Classic vs. New Body: The Ultimate Exterior Parts Guide for RAM 1500 Owners
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You want to upgrade the exterior look of your 2019–2026 RAM 1500.
Maybe you want a set of wide, aggressive Bushwacker Fender Flares to cover up your new negative-offset wheels. Or maybe you want a sleek AVS Bug Deflector to save your leading hood edge from highway rock chips.
You go online to order, and you immediately run into a roadblock. The website asks you to choose between: "Classic (DS)" and "New Body (DT)."
If you click the wrong one, the part will absolutely not fit your truck.
The "Classic" is essentially the older 2009–2018 body style that RAM wisely kept manufacturing and selling as a budget-friendly option. The "New Body" is the complete, ground-up redesign that officially launched in 2019. Even though they are both technically "2021" or "2022" model year trucks, they share almost zero exterior body panels.
In this guide, we explain the easiest ways to identify your truck (just look at the headlights and count your wheel lugs!), and help you confidently choose the right exterior accessories—including laser-measured WeatherTech Mud Flaps and Sensor-Compatible Flares that won't interfere with your factory parking assist.
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Daily Protection or Aggressive Styling?
|
Accessory Type |
Top Brands |
Main Function |
Best For |
|
Pocket Style Flares |
Bushwacker / LUND |
Coverage. Extends the wheel arch to cover poking off-road tires. |
Lifted Trucks. Keeps your truck street legal by covering wide mud-terrain tires. |
|
No-Drill Mud Flaps |
WeatherTech / Husky |
Protection. Deflects heavy rock chips and mud. |
Daily Drivers. Protecting the expensive paint on your rocker panels without drilling holes. |
|
Window Visors |
AVS / WeatherTech |
Ventilation. Allows you to crack the windows during heavy rain. |
Smokers / Pets. A sleek look that lets fresh air circulate without soaking the interior. |
|
Bug Deflectors |
AVS / Stampede |
Shielding. Protects the leading hood edge from impacts. |
Highway Driving. Deflecting stones and bug splatter away from the windshield. |
|
Shorty Antennas |
Premium Billet |
Clearance. Stops the factory antenna from "whipping." |
Garage Parking. A flexible, low-profile design that won't snap off in automatic car washes. |
Frequently Asked Questions (Exterior Accessories)
Will "Classic" fender flares fit my 2022 "New Body" RAM?
Absolutely not.
The wheel well shape, body lines, and mounting hole locations are completely different between the two generations.
- Classic (DS): Features rounder, traditional wheel arches.
-
New Body (DT): Features more angular, squared-off wheel arches.
Always check your lug count (6-lug = New Body) before ordering any exterior body part.
Do I need to drill holes into my truck for "Pocket Style" flares?
No, the bolts are cosmetic.
The rugged stainless steel bolts you see on the outside of premium Bushwacker or LUND flares are purely decorative. They do not penetrate your truck's fender. The flares themselves mount securely using the pre-existing factory holes located just inside the wheel well lip. You get that aggressive, industrial "bolted" look without ever damaging your factory sheet metal.
Why does my window bounce back down after installing In-Channel visors?
It is the factory Safety Sensor.
Modern RAM windows feature a highly sensitive "pinch protection" safety feature. When you first install In-Channel visors (like those from AVS), the extra thickness of the plastic sitting inside the window channel can momentarily trick the truck into thinking it hit an obstruction (like a hand).
The Fix: Install the visors, roll the window up slowly (gently helping the glass up with your hand if needed), and leave the window closed for 24–48 hours. This allows the factory rubber weather seal to compress and permanently "learn" the new shape.
Customize the exterior.
Protect your expensive paint, widen your stance, and sharpen the look. Shop our verified collection of premium 2019–2026 RAM 1500 Exterior Accessories.