The Specs on the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 With a 4.7 Liter Engine
by James Rutter
In 2003, Dodge continued production of the third generation of the Ram 1500, a successful line of half-ton trucks that the company had first manufactured in 1994. The 2003 models continued the redesigned model introduced the previous year. Dodge installed a 4.7-liter Magnum V-8 as the standard engine in certain trim levels and cab configurations for the 2003 Ram.
Model Availability
In 2003, buyers were able to purchase the Ram 1500 with an extended or Quad cab (four-door) and a 6.3-foot or 8-foot bed length. Quad cab models seated six, and both cabs featured a 40/20/40 bench seat with a fold-up backrest above the center console. Dodge installed a 3.7-liter V-6 as the engine in the base ST trim level, and rear-wheel drive with any cab or bed length configuration. Buyers were able to upgrade this base model to the 4.7-liter V-8. The company installed the 4.7-liter as standard in the SLT and Laramie trim levels.
Engine
Until 2002, Dodge hadn't installed a 4.7-liter engine in its cars or trucks in 41 years. This V-8 Magnum, based on the 1998 Chrysler PowerTech platform, consisted of an iron block and aluminum alloy heads. Its bore measured 3.66 inches and its stroke measured 3.4 inches, and it had a compression ratio of 9.3-to-1. The 4.7 Magnum used a multiport fuel injection system and had two valves per cylinder in a single overhead cam configuration. It produced 240 horsepower at 4,800 rpm and 300 foot-pounds of torque at 3,200 rpm.
Transmission
Buyers who upgraded to the 4.7 Magnum were able to choose between the standard five-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic. They could also select rear- or four-wheel-drive configurations. The automatic transmission featured an alternate second-gear ratio for towing and climbing.
Towing
Towing and hauling capacities depended on the bed length and drive configuration. Capacities ranged from a 1,420-pound payload in the Quad-cab, long bed SLT model with four-wheel drive to 1,780 pounds in the SLT short bed with rear-wheel drive. Ram 1500s with the 4.7-liter V-8 had a maximum towing capacity of either 8,350 or 8,450 pounds.
Fuel Economy
The 2003 Ram 1500 using a 4.7-liter V-8 achieved 14 mpg during city driving and 19 mpg on highway driving. Dodge equipped all body styles with 35-gallon tanks.
Features
Standard features on any body style with the 4.7-liter Magnum included air conditioning, power windows, doors and mirrors, a CD stereo player and anti-lock disc brakes on all wheels. Safety features included front driver and passenger airbags, with side-curtain airbags as an upgrade. The 2003 Ram 1500 sported P245/70SR17 tires, which buyers could upgrade to P265/70SR17 tires.
Buyers that chose the SLT or Laramie trims got a truck with heavy duty front and rear shocks, chrome bumpers and wheel covers, power-heated mirrors and cruise control. Both trim levels offered bed liners, power heated seats, dual-zone climate control, a multi-disc CD player with steering wheel controls and remote keyless entry as options.
Dodge offered a number of options packages. For instance, the Off-Road package equipped the truck with skid plates, two tow hooks and size P265/70R17 on/off-road tires.
References
Writer Bio
Since 2005, James Rutter has worked as a freelance journalist for print and Internet publications, including the “News of Delaware County,” “Main Line Times” and Broad Street Review. As a former chemist, college professor and competitive weightlifter, he writes about science, education and exercise. Rutter earned a B.A. in philosophy and biology from Albright College and studied philosophy and cognitive science at Temple University.
