It looks like this might be the year we upgrade our 3500. As much as we love it, I've convinced my wife that we should go up to a 4500. I found out that they stopped making them in 2009 - which is fine, I don't mind that. What I was wondering is if anyone knew what year is the best for them. Like I said, we currently have a 2004 3500 Dually, and I've been through the injector fiasco and would not like to go through it again, so I am leary about another 2004. Also does anyone know of or can reccomend a dealership that may carry one or two? We've found a place in Ohio, but at the moment, we're in the Southern States (Florida, N.C).

 

have you drove one of those truck before?

 

We haven't yet - that is why we've been looking for someone near us with one for sale to take it for a test ride. I know they ride rougher unloaded than our Silverado, but with the air ride rear suspension and seats it should soften it a bit. And a majority of he time we'll have the 5r hooked to it. Have you driven one?

 

i drive a couple of them on a regular basis, and have worked on them. Im pretty sure i know why GM stopped production of them. Seems somthing is allways wrong with the ones i drive. The ones i drive are 4x4s with all spring suspensions and they ride like crap. I had driven a 2wd one but it was also spring suspension and it also did not ride good at all. The seats in them also make them by far the worst thing i've ever driven. If you need a class 4 or 5 truck i would seriously consider a ford or dodge.

 

Thanks for the feedback. What issues are you dealing with? What years are they? I currently have a 04 and just had the injectors replaced and am now dealing with a bad instrument cluster. We test drove the ford - wife didn't like it. She said she felt like it was all over the road. I've driven the dodge and liked it. Wife wants to get into something bigger - until we drive one and she doesn't like it LOL

 

both of them had the wiring harness rub on the pass side which caused transmission issues until we found the bare wires. both of them had the abs and brake lights on constantly have replaced everything lights are still on. both of them wont reset the fuel filter light on the dash or the oil change light we have tried several times to clear them out with no luck. they both vibrate and shake going down the road as well as wander all over the place. one had the water level sensor go out and killed it while driving down the road which could have really sucked if it had been loaded. water pumps on both of them have been changed along with fan clutch on one. these are 08 and 09 years

 

holy crap! I appreciate the feedback. we'll definately stay away from those years! do you pull trailers or have them loaded down? Do they handle any different loaded?

 

they are loaded with service bed / booms so they are fairly heavy but the front ends in them just seem to be junk they both popped and creaked when they were brand new. i've not really noticed much difference in the years they seem to all have similar problems. i sure wouldnt want to take off on a 1000 mile trip in one at all.

 

Good to know. We'll be hooking it up to the fifth wheel and hitting the road with it until next winter.

 

if thats what i was going to do, then a kodiak would likly be my last choice. have you considered the smaller freightliner and international trucks?