double sided tape off with my fingers (which was kind of a pain), and any residue that was left over was removed with a little gasoline on a soft rag. Then I gave the truck a bath, dried it, and then waxed the whole truck. It didn't hurt one little ounce of the paint, and it makes it look soooooo much cleaner. Oh, and if you're planning on removing your badges, do it on a warmer day (makes it easier to remove the tape). Some people use heat guns to remove theirs, but I would not suggest doing that as it may damage the paint job.
@@91rattoyota Thanks for the info! I'll give it a whirl once the temp goes up.
@@greco2189 Thanks!
There is a Express/Tradesman for sale near me that is grey with all the chrome (which I dont mind personally) but it has the Hemi and the 4x4. But this video gave me some pretty sweet insight into what one of these trucks are gonna be like to own. So thanks for the informative video.
Alex . . . , no problem! I can’t say that all RAM 1500’s will be like mine. It depends on the cab/chassis size, engine, and ultimately what kind of tires are on the truck. Mine rides rough because of the size of my truck, engine, and the fact that I have E load rated tires. They’re awesome trucks for sure. But had I realized just how mine was going to ride in the future, I probably would have stepped up to a bigger truck with different tires. Thanks for watching my video.
Alex . . . , also, I love the HEMI. It’s a great engine, but would have been a little too much in my size truck. The 3.6 has been awesome for me since I don’t always have a trailer behind me. I think if I do buy another RAM 1500 it will have the HEMI in it.
91rattoyota Thank you for that info brother. I’m going actually today to look at two trucks, one being a ram and one being a Chevy. I love the smooth ride of the Chevy but the ram has that awesome hemi. I’m keeping an open mind and trying not to be brand biased because either way I want the best truck possible. At least your video was helpful and informative towards the dodge side. Too many Chevy fanboys around here! Lol
Alex . . . , I hear you man! I’m not biased at all myself. I am a true car guy. If it catches my attention and interest, I’m down with it. I looked at GM trucks too, but I just feel like they’re a little overpriced for what you get, and they’re crash tests didn’t come out on top. That’s where Ford and RAM succeeded. Good luck with whatever you buy man!
I hear the 5.7 l and especially V6 more reliable
Brennan Martini, both engines are very reliable. But I would say that if you’re looking for more towing capacity and torque, go with the 5.7. If you’re looking for something to just get you around and maybe haul something or tow something from time to time, then the 3.6 V6 will probably work just fine for you. Go test drive both of the engines and see what works for you and your wallet.
91rattoyota thanks. Yea whatever deal I find that’s better. I’m okay with both and I love that hemi. I just put pressure wash equipment in the back trunk cause I pressure wash time to time so V6 is still great too. I hear the hemi 5.7L gets 17high 25city. How does your V6 do on gas ?
Brennan Martini, my truck gets around 19 city and about 24 highway. It could possibly be better but I do have a bit of a lead foot, and my truck has quite a few tools in it. For what I do with the truck, I think my next truck will have a V8 for sure. There have been many times where I needed the extra torque and towing capacity. And my wife wants a bigger cab, which I really don’t want. I would rather get an 8’ bed instead.
Brennan Martini, also.........don’t expect those mpg numbers right away, especially if you’re buying a new truck. Those numbers are based on when the engine is fully broken in and the engine well maintained. I’ve now got 115,000 miles, and after I did a tuneup at 100k the fuel economy went up considerably on my truck.
91rattoyota nice. Thanks for info imma be getting one in about 3weeks
The the tradesman have the same size bed as the express?
All the beds are the same across all of the models. What changes the size of the bed is based on the type of truck cab you have. The bigger the cab the smaller the bed.
How much did you buy it for?
Out of the door, less than $30k. And I still own this truck with 206k miles on it now. Still going strong.
Nice truck don't care for ags wish mine didn't have it
Nice truck
Auto Trimmers , thank you!
on intro show the whole vehicle 360 before going to zoom in
Sorry, I didn’t do a full 360 because I didn’t blank out my license plate. I will next time though.
How did you paint the wheels with
BGKO1992, I used a satin black enamel paint from Ace Hardware. It’s their own paint brand, and I’ve been using their paint for well over 20 years. I highly recommend it. If you’re asking me how I did it, I simply sanded the inner part of the wheels as well as the center caps, cleaned them up with some alcohol. Then I taped off the outer rim with short pieces of tape, and then I painted the wheels and the center caps. Mine has held up for over 4 years now without any problems of paint flaking off.
only reason I wont buy a dodge is that gear selector, give me a column shifter
It's not on all of the RAM trucks. It depends on which transmission you choose. I know that almost all (if not all) 2500's and up use the column shifter. I wasn't sure if I would like it myself, but I have come to love it over time. I would personally rather have a manual tranny, but that's not an option anymore in the 1500's.
If it's a 14 and up they came with the 8 speed electronic transmission. Column is 13 and down 6 speed.