There are three ways a new Ram ends up in your driveway from Beadle’s Chrysler Center: it’s already on our lot when you walk in, it’s coming in on factory allocation in the next few weeks, or you place a custom order and we build it from scratch. Each path makes sense for a different buyer, and knowing which one fits your situation can save you a month of shopping and a lot of compromise.
This guide breaks down all three sourcing paths — what’s actually different about each one, when to choose which, and how Beadle’s allocates inventory across the three so the right truck shows up at the right time for the right customer.
On This Page
- The Three Ways Beadle’s Sources Your New Ram
- Lot Stock: What’s on the Ground Today
- Allocation: What’s Coming in the Next 30 to 90 Days
- Custom Order: A Truck Built to Your Spec
- How Beadle’s Decides What to Stock vs. Order
- Quick Reference: Which Sourcing Path Fits Your Plan?
- How to Pick the Right Sourcing Path
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Three Ways Beadle’s Sources Your New Ram?
Lot stock is the simplest: the truck is physically on our lot in Bowdle right now, you can drive it today, and you take delivery this week. Allocation is the middle path: the truck is built and shipping or scheduled for production, with a known arrival window, and you reserve it before it lands. Custom order is the patient path: we build the truck to your exact spec through the Stellantis configuration system, and you wait roughly 12 weeks for it to come together.
Most metro dealers lean heavily on lot stock because their customer base wants same-week delivery on common configurations. Beadle’s mixes all three because our customer base is split between “I need it now” lot-stock buyers and “I want exactly this” custom-order buyers, with allocation filling the middle of the schedule.
When Does Lot Stock Make the Most Sense?
Lot stock is the right answer when you need a truck this week, you’re flexible on configuration, and what’s on our lot already lines up with your spec. Most popular configurations — Ram 1500 Big Horn or Laramie crew cabs in common colors, Ram 2500 crew cabs with diesel and tow packages, Ram 3500 dually configurations — show up on our lot regularly because we know what our customers buy.
If you walk in with a list of must-haves and we can match it to a truck on the ground, lot stock saves you 4 to 12 weeks compared to the other two paths. Pricing and incentives are applied at purchase, so what you see on the window sticker is what you sign. Trade-in evaluation happens the same day. You drive home in the truck.
Where lot stock falls short is when you need a specific configuration that we don’t currently stock. We can sometimes find it through a dealer trade — a swap with another Stellantis dealer who has your exact build — but that adds days or weeks and isn’t always possible. If the configuration is unusual or the timing’s tight, allocation or custom order is usually the better play.
How Does Factory Allocation Work?
Stellantis allocates new Ram production to dealers based on sales history, market demand, and a complex formula we don’t fully control. We see our incoming allocation in 30-, 60-, and 90-day windows — meaning we know which trucks are scheduled for production and when they’ll land at our lot.
If a customer comes in looking for a configuration that’s not on the lot today but matches an allocation truck coming in 4 to 6 weeks, we can reserve that allocation truck for you. You sign a reservation, lock in pricing at allocation time, and the truck is held for you when it arrives. Pricing on allocation reservations is locked at the date we assign the truck to you, not delivery.
A Note on Allocation Visibility
Allocation visibility goes out about 90 days, so we can usually tell you what’s likely coming. The closer you are to your decision, the more confidently we can match you to a specific incoming truck. If you’re 2 weeks away from a buying decision, allocation is often a stronger play than custom order.
Allocation is best when your spec is common enough that one is already in production for our region — most Ram 1500 configurations, common 2500/3500 builds — but specific enough that we don’t have it on the ground today. It’s a middle path between “settle for what’s here” and “wait 12 weeks for custom.”
Best for / Not ideal for
Best for: buyers with a 4- to 12-week runway whose spec is common enough to be in Stellantis production for our region. Not ideal for: buyers needing a truck this week, or buyers with an unusual spec that production likely won’t pick up — custom order is the cleaner path. Verify what’s actually coming on Stellantis allocation by calling 605-460-6254 with your exact spec.
When Is Custom Order the Right Path?
Custom order is the right path when you’ve spec’d out exactly what you want, that spec doesn’t appear in lot stock or allocation, and you’re willing to wait roughly 12 weeks to get it built from scratch. Most custom orders we write are HD configurations with specific package combinations, unusual color and trim pairings, or 1500 builds with options that don’t typically come through allocation.
The order itself is a 60- to 90-minute appointment to build the configuration in the Stellantis system, lock in MSRP, and submit. From there, we send you status updates as the truck moves through order accepted, scheduled, in production, shipped, and ready for pickup. Pricing is locked at MSRP at order time; manufacturer rebates and incentives apply based on what’s available at delivery.
For the full custom-order workflow — including what to decide before you call us, the build window timeline, and what to expect on pickup day — read our complete guide to custom-ordering a new Ram from Beadle’s.
How Does Beadle’s Decide What to Stock vs. Order?
Our lot mix is built around what our customers actually buy, not a generic playbook. The configurations we stock most often are the ones that move quickly enough to justify keeping them on the ground: HD diesel crew cabs with tow packages, Ram 1500 Big Horn and Laramie crew cabs in popular colors, dually 3500s for ag and recreational tow buyers, and a steady rotation of 2500s in working configurations.
For trims and options that don’t move as fast — Tradesman work specs, special editions, low-volume color and option combinations — we lean on allocation and custom order rather than tying up lot inventory in a configuration that takes 90 days to sell.
What most buyers overlook about sourcing
The biggest mistake first-time Ram buyers make is assuming lot stock is always the best deal. For common configurations it usually is, because incentives often hit lot stock harder than custom orders. But for an unusual spec, fighting to find a lot truck that “almost” matches your needs typically costs more in compromises than the 4 to 12 weeks of waiting for allocation or custom would have. The right question isn’t “what’s in stock?” — it’s “which path fits my actual spec and timeline?”
Which Sourcing Path Fits Your Plan?
| Consideration | Lot Stock | Allocation | Custom Order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to truck | Same week | 4 to 12 weeks | ~12 weeks |
| Configuration match | What’s here | Common builds in production | Exactly your spec |
| Price lock timing | At purchase | At allocation reservation | At order submission |
| Incentive timing | At purchase | At delivery | At delivery |
| Best fit | Common configs, tight timeline | Common spec, 4-12 week runway | Specific spec, patient buyer |
Best for lot stock: buyers who need a truck this week and don’t mind picking from what’s here.
Best for allocation: buyers with a 4- to 12-week runway who want a common configuration without compromise.
Best for custom: buyers who know exactly what they want and won’t settle for “close enough.”
How to Pick the Right Sourcing Path for Your Ram
Picking the right sourcing path is mostly about answering three questions honestly. Here’s the order to work through them.
- Define your spec: Model, trim, cab, bed, engine, drivetrain, color, packages. The more specific, the easier each subsequent step gets.
- Set your timeline: This week, this month, in 4 to 6 weeks, in 3 months. Be honest with yourself — and with us — about when you actually need the truck.
- Call us: 605-460-6254. Tell us your spec and your timeline and we’ll match you to the right path. If we have it on the lot, we’ll tell you. If a 6-week allocation truck matches, we’ll tell you. If only custom works, we’ll tell you that too.
- Walk through the path: Lot stock means a same-day appointment. Allocation means a reservation paperwork sit-down. Custom means a 60-90 minute order appointment.
- Track the truck (if applicable): For allocation and custom, we send updates as your truck moves through the build and shipping stages. For lot stock, we just hand you the keys.
Key Takeaways
- Beadle’s sources new Rams three ways: lot stock (same-week), factory allocation (4 to 12 weeks), and custom order (~12 weeks).
- Lot stock is best for common configurations and tight timelines; allocation is best when your spec is common but not on the ground today; custom is best for specific builds you won’t compromise on.
- Pricing locks at different times for each path: lot stock at purchase, allocation at reservation, custom at order submission. Incentives apply at delivery for allocation and custom.
- Our lot mix leans heavily on configurations our customers actually buy: HD diesel crew cabs, popular Ram 1500 trims, dually 3500s, working 2500s.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between lot stock, allocation, and custom order?
Lot stock is on the ground at Beadle’s right now and you can drive it home this week. Allocation is a truck Stellantis is building or shipping for our region — you reserve it 4 to 12 weeks before delivery. Custom order is a truck we build to your exact spec from scratch, with a roughly 12-week timeline from order to pickup.
How far ahead can Beadle’s see incoming Ram allocation?
We have visibility into Stellantis allocation about 90 days out. The closer the truck is to delivery, the more confidently we can match you to a specific incoming unit. Call us with your spec and we’ll tell you what’s coming and when.
Can I reserve an allocation truck before it arrives?
Yes. If we have an allocation truck coming that matches your spec, we can reserve it for you with a paperwork sit-down. Pricing locks at allocation reservation, the truck is held for you when it arrives, and you take delivery the day it lands at our lot.
Is lot stock always the best deal?
Not always. Lot stock often gets the strongest current incentives, which makes it a great deal for common configurations. But if your spec doesn’t match anything on the lot, fighting to find a “close enough” truck typically costs more in compromise than waiting for allocation or custom would. Match the path to your spec, not the other way around.
Can I do a dealer trade if Beadle’s doesn’t have my spec on the lot?
Sometimes. Dealer trades work when another Stellantis dealer has your exact spec and is willing to swap. They add days or weeks to the timeline and aren’t always possible. We’re happy to look — but for unusual specs, allocation or custom is usually the cleaner path.
Do incentives differ between sourcing paths?
Manufacturer rebates and incentives are applied at the time of delivery, regardless of sourcing path. For lot stock, that’s the day you sign. For allocation and custom, that’s the day your truck arrives at our lot. We track every stackable rebate you qualify for and apply them at delivery.
My Take on Choosing the Right Sourcing Path
The single most useful conversation I have with new Ram buyers is the sourcing-path conversation — usually 10 minutes on the phone, sometimes less. We talk through your spec, your timeline, and your appetite for waiting versus your willingness to compromise. By the end, you know whether you’re a lot-stock buyer, an allocation buyer, or a custom-order buyer, and we both know what the next step looks like.
For ag operators who already know their spec — Cummins crew cab with a specific tow package — we usually find allocation works best. The build is common enough to be in production for our region but specific enough that we don’t always have it on the lot. For families shopping for a 1500, lot stock often wins because the popular trims rotate through quickly. For unusual specs and patient buyers, custom is the cleanest answer.
If you’d like the broader picture of buying a new Ram from Beadle’s — including custom orders in detail, what’s currently in stock, and how cross-state buying works — read our complete guide to new Ram trucks for sale in South Dakota. And if you’re ready for the sourcing conversation, give us a jingle at 605-460-6254.
About the Author
Lexy Tabbert — Beadle’s Chrysler Center, Bowdle, SD
Lexy Tabbert is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Beadle’s Chrysler Center in Bowdle, South Dakota. She covers Ram, Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler vehicles — helping families, ranchers, and ag operators across the region find the right truck and configuration for their needs. Learn more about Lexy.
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