May switch to cummins
 

I know Im in a biased room, but my Dmax has been alot of troubles this past 9 months Ive owned it (head gaskets, wheel bearings, etc), and I LOVE the comfortable interior, but I want better mpg and a better built truck.

SO, do the dodges hold up well? Looking probably 03ish-05ish, or I may get a gen2 24v, I dont want a loud engine like that, but they seem to be very well built. I will tow a 5th wheel trailer, a 21' boat, and do a bunch of freeway cruising. This dmax mileage drops off a cliff after you pass 68mph and I like to go 75-80, dodges the same way?

Opinions on best year, and durability?

Thanks a bunch.

I have the 05 and if you go that route, avoid year. I think it's the only year they didn't put an overdrive lockout on it. I just have a tow/haul button. It stinks. From what I've heard the older ones have it and it was put back on in 06. Just FYI if you tow a lot.

You can't beat the engine but the "exterior" seems to go just like any other. Some are luckier than others. I haven't had problems with this one..yet. My 94 (it was getting old) seemed lose something every other month.

You are correct in giving up some comfort. You can beat the chevy ride.
Best of luck.

I have had an 05 dodge and an 06 LBZ and to be honest there is really no difference in them quality wise, power in my LBZ is higher, but the both pull well

Mileage will drop in any vehicle if you go past 65mpg, its the laws of physics, wind resistance goes up exponentially the faster you go

I get 22mpg in my 06 with a 365rwhp tune, I couldnt get that from my 05 cummins.. best i got was 20

My opinon is your going to have problems with any hd truck like bearings and u-joints its more of your preferance im a mopar guy thru and thru and you cant beat a I-6 and i like the solid front axle and a manual compared to the chevy. But its all personal preference.:pca1:

Brite, 22mpg out of the dmax? this is hand calculated? Thats a freak of nature, most wont touch that, mine gets 17ish hwy going 65mph hand calculated.

I just want something durable and long lasting, and so far GM isnt it..

I paid over $1500 in parts for the front end of my Dodge, as well as replaced all u-joints, and front driveshaft, $4000 to replace a stock transmission

havn't spent a penny on any of the drive train on my GM, i replaced the HG's on my truck for $630 and my own labor, and thats it

Yes 22mpg, and yes its Hand Calculated, on the norm i get 18mpg mixed hwy and town with a heavy right foot, but I try to keep my speed below 70mph and that makes all the difference in the world(just so you know that before I tuned my truck I was only getting 13-17mpgs, the tuning made the biggest difference!)

For those that hate on the IFS, I have no issues with mine, 120k miles and no problems, no u-joints, no wheel bearings, no tie-rods, nothing, it has been flawless

IMHO all of them will give you problems, I have nothing against the dodge, I liked mine, but i love how smooth, quiet and powerful, and cheap to keep running this truck has been, and the comfort in the GM is much better, i can drive long distances without sever back pain now

If you hate your GM, switch by all means, I'm just giving my experience, to each their own, You asked and I gave you real world comparisons not hear-say from my cousins cousins friends dad:c:

maybe I need to look into a different tuning setup if I keep it. I have a guy coming to look it over sunday again. I love the comfort, but Ive spent a ton on it, I guess I know what I have now eh, if the tranny goes Im lighting it on fire and claiming insurance. haha.

What all done to your rig?

Thanks

Redneck straight pipe, Egr blocked, PPE airbox mod, and Efi live with a file from DURAMAXTUNER.COM | Custom Tuned DSP5 ECM's, EFILive and more. Fast, Friendly & Affordable!, 365rwhp(65 over stock) with turbine braking script, that's it

It doesn't smoke like a train, it just goes, and the trans hasn't limped even a little yet, If the trans goes, you can always build it and then you know you have a truck that will take anything you throw at it:pca1:

I dont want the trans to go, they are effin expensive, haha.

Re: May switch to cummins
 

Trans is the weak link on a Ram but at almost 200k my 99 is still strong and its had a tuner on it at least 4 years! I did a wheel bearing last summer. Was around 250$ super easy to do though. Parts are gonna wear and cost more then a For Focus because its made to pull 13k # at least. Its how you take care of it and treat it. Many have Vp44 issues with 24v trucks BUT there are allot of people who even when tuning it get 200k + from a vp44. I run 2 stroke oil and makes my pump soooo happy!
You can't beat a Cummins for power potential and reliablility. I can't say much for other brands. I like the chevy's they are sharp but I've heard engine nightmares!
Plus my grandpa only buys chevy trucks and has had more and more issues with them latley. Although that's 1/2 ton it still worries me.

Just my 2 cents

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

Ive just seen an LMM(2008) gm that has almost 400k miles on it and they guy has had no issues, and all he does it hotshot campers across country, towing heavy 75% of the time

Care to elaborate on these engine nightmares you speak of?:c:

The transmission in a dodge is going to be just as expensive to build as the transmission in a chevy:hellox:

take it for what its worth but i would go with a cummins, mine is a 05 with a 6 speed in it and i love it.

a friend of mine worked at a junk yard in Johnstown Pa. every time a wrecked Duramax came in it was gone if not the same day the next one. Guys were gettin like 150K on em and the cranks bustin in 2. take it for what its worth

I have only heard of one case of a duramax breaking a crank and it was hooked to a sled and turning 4000rpm at 700hp when it broke, there are plenty of stock trucks with well over 150k miles and no problems

CR cummmins crack injector tips with too much heat and injection timing, thats fairly common:tu: take it for what its worth :pca1:

i dunno bud just what i was told :c:

never heard of a cummins crackin injector tips. only duramaxes with the injector cups leakin. the early 04's into 05 cummins had injector problems to

So, what about the older cummins, say from mid 90's up to the 03's?

Anything to be wary of there? Other than the auto trans being weak?

IMO, it's all sixes... (6 to one, 1/2 dozen to another)

I'm a Chev truck fan by heart but talked myself into the Dodge because of the Cummins. In the last year I have lost the trans, both wheel bearings and the lift pump. The wipers have a mind of their own, the heater blows out every vent no matter what setting etc, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I really like my Dodge but I always wonder if I should have bought a DMax... Or at least a manual! Every truck is going to have it's pluses and minuses. You find the truck where the pluses are bigger and the minuses are smaller in your mind and you run with it. At the end of the day, it's still a piece of machinery that is going to break down on occasion.:tu:

I sold my dmax today, want an older dodge so I can pay cash for it. What do I want to beware of in the older than 05 cummins rigs?

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Any of them better than others, or anything to stay away from? Probably be '03 and older.

Thank you

98.5-02 had injector pump issues but with a after market lift pump like airdog or fass your good to go

be sure to have cash in pocket to replace all the front end parts and u-joints :tu:

Im broke after spending all my money keeping that chevy going for the last 9 months :s:

an older truck can be just as much hassle, at least you knew what you had with the Chev, now you get a new bag of mixed nuts....:c:

Thats ok, at least it will be what I wanted to get in the first place. I work at a manufacturing company, and I dont see any dmax's coming in to haul for us, probably 99% cummins and 1%powerstroke. :tu:

I owned an '03 Dodge (3500 SLT QCSB) and it was a great truck, but I needed something to haul a toyhauler, and this wasn't going to be it.

Best mileage is in the '03 and '04 model years, but the 250hp motors in the '03 trucks need a bit more power ... which was what I had.




Kris

I would just stick with the GM and get an 06 and up LBZ or LMM. You have one of the last years of Dmaxs that had major drivetrain problems. And you'll be gettin a much stronger auto tranny than with the Dodge. Throw a Transgo Jr. on with a good tow/economy tune and I doubt you would ever have any problems with it.

If you do get a Cummins, heres what you're looking at. It'll be a good truck too but Ill list the major problems each generation had. 98.5-02's have lift pump/injector pump problems, a good aftermarket lift pump and fuel pressure gauge can help that out though. some 03-07 commonrails do have injector problems like BriteWhiteRam said, its not every one, but when you do have to replace them, its 3-4k for a full set. Also, I dont think that the 48RE is as strong as the Allison in stock form.

Just my .02

Im actually going to buy a 98 12valve quad cab short box 2500, in great shape and lower miles tomorrow. :c:

awesome make sure ya get us some pics!:jump::jump::rocking:

I shall! Hoping he comes through today, waiting to hear from him.

I would personallly stay away from the auto, but i know people that have had great luck with the dodge auto's. I am a firm believer in the cummins engine and love everything about them. The front ends tend to wear ball joints out but thats the nature of the beast, all in what you want out of a rig and what badge you like sporting.

its a 5speed.

The guy is having a hard time getting his wife to sign the title off until she gets a new car, so new truck this weekend for me, grrr. :td:

Damn women... :tttt:

yep, Im kinda pissed, I am vehicleless until he gets this taken care of.

Being pissed isn't going to get her to move any faster... It's just life. Congrats on the new-to-you truck! I can't wait to see pics.:rocking:

I told him we have a deal, Ill wait. Hopefully they find her a rig soon, its supposed to snow here and Im stuck with my works 2wd 212k miles 99 f150

Sounds like a sweet truck you found! How many miles are on it if you dont mind me askin.

when I test drove it, the odo was at 133k

It looks like this

http://johnvh.smugmug.com/Other/Vehi...22_wMjg2-O.gif

:c::c::c::c::c::c::c::c::c:

This is my first post here, I just sold my 2006 Superduty and bought a '97 Dodge 12v 3500. The main factors were the price of registration, insurance, and in California we now have to smog cert 1998 und up Diesel pick-ups. I will be picking up my new (old) truck on Saturday and let the mods begin. I have to have it ready to tow a 33' Fithwheel toyhauler by the end of the summer.

Congrats dude :choochoo:

Get the Cummins.

I had the '03 and loved it.

Ran great up until I made the biggest mistake of my life and traded it in May 2006 for an '06 F150 with 96k on the clicker.

What caused you to trade in the first place?