Hey guys, I'm new to this forum and new to diesels. Actually new to trucks in general. I'm 17 and I'll be looking to buy my long term truck sometime next year. I currently have a 2000/1 Ford Expedition.

I'm pretty head set on buying a Cummins. I plan on buying a 2500 4x4 but I'm unsure of what year is going to have the least issues. I don't know too much about trucks and I'm not going act like I do, . I plan on putting a small suspension lift at some point.

It's going to need to stand up to decent drives as I'll be vising my family often. Anywhere from a 2 to 8 hour drive. I also need something that can handle a trailer without it being an ordeal. I'm just talking about to two-axle, bumper pull, two horse slant load horse trailer with tack room, loaded with one horse usually, two occasionally. These would be one or two hour hauls at most.

I don't mind having a few parts changed to be sure that I won't run into problems later.

 

2002 is still a 24v so it would be the same as the 98.5 through 2002. 2003 went to a common rail high pressure fuel system. More reliable put more expensive to fix when something does break. Do you want an auto or stick?

 

Automatic for sure, I can't drive a stick haha.

 

Driving a stick is alot more fun! The autos are not the greatest in these trucks but on a mostly stock truck it will be just fine. They start getting unhappy once you start adding power. Is there a reason you said 2002-2012? 2002 is the last year of the second gen body style and there is a big price difference from a 2002 to 2012. Narrow down what you want a little more. How much are you thinking to spend? Quad cab? Regular cab? Long bed? Short Bed? You gonna leave it mostly stock besides a lift?

 

Oh I meant 2003 then! I'm looking for the newer body style is why I chose those years. I know body style isn't the most important thing but, you know. Haha! I sas actually looking at any kind of four door although I would love a mega cab. I'm thinking $30,000 for a budget. I plan on saving a large down payment of at least $10,000 then financing the rest. I plan to leave it stock aside from the lift and maybe larger tires. 38s maybe? The only engine changes I'd make would be for the benefit of keeping it running, not extra power. I don't really go off-roading or anything.

 

We all wish we could have a Mega cab . Remember larger tires hurt MPGs and also will lift the trailer up at a weird angle. You can do a big drop hitch to keep the trailer level. It will be hard to tell lift and tires until you get a truck. I wouldnt look at anything past 2007. Will keep costs down and you wont be stuck with all the emissions crap on the 6.7 Cummins. 2007 was the last year for the 5.9. No matter what you get do a cold air intake, bigger exhaust, and some kind of tuner. With a stock auto I wouldnt push the tuner too high but a mild tune will help raise the power a little and boost the MPGs. Just try to get the lowest miles possible and one that is as close to stock as possible. That way you dont have to guess how the person who owned before modified and drove it.

 

Awesome, thank you! I was looking at a 2008 until I read about all the emissions crap. That helps a lot. At how many miles should I expect issues from a Cummins?

 

Thats a very opened ended question. It all depends on the history of the truck. A street driven Cummins wont need ball joints as fast as one driven on dirt roads. A Cummins that is well taken care of can go hundreds of thousands of miles before it has an issue where as one beat to hell by the previous owner may need alot of things fixed as soon as it rolls off the lot. Change the fluids, dont be abusive, and it will last forever.

 

Thank you a bunch. That helped!

 

Glad to help