I originally posted this over on the 2023 HD Builds & Orders page...but I am realizing not everyone here is following that page, so here it is again - I hope it helps:
For those of you who don’t know, I ordered a 2022 Laramie HO CCLB Dually last March, received in August, and totaled it in September. This being my second rodeo in the last 9 months for a replacement 2023, I thought I would add by 2 cents of wisdom I learned the last go around thinking it may help some as I see the same questions from last model year popping up:
- When you go D1, you’re going to get a delivery date on the tracker (or from the dealer). This is NOT your delivery date to the dealer; it is your delivery to the next stage of the order process. In this case, your delivery date is your build date.
- Your build date can change and probably will. What we did see is it never changed more than 3 times (mine only changed twice).
- There is no rhyme or reason as to the order in which trucks are built. I watched trucks ordered 6-8 weeks after my order built and delivered while I sat in limbo waiting to enter the production line. I think the foreman comes in to work on Monday, hungover, and throws darts at the “wheel of build”, and wherever they fall is the next up for the week.
- Actual production line is 8 hours. When your truck enters the line, it pops out the other side minus outside vendor parts in 8 hours.
- When you go to outside vendors for accessories, it can be for 2 days, or it can be for months. It can be anything, from a side-step to a bolt to hold said side-step in place. Mine sat at the vendors for 61 days, and the joke was it was because the spray nozzle on the applicator for the bed liner was clogged and they were waiting on a new one to arrive. In the meantime, my truck had to go to AA Meetings when it made it to the states with the amount of partying that took place.
- When you finally leave the outside vendor and moved to the lot to await your freedom flight (train to the states), they do not move them from the lot to an awaiting train in the order received. I watched trucks sit for a month, while others moved from the assembly line straight to a train.
- Once we get further along, you can actually track your truck on the train as long as you have a carrier and rail car number, which you can get from the dealer.
- Trucks will and do get damaged in shipment. Mostly what we saw was bumpers being replaced at the dealers from the train ride.
- Remember the dealer wants your truck as much as you do when the truck goes KZ. They are invoiced and pay for it then, so until they get it, they are paying interest on the loan at the end of every month until you cut them a check.
- Please, please, please resist the urge to:
- Pester people on this forum who are in the know to “check the status” of your order. They are all people who have jobs, and lives, who are helping out when they can however they can. They are a wealth of knowledge, but let’s not take advantage of their kindness.
- Post a question without taking the time to read the last 35 pages to see if it has been broached already, because it probably has. Or use the search bar.
- Don’t be a forum stalker. Help a brother out. If you find out information through research or contacts, share with the group. We are all expectant mothers and fathers, here for each other in the waiting room, to get through this long drawn out process.
- But most of all: Saddle up, buckle up, and enjoy the ride! You’ll meet some great people here over the months, and nothing you do or say will get your truck here any sooner!
I am sure there is more and I’ll add to it as I remember, but don’t hold your breath. At my age I can’t remember what I had for breakfast. Hope this helps some!