Cabin Air Filter

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neilnoff

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My 2016 RAM 1500 does not have the CAF, but as many have done on the forum I have a kit on order and will be making the mod. My question is that if this is so important and helps with reducing interior dust, preventing a lot of debris from getting to the condensor unit, etc., why the heck didn't it come standard from the factory? $20 for the mod is not big deal and RAM probably saved $5 per unit by not putting it in, but seems pretty chicken sh** to me that they cheaped out.
 

Nicholas Cove

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My 2016 RAM 1500 does not have the CAF, but as many have done on the forum I have a kit on order and will be making the mod. My question is that if this is so important and helps with reducing interior dust, preventing a lot of debris from getting to the condensor unit, etc., why the heck didn't it come standard from the factory? $20 for the mod is not big deal and RAM probably saved $5 per unit by not putting it in, but seems pretty chicken sh** to me that they cheaped out.
They're kind of a new thing for domestics. My truck is the first vehicle I've owned WITH a cabin filter.
 

Rado

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All they care about is the almighty buck ! Did the mod on my 2015 not long after I got it!
Seeing the crap it catches I am glad I did it !
Like you said it is a cheap mod but BS that it was not done at the factory !
I heard some 2017 maybe 18s had the cover bit no CAF lol
 

crash68

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The early '16 builds didn't have the cabin air filter door, the later '16 builds came with the door but it wasn't till the '17s that an air filter was included.
Practically everything with what is on a vehicle is profit vs customer demand based. If the manufacturer thinks a certain included feature will "pay for itself" in added sales it will be included.
 

turkeybird56

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The early '16 builds didn't have the cabin air filter door, the later '16 builds came with the door but it wasn't till the '17s that an air filter was included.
Practically everything with what is on a vehicle is profit vs customer demand based. If the manufacturer thinks a certain included feature will "pay for itself" in added sales it will be included.
Just like the missing full rear wheel well liners, only doing 1/2 liners on the back, a way to save like $70 on each vehicle. My thought, why not just include and charge for it.
 

Jerrybob

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They work well and most people have the dealer change them out for $100+......dealers are making a killing on a $8 filter that you can change out yourself in less than 5 minutes.
 

BuschLatte420

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BuschLatte420

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Rlaf75

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My 11 didn't have it so I did the mod and it's totally worth the $20. My 21 came with it. I checked it at about 8 months of ownership and it was already nasty.
 

JustaTradesman

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Mine has a CAF. I replaced the factory filter with a K&N. I should probably check it and see if it needs cleaned.
 

turkeybird56

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$70- bucks on how many vehicles. Do the math from their perspective.
I got you, but do reverse math. Put on all vehicles and charge for it, comes out the same. Just a saying.
 

blackbetty14

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gotta look at it like its not $70 for the manufacture... say $70 for the material, plus inventory costs, shipping larger/heavier items, added fastners, time on the assembly line yadda yadda... might be $70 but they will charge you $300 for it. Any additional costs could deter future truck buyers and even if they lose a very low percentage of buyers on the fence that adds up. If you look at what Weathertech charges for thin plastic floor liners you could probably expect at minimum the same costs for the two wheel liners. Your likely to sell more vehicles at a lower price and those people who really want full liners would pay for them after if they really want them.

I just changed my 2018s cabin air filter (factory) with almost 50k on it and it wasn't that dirty... I'll try to find a pic of it. Car is outside 100% of the time and I was expecting more honestly. I did do a fram carbon filter as it got really good reviews and takes 2 min to swap out. My co worker has a 2010 and it didn't have the filter... about a year ago he had to pull the whole thing out as the unit was clogged with all the $hit that the filter would have caught. But for me... this is the first vehicle I've owned with a cabin air filter... my 2014 didn't have one either.
 

Jerrybob

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My 11 didn't have it so I did the mod and it's totally worth the $20. My 21 came with it. I checked it at about 8 months of ownership and it was already nasty.
It is amazing how much crud is in that filter.....wonder what I am breathing in my shop? Don't want to know.....LOL!
 

jimboschnitz

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My 2016 Lonestar did not have a filter nor the access door. Had to install the kit and was happy to do it. My 2020 Limited does have it so I'll be changing it annually. As for why it was not standard in previous builds, I agree with previous replies as for it being a new thing. And as Rado said, the almighty dollar speaks in a Capitalistic society so corporations have to provide ROI for their shareholders. If you multiply $5 per vehicle times half a million vehicles produced that's $2.5 million that won't be distributed as dividends to the stock holders.
 
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