Following truck build.

[BBNtrucks]

Hello all. I have ordered a new truck and have a VON and VIN from the sales manager. I chatted with Ram Cares today and was informed that I can not follow the build progress B,Ba, D, D1, etc... through the stages as in yesteryear. Is this info from Ram correct? I don't want to bother the dealer unnecessarily but I would like to follow my trucks progress.

 

[GTyankee]

What did you order, 1500 or Heavy Duty ?

Well D1 means that they have the parts in inventory & the date & time has been set to Lay the frame on the assembly line
D1 is also called Gateway

Usually the build begins within 2 weeks of gateway
The Ram takes about 16 hours to go through the assembly line
Then the Ram is sent to a Body Vendor, to install the extras that you ordered.

Using your VIN # , you can read your Build Sheet
to find out things like the day that it was built, etc.

FCA RAM

fcacommunity.force.com

 

[BBNtrucks]

I ordered a 1500 Longhorn. Ram Cares would not tell me what stage it is in. The rep I chatted with told me they quit using those build letter designations 5 years ago! That doesn't sound right to me as my order sheet the day of order stated BA-Pending order, so that in itself would lead me to believe the codes are still used. I have to think it is further along now that a VON # and a VIN# have been assigned?

 

[JoeCo]

I ordered a 1500 Longhorn. Ram Cares would not tell me what stage it is in. The rep I chatted with told me they quit using those build letter designations 5 years ago! That doesn't sound right to me as my order sheet the day of order stated BA-Pending order, so that in itself would lead me to believe the codes are still used. I have to think it is further along now that a VON # and a VIN# have been assigned?

Ramcares/chat is useless for this and will either give you generic information or even the incorrect information. They won't give you the status code, despite the system still being in place. The dealer can give you the status codes, just a matter of if they are willing to or not. Some dealers are better than others, seems a good chunk don't want to "waste" time with people once their order is in. Hopefully you have a dealer that's willing to communicate while you wait, otherwise the best you can do for yourself is check for your build sheet and window sticker which will be available to lookup once the truck is being built (build sheet) and then once the truck is in/has completed the vendor install stage and is heading to shipping (window sticker).

Links to each of those:

FCA RAM

fcacommunity.force.com

Window Sticker Lookup by VIN

Use your VIN number to get your Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, FIAT, Genesis, GMC, Hyundai, Jeep, or RAM Window Sticker

windowstickerlookup.com

Von and Vin are both available very early on (Von I think immediately, Vin once the factory accepts the order) so that isn't an indication of any progress (some people have had vins for many many months before finally moving into D1 status). How long ago did you order? I've seen one or two members win the ram lottery and had their trucks built in normal time, but for most (and with the more options you ordered) it seems like you may want to prepare yourself for 3-6 months (hopefully not longer like some buyers).

In short, the dealer is your only hope for getting status codes barring rambot slipping up and letting out a status code, which isn't impossible but highly unlikely. Otherwise keep an eye on those links and keep checking them, especially if your dealer can communicate to you once the truck is in D1. There is also a link somewhere for jeep orders where instead of checking those links you can have them autochecked each day and it will email you once either the build sheet or window sticker are available, works for rams too so if you'd like that I can try to find that as well.

 

[BBNtrucks]

Thanks JoeCo. This is the best and most complete information that I have received. I just ordered the truck 11/15/2021. There are many trucks now showing up on dealer lots. I have been led to believe that the build and delivery times for new customer specked trucks ordered through dealers are getting priority in the build line if the parts are inventoried at the factory. For some reason it may be quicker to settle for an etorque hemi than the regular 5.7. Most of the ones arriving have the etorque. Good to know that my truck will be built in Detroit even if the engine was built in Mexico. Looks like you ordered a nicer truck than I did.I left off the sunroof, technology, and larger fuel tank and 10th anniversary. I ordered Patriot Blue and Black/New Saddle interior.

 

[JoeCo]

Thanks JoeCo. This is the best and most complete information that I have received. I just ordered the truck 11/15/2021. There are many trucks now showing up on dealer lots. I have been led to believe that the build and delivery times for new customer specked trucks ordered through dealers are getting priority in the build line if the parts are inventoried at the factory. For some reason it may be quicker to settle for an etorque hemi than the regular 5.7. Most of the ones arriving have the etorque. Good to know that my truck will be built in Detroit even if the engine was built in Mexico. Looks like you ordered a nicer truck than I did.I left off the sunroof, technology, and larger fuel tank and 10th anniversary. I ordered Patriot Blue and Black/New Saddle interior.

Glad to be able to help, sounds like a nice truck! I had the 4th gen version of the saddle tan/black interior and really loved it, but also fell in love with the 10th anniversary interior when I saw it. The patriot blue is great as well, I'm sure you will enjoy yours once it arrives.

Hopefully for your sake the line you got about new orders being prioritized is correct, however, that might lose ram a ton of sales if they are truly doing that. I'm a member on another ramforum that is dedicated to 5th gen rams, and they have a thread that is tracking member orders for 2022 rams. It has been noticed lately that trucks with much higher vins are being made currently as opposed to lower vin trucks with the same options. This is making quite a few members very upset as they have put their orders in as early as last spring (some not too long after I ordered my 21, and their orders were converted to 22s) and are still in D status. Or even worse, some Canadian members ordered late 2020/early 2021 and are still waiting for their trucks.

So I guess it's a crapshoot but I do think there is some truth to what you were told about newer orders being prioritized, but I'm not sure why they are opting to do that. It's caused a lot of members to order another truck just to see if it will get to D1 quicker than their months old order and of course that may lead to further issues.

Stick around and keep us updated though, I'd like to know what your timeline ends up being and of course I'll speak for us all and say we'd all love to see some pictures when it arrives!

 

[BBNtrucks]

What I meant to say is that the new customer orders being prioritized over builds for dealer lot sales. I can see why those who ordered in the spring would be upset if my or any newer similar order was built first. Could it be that Ram is trying to get the etorques out while they still can? All the new 5.7's on my local lot are eT's. You did finally get your order, right? When did it arrive and how does it suit you so far? I hope that I don't regret ordering the air suspension.

 

[JoeCo]

What I meant to say is that the new customer orders being prioritized over builds for dealer lot sales. I can see why those who ordered in the spring would be upset if my or any newer similar order was built first. Could it be that Ram is trying to get the etorques out while they still can? All the new 5.7's on my local lot are eT's. You did finally get your order, right? When did it arrive and how does it suit you so far? I hope that I don't regret ordering the air suspension.

Oh I see, well hopefully that's the case as well but we have seen some member orders come in within a month or two as well so I assumed that's what they were referring to. Hard to track that kind of thing I guess, from what I know each dealer can handle the listings of their "incoming inventory" however they want to. So it can be confusing knowing which of those incoming are sold orders verse dealer orders for the lot.

As for what will get a truck built faster or not seems like an even bigger crapshoot than order times. Really hard to say, or to try to figure out how they schedule these trucks to go down the line.

I did get mine, I got pretty lucky actually with my timing and also had a good dealer who communicated promptly with me whenever I requested updates (the way it should be, but seems pretty uncommon). When I ordered they gave me an estimate of 10-13 weeks until it arrived at the dealership, and it got there in 11.5 which is still longer than usual but I wasn't complaining. Things have gotten worse since then with order times from what I have seen, so I'm very thankful we ordered when we did. So we've had it since early June and it has been great so far, not a single issue and it suits my family very well. It's my second longhorn and my 4th ram since 2014, but we love the space and luxury of the longhorn trim level (and nice having a choice for something different with the interior colors). I would consider a limited with the blue/white interior, however, I have no want/need for the air suspension so the eliminates that as a possibility for me.

 

[BBNtrucks]

I do not think you have to get the air suspension along with a limited blue/white leather. I just ordered the air as an add on.

 

[JoeCo]

I do not think you have to get the air suspension along with a limited blue/white leather. I just ordered the air as an add on.

If only! I didn't mean to say the air suspension was required with that interior, but it is required (it's standard with no option to delete) with any limited you order in the U.S. In Canada you can order one without, and on the 4th gen limiteds you could get them here in the U.S. without it but not for the 5th gens.

With the longhorn it's still optional thankfully and that's why I've stayed with that trim level, along with the other reasons I mentioned earlier.

Edit: For the 21 model year they renamed the Laramie Longhorn (which didn't make sense because the longhorn was always a trim level above Laramie and equivalent to the Limited) to the Limited Longhorn. This makes more sense to me being that they are equivalent luxury, but it can get a little confusing for talking on forums like this.

 

[727Jay]

Hey BBN,
I ordered a Longhorn last week, sounds a lot like yours. Patriot Blue, black/saddle brown (LOVE that look!). It sounds like we have a little bit of a difference in options though. I wonder if that would matter much in when they’d be built. It going to a dealer in middle TN. They were saying 8-12 weeks, but to take it with a grain of salt.
I chatted just a little bit ago with them online and the gal said it’s in the stage where they are collecting all the parts and whatnot. I’m hoping for some good incentives to come down the pike when it shows up at the dealership.
I‘ll try to keep updates on what I hear if you’d like.
Jay

 

[BBNtrucks]

Opps.

 

[BBNtrucks]

If only! I didn't mean to say the air suspension was required with that interior, but it is required (it's standard with no option to delete) with any limited you order in the U.S. In Canada you can order one without, and on the 4th gen limiteds you could get them here in the U.S. without it but not for the 5th gens.

With the longhorn it's still optional thankfully and that's why I've stayed with that trim level, along with the other reasons I mentioned earlier.

Edit: For the 21 model year they renamed the Laramie Longhorn (which didn't make sense because the longhorn was always a trim level above Laramie and equivalent to the Limited) to the Limited Longhorn. This makes more sense to me being that they are equivalent luxury, but it can get a little confusing for talking on forums like this.

Well... My order is for a sales code DT6R98 1500 Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4. 27K Customer Preferred Package $0. I did not opt in for the Limited Group 1 or Limited Group 2 package. The Code SER Air Suspension4-Corner was an extra $1660. So looks as though this 2022 is basically a Laramie Longhorn. I was told I could have had had the same truck without Air 4 Corner for $1660 less. I am new to this so I could very well be wrong.

 

[BBNtrucks]

Hey BBN,
I ordered a Longhorn last week, sounds a lot like yours. Patriot Blue, black/saddle brown (LOVE that look!). It sounds like we have a little bit of a difference in options though. I wonder if that would matter much in when they’d be built. It going to a dealer in middle TN. They were saying 8-12 weeks, but to take it with a grain of salt.
I chatted just a little bit ago with them online and the gal said it’s in the stage where they are collecting all the parts and whatnot. I’m hoping for some good incentives to come down the pike when it shows up at the dealership.
I‘ll try to keep updates on what I hear if you’d like.
Jay

Sure Jay. I was told the same time frame. I have only been able to find out a VON and a VIN for my order but not where it is in line. From what more knowledgeable members say, a lot depends on avalibility of all your chosen options at the factory. My order type is Retail. Scheduling Priority: 1-Sold Order Build Priority: 99. Whatever all that means?

 

[JoeCo]

Well... My order is for a sales code DT6R98 1500 Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4. 27K Customer Preferred Package $0. I did not opt in for the Limited Group 1 or Limited Group 2 package. The Code SER Air Suspension4-Corner was an extra $1660. So looks as though this 2022 is basically a Laramie Longhorn. I was told I could have had had the same truck without Air 4 Corner for $1660 less. I am new to this so I could very well be wrong.

Sorry, I may have made that more confusing than it needed to be. The Laramie or Limited tag in front of Longhorn has nothing to do with having air suspension or not having it, it was simply switched over for 2021 to Limited Longhorn. 2020 and earlier years it was the Laramie Longhorn.

So we both have Limited Longhorns officially.

 

[BBNtrucks]

Sorry. Still not clear on this. The sales manager said my order was a Laramie Longhorn. I do not have a LIMITED Longhorn. That would have entailed paying the extra $ for level group 1 or group 2 level equipment. In other words not all Longhorns are Limited nor all Limited are Longhorns. The order for a Longhorn basically get you a Laramie with Longhorn leather trimed seats and interior colors. Solid premium leather seats come with the more expensive level 1 or level 2 group or the Limited category. At least as I understand it? Sorry to beat a dead horse. They are all nice trucks.

 

[JoeCo]

Sorry. Still not clear on this. The sales manager said my order was a Laramie Longhorn. I do not have a LIMITED Longhorn. That would have entailed paying the extra $ for level group 1 or group 2 level equipment. In other words not all Longhorns are Limited nor all Limited are Longhorns. The order for a Longhorn basically get you a Laramie with Longhorn leather trimed seats and interior colors. Solid premium leather seats come with the more expensive level 1 or level 2 group or the Limited category. At least as I understand it? Sorry to beat a dead horse. They are all nice trucks.

It's sad that salespeople/managers give out inaccurate information, but also not surprising at all as Ram seems particularly bad in terms of brand knowledge. The way your sales manager suggested it works is way more confusing than the actual system though, so I have to give them credit for that. Here is what the trim is listed under on the ram build website, this is prior to adding any options at all (or even adding 4x4) and as you can see, it's the Limited Longhorn:



There is no difference in the seats of the Longhorn or Limited whether you get the the level 1 or level 2, or neither. Any Longhorn or Limited, regardless of having any level 1/2 added or not, gets the real "upgraded" leather as oppose to the more mid level (or entry level luxury) Laramie.

About the only thing they told you right was not all Limiteds are Longhorns, that's true being that the Limited is it's own trim level shown to the right of the Limited Longhorn in the photo above, offering the black or indigo/gray interior. However, at this point, all Longhorns are Limited Longhorns. Again, this changed for the 2021 model year, prior to that all longhorns would have officially been Laramie Longhorns.

Of course, none of that is really all that important, but it is a good example as to why you should always do your own homework on something like this, rather than trust whatever the dealership is saying. This forum and others is a pretty good place to verify information though, so good job coming here to ask around.

Edit: Link to name change article

RAM Renaming Its Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn For 2021: - MoparInsiders

moparinsiders.com

 

[BBNtrucks]

Right you are and thanks for putting me straight. My order could get held up because it was ordered with the eTorque Hemi and trailer package, but on the build site when a trailer package is added it changes the engine to a regular hemi which would be OK by me. I only ordered the eTorque because of the salesman's' advise.

 

[GTyankee]

BBNtrucks
Scheduling Priority: 1-Sold Order Build Priority: 99.
Means it is being built for a Customer
The paperwork will have your name on it


It is not going to the dealers sales lot
& it is not going to a leasing agency or Fleet sales

 

[727Jay]

I contacted my dealership Friday and they didn’t have anything new to tell me. Seems like I’m better off going with the ram chat route than checking through the dealership.