Pics of my 2001 Ram Wagon

[Mazdax605]

I know you guys like pics,so I posted some on my website for you guys to see.It isn't anything fancy,and it is dirty,but you get the idea.

http://web.mac.com/cdirado/iWeb/Diradosite/Dodge%20Van.html

Chris
2001 Ram Wagon 2500 HD 8 passenger
1979 Mazda RX-7 GS
1974 Mazda REPU
2001 Jayco Kiwi 23B hybrid travel trailer

[van-nut]

Thanks for posting them, Chris. I think the red is probably the best looking color.

Pete

[dodges 3]

Ah, red is nice, but I will stick with my blue....

Good looking van though...

[stev]

Wow, your van and mine look nearly identical except for the color. Mine is dark green.
Is your's a 12-passenger or a regular 8 with plenty of storage in the back?

And yes, from an ealier question, the Roadmaster Active Suspension works great on these vans. Not just for towing, but by keeping the van from tilting/leaning on the expressway ramps and any sudden quick turns.

[landyacht318]

Nice ride, wish mine had paint worth waxing.
With all the towing you do, you've got an xtra tranny cooler right?
I learned the hard, expensive way. Having mine go out in Santa Barbara was very unfortunate. $2850 worth of unfortune. Still hurts 5 years later.

[RAM MAN]

you have the larger version of mine

;)

love the single back door, I should have kept searching for one when I was in the market

[Dodgevanman]

Nice van! I like the single door as well. Someday I might like to convert my '94 over to a single door.

And I see you have the "shin buster" rear bumper. ;)

[Mazdax605]

Thanks guys,

To answer some questions.I don't have a extra heavy duty trans cooler,but there is a pretty decent sized one from the factory on the van allready.It does have the "shin buster" step bumper which I really like.My van is an 8 passenger van that I removed the front seat from for now to give the kids in the car seat some added leg room,and allow for storage in front,and behind the rear seat.It works out pretty good so far.

I don't however like the big rear door on this van.I wanted the double doors,and now that I have the van I sort of wish it had the slider on the side.My company van has the slider,and I think I prfer that to the doors,which is counter to what I always thought growing up with my father always having vans for work,and him fighting with the sliders.I have not had any trouble with the slider on my work van,and it seems more convenient to load kids,and such with the door sliding out of the way instead of swinging.Do you think I could replace the big rear door with a set of double doors? I would have to give up the rear defroster,and maybe the power lock on that door,but I think this big door is a pain in the butt.

I like the red,and all,but I would have prefered a blue,or green van,but I was on a budget,and this one seemed to be the newest van I could afford for my money with the least amount of mileage,and needed little to no work compared to the Fords,and GM vans I was looking at,and prefered to the Dodges at the time.The Dodge was my thrid choice,but I think I made a good one.I have been a dodge owner for many years,and like them,but after driving my 98 work van it seemed they were on the small side compared to the competition.I also like the full frame the others offered,but I ended up with this one anyway.I am not regretting my decision though,I do love the van.Thanks for the replies.

I guess the van needs a good washing,and maybe a buffing to bring the the paint back to life.It is very oxidized,and dull,but I think it can be fixed.

Chris

[van-nut]

Mines also got that same step bumber - and I also like it. Don't pay any attention to Nate - he's just jealous of our nice shiney chrome step bumpers. :thatfunny

On the topic of converting the rear single door to double doors, it's probably do-able, although I'm not sure how easy it would be. If you get serious about doing it and need any nice close up pics posted and/or measurements of the double door set up, feel free to ask.

Oh, and about that "unibody" frame - that was a huge turn off for me when I was shopping for my van. But now that I've had it for 4 years, I have no complaints at all. There really is a pretty beefy full frame under it, it's just all welded to the floor pan. Dodge claims less weight, greater strength, and less squeeks and rattles with this design, and I believe it.

Pete

[RAM MAN]

I can tell you from experience that (at least for me) the side sliding door is a royal pain in the butt

I'm sure its nicer to get passengers in and out of in tight parking spaces, but I've had to have mine adjusted several times because its hard to close (tight)

I measured once, and my double doors are the same size opening as your single door

I'm just not sure how a you could go about converting them though ...

keep us posted, sounds like a cool project

[van-nut]

I was looking at a brand spankin' new '03 model on the dealers lot back when it was new, and it had a side slider which didn't want to close right. :o

Pete

[Mazdax605]

Hey Ram Man I really like the look of the shorty van. It reminds me of my first ever truck,a 1988 Dodge Ram 150 2wd short bed regular cab 5 speed.It had that same fire engine red paint,and with the short wheelbase it looked really cool.Looks wise I like the shorty better,but with me towing I needed the wheelbase. I was actaully looking at the long wheelbase GM vans,that had a 155" wheelbase I think.They were huge,but I bet they tow great.I actually wish Dodge had a longer wheelbase van,I know they have the really long 15 passenger vans,but the wheelbase is the same as mine.

Hey let me ask you guys something.I was looking at my brothers 96 2500 ram van cargo van today(he has it stored at my house for the last 2 years),and it only has 5 lug wheels unlike my 2500 that has the 8 lugs wheels.Is this just because it is a cargo van,or is it because it is a different generation(interior wise)?Is there anything that can swap from his van to mine?Thanks in advance.

Chris

[Mad Joe]

Don't know about the newer vans, but back in the 70s, eight lugs is what you got on a 1 ton and 5 lugs is what came on a 3/4 and 1/2 ton.

I would also imagine with those rear gears that you've got, it pulls pretty good, but probably uses the gas pretty well. I once had a '75 1 ton that had 410 gears and no overdrive and that puppy only got 9mph on the highway. At 70 mph I was turning about 3700 rpms. Didn't drive the thing any faster than 70.

[stev]

Nope, you can get a B2500 with the HD suspension and have 8-lug wheels. Even the tire size is 1" larger in diameter too. I'm running on my B2500 LT225/75R16's 8-lug wheels. ;)

There was a change back in 1998 and new that other options could be had. :)

[Dodgevanman]

Around 98 the GVW rating was upped on the 1500 models to what the old B250 rating used to be. That's why you see 98-03 conversion vans built on the 1500 chassis.

The 2500 rating was also upped hence the 8-lug wheels on 3/4 ton vans.

[dodges 3]

From what I've seen on my van, it has provisions for double doors, in the back. There is an area cut out where the second door hinges would bolt too. You would just have to make the slot for the hinge to go through.