Dodge Ram Questions?

[greenjeep]

After many years of wanting, I am finally in the serious market for a diesel tow rig. I am looking at getting a mid-2000s Dodge Ram 2500, auto, four-door, short bed. And I have a couple questions as to what to look for, or to avoid.

-- First question is about the transmission: what years were good what years were bad, financially speaking I can probably only afford an ‘03 to ‘05 truck.

-- Second question is 2x4 versus 4x4, now before everybody throws a fit let me explain. My biggest reason for buying a 2x4 is height of the truck. Because of my disability it is difficult for me to get into a tall vehicle (I already have to use a step stool to get into my Jeep!). So I want a truck that I can get in and out of it easily and 4 wheel drives seemed too tall for that. Secondly, I live in Moab and really don't see that much snow and ice, plus I'll rarely be towing during the winter months. Trust me when I say it goes against everything that I stand for to buy a non-4x4 truck, but I have to be practical in my needs versus my wants.

-- Third question is do miles really matter that much since after all it is a diesel, I figure for what I can afford I'm probably looking in the 150-200,000 mile range.

Anything else I should be aware of or know about?

Thanks in advance!

David

 

[greenjeep]

Anybody?

 

[Skylinerider]

FWIW my dad is disabled and has the same trouble getting into higher vehicles. He can't get into my jeep without a step stool. He recently got an 04 Dodge dual cab, short bed 4x4. He had the dealer install some side steps, and can get in just fine. They sit pretty low in stock form from the start, but he felt he needed the extra step, and he probably does.

 

[greenjeep]

Good to know, thanks.

 

[LT.]

Some how I missed this post before. I can understand needing a two wheel drive truck. Lack of snow and your concern of you getting in and out of it. So, lets be practical. If you go for the 2wd you will spend less money on the truck and maybe you could even swing a truck that is newer due to not spending the extra for the 4x4. Mileage is still a concern with any Diesel. Not so much due to the motor but the usage and the tranny. As a rule of thumb auto trannys don't last as long behind a Diesel as they do behind a gas motor. Diesels make so much power it is far to easy to over load the truck and still pull it. This puts an added strain on the tranny that will cause its untimely demise. Anyone who owns a modern turbo Diesel has done it and some of us did not think about it too much before we did it. I would avoid an 03 Dodge due to the older auto tranny. The tranny in those rigs was a 47RE or a 47RH. Also there were two engines offered during the 03 model year. One was a 235 hp and the other was a 305 hp. The 305 was only offered in the manual tranny until 2004. In 2004 you see a model 48 tranny which was better but, still not without worry. In 2006 there was an added feature on the trannys. They added a Tow/Haul mode along with the OD override. Mid year in 2004 you could get a more powerful motor. 325 hp was offered then and stayed until 2006. Mid year 2007 came the 6.7 Cummins and another tranny. The 68 model tranny is a good tranny behind the Diesel but the 2007.5 engine was a problem. If you are willing to spend some money on the 6.7 it can be made into a powerful and reliable performer. The new emmisions equipment was the death of the 6.7.

Now, let's talk about the manual trannys. Just in case you think about them. In 2003 you could get the NV-5600 tranny. Great tranny and can hold up to the torque of the turbo Diesel as long as you don't modify the engine too much. In 2005 Dodge switched trannys again and started using a G-56 model. I prefer the G-56 over the NV-5600 mostly due to the shifting pattern. In the NV reverse was next to 5th and it was easy to shift from 4th to reverse inadvertanly. Grinding of the gears was your clue to the mistake. On the G-56 reverse was closer to 2nd. Since you start out in 2nd this causes less damage to the tranny. On the G-56 Dodge used a funny clutch. It was a dual mass flywheel. This was used to soften the gear changes in the tranny. It can be replaced with a regular flywheel and aftermarket clutch. Again both manual trannys will hold up to whatever you throw at them as long as the clutch will hold. Both clutches will only hold about 50 hp over stock. Anymore than that and you will need a clutch.

For towing I would always recommend a longer truck. Long beds sure are nice when towing a goose. I don't know how much you tow but, any cab configuration will tow a flat bed with a jeep on it very easily. It is my opinion that Dodge makes the best tow rig. They are not as comfortable as the Chevy or the Ford but, they will do the same job and will cost less doing it.

LT.

 

[mbryson]

I've got an "early" '04. I LOVE the engine on this truck. Pulls hard, gets better mileage than my old truck and feels more stable at speed. It rides nicer than my '99 Super Duty, turns better and is a "nicer" truck overall.

I've put a bit of $ into the front axle on my truck (unit bearings, ball joints, steering and axle joints). I don't care for the "shift on the fly" 4wd at all (it works fine, but I've had to adjust my driving style to it--not my preference). The auto seems to be holding up pretty well. I'm due for a fluid change again and will know more then. The seats aren't that great (IMHO) but overall, it's a solid truck. Mine just turned 142K and I bought it at 113K.

To answer your questions:

-- First question is about the transmission: what years were good what years were bad, financially speaking I can probably only afford an ‘03 to ‘05 truck.

I didn't know about the 47RH trans in the 2003 trucks. My 2004 seems to be holding up pretty well? My dad has a 2005 and his is holding up fine also (I think he's only at 95K or so, though).
I believe the '03-up truck to be far superior COMFORT/driveability wise than the 1994-2002 trucks. You could make an argument for anything you want to make an argument for, though.

-- Second question is 2x4 versus 4x4, now before everybody throws a fit let me explain. My biggest reason for buying a 2x4 is height of the truck. Because of my disability it is difficult for me to get into a tall vehicle (I already have to use a step stool to get into my Jeep!). So I want a truck that I can get in and out of it easily and 4 wheel drives seemed too tall for that. Secondly, I live in Moab and really don't see that much snow and ice, plus I'll rarely be towing during the winter months. Trust me when I say it goes against everything that I stand for to buy a non-4x4 truck, but I have to be practical in my needs versus my wants.

That's a tough call in your situation. I think you'll just have to go drive a few and see how they work for you? I don't think it's bad and my wife likes the Dodge entry/egress more than the Ford (both 4x4) but you're in a bit of different situation than showing to much leg as you're getting in.

-- Third question is do miles really matter that much since after all it is a diesel, I figure for what I can afford I'm probably looking in the 150-200,000 mile range.

The motor likely won't be a big deal. The rest of truck (Ford, GM, Dodge don't matter) will start showing a little wear.

Frankly, for towing a Jeep on a trailer, I'd buy a gasser. My truck is literally bored with one Jeep on the trailer (as was my Powerstroke). Two rigs, it's working pretty hard. The camp trailer we tow is somewhere in between the one Jeep/two Jeep in working the truck. Likely due to towing a billboard down the highway.

 

[LT.]

I may have been off on the model 47 tranny. I thought that they came behind the standard output Cummins. Here is a good read for anyone interested in it. http://www.shadetreemechanic.com/cummins_turbo_diesel_2003.htm

LT.

 

[SWALLDOG]

they also changed the turbos is '04. the '03 and early '04 have the HE341. In '04.5 and up (tell they changed to the 6.7 motors) they had the HE351 turbo. the compressor wheel is a little bigger and flows a little better.
good luck looking for a truck. ive had my dodge for 6 years now, its an '01, and i love it. tows the piss out of anything i put behind it. corse it has been modded to the nuts! :greg:
you can also check out www.cumminsforum.com lots of good info on there.

 

[Kirk]

I have an 03 with the HO engine and the 48re. My brother has an 04 and my dad has an 08. All are auto's. All 4x4's

My brother just replaced his tranny (always stock power) - I think his has about 115k on it.

I probably have about 135k - still on the original tranny - I know its getting close to needing a rebuild (it acts up a little, and my torque converter lets go when pulling and lugging it)

I usually get at least 2 mpg better than my brother and probably at least 3 better than my dad.

I've had my truck since 50k - I've replaced a couple water pumps, power steering gear, ball joints, and rear output on transfer case. Pretty minor stuff.

I really like everything about mine except the cab is getting small for my kids (4 door short bet) I can't decide whether to trade up to my dad's when he is ready to sell it (mega cab)

 

[greenjeep]

Thanks for the advice. I think I found what I'm getting, it's an '03 auto 2wd w/200,000. 2nd gear is starting to slip, so he's taking off $2000 and I'll rebuild it. After my trade-in I'm spending very little out of pocket. Just in time for the OSRC!!!

 

[Houndoc]

I have an 05. We are about to hit 114000 miles.

Engine has been trouble free thus far and no tranny issues either.

Only problem we have had is death wobble (I have a thread on that from August of last year) that ran me $2,000+ in front end work to solve. Sadly a common problem in many of the Ram 2500s.

Other than that, it has been a great truck. In addition to our tow rig (boat and horses) it is my wife's dd and our main family 'car'. I have loved the way it tows- makes the trips to Lake Powell very pleasant and although most of my towing with the horses (9500-10,000 pounds) has been short distances (10 miles or so) it does the job well. I was very happy with how it handled hauling the horse trailer over a mild dirt road, including some decent climbs on loose gravel.