You may have posted this five years ago - some of us are still watching and listening! My wife and I were able to purchase a 2014 RAM Tradesman 2500 5.7l Crew Cab 4x4 w/19,000 miles on it. I am preparing to use the existing wiring harness for upgrading brake controller, hands free phone and stereo as we own it. I still pinch myself thinking I am dreaming...
Well I appreciate you watching and making a comment. Any questions I can try to answer let me know. Also with the age of this video with the radio you might want to check out the Tesla style radio for the Dodge ram. I think it's awesome just a small recommendation
This is how they save money. If they made several different writing harnesses for each model/option it wouldn’t be cost affective. So you make 1 harness for all. Then add the option to that order.
Thankfully ram does that. Not all trucks come that way. Upgrades are companies bread and butter with the decades long large truck craze. Can take a reasonably priced, capable ram and add hundreds of upgrades to the original platform. It's fantastic
Dodge has been doing this since their 2nd gen ram. You can buy a tradesman and add all the fancy crap for a fraction of that $15,000 upgrade package on the longhorns. You can even put the seats of a 5th gen ram in a 2nd gen ram
Thank you! I fond all these wires and freaked out when I found all these wires loose. I thought something had been Half Ass done at the factory. Now I know. After all I bought the cheapest truck I could find. Helpful video! Very Pro
The ram platform has some issues, but I love how modular it is. Perfect for folks who like to tinker. Buy a model you generally like, then do the rest yourself.
I have a 2014 dodge ram sport. Solid rear window instead of slider is only real difference. Anyways. All the upgrades I was able to do it...it is now pretty much a 2020 or 2021...just more miles. Tons and tons of easy upgrades. Even took off the ram badge on tailgate and replaced with the large R A M letter emblem. Even measured where they go from an actual 2020 truck like a creeper in a parking lot when I spotted the truck.... Lol. The main upgrades on mine is a solid steel front bumper with push bar and brush guard...all one piece. And then the solid steel rear bumper. Totally makes the truck stand out in a crowd of other dodges. Also have a rear Baja rack over bed. Under rail toolbox and hard plastic and metal fold away tonneau cover as well as two swing out toolboxes inside bed. Almost complete. Just need to add linex to full bed and bottom foot of truck along body line....to prevent rocks chipping lower portion of truck since I actually use it as a truck for fun and work. Added a 2 inch leveling kit to the front...new wheels and tires and all new led exterior lighting. As well as upgraded side mirrors for towing or regular street driving. Even w all these massive upgrades...it's still 20 k cheaper than a new model. I also only have 40k miles on it. Passion project for sure to keep my mind off the last 18 months and the loss of my mother. Nothing like upgrading your truck by yourself to help out your mood in a rough time. Sorry for blabbing!!
@ Lana Mama- Wow your comment mirrors my situation exactly! I too found out about the info in this video- makes it so easy to do these upgrades & it saves a lot of money! The rest of your comment- same. I also lost my mother & after the majority of the worst of it faded my truck (which I’d by then been driving a few years) became a “passion project” again & that & a couple of other things did help the head & heart. It’s like the novelty of the truck is back lol. You didn’t ramble your comment at all & im glad you wrote this because it’s an affirmation to me, which should mean it will do the same to others. Plus, this & the vid as a whole, bolsters the enthusiasm. Gotta say we have it pretty good nowadays compared to 25 years ago with all the aftermarket support, parts & enthusiasm- online community with all the forums & blogs, vlogs & being behind the wheel. Ramble over lol.
They've done this for a long time. I had a 98 Dodge dakota without cruise control. I bought all of the parts from the dealer for $200 and installed it myself. Not only was the electrical harness plug and play ready, but the vacuum line for the vacuum pump already had a "T" connection ready to plug in, and the bracket on the throttle body already had a square hole for me to plug in the throttle cable.
That plug underneath your rear seat is not only for the light but for the heated rear seats also. the reason why I know is because I got a Laramie and one day didn’t work so I started looking around and it was unplugged so I plugged it back in and it was good to go
My brother-in-law is a technician for a very expensive car company and we have two of the same vehicles just 3 years apart and to save money they usually keep the style other vehicle for multiple years and you can take headlights and other things like the wine artist and upgrade exactly what you're doing because it's easier just to have one wine harnessed and not make the connections than it is to make multiple wiring harnesses I've done the same exact thing as you buy the cheaper version and do the upgrades myself regardless if you have the express or the Laramie the motor if you have the Hemi so all the same so it's going to be the same wire harnessed but he was only realized and I think that is the greatest thing in the world that you're doing and saving yourself a huge monthly payment excellent video
@@Fangtian0303 yeah I never put periods in I just keep going on with the conversation I'm 43 I've been out of high school way too long I don't care about my punctuation long as I spell everything right that's all that matters
I just got my 2014 hemi 5.7L 2500 yesterday they had already started upgrading we have the huge tablet size screen and after this I know we are going to upgrade all the way around thank you
You are saving a small fortune by doing that stuff yourself as apposed to buying the truck upgraded that way and it also makes sense for them on the assembly line not to bother with different wiring harnesses even though it might not be quite as cost effective.
I had a 17 tradesman regular cab. I added all that stuff you mentioned plus auto dimming mirror, rear back up camera, RA2 radio, The compass module this one is normally mounted in the over head console, but I made my own harness and mounted with double sided tape to the defrost duct behind the gauge cluster, I put in the premium 7" EVIC gauge cluster, and The OE bed led lights. I started to install the power inverter the wires weren't under my seat, but the wires going from the dash to the passenger kick panel were, so I made my own harness going from the kick panel to the seat, I only had to run the wire from the inverter to the under hood fuse box, but sold the truck to a friend he's been on me to help him run it.
@@AN-kg4ei the instructions will tell you to go through the firewall and run the wire to the BCM. I found that the wire is already run from the BCM to the connector on the frame just behind the drivers front tire. Double check that it is there and just make your connection there. On my 2017 it was pin 19 iirc, bit I know some years have a different style plug. I used the factory ground on the frame near the drivers rear tire. Download AlfaOBD to your phone and buy the OBDlinkMX bluetooth adapter. With these you won't have to go to the dealer to have the lights activated. Unless this is the only thing you will be doing then just pay the dealer to do it. But it has to be activated no matter what
Lots of car/truck manufacturers do that. (Use the fully loaded vehicle wiring harness). Pretty cool.. one of my cars didn't come with the fog light option but it was wired for them. So i just went on Ebay and ordered the fog light assembly for both sides ($40), the head light switch with the fog light option ($15) and installed the fog light relay ( a few dollars for several fuses packet) and boom i have working fog lights
as a heavy truck dealership mechanic I can tell you this may also be true for many other vehicles you may find out some options still may not work due to different control modules options/power distribution box options(fuse box) or may just simply not have the fuse...now this may apply to many types of vehicles but some do have different harness that may or may not have the overlays from a standard harness to add the extras so just because you see an option on a similar vehicle and want it on yours you may or may not be able to add it, with out needing to add the appropriate wiring harness overlay and control module...we have to do this all the time for medium duty to heavy duty class 8 trucks...
Thanks for the video and blowing my mind. It’s funny I always knew that you could swap some of these things out with higher trim parts. Thanks for blowing my mind.
And you MAY find some of the parts cheaper at a salvage yard. Adding an electric brake controller requires programming at the dealership. I looked into all this stuff. I've never needed to pull a trailer with electric brakes. I think there's a module you can add in the upper glovebox to have a usb input.
I picked up an 18 Elantra, no cruise control, I bought a steering wheel control and put it on, even the radio controls work on it. So yeah, it's just a matter of what you want and aren't willing to pay dealer prices for. I'm going to start working on my tradesman 2500 soon.
Yeah my 14 Ram outdoorsman has the trailer brake control and the plug. Which is standard on mine. But I basically got it because of the 3.92 gears, crew cab and Ram boxes lol
I’m not going to look through all 430 comments but there is also a software program you can buy called Alpha OBD you need the android device or tablet and a Bluetooth OBD reader and you can do almost everything A dealer can do As far as programming for example if you change your tire size and adjust the speedometer or if you add different mirrors with puddle lights or heaters you can turn on those accessories
I upgraded the side mirrors on my ‘09 Ram 1500 and discovered that it had proximity sensors for the key fob. Now when I approach, puddle and interior lights turn on.
Great info. Reviewed some other post stating 96 & 01 with same thing one harness for all. I go back a ways! As a fun truck I have a 1975 Dodge D100 at that year the most basic truck, note over time items my third. Hardnesses have been that way in most makes and most models. For example high end Dodges had the option of drivers side power seat, the wires and plug lays loose under the seat of my truck.
My 2014 Tradesmen has all the options already installed...trailer brake, USB port, foot lightning...the only thing it doesn't have is the upper glovebox and homelink
Can find home link on eBay I would go to the dealership or the upper glove box. Go online find a truck for sale that has it use the VIN number look up the part number and make sure your interior color matches four screws
I have a 14 so I assume u don't have the over head console. I went to the junk yard near me and took the complete harness starts at the driver door and all though the head liner. While I was there I got the top glove box, hood light, the rear platform, the self dimming 911, sos mirror for like 85$
If you buy a Bluetooth OBD connector ( I have used a FYXD as well as a OBDLink MX) and buy the AlfaOBD app (only on the google play store) you can turn on all these lighting accessories and so on... I did this to make my New LED lights all around the truck work without a fault as well as turn on my fog lights for my day time running lights... you can make day time running light the fogs (what I chose), headlights low or high, turn signals or if you have a designated light in your headlight housing you can turn it on. Look up AlfaOBD for more instructions
Bought it a while back on Amazon look up 14 Ram Android radio. Also might want to look into a Tesla type radio I kind of like that one too. But no take off the bezel Plug and Play. If you have tethering on your cell phone turn it on you have full internet access. It doesn't do anything your phone or tablet will not do. Hope that helps
I love the tesla style radios, but hate that they dont integrate the satellite radio into them. That's the only thing that's kept me from getting the T style radio
If you had it the factory module is located on the passenger seat. To be honest it's cheaper toRun a 12 V inverter and integrated into the factory - plug so it looks factory
Its all for ease of manufacture. From late 2013 on the truck has ALL options programmed but disabled in the body control module. Anything you want on this truck, you can add it with ALFA OBD
Your absolutely correct my friend. I had a 2011 and it was the same way and I have a 2015 and it's the same. You can upgrade everything yourself and save a lot of $$$$. Double check that connection behind the rear seat I actually think that one is for the sub and it runs under that carpet and out the cut out/ hole you found. If yours is a 4x4 you can also order the skid plates and install them.
I got the sport bumper to swap and they say you have too tap into the fuse box. Any help would be amazingly appreciated. Would save so much time thank you
Thomas Hilliard Cabin air filter was not available on my 2014 that I also did the conversion and put a K&N Cabin air filter in so I could just clean it instead of replacing every 12 months
Great video man . Coolest video I've seen in a while , very useful . I just got a '13 ram a couple days ago . Now I can't wait to go to the junkyard and find some higher level trim options . Thanks !
Great video man! I have a 2020 model Classic DS in right hand drive and I have been loving upgrading it, but I had no idea of all the cool mods I could do until I saw your vid. Thanks a lot from Australia!
just go to a auto wrecker and get all the lights ya need.. Do the cabin air filter asap if you dont all the dirt and dust plugs the AC condenser in the heater box.
Hey,... 100th Subscriber here! Keep it up. Just bought a 2014 Ram. So psyched to start modifying my truck like you did!!! Thanks for making these videos
Wanting to add fog lights to my 2015 Ram. Bought the fog light harness, used front bumper (painted it to match my color) and the OEM switch and lights off EBay. Now searching for the connector to plug it it.
I had a 2015 express and when I was trying to trade it in and sell it, the vin popped up as a tradesman. The truck was only a year old at the time and Carmax wanted to give me like 10k less than I expected. I looked it up on KBB and saw the same thing. I looked over the paperwork from carmax and I also saw tradesman. I was getting mad that I had a year old $40k truck with only 25000 miles and everyone only wanted to give me $17k, so I tried another dealership with the same result. When they scan the vin, the vin shows Tradesman. They apparently build all their trucks off the base model tradesman and add the other packages to the base truck, and the vin doesn’t show the upgrade. I was very ticked and lost out hard on that truck. Nobody understood what I was telling them. They all would say, that’s what the vin says, sorry. I would tell them the vin shows a truck with rubber floors instead of carpet, black bumpers, no dual exhaust, little cheap steel wheels, etc. and that is not what I have.
You have a Tradesman with the Express package. That adds the carpet, body colored bumpers and grill, dual exhaust, 20' wheels, and (IIRC) the tow hitch receiver.
Don;'t have a Dodge but considering it...this video has surely helped so many people. Thanks for making the video and keep it up for future buyers like me.....Great info to share!! This is great news as all of us can't or don't want the high payments of the higher model trucks and just like do upgrades our selves as we can afford it with families and retirement accounts....
They all use the same wiring harness on all the trucks for ease of manufacturing. Where they make up the money difference is when base model truck owners go to the dealership to buy the OEM factory upgrades. That's why the dealership charges a 500% mark-up on the parts.
These upgrade "technology and comfort packages" for vehicles from the manufacturers are the biggest scam since bottled water. Everything wiring wise is already on the truck but they screw you out of $100 worth of parts because you didn't spring for a $2500+ package but the hassle, time and costs to for it yourself is almost counter intuitive. It would take 5 minutes.ore at the factory to fully load the friggin thing.
It’s has all the plugs but everything you add has to be programmed into the canbus or the vehicle won’t know it’s there. It’s not just plug and play like you make it sound here.
I had a recall on my truck so I took advantage and had them flash it The only thing you have to flash for is the brake trailer option and there's actually a third party app you can buy I just can't remember what it's called
Yo awsome video just got me a 2015 base model and was wondering about adding led running board lights and how to plug up. Thanks for video lots of help and that cabin filter gotta check that next again thanks for video.. much appreciated
I just bought a ‘12 BigHorn without the trailer brake controller. This leads me to think the wiring is behind the stock blank panel and I can just get the module and put it in. I’ll have to look into it.
Great video. I have a 2016 1500 that has all of the options you’re revealing, but no cabin air filter. I don’t know about you guys, but I can smell emissions from other cars going down the road. Don’t know if this is the solution but it’s worth a try.
You already have the right steering wheel, if you change the instrument panel to the LCD version your wheel switches can be used to accesses your trucks computer. You can buy a blank key FOB and activate the installed security system. Take your truck to a shop with a good OBD-2 scanner and find a dozen things your truck has that can just be turned on. Do you have an 45RFE transmission? Is it a 4 speed w/OD? Would you like to make it a 5 speed 545RFE w/OD?
I don’t know if your familiar with Ford. The lower trim f150s have the same stuff as the higher trim ones. But you need a software called forscan to go into the computer and enable stuff. Like the Bambi mod that lets you use high beams and fogs at the same time. It’s all controlled by the computer.
