2025 Ram 1500 Order Updates

[PetePA]

Captain Obvious here for an important reminder.....automative manufacturing is likely an incredibly complex process. While I share in the concern and frustration waiting for an expensive truck, and appreciate all the insights, comments, etc. - we are only seeing a sliver of the end to end process and cannot possibly reverse engineer what causes issues in quality, speed, etc. - but it is good therapy to vent and to share what folks are actually seeing/hearing/experiencing. I'm sure plenty of smart people are working to improve things.
Now where did I put that Toyota brochure?

Hey now, I think we can reverse engineer some of it with varying degrees of accuracy. A few of us had made some spot-on deductions based on the information we have via available data, comments from the CEO and comments from SHAP employees.

At the very least, we've started some good rumors.

 

[firecadet613]

Captain Obvious here for an important reminder.....automative manufacturing is likely an incredibly complex process. While I share in the concern and frustration waiting for an expensive truck, and appreciate all the insights, comments, etc. - we are only seeing a sliver of the end to end process and cannot possibly reverse engineer what causes issues in quality, speed, etc. - but it is good therapy to vent and to share what folks are actually seeing/hearing/experiencing. I'm sure plenty of smart people are working to improve things.
Now where did I put that Toyota brochure?

Yet Ford and GM (and Ram used to) spit out tons of trucks a day and ship them right out.

Just got a text from my dealer stating that my truck was built and it's now in storage. How long do they usually keep them in storage for until they're shipped?

No one here knows, it's likely a QA hold. My '19 was built and shipped right out, it does no good for them to build them and store them, unless they're waiting to fill up a truck or train car...

 

[KubotaTed]

So I decided to look at a GMC Denali Ultimate 1500 today. It was nice in alot of ways, but missing several things that attracts me to the RAM. Price is about $7k lower on the GMC (and that is without “negotiating”). If my Tunsten build date keeps slipping, then I’ll entertain the GMC, but I think right now I’ll try the route of patience (which is the road less traveled for me).

I then stopped at my Ford dealer that I like. Get this…. To order a Platinum trim F-150, expect to wait 6-7 months. When I ordered my current F-150 Platinum from this dealer (in COVID), it was delivered in just over 3 months.

Sounds like there is a lot of struggles going on with upper trim assembly by both RAM and Ford.

 

[Peterhenric]

Yeah. Not normal behavior to fill up entire garages or parking lots with trucks instead of sending them out after a short amount of time. They are holding onto them until they figure something out. There’s QC issues somewhere.

 

[firecadet613]

So I decided to look at a GMC Denali Ultimate 1500 today. It was nice in alot of ways, but missing several things that attracts me to the RAM. Price is about $7k lower on the GMC (and that is without “negotiating”). If my Tunsten build date keeps slipping, then I’ll entertain the GMC, but I think right now I’ll try the route of patience (which is the road less traveled for me).

I then stopped at my Ford dealer that I like. Get this…. To order a Platinum trim F-150, expect to wait 6-7 months. When I ordered my current F-150 Platinum from this dealer (in COVID), it was delivered in just over 3 months.

Sounds like there is a lot of struggles going on with upper trim assembly by both RAM and Ford.

Look at Laura GMC for the best negotiated price. They are the "Mark Dodge" of the GMC world.

 

[dammitbobby]

So I decided to look at a GMC Denali Ultimate 1500 today. It was nice in alot of ways, but missing several things that attracts me to the RAM. Price is about $7k lower on the GMC (and that is without “negotiating”). If my Tunsten build date keeps slipping, then I’ll entertain the GMC, but I think right now I’ll try the route of patience (which is the road less traveled for me).

I then stopped at my Ford dealer that I like. Get this…. To order a Platinum trim F-150, expect to wait 6-7 months. When I ordered my current F-150 Platinum from this dealer (in COVID), it was delivered in just over 3 months.

Sounds like there is a lot of struggles going on with upper trim assembly by both RAM and Ford.

I owned a Denali not Denali ultimate. Loved it, great truck. Mine was a Lemon and it was a terrible process to get them to buy the truck back or else I’d have bought another one. The trucks are missing something though, it’s the little things. I also love the way the straight 6 engines in the new rams drive that’s a really big selling point for me.

 

[PetePA]

Agree with everyone. Tbh, if the Ram 1500 didn't exist I wouldn't have ordered a truck. I have a feeling most of us are in a similar boat otherwise we wouldn't be paying attention to this thread.

 

[lonepeak]

So I decided to look at a GMC Denali Ultimate 1500 today. It was nice in alot of ways, but missing several things that attracts me to the RAM. Price is about $7k lower on the GMC (and that is without “negotiating”). If my Tunsten build date keeps slipping, then I’ll entertain the GMC, but I think right now I’ll try the route of patience (which is the road less traveled for me).

I then stopped at my Ford dealer that I like. Get this…. To order a Platinum trim F-150, expect to wait 6-7 months. When I ordered my current F-150 Platinum from this dealer (in COVID), it was delivered in just over 3 months.

Sounds like there is a lot of struggles going on with upper trim assembly by both RAM and Ford.

After waiting 6 months to order a Limited (no A Equipment Group) and then when it became available I was so disenchanted with RAM and all the order and delivery date confusion I decided on a '24 Denali 6.2. So far after 1,000 miles I like the truck a lot but miss a few RAM features like the suspension and ram box although neither is a deal breaker given a competitive price. I'm old enough now that I may trade every 2 years or so and will take another look at RAM.

I'm sure it will work out for everyone but these delays and vehicles not shipped is disappointing. Interesting you say about the Ford Platinum as I looked at Ford and found similar issues in delays. The rush to bleeding edge tech is hurting sales and disappointing a lot of consumers. The competition should be in quality and service vs technology manufactures can't keep up with nor service.

 

[cobra kai]

well said! and I agree. while I b*tch plenty about this, I understand it. My 2014 spent wayyy too much time in the shop, so I'm definitely in the corner of "fix it before I get it."

I would agree with "fix it before I get it" in theory. However, I'm not convinced that will be the case.

With this backup extending as long as it has, the entire organization from executive leadership down to line workers is being stressed. In production sequencing, financial stewardship leads to each step being staffed/resourced only to ~ the standard throughput level. When backlogs or bottlenecks happen, each step before and after that obstacle gets stressed from the time the bottleneck occurs until well after the bottleneck is removed. There isn't excess capacity just sitting around waiting to meet the excess demand downstream from the bottleneck. So the capacity that does exist, at each step downstream, becomes stressed with excess demands when the bottleneck is "fixed." This leads to a much higher risk of errors everywhere downstream. This isn't just a "fix the identified problem and move forward" situation.

I predict these (postulated) increased quality problems will stress the warranty/service system in place for years to come. Wait times for replacement parts, service, labor, etc will increase further. This problem will likely reverberate through the RAM system for years and makes me seriously re-consider whether I want to conclude this purchase.....assuming my January-ordered truck ever even gets built.

Thoughts?

 

[firecadet613]

I would agree with "fix it before I get it" in theory. However, I'm not convinced that will be the case.

With this backup extending as long as it has, the entire organization from executive leadership down to line workers is being stressed. In production sequencing, financial stewardship leads to each step being staffed/resourced only to ~ the standard throughput level. When backlogs or bottlenecks happen, each step before and after that obstacle gets stressed from the time the bottleneck occurs until well after the bottleneck is removed. There isn't excess capacity just sitting around waiting to meet the excess demand downstream from the bottleneck. So the capacity that does exist, at each step downstream, becomes stressed with excess demands when the bottleneck is "fixed." This leads to a much higher risk of errors everywhere downstream. This isn't just a "fix the identified problem and move forward" situation.

I predict these (postulated) increased quality problems will stress the warranty/service system in place for years to come. Wait times for replacement parts, service, labor, etc will increase further. This problem will likely reverberate through the RAM system for years and makes me seriously re-consider whether I want to conclude this purchase.....assuming my January-ordered truck ever even gets built.

Thoughts?

IMO, if you can afford one of these trucks grab a GM or Ford now, then switch it out for a Ram in two years.

I took a chance on Ram in '19 with the new truck but was ready to swap it out if it had issues (it didn't). When I bought again in late 22, I went with a used Ram vs new to avoid eTorque.

Too much going wrong with this launch to have me consider getting one, after seeing this many trucks built and being placed on hold...

 

[PetePA]

I would agree with "fix it before I get it" in theory. However, I'm not convinced that will be the case.

With this backup extending as long as it has, the entire organization from executive leadership down to line workers is being stressed. In production sequencing, financial stewardship leads to each step being staffed/resourced only to ~ the standard throughput level. When backlogs or bottlenecks happen, each step before and after that obstacle gets stressed from the time the bottleneck occurs until well after the bottleneck is removed. There isn't excess capacity just sitting around waiting to meet the excess demand downstream from the bottleneck. So the capacity that does exist, at each step downstream, becomes stressed with excess demands when the bottleneck is "fixed." This leads to a much higher risk of errors everywhere downstream. This isn't just a "fix the identified problem and move forward" situation.

I predict these (postulated) increased quality problems will stress the warranty/service system in place for years to come. Wait times for replacement parts, service, labor, etc will increase further. This problem will likely reverberate through the RAM system for years and makes me seriously re-consider whether I want to conclude this purchase.....assuming my January-ordered truck ever even gets built.

Thoughts?

My initial thoughts are I shouldn't have had a ****tail before reading. This is a double read 😂 kidding aside... I really appreciate your level of thought.

Agree everyone is likely stressed. Disagree with the comment regarding each step being necessarily staffed to throughput - likely too chaotic to focus on productivity to that degree. Agree it will likely lead to increased quality issues, but to a minor degree. They seem to have good QC processes, but with increased issues comes increased risk.

I have a feeling I'm about to be schooled.

 

[Peterhenric]

They have shown that they aren’t going to ship out these new trucks until they fix the problem, or at least think it’s fixed. That should help with warranty stuff, right? If they decided to just ship them out now then I’d agree more.

 

[KubotaTed]

Look at Laura GMC for the best negotiated price. They are the "Mark Dodge" of the GMC world.

Much appreciated and good to know.