School me on the Ram w/ Cummins

[dhodgee]

I started researching Diesel pickup...........My findings are as follows.

The best Diesel truck available is a 2006, Dodge with the automatic.

Reasons:
Last year available without all the emission filters etc
Mercedes owned Dodge during this time and the automatic transmission was breathed on by Gertag. So far (120K) so good.........
All the other little annoying issues these trucks had were resolved by 2006

If you go to the Dodge Diesel forums you will see very little issues with the 2006 year trucks........

I installed a "Juice With Attitude" module on my truck. Absolutely amazing performance. Never downshifts while towing the biggest of trailers and returns 18-19 mpg. Without a trailer I get 20-21 mpg at a steady 65mph.

I'm hoping this is the last truck I'll ever buy...........

I have a 2006 5.9 auto. I have heard that this is the latest "good" year to buy. I just have a super-chip and it is completely straight piped.

I tend to get low 20's mpg if I run it at 60-65mph.
If I run it at 70-75 I get right at 18-19mpg.
When I pull my in-closed trailer it gets 16-17mpg and that's at 70mph.

I don't F around when I accelerate/drive either.

And I have had zero tranny problems. I also pull a 32' goose neck.

Right now I'm at 115k. I was told at 400k the body will literally fall off the motor.

 

[Metcalf]

For a 3rd gen, I would get an 03-04 truck. I very much like the lack of the '4th' injection event, in my experience they get about 2mpg more than most of the 3rd gen trucks. They did have a lift pump issue, but there is easily fixed. I guess I like them because they are the most 'simple' version of the 3rd gen.

This version of the Cummins seems to be able to make the most power with heavy mods. The lack of the 4th injection event seems to help that a lot. This is with HEAVY mods, not just a box or tune. The factory HE341 turbo is a bit annemic, but can be replaced just like anything else

Any of the 3rd gen 5.9 trucks seems to be very decent. The ability to run 37s on just a leveled truck with the axles in the correct position WITHOUT having to trim or modify the body would be the ultimate!

 

[Regcabguy]

The '04.5-'07 5.9's have a cat and three injection events. I get the identical mileage as my '98.5 w/DTT auto,no cat and single injection event and same camper. The '07 just does it a lot quieter and cleaner. I think priority one is just getting a well maintained private party unit, '03-'07 5.9 with service records. The federal HO engine w/manual or 48re auto is the target for '03-'04 years.

 

[Metcalf]

My bad, I was referring to the 3rd injection event. Too many to keep track of these days....

Mechanical trucks to 1998- One injection event
24V trucks to 2002- One event or two?
03-04 CRD trucks- two injection events ( pre-event and main?)
04.5-07 5.9 trucks- three injection events ( pre/main/post? )
07+ trucks- four injection events ( pre/main/post/regen? )

 

[chilliwak]

Practically all the people I know have had, or still have a 1st gen Dodge Cummings. Some of the guys would rather sleep with their Cummings than with their wives. Does that say anything to you?:ylsmoke:

 

[dhodgee]

Practically all the people I know have had, or still have a 1st gen Dodge Cummings. Some of the guys would rather sleep with their Cummings than with their wives. Does that say anything to you?:ylsmoke:

+1 The first gen motor was awesome!
I have a buddy that sold his with 275k on it 6 years ago. The guy he sold it to is still driving it.

Solid motors. Thank you California and new york for ************* everything up.

 

[redthies]

Will a 12valve bolt up to the auto trans in a 05-07 rig? I have a love for the simplicity of the 12v, but wifey likes the comforts of the newer trucks. Maybe I'll borrow an old leaf sprung F350 for a day and then she'll love the 98 QC...

PS. There is no "G" in Cummins!

 

[chilliwak]

Red, I am sorry about the spelling error in Cummins. I guess it was all that talk about guys who would rather sleep with their Cummings, than with their wife that threw me off. Please accept my apologies.:Wow1:

 

[pratty85]

I know you are interested in the third generations but you might find this info useful.

I prefer the old 12Vs, all mechanical, no computers, more reliable. Can run on low sulfer diesel, JP8, (JP5, Biodiesel, Kerosene, Jet A, and Jet B fuels, as long as you make sure and have a good lube oil mixture)(which I believe is around 5%). Which you can use anything from used oil that has been strained, to power steering fluid. I have owned a 24v with a VP44 and was impressed with the mileage, but reliability not so much, plus you have to worry about ending up with a #53 block which have been known to crack. #53 block is was put in random trucks from 98 to 2002. With the older 12v's you can fix the KDP pin, and build the transmission and you will have one solid rig!! 89.5 to 93 have VE injection pumps and 94 to 98.5 have P-pumps(which produce the most power and are the most reliable). The hardest part might be finding one is suitable condidtion. I have owned my 1992 12v VE pumped, extended cab 4x4 for awhile now and I have no complaints.

Good Luck

 

[redthies]

Chilli-wack... Not going after you... I have always been a bit of a stickler for detail... Still make fun of my 44 year old brother for saying "fustrated" instead of "frustrated". I love my P-pumped 12v... AND Pratty' s 1st gen!!!

 

[printman]

Check this out. I pulled up on a 2006 similar to mine at a rest stop and asked the guy how he liked his truck. He said he liked it and then I asked how many miles. He then says about 500,000. I had to see it to believe it. He is an old retired guy that pulls trailers around the U.S. and put some miles on. The truck looked and sounded great!

 

[Scott39]

Look through some of these posts, losts of people with 500k miles on their trucks. I wheel mine also with very little mods and it keeps up with my friends FJ40 Landcruiser rockcrawler with 37" tires, locked front and rear.

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/9...many-miles-does-your-stock-12-valve-have.html

By the way, my buddy got stuck in this snow drift and it took him about ten or so tries to get through it, I went through it idling, and my buddy has ARB lockers, and I went through it first so it should have been easy for him.:smiley_drive:

 

[chilliwak]

Chilli-wack... Not going after you... I have always been a bit of a stickler for detail... Still make fun of my 44 year old brother for saying "fustrated" instead of "frustrated". I love my P-pumped 12v... AND Pratty' s 1st gen!!!

Redthies, you can hit me with the `Details ´anytime´ I dont care!:wings:

 

[Code Monkey]

PS. There is no "G" in Cummins!

Cummings:

Cummins:

Which one someone would rather sleep with... well, I am just not going to go there. :smiley_drive:

 

[lllateralus]

The guy said that he did not want the manual trans, so stop recommending the manual trans.

(he stated that his wife wouldn't be comfortable driving it, so thats that)