Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

[rogerwa]

I am looking at this truck with less than 50K miles and looks real good drives great. All things I have read has said the new gen or RAM trucks are very good. Any personal experience I should know or look for?? Have these been reliable?

My Suburban with the 5.3l powerplant has been awesome over the 170K+ miles I have on it, wondering if these are in a similar category.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

I've got a 2009 Ram crew 2wd Hemi with about 87K on it. It has been a great truck so far.

The main issue with them is the exhaust manifold studs breaking off. There was an RRT for it where they replaced them, but I've got a couple that have broke again. You'll hear it when you start it. The repair is 2-300 if you have to pay someone to do it. Thankfully I've got the lifetime powertrain.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

One more thing - if it is a 4wd and you are one of those guys who insist on "leveling" then plan on front halfshaft noises. They don't like being pucked

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

"03 here with a 5.7 Hemi. Have only replaced the rotors due to rust filling the cooling air pockets. Started it's life in Hawaii then went to New York state. Plenty much power with no complaints. Get an OBDII code reader to avoid any shuckster mechanics.PS: Mines 4x4 and never heard "leveling or pucked" before.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

I have an '04 2500 2WD with a 5.7. LOVE IT. Only issue that I've had is the front wheel bearings ... it's a non-serviceable assembly, and the wheel speed sensor is a real pain in the stern.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

PS: Mines 4x4 and never heard "leveling or pucked" before.

Leveling is when people raise the front end to make it even with the back. For some reason a lot of people who don't use their trucks as a truck do it. The 4th gen trucks (09-13), including the engine are quite a bit different than the previous gen trucks.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

Don't understad the leveling thing. I like it when the back is higher. It reminds me of how much stuff I can put in back to level it. Thanks for the feedback, sounds like it is a fairly safe bet. From what I can tell, these are a good value compared to the GM, Ford, Toyota counterparts from a pricing perspective for equivalent capability (don't want to say one is better than the other as that would spark the war).

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

The main issue with them is the exhaust manifold studs breaking off.

This is the first time I've heard of that issue. My main complaint is, the factory front end doesn't have grease fittings. I've had a '99, '05, 07 and 2012. All were new except the '99. All were 2500 4x4s. The '12 being a crew and the rest were quads. The '07s front end went out around 45k. Warranty covered it. My brother has an '07 1500 and his front end went out at 60k.

I can understand why people would want to level them. The front end sits pretty low and rear is jacked up. Similar to Chevys. I don't care for that since the weight of my plow wants to drop the front and take weight of the rear tires. With the new gen RAMs, that problem was enhanced. I have to put 800 - 1000#s at the tailgate to level it when plowing....

Again, my biggest complaint is the lack of zerks. Not sure about the other manufacturers, maybe they're the same....

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

This is the first time I've heard of that issue. My main complaint is, the factory front end doesn't have grease fittings. I've had a '99, '05, 07 and 2012. All were new except the '99. All were 2500 4x4s. The '12 being a crew and the rest were quads. The '07s front end went out around 45k. Warranty covered it. My brother has an '07 1500 and his front end went out at 60k.

I can understand why people would want to level them. The front end sits pretty low and rear is jacked up. Similar to Chevys. I don't care for that since the weight of my plow wants to drop the front and take weight of the rear tires. With the new gen RAMs, that problem was enhanced. I have to put 800 - 1000#s at the tailgate to level it when plowing....

Again, my biggest complaint is the lack of zerks. Not sure about the other manufacturers, maybe they're the same....

The exhaust manifold stud issue is an 09/10 problem. No zerks isn't a new thing.
Now that I'm thinking about it, the other issue with the 09 was a recall for the outer tie rod ends.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

Don't understad the leveling thing. I like it when the back is higher. It reminds me of how much stuff I can put in back to level it. Thanks for the feedback, sounds like it is a fairly safe bet. From what I can tell, these are a good value compared to the GM, Ford, Toyota counterparts from a pricing perspective for equivalent capability (don't want to say one is better than the other as that would spark the war).

I've been very happy with mine, no more issues than any other truck I've had and they sure ride nice with the coils in the back. It takes a 2 up snowmobile in the bed to level my truck, which is perfect.

 

[Splat]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

Have a 07 crew cab here. Love mine.

Don't even need a code reader, turn truck off, open and close drivers door to turn everything off, cycle the ignition on then off 3 times ending in on, and codes will display on the odometer.

 

[Splat]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

The other thing I learned with the MDS system is just drive the truck. I used to worry about being super easy on the gas to save fuel, it would cause the MDS to kick in and out a lot. Once I got used to it and just drove it normal the MDS is a pleasure to have and the truck really isn't bad on fuel considering what's under the hood.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

Have a 07 crew cab here. Love mine.

07 crewcab? Quad cab maybe?

 

[Splat]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

Yea that too. Whatever the hell dodge calls it Lol

 

[Volphin]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

I've got an 01 Durango that is just for towing the boats. So far I have 80K on her and she has not given me any real issues. She's putting out more than the Hemi's though... I upgraded her 5.9L engine to a heavily modified 408.

And if that one goes, I'm putting in a 5.9L diesel. Mooo hahahaha!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

Yea that too. Whatever the hell dodge calls it Lol

09 is the first year for a crewcab in the 1500. You can still get a quad cab now too, but that is all they had before 09

 

[dolluper]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

Yep codes off key flip....pricey tune-ups,lower end bearings usually knocks ...sounds like spark knock,rockers and box rust out get dirty and check real well,bad rear brakes and axles,poor gas mileage,plus terrible wiring......great dral ifin you have money to burn or drive 5000 miles a year

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

^^^^^ Never experienced any of those issues....

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

09 is the first year for a crewcab in the 1500. You can still get a quad cab now too, but that is all they had before 09

Same for 2500? Never knew what to call it. (Quad or crew)

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Looking at 2009 Ram 1500 Crew cab 5.7l hemi

Same for 2500? Never knew what to call it. (Quad or crew)

No idea on those. Easy way to tell is that a quad cab has little doors in the back, crew has doors about the same size as the fronts.