2013+ Upgrades correct me if I am wrong

magician · Dec 2, 2016

12sportmc said:
No worries man. Here's another sweet pic to get your bearings lol

And I'm in NC.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm I not Fort Mill SC just outside of Charlotte. Good to know your not far.

00R/T · Dec 2, 2016

Just to follow up on some things that were said here. It's not a hard and fast rule that the lower trim level trucks have completely different t harnesses everywhere.

My truck is a '13 1500 Express regular cab. It was pretty basic and even had the RA1 radio. However, the interior was wired for pretty much everything I've attempted to add - heated/cooled seats, heated steering wheel, power inverter, etc.

So far I've successfully added a lot of factory options. I'm going to try to tackle auto temp controls next.

THETANK · Dec 2, 2016

Just being honest here so do not kill me with the following question (please lol) With the price of the parts needed, the hours of labour (you or a tech, hey time is money after al) which would be cheaper, ordering a loaded truck or the route you are about to take. I hope your project treats you right and all goes well. Cheers.

12sportmc · Dec 3, 2016

THETANK said:
Just being honest here so do not kill me with the following question (please lol) With the price of the parts needed, the hours of labour (you or a tech, hey time is money after al) which would be cheaper, ordering a loaded truck or the route you are about to take. I hope your project treats you right and all goes well. Cheers.

Lol. I had the same though before I bought my Express. When I add it up with all the things I have done plus the cost of my truck I'm still cheaper than a long horn much less a Laramie lol. It might be cheaper for the not so mechanically inclined that is very true. For me personally, I love doing things like this and so the time spent really isn't a factor for me and I'm an Avi Tech by trade so wiring is super easy lol. Now my future truck when my wife takes this one from me(it's bad , every week I find myself driving the minivan more and more [emoji30]) will be a 2500. Not sure if I'll go the same route on that one or not.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

12sportmc · Dec 3, 2016

magician said:
I'm I not Fort Mill SC just outside of Charlotte. Good to know your not far.

Hoping this is bc you've got some running boards you wanna trade me lol. And why not drop that in here....hey all got some sweet Westin Gen X side steps I'm looking to sell or trade. Check it out in the classifieds[emoji2]. But ya man I'm within a drive for you if you run into snags on your mods

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

magician · Dec 3, 2016

THETANK said:
Just being honest here so do not kill me with the following question (please lol) With the price of the parts needed, the hours of labour (you or a tech, hey time is money after al) which would be cheaper, ordering a loaded truck or the route you are about to take. I hope your project treats you right and all goes well. Cheers.

As far as the money and price for all the add ones compared to buying a loaded truck, personally I'd rather not pay for all the options for 4 or 5 years of financing and like 12sportmc said, I'm an engineering tech with extensive mechanical skills plus a lot of automotive in my background since I love to tinker. I've never had a vehicle that I didn't try to upgrade.

I have one other bonus at this time, my work truck is a 2016 RAM 2500 Power Wagon so a lot of what it has is where I'm heading with my Express.

00R/T · Dec 3, 2016

For me, I could not find a regular cab truck with a lot of bells and whistles. The Sport is the only trim level that has a bunch in regular cab, and the closest one was close to 500 miles away. The truck I ended up buying was close, priced right, and in great shape. I won't end up saving a lot, but I do really enjoy going this stuff. If you're paying someone else to do it and are trying to do it to save money, you're better off just shelling out the cash out front.

The other thing for me is that I was able to minimize how much money I put out up front. Instead, I now spend money little by little when I have extra in the toy fund.

THETANK · Dec 3, 2016

magician said:
As far as the money and price for all the add ones compared to buying a loaded truck, personally I'd rather not pay for all the options for 4 or 5 years of financing and like 12sportmc said, I'm an engineering tech with extensive mechanical skills plus a lot of automotive in my background since I love to tinker. I've never had a vehicle that I didn't try to upgrade.

I have one other bonus at this time, my work truck is a 2016 RAM 2500 Power Wagon so a lot of what it has is where I'm heading with my Express.

the only reason I asked the question would be this, I have always bought lets say the upper type models as I do not have the skill set to complete most of the conversions. My Pops tried to teach me back in the 70's but rather than hanging out with him I was more into sports and chasing the ladies. My older brother was the opposite of me and helped/learned from me Pops.

I have been fortunate in so far as financing vehicles, I avoid that like the plague. Ah who knows, maybe in my next life I will be a so called "tinkerer" :happy107:

and Merry Christmas. Oh nice company ride I must admit,

MaizeNBlue · Dec 3, 2016

THETANK said:
which would be cheaper, ordering a loaded truck or the route you are about to take.

Didn't know my wife was on the board

As was said, don't like the idea of paying a lot more for little things for years. And besides the tires I put on, and the 8.4 radio mod, much of the things I have done are pretty reasonable money wise.... $150 for mirriors, $150 for a rear window, $50 for adding the Homelink. Those alone are well over 1k to have a dealer add them. Most of the mods I've done are under $100. I've learned a ton about working on my truck, had fun doing it (mostly), even made a few friends. My truck is different than 99% of the same models out there. There isn't to much of, I wish my truck had this or that, and when that has happened, it now has it. I spent 12 years driving a Dakota, which I never did a thing to, so my new truck is going to be just the way I like it, and even for a lower trim model...it's pretty bad ass

12sportmc · Dec 3, 2016

MaizeNBlue; my new truck is going to be just the way I like it said:
Exactly my logic. My Express was a blank canvas for me to make my own when I had the cash set aside to do it up front. I paid 28 for my truck new OTD. Which I thought was worth it. Had all the basics I needed. 4wd 4doors. Hemi spray in liner and brake controller. Hate the chrome clads it came with but those will be gone soon. So all in all I'm happy with my choice. Again not for everyone but I have a huge toolbox in my garage , all the wiring tools I could ever need, and 3 boys to teach how to take care of their own vehicles so they don't get taken advantage of later in life by dealerships or mechs. Win win in my book [emoji41]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mpgrimm2 · Dec 3, 2016

Deleted double post

magician · Dec 3, 2016

12sportmc said:
Exactly my logic. My Express was a blank canvas for me to make my own when I had the cash set aside to do it up front. I paid 28 for my truck new OTD. Which I thought was worth it. Had all the basics I needed. 4wd 4doors. Hemi spray in liner and brake controller. Hate the chrome clads it came with but those will be gone soon. So all in all I'm happy with my choice. Again not for everyone but I have a huge toolbox in my garage , all the wiring tools I could ever need, and 3 boys to teach how to take care of their own vehicles so they don't get taken advantage of later in life by dealerships or mechs. Win win in my book [emoji41]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Let me know what you want for the chrome clads. Mine came with painted 20's. Most say they look perfect with the silver stripes I put on it but have a thing for chrome and the fad of murdering everything has to come to an end soon?

12sportmc · Dec 3, 2016

magician said:
Let me know what you want for the chrome clads. Mine came with painted 20's. Most say they look perfect with the silver stripes I put on it but have a thing for chrome and the fad of murdering everything has to come to an end soon?

PM'd. Maybe we can work some Christmas magic lol

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

THETANK · Dec 3, 2016

12sportmc said:
Exactly my logic. My Express was a blank canvas for me to make my own when I had the cash set aside to do it up front. I paid 28 for my truck new OTD. Which I thought was worth it. Had all the basics I needed. 4wd 4doors. Hemi spray in liner and brake controller. Hate the chrome clads it came with but those will be gone soon. So all in all I'm happy with my choice. Again not for everyone but I have a huge toolbox in my garage , all the wiring tools I could ever need, and 3 boys to teach how to take care of their own vehicles so they don't get taken advantage of later in life by dealerships or mechs. Win win in my book [emoji41]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not sure were you are located but north of the 49th vehicles generally are quite a bit more expensive, having said that my R/T had a msrp of 45,400.00 and out the door I paid them cash in the amount of 34,800.00 which i think is a great price. As far as mechanics/dealerships not all are crooks and even though i do not turn a wrench I feel like I have not been taken advantage of for at least 25 years. The dealer I use treats me great (I assume it's all the business I give them) although I have no doubt many do indeed get run over. Education is the key and it's easy for me to read/research.

I will admit that there can be some advantages to a person purchasing the Express, years ago Stacey David built an Express including a s/c and it turned out great. Merry Christmas :favorites13:

MaizeNBlue · Dec 4, 2016

Besides ya can't buy this at a dealership

12sportmc · Dec 4, 2016

This [emoji772][emoji772][emoji772][emoji23][emoji23]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

2013+ Upgrades correct me if I am wrong

magician

Senior Member

00R/T

Senior Member

THETANK

Senior Member

12sportmc

Senior Member

12sportmc

Senior Member

magician

Senior Member

00R/T

Senior Member

THETANK

Senior Member

MaizeNBlue

Senior Member

12sportmc

Senior Member

Mpgrimm2

Senior Member

magician

Senior Member

12sportmc

Senior Member

THETANK

Senior Member

MaizeNBlue

Senior Member

Attachments

12sportmc

Senior Member

Similar threads

Latest posts

Staff online

Members online

Forum statistics

Share this page