2003-2004 Dodge 5.9L Cummins Exterior Parts

Exterior parts on the 2003-2004 Ram 5.9L Cummins

The 2003 Ram 2500/3500 launched the third-generation heavy-duty truck with an all-new frame, suspension, powertrains, interior and sheet metal, and it was the first year for the common-rail 5.9L Cummins. These trucks were sold as Dodge Ram; we list them under RAM. Body styles are the two-door Regular Cab and the four-door Quad Cab, which uses conventional-opening rear doors. The Mega Cab did not arrive until 2006.

The cab and bed ride on rubber body mounts on the new frame. The bed is held down with six 18 mm bolts set with Loctite, the front two hidden behind the wheel-well liners. A plastic snubber sits between the cab and the bed. Its job is to keep tie-down straps from wrapping the driveshaft.

What wears and why

The exterior on this generation does not have a well-documented pattern failure for body mounts. The complaint that does come up is the bed snubber: some owners report that it traps grit and wears the paint at the rear of the cab and front of the bed, and some remove it after touching up the paint. If you take it out, remember why it is there and route your tie-down straps with the driveshaft in mind.

Body mounts are best handled as a while-you-are-in-there job. The practical time to replace the bushings is when the bed or cab is already lifted for fuel-system work. Pulling the bed means the six 18 mm bed bolts, the fill-neck clamps and ground strap in the wheel well, and six 16 mm bumper bolts.

Stock replacement vs. upgrade

Replacement body-mount bushings come in rubber and polyurethane, and the S&B kits in this collection use silicone. Whatever material you pick, the deciding factor is fit, and S&B splits its kits by cab style. The rear-end parts here are about how you use the truck: a steel roll pan with its own license plate light kit, license plate brackets in flip-up and fixed styles, and clamp-on sled stops made to mount either below or behind a roll pan.

What we carry

• Big Hitch Products BHP6001 steel roll pan with license plate light kit, listed for 2003-2009 5.9L and 6.7L Cummins trucks.
• Big Hitch Products BHP4001 flip-up license plate bracket and BHP4009 license plate mount bracket.
• Big Hitch Products BHP3000 clamp-on sled stops for mounting below the roll pan, and BHP3001 for mounting behind it.
• S&B 81-3003 silicone body mount kit, listed for 2003-2005 Regular Cab and extended-cab trucks, and 81-3004, listed for 2003-2005 crew-cab trucks.

Fitment notes

Exterior fitment follows the 2003-2005 front end and the pre-2006 body. Mega Cab body parts (2006-2008) do not apply, and the 2003-2005 front sheet metal predates the 2006 fascia change. Some manufacturers list 2003 and 2004 under separate fitments, and sometimes by trim, such as a 2003 SLT, so read each listing closely. The S&B kits are listed by cab, and the four-door cab on this generation is the Quad Cab, so match the kit's cab listing to your truck. The roll pan and the body mount kits are listed for Cummins-powered Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks, not the Ram 1500, and the plate brackets and sled stops carry their own fitment on each product page. Verify by VIN on the product page.

Frequently asked questions

Will Mega Cab exterior parts fit my 2004 Ram 2500?

No. The Mega Cab arrived for 2006, and its body parts (2006-2008) do not apply to 2003-2004 trucks. The 2003-2005 front sheet metal also predates the 2006 fascia change, so front-end parts need to be listed for the earlier body.

Why is the paint worn where my bed meets the cab?

Some owners trace it to the plastic snubber between the cab and bed, which can trap grit against the paint. Some remove it after touching up the paint. The snubber exists to keep tie-down straps from wrapping the driveshaft, so keep that in mind if you pull it.

When should I replace the body mounts?

The practical time is when the bed or cab is already lifted, such as for fuel-system work. Order the kit ahead of time and confirm it matches your cab by VIN, so the truck is not sitting apart waiting on parts.

Does the BHP roll pan fit a 2004.5 truck?

The BHP6001 steel roll pan is listed for 2003-2009 5.9L and 6.7L Cummins trucks, so the listed range covers early 2004 and 2004.5 trucks alike. Confirm on the product page with your VIN before you order.

Not sure what fits? Call the shop at the number in the header, or use the fitment checker on any product page. We install everything we sell.