Ya... from my perspective the HD dodge trucks have been pretty bulletproof since they revised the frame in 03. Aside from ****** U-joints throughout the drive-train I have used, and abused a couple without any dramas lol. I think increasing the GVWR any more is just getting silly since these trucks already haul way more than any normal person should be hauling anyway (not saying I am not guilty of doing this lol).
I always used to like Dodge cause they were simple, less expensive, and reasonably reliable relative to their ford, and Chevy counterparts, but the way they are going now, that is no longer the case.
I have never designed a clutch, but there must be a way to make it work that is reasonable, I just wish they would pursue it as long as they are going to offer a manual transmission, do it right instead of copping out.
Also, I couldn't care less about the addition of the three link front end, want to explain why it is better than the way it was set up before? I liked the way four mounting points kept it from rotating when I left my front end high and dry, not that it really makes a difference from that perspective. Although I suppose the u-joints in the front drive-line appreciate the decreased deflection.
And an electronic transfer case... right, that is exciting because it saves me from grinding the forks...? Or when I don't care because I need 4wd NOW, I can't have it thanks to an electronic demon that doesn't play nice. Not that it happens very often, but when you go sideways far enough on snow, it's amazing how well a quick shift into 4wd will get you crabbing fast enough to keep your gooseneck from creaming the back corner of your cab. I hope the Borg-Warner transfer case is at least an upgrade compared to what they used to have, although I personally never had a problem with them on an 03, and an 05.
I do appreciate the new DEF system ignoring the low fluid warning, that is about the only major change I care for since that will hopefully get fuel mileage back up to some reasonable numbers, but then again, you could have just cut it off before, and tuned anyway so it makes little difference.