Dodge Ram Changes, 1995-2000
In 1995, the Club Cab, with front and folding rear seats, an extended frame, and swing-out quarter windows, was added as customer tastes started to move towards big cabs.
In 1998, the Quad Cab™ body style was the first extended-cab pickup truck in the industry to feature four doors.
According to engineer "JTE," the 1998 Quad Cab's "suicide doors were designed to access the rear seat without having to mess with existing floors, roofs, frames, shafts, lines etc. After the Quad Cab proved popular, a few forward thinkers proposed extending the cab and shortening the cargo box 100mm to provide for a b pillar swing. An A/B buck was built with B pillar swing on one side and c pillar swing on the other, shown all over, loved by everyone. We even brought in a dirt bike to check fit, hence the term 6' box became 'short box' so we could salvage components common to the 140" wheelbase." This "true four door" was launched as part of the
2002 refresh.
In 1999, four-wheel antilock brakes were made standard on the Ram 3500; and the Sport Appearance Group was upgraded (it included the front bumper, front fascia, grille, and quad headlamps). Redesigned overhead consoles with and without a trip computer were added; power windows were upgraded; the headlamps were moved to a rotary switch; the JTEC computer was upgraded for added diagnostic capabilities; the odometer and trip odometer were switched to a digital system; and radio controls could be added to the steering wheel.
1999 was the fifth consecutive year the Dodge Ram was named the "Most Appealing Full-Size Pickup" by J.D Power and Associates.
In 2000, with the next generation on its way, the all important Dodge pickup lost the Ram 1500 Club Cab with eight foot box, and the Ram 2500 Club Cab models; there were new trailer towing mirrors (folding, flag mounted) and new colors. Inside, the SLT+ group with Quad Cab models got unique leather seats and numerous creature comforts including steering-wheel radio controls, four wheel antilock brakes, aluminum wheels, trip computer, and heated seats.
www.allpar.com
