Am I 2ed Gen or 3rd Gen.

[motovate]

Just found this Forum. I have a 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 2WD. I have always thought - since 2008 when I got the truck that it was a 2ed Gen. 3 months ago (OCT 6, 21) I was backed into on the RS of the bed at a Grocery store parking lot and for those 3 months the Insurance company has not been able to fix the panel or get a bed. I saw here where 3rd Gens start with 2002! It was such a shock that I completely blanked on how long the 3rd Gen Ran. 2002 - to when???? We have been looking for decent 1994 - 2002 beds which are very rare and not looking beyond that. Until I found a 2003 bed and I have been trying to find out if it would fit on a Gen 2 2002 8' frame.

So can anyone please do some explaining to me. Was there any difference in the mounting positions on 2002, 2003 or later 8'beds????? At this point I don't care if it is 2002 OEM or if there is some external differences in the beds. I just want to get it fixed.

Thank you

 

[392DevilDog]

Just found this Forum. I have a 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 2WD. I have always thought - since 2008 when I got the truck that it was a 2ed Gen. 3 months ago (OCT 6, 21) I was backed into on the RS of the bed at a Grocery store parking lot and for those 3 months the Insurance company has not been able to fix the panel or get a bed. I saw here where 3rd Gens start with 2002! It was such a shock that I completely blanked on how long the 3rd Gen Ran. 2002 - to when???? We have been looking for decent 1994 - 2002 beds which are very rare and not looking beyond that. Until I found a 2003 bed and I have been trying to find out if it would fit on a Gen 2 2002 8' frame.

So can anyone please do some explaining to me. Was there any difference in the mounting positions on 2002, 2003 or later 8'beds????? At this point I don't care if it is 2002 OEM or if there is some external differences in the beds. I just want to get it fixed.

Thank you

2002 2500 is still a 2nd gen

2002 1500 is a 3rd gen.

2003 is the first year for a 2500 3rd gen

 

[motovate]

Thanks.
OK guess I was OK there. What about bed fitting? Different mounting points??? I don't care if it doesn't 2002 OEM.

 

[392DevilDog]

As far as bed mounts...i am guessing they are different.

The 2nd Gen and 3rd Gens share nothing. Frame is different axles are different cabs and beds are different.

But I would venture to guess...mounting points would be close...but body limes would not.

The short beds are completely different though. 94 to 2001/02 shortbeds are longer than 2002/03 to 2008/09 short beds.

Where the bed meets the cab is different also.

I have a 99 and a 03 so if need be I can snap pics tomorrow to show the difference at the cab

 

[392DevilDog]

Well...never mind...i guess they both sit back from the cab...i thought the 3rd gen sat up closer too it and curved...but guess that is the 4th Gen.

Your idea might just work

 

[motovate]

Thanks. I'm Soooo Confuseddddd

 

[392DevilDog]

If you look at the back of the cab and front of the bed. The 2nd gen (red truck) is straight up and down. Now look at the 4th gen(white truck) see how the back of the cab/front of the bed is curved.

I thought my 3rd gen had the curve too. But it is straight like the 2nd gen.

So a 3rd gen to a 2nd gen might just work. Depending on the width of the frames. You could probably make the mounts work.

 

[GTyankee]

When a 1500 changes generations, which is a body change
the Heavy Duty models change the next year

like:
in 2009 Ram 1500s there was a major body change, 4th Generation
In 2010 Ram Heavy Duty made the same body change

In 2002 Ram 1500s, they made a body style change , 3rd Generation
In 2003 ram heavy duty made that same change

So your 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 is a 2nd Generation body style


Bed panels

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[motovate]

Thanks. So the rest of the story. Oct 6 , 21 truck was backed into the right side in front of the wheel well.My truck sat at a body shop for 5+ weeks while they and the Insurance company were supposed to be looking for a (1) right side panel. I went and got my truck at that point - 2 -100 mile round trips to haul it there and go get it. They could not find a panel any where so they started looking for a good bed - at least that is what the told me. I also started trying to find a panel and then a bed because it became clear to me that after 2 weeks of them not finding anything the basically just dropped the ball and the insurance company quit answering my emails direct to the company. I did find a lot of places that had full panels advertised but all of them were out of stock. LMC Truck is showing the full panel I need as back ordered. I got fed up and started trying to get to someone higher up in the company to complain about them not even answering the emails I set them - on their company email system. I looked @ Raybuck and find a bunch of panels that would have to be welded in. That might work if the "new" body shop would do that work.

Now I had understood from earlier searches on different forums that Gen 2 was from 1994 to 2002. and any bed would work 1500, 2500, 3500. Now I understand that 2002 1500 changed to Gen 3. But 2001 back 1500 would fit if I /they found a 1500 full panel, or all of the panel pieces or a bed. Also what I think I found that the early 1994, 95??? bed tail gates were smaller then the later gen 2 models - not sure on the date break there. But I think I/they need to be careful if I want to use my tail gate - which is OK. I did make enough noise to get their attention after 3 almost 3 months. So just before Christmas they did start in earnest to get this taken care of --- but the adjuster doesn't really know Dodges and we are not having any luck finding a bed & they keep mumbling the want to total my truck for a $3000 or less repair. I won't stand for that. Christmas and New years slow it down so I'm essentially I'm on hold until after the 1st. Unless I find something between Monday and probably Thursday. So all this info is very helpful. Thanks again. LBM

 

[motovate]

Well it looks like I may be getting a bed. Body guy found a good one, Insurance company OK'ed it & started the payment process. Insurance said it was on the way today. Body guy said there was some kind of issue. Seller was going to deliver it for free in Phoenix area but it needs to go north 75 miles or so to Prescott and seller needs another $200 for shipping that far. Someone needs to talk to someone and be sure it is rolling. I'll believe it when it gets to the body guy.

 

[GTyankee]

Heck, 75 miles times 2 = 150 miles
2 hours & 15 minutes at 70 mph

google says;

2 hr 21 min (123.6 mi) via AZ-89 N

 

[motovate]

OK so you are assuming an awful lot. 89N doesn't run directly to Phoenix from or to Prescott. 89 has curves bumps stops and starts and there is no way you or anyone else could average 70 mph on 89. Shop is north of Prescott but you have to weave yourself around through bumper to bumper traffic in Prescott to get to it. The bed is some where in Phoenix so to bring it North they have to weave around that mess to get on 17 before they can get close to 70 mph - there is at least one pass that is real steep and all truck traffic has to go to the far right and slow down until the get over the top. for awhile then the have to turn off on 69 which is just about the same as 89 so they won't be averaging 70 mph. That is the quickest way but not the only way to get from point A to point B The distance is close but doesn't take into place that neither place is in the middle of either place and both of them are on the outskirts. As usual google is out to lunch and there are things on a flat map or a bunch of pixles that are just not forseen - until you are there. But it is at least 55 miles closer to the body shop then if they had to deliver it to my place North of Prescott where you have to make a couple of tight turns in town, go across a couple of cattle guards and down about 4 miles of good dirt road to get here. Still I am happy if /when it gets there.