question about a 1999 dodge ram 2500

[dodge19995.9]

hello i have a 1999 dodge ram 2500 with the 5 speed maunel transmisson with the transfer case in 4x4 when i go threw the sand the hole truck starts to shake does any one know what the problem is

 

[ktm1217]

hello i have a 1999 dodge ram 2500 with the 5 speed maunel transmisson with the transfer case in 4x4 when i go threw the sand the hole truck starts to shake does any one know what the problem is

Might need a little more info on this one.. Does the motor bog out and struggle to stay running? Does it seem like more of a suspension problem rather than motor problem? How fast do you got through the sand? Any more info you could throw in would help.

 

[SmokedRam]

Easy fix.....don't go through the sand hole! Just kidding, heres a bump for someone who might know

 

[dodge19995.9]

it does not bog down if i can around 10 mph could it be the tires

 

[dodge19995.9]

it drives great on the paved roads when it goes threw sand it starts the shakeing stuff it does it so bad it made a trailer coupler fall apart

 

[loki223]

is it throwing sand when it does this? does your speedo shoot up when it is hopping, and do you have a LSD or an open diff out back?

 

[dodge19995.9]

it does throw sand up i think the speedo does shoot up it has a diff rear axle

 

[loki223]

what i meant was does it have a limited slip rear axle or an open differential rear axle? ie, do you have a one tire fire, or can you spin both rear tires? there should be a tag on your differential cover that says if it has a limited slip in it or not....

But you answered my questions enough to tell you there is nothing wrong with your truck. the reason its jumping is because the sand its throwing up, is the sand your trying to drive on. so as your tire spins, it throws out the ground from underneath it. someone else might be able to explain it a little more techinical, but when you are essentially digging a hole with your tire, and the process of doing that makes your truck feel jumpy.

 

[dodge19995.9]

a ford diesel with a tool bed that weights around 9500 pounds and it does better my truck weights around 5500 pounds the ford goes threw it fine

 

[dodge19995.9]

all tires spin

 

[loki223]

a lighter truck is going to be more prone to hopping than a big heavy truck, because that big heavy truck has to "hop" the another 4,000 pounds. and just because someone else can make it through a given obstacle doesn't mean you can too. My opinion that there is no issue with your truck is based off my experience off roading. there are alot of factors that go into why one truck may act one way and another may act another. but i would definitely say that since you only experience this issue in the sand, when you are throwing sand out behind your truck, and your tires are spinning, the issue is that your not driving it in the sand right, not that there is an issue with your truck. every terrain takes a different style of driving. off roading in sand is completely different than off roading in the woods, and visa versa, so since your only issue is when your digging down with your tires, and your truck is hopping (which is an issue i have personally been in) there is nothing wrong with your truck.

 

[Okiespaniel]

You probably have wheel hop from your axles hopping up and down as tires grip and slip. Not uncommon on a ram, but if the suspension hasn't been moddified then new or better shocks might help. Despite the staggered shocks which were supposed to reduce hop, most rams end up with ladder bars to reduce axle twist and movement.

Loose sand usually requires a lot of power to get through. It can be fun with the right rig, but I hate driving on it.

Let me ask you another question. In 4wd on wet pavement or hard packed dirt/gravel does it hop in 4wd?

 

[eryk]

i grew up in a very sandy area and i think your best bet with out shelling out any money is to let some air out of your tires, it sounds like they are trying to dig into the sand not go over it...

 

[dodge19995.9]

It only does it in sand

 

[Okiespaniel]

You might try airing down to reduce tire bounce. If that doesn't do it, you may have to try something else.
Again, if your shocks are old, leaking or seem to have a lot of jounce with the bumper test, they need replacing. Your diesel 5 speed makes so much torque that if you don't fix this you will start grenading drivetrain parts.

 

[streak379]

Yea what you are experiencing is just one tire slipping then grabbing then the other one slips and grabs, this causes a very violent bounce or shake coming from the front end usually. Nothing is out of the norm, deflate your tires, the ford is a heavyier truck so its compacting the sand more so when its driving a cross it and getting better traction, and it isnt as common on non solid axle vehicles if at all.

 

[dodge19995.9]

all tires do it i dont know if just the front does it shakes that bad i tried geting a running start over the part it does the shaking bad it barly did it when i got the speed up