2nd Gen Cummins

[Cascadia]

I'm thinking about picking up a new (to me) truck and I'm leaning towards a Cummins. The truck will be used for work to haul my trailer and when my wife and I pick up a camp trailer soon it will also be used for that. When I eventually have a crawler again, it will also be used for hauling that around. I don't want to spend a lot of money on one. Somewhere around $10k or less would be nice. I want to get a 2500 but I'm new to the whole Dodge and diesel thing. What should I be looking for in a truck?

What years are best?
Which is better, 12v or 24v and why?
Is auto or manual better and more reliable? If manual, 5 spd or 6 spd?
How many miles are too many miles?
Anything else to look for or that I need to know?

 

[TRD270]

I'm a big fan of the 12V, good mileage, reliable and all mechanical. 94-early 98. The 98 has the updated interior that was used until I believe 01 or 02. I've had 3 12V and I did have a significantly better mileage out of the 5 speeds, I had one auto, the only benefit was during down or up shifting the turbo stays spooled up so you don't have the power drop on shifts like the 5 speed. But on the same note the dodge auto's aren't exactly famous for there durability. 5th gear also likes to come loose on the NV4500, but still more reliable than the auto.

As far as how many miles are two many, my work ran one cummins up to 800,000 without a rebuild, it ran like crap but it still ran. The cummins is pretty solid up to about 400,000. I sold my first one at 380k and it was still running like a champ, the only thing you have to look out for on the 12V with a lot of miles, is the front cover on the motor has a pin that can work loose and drop into the mechanicals of the front of the motor and bad things happen. It is a well known problem and a lot of people have already pulled the cover off and fixed it. So just ask the previous owner about it if you go with the 12V.

If you go with a 24V they do have the plug and play power upgrade of a ECU tuner, and the last few years of the 2 gen did come with a 6 speed. The 12V are also easy to get more power out of simply by moving the fuel plate forward, takes about 20min to add free power.

Me personally I will probably never own anything but a 12V. Solid, reliable, better mileage, and I think they sound better

 

[Cascadia]

Thanks for the input TRD. Sounds like you know your way around one. what kind of mileage do these get around town, on the road, and pulling a 5k pound trailer on the road?

Anyone else have input for me?

 

[pELYgroso]

I did a lot of research before I bought my '95 Ford PSD. I was torn between the 12V and the 7.3 PSD. I'd probably rather have the 12V engine, but the truck part of the Ford made my decision. I wanted a 4 door longbed. Ford made enough of the crew cab long beds that they're easy to find for sale for a reasonable price. Dodge did make an extended cab w/ opening doors AND the 12V but only for 1/2 a year in '98 and IF you can find one they go for $$$$! Also the Ford 5 speed is supposedly a more durable tranny than the Dodge 5 speed. I found that the Fords are also a lot more comfortable, especially if you're putting a car seat in the back, but even the front seats are comfier! The 7.3 is a pretty bullet-proof, and with my 5-speed I get 16-17mpg w/ mixed use, usually around 500 lbs of tools, etc at least in the bed always. For a work truck (which mine is) the Ford bodies are also a bit more durable (I've read) and mine has proven to be pretty dent-proof-ish. I've bumped it pretty good a few times w/ lumber or whatever w/ no damage. If you can find a '98 12V with the quad cab, that would be SWEET but you may have to travel to find one. I could go on and on, but I'll leave it at this for now.

 

[Rot Box]

Early 98 gets you the 12v with a quad cab--but they are getting hard to find! :-\

They're all good trucks imo, but I prefer the 12v with a 5 speed. I loved my 01 24v (auto) but I didn't trust it the way I did my 92 12v (5 speed) simply because of all the electronics and the injector pump. That said engine wise I had almost no trouble with mine and in one summer it went from the coast of Maine to the coast of Oregon without so much as a hiccup.

The VP44 injector pump on the 98-02 24valves are more of a concern to me than anything and when they fail you are dead in the water almost instantly (whereas the mechanical pumps just get weaker over time). If ran on low or no fuel pressure for even a couple of minutes they are toast and at $1200+ they are not cheap to replace and I've seen it more times than I can count. I would have a FASS or AIRDOG system with a fuel pressure gauge if I owned one again. The automatic transmissions also don't have a great reputation, but as long as they are in good shape to begin with you'd be fine as long as you don't add gobs of horsepower to the motor and IF you keep it COOL. Also do a search for "53" block on Google. I've seen this disaster a few times as well... Nothing says drained bank account like a cracked Cummins block

As for the 12valves the engine has almost zero issues other than the KDP (killer dowel pin) and neglect and/or excessive heat. 4wd front end components on both trucks are troublesome.

Miles do not matter to me on a diesel truck. I don't say that because they are durable--I say that because a neglected diesel even with low miles can be your worst nightmare. A cold start can tell you a lot along with a long test ride. Hope this helps,

Andrew

PS decide NOW if you need or will ever need a true 4 door. I found out the hard way long after I fell desperately in love with my 92 and it was a sad day when I let that one go lol.

 

[Trate D]

Have you personally seen or had issues with the "53" block? Yes there has been a few more failures then a non "53". But it's not an epidemic of cracked blocks. Both blocks can crack given certain situations. I have a 99 ctd "53" block and have had it for 75,000 miles. I have had it running mid 12 second quarter miles, and towing a jeep for 6 years. All with no issues I have plenty of power upgrades but know when and how to use them. As for a casting defect yea it's been confirmed, will everyone you see crack not a chance! That's my 2 cents...

 

[Rot Box]

Have you personally seen or had issues with the "53" block?

Yep its rare but it happens.

 

[STAG]

What'd you say Tyson? Sorry I can't hear you over this noisy dodge.

Really though, they are reliable motors. We had one at work with about 350k and still running strong. Loud, obnoxious, uncomfortable, scary brakes (tried everything we could including replacing EVERY component of the brake system but with a bobcat 300 behind you and a rotomill in the bed, keep your distance between you and the car ahead of you. But that's only my experience with the 12v.

 

[Cascadia]

It seems like what I'm getting from all of this is they are great trucks but only if I luck out and find one that has already had the problems taken care of. Not sure I want to luck out with a good one. And I do need the quad cab for a baby seat. Baby seat would only be in there for the road trips. I really like the Cummins cause it seems "smaller" than the other trucks in the category. Should I be looking for something else or is there something more reliable?

 

[TRD270]

The 12V's are great but they do have their fair share of issues, not so much with the motor but more with the rest of the truck. 2nd gen dodges go through front brakes pretty quickly and they are a pita to keep aligned. As previously stated, you will pay through the nose to get a 98 extended cab. The body and the interior tend to fall apart a lot faster than fords, as well as the paint fading or flaking off. I never had any of the afore mentioned scary experiences towing, I pulled lots of different rigs down to Moab and can say I was never scared. My 5 speed would get around 17 MPG towing and up to about 21-22 just rolling around. I didn't tow very much with my Auto and I can't remember the mileage, but I did get about 16-17 around town.

I don't know a whole lot about the same era Fords but the 4 doors are a lot easier to come by, and they do have a nicer interior, they also seem to hold up better as far as the bodies are concerned. And from what I understand the front end is a lot easier to maintain.

Never had a ford diesel i've always been partial to the cummins, but if I had my way I would buy a 94-97 ford, run it until it was dead then drop a 12V in it and get the best of both worlds :thumbs:, Like I said i'm partial to cummins but I did like the comfort of my 96 for gasser more.

 

[skippy]

I dont know how heavy you plan on towing but I would make sure you got an 01-02 24v with the nv5600 wich only came in the high output models in the 24v trucks. I have a truck with an nv5600 and my dad has an 02 with the nv4500 and when pulling heavy he really wishes his gears were closer together. I would go with the 24 valve for towing they just seem to run better.

No matter what you go with you will enjoy it the 12 valves and 24 valves are both dead reliable

 

[Cascadia]

I will be towing my enclosed worth trailer everyday of the week. It is probably only 2k-2.5k loaded. And we are looking for a camper in the under 6k lb range.

 

[Rot Box]

Should I be looking for something more reliable?

Um I'm not sure there is such a thing...

That said I LOVE my old Ford!

 

[Cascadia]

Guess I'll keep looking then. So what years have the quad cab (rear opening doors), whether it's a 24v or 12v? How do you tell if it is a HO motor other than the owner telling you?

 

[TRD270]

Guess I'll keep looking then. So what years have the quad cab (rear opening doors), whether it's a 24v or 12v? How do you tell if it is a HO motor other than the owner telling you?

98-02 I believe

 

[Houndoc]

Only caution I would give is with our Ram 2500 ('05) is we have been fighting with front-end issues. About 18 months ago required major overhual for death wobble. Truck had about 91k miles on it then. Then last Saturday had a tie rod end completely snap- only about 35,000 miles on it.

 

[STAG]

Only caution I would give is with our Ram 2500 ('05) is we have been fighting with front-end issues. About 18 months ago required major overhual for death wobble. Truck had about 91k miles on it then. Then last Saturday had a tie rod end completely snap- only about 35,000 miles on it.

Fwiw I just have to say, that KC's '05 2500 has 130k and has had zero front end issues.

 

[STAG]

Btw Tyson if you're I interested in something that new, KC is open to selling his cummins dodge.

 

[Cascadia]

Text me the details and how much he might want out of it. I've actually driven his tuick before. I liked it.

 

[skippy]

My dodge is nearing 150k and I just barely replaced the balljoints other than that not a single front end issue