High mileage 3rd gen Pics
04-07-2012, 11:51 AM
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High mileage 3rd gen Pics
I was at Dunkin Donuts the other day and a 2005 3500 DRW pulled into the lot with a gooseneck and a bobcat. The guy seemed nice so I asked him, "how many miles?" "290,000!" he proudly answered. "I deliver heavy equipment for a living," he said. I was fascinated because, other than a large dent on the tailgate, the truck looked new.
The line was long, so we talked for a while. He informed me that the only reason he made it that far is because it's a manual. So far, he has only changed ball joints and a clutch or two. His brother has an automatic (2005) and has had numerous transmission problems. His brother also installed a $7,000 trans which is also giving him problems. He suspects it's because the truck is "chipped," and tuned.
I love my truck, and there is nothing I would rather drive. I don't like the new trucks because the diesel particulate filters scare me, MPGs suck; and if need be, I can order a bullet proof trans. Therefore, I hope my truck lasts me for a long time.
That being said, it would be interesting to hear from the "High Milers" and whether they are manuals or automatics, "chipped/tuned" or not. Pics would be great too!
The line was long, so we talked for a while. He informed me that the only reason he made it that far is because it's a manual. So far, he has only changed ball joints and a clutch or two. His brother has an automatic (2005) and has had numerous transmission problems. His brother also installed a $7,000 trans which is also giving him problems. He suspects it's because the truck is "chipped," and tuned.
I love my truck, and there is nothing I would rather drive. I don't like the new trucks because the diesel particulate filters scare me, MPGs suck; and if need be, I can order a bullet proof trans. Therefore, I hope my truck lasts me for a long time.
That being said, it would be interesting to hear from the "High Milers" and whether they are manuals or automatics, "chipped/tuned" or not. Pics would be great too!
04-09-2012, 02:37 PM
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Well my 03' automatic is at 270,000 with no problems. i run my programmer at its highest setting(but i drive conservitivly) all the time. Its got sum scratches here and there but its in great shape both inside and out. If you keep the oil and fuel filters changed regularly then these trucks will last for a very long time.
04-12-2012, 06:51 AM
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I've been having a automatic gate installed. Workman driving a 3rd gen 2500 4x4 quad 290,000 and same automatic and its NEVER had a alignment or the front end checked per se. Dash was cracked. Interior covered in red dust. Had a horse trailer delivered to me couple years ago. 2005 2500 4x4. 525,000. Couple clutches,two sets of ball joints. Bad oil leak at front seal required a sleeve kit.He pulled RVs,goosenecks and what er else he could hitch to it and make a nickel. Said he had owned over the road big rigs and downside several years before. He did say he pulled front ABS sensors to add wheel bearing grease to front hubs with a needle and that cut down on front hub.bearings replacement. Drivers seat,door shot. Truck total stock. Owner said he knew guys with performance boxes,exspensive clutches,big exhaust etc. He said WASTE OF MONEY. Said he pulled whatever they did just as fast at just as good if not better fuel mpg and did not spend $1000 on extras. It was his 3rd Dodge that he had rolled 500,000 plus miles. He was ready for a new one.
04-12-2012, 09:56 AM
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No pics of mine but it's an '03 with 295k on it. Aside from a few dents and scratches inside the bed, it looks new. A lot of folks ask me about it..."How many miles on your truck....it still looks new inside and out!!!!" I'm pretty meticulous about maintenance and I feel that's the key to longevity with these trucks. I've done 1 clutch and 2 sets of ball joints. Purchased it new with 86 miles on the ticker and racked up over 200k in less than two years hot-shotting. The last 7 years have been spent doing the daily commute thing to work and back....about 10 miles roundtrip.
While hot-shotting the truck was completely stock and pulled our 26k lb loads effortlessly all day long 6 days a week. The worst mileage I ever got was about 8mpg....but my load was right at the 26k mark and it was also 13' 6" going into a strong head-wind for 12 hrs straight......thank goodness for that 100 gal tank in the bed!!!! Nowadays it has an AirDog fuel system, a BullyDog programmer, the fancy clutch, the gauges, etc...but still has original injectors and still gets 20mpg on the highway...if I can keep my foot out of it. It would take a large amount of cash to make me want to hand the keys over to someone else!!
While hot-shotting the truck was completely stock and pulled our 26k lb loads effortlessly all day long 6 days a week. The worst mileage I ever got was about 8mpg....but my load was right at the 26k mark and it was also 13' 6" going into a strong head-wind for 12 hrs straight......thank goodness for that 100 gal tank in the bed!!!! Nowadays it has an AirDog fuel system, a BullyDog programmer, the fancy clutch, the gauges, etc...but still has original injectors and still gets 20mpg on the highway...if I can keep my foot out of it. It would take a large amount of cash to make me want to hand the keys over to someone else!!
04-12-2012, 01:13 PM
#5
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136,xxx miles new clutch for heavy towing, waiting on a vacuum pump for jake brake from Cummins vender. Member 100,000 Cummins high mileage club.
Not as many miles on her as some but very dependable. Hauled our fiver across the U.S. several times.
Not as many miles on her as some but very dependable. Hauled our fiver across the U.S. several times.
04-12-2012, 06:30 PM
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2005- 205,000 NV5600, clutch at 150k, new trans at 197k, tuned
2003- 215,000 auto, new tranny at 195k, stock
2001- 185,000 5speed, heavy utility bed, clutch at 140k, tuned
1999- 178,000 auto, factory trans, stock
1997- 275,000 47re, trans at 210k, mild tune
1992- ... 55,000 bone stock
All of my trucks besides the 92 tow heavy every day for work. The 97 grossed today at 18k lbs. The 03 at 21k lbs and ran over 300 miles round trip.
My 05. The rest look like work trucks.
2003- 215,000 auto, new tranny at 195k, stock
2001- 185,000 5speed, heavy utility bed, clutch at 140k, tuned
1999- 178,000 auto, factory trans, stock
1997- 275,000 47re, trans at 210k, mild tune
1992- ... 55,000 bone stock
All of my trucks besides the 92 tow heavy every day for work. The 97 grossed today at 18k lbs. The 03 at 21k lbs and ran over 300 miles round trip.
My 05. The rest look like work trucks.
04-12-2012, 07:35 PM
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I have around 500,700 km's on my 04.5. Engine untouched. Valve cover has never been off. Still original stock clutch. Transmission replaced under warranty at 115,000 kms. Running a Smarty Jr. for most of those miles. No gauges. 
Rebuilt front end about 5 or 6 times. 3 front drive shafts, and u joints on front drive shaft. I have had the in tank fuel pump when my engine mounted one crapped out before 100,000 kms. Been an awesome truck. Still love it. Running the Baldwin pf7977 or whatever fuel filter in the stock canister its whole life. Used about 10 different kinds of motor oil, but always used a fleetgaurd stratapore filter fl3894 I think. Only have done 50 oil changes! Every 10,000 kms or as close as I can get!
Rebuilt front end about 5 or 6 times. 3 front drive shafts, and u joints on front drive shaft. I have had the in tank fuel pump when my engine mounted one crapped out before 100,000 kms. Been an awesome truck. Still love it. Running the Baldwin pf7977 or whatever fuel filter in the stock canister its whole life. Used about 10 different kinds of motor oil, but always used a fleetgaurd stratapore filter fl3894 I think. Only have done 50 oil changes! Every 10,000 kms or as close as I can get!
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04-13-2012, 08:49 AM
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Works out to 311,120.55 miles. I have way more miles then that, maybe another 10,000 when my speedo was not working for a bit. If I remember it is well over 10,000 hrs. I could be wrong.
04-15-2012, 12:11 PM
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No one here has to agree with my take on things. I've been driving about 40-years and have worked as a pro driver, so my take is my own:
- Preferably one is seeing a 35-mph average per engine hours divided into total odometer miles. Anything a lot lower tends to speak of stop-n-go plus extended idling. 27-mph and up also tends to mean less fuel burned for a given mile.
- The trucks that will do the best in terms of longevity (given book maintenance) do not see short trips. Engine life is expected to be 10,000-hours. MTBO or B50 life is 350k miles. That's an average of 35-mph.
- 4WD is a convenience one will pay extra for as are automatic transmissions. Have to suck it up for those two in re lower mpg and higher repair/maintenance costs. (Lift kits, offroad tires, wheels, etc, just add to purchase price and even worse cpm numbers). Usually not justified.
- With a 2WD and a light touch on the controls I very much like getting 120k from tires and brakes. (One $45 repair in 180k miles). High mpg is obviously a benefit. Etc.
- Pushing harder on the drivetrain (magic boxes) will have a downside somewhere. For owners not in commerce (versus those who travel almost exclusively highway miles with IRS deductions), any changes from stock specification should be carefully considered. Lack of records usually covers up the true extent of the downside.
- The older the truck, the more the miles, the harder it can be to diagnose problems. Anything inserted in that decision tree (gimmick boxes) can complicate the problem. Plenty of trucks get sold over this, long before their service life was anywhere near to being over (by the original owner).
- "Stock" may be boring. But it is real easy to live with if one wants 15-years of service and/or 360k miles for a private individual. It can be work enough just keeping the cosmetic standard high. Any other changes should only be considered if they genuinely appear to affect reliability and longevity in a positive way.
.
- Preferably one is seeing a 35-mph average per engine hours divided into total odometer miles. Anything a lot lower tends to speak of stop-n-go plus extended idling. 27-mph and up also tends to mean less fuel burned for a given mile.
- The trucks that will do the best in terms of longevity (given book maintenance) do not see short trips. Engine life is expected to be 10,000-hours. MTBO or B50 life is 350k miles. That's an average of 35-mph.
- 4WD is a convenience one will pay extra for as are automatic transmissions. Have to suck it up for those two in re lower mpg and higher repair/maintenance costs. (Lift kits, offroad tires, wheels, etc, just add to purchase price and even worse cpm numbers). Usually not justified.
- With a 2WD and a light touch on the controls I very much like getting 120k from tires and brakes. (One $45 repair in 180k miles). High mpg is obviously a benefit. Etc.
- Pushing harder on the drivetrain (magic boxes) will have a downside somewhere. For owners not in commerce (versus those who travel almost exclusively highway miles with IRS deductions), any changes from stock specification should be carefully considered. Lack of records usually covers up the true extent of the downside.
- The older the truck, the more the miles, the harder it can be to diagnose problems. Anything inserted in that decision tree (gimmick boxes) can complicate the problem. Plenty of trucks get sold over this, long before their service life was anywhere near to being over (by the original owner).
- "Stock" may be boring. But it is real easy to live with if one wants 15-years of service and/or 360k miles for a private individual. It can be work enough just keeping the cosmetic standard high. Any other changes should only be considered if they genuinely appear to affect reliability and longevity in a positive way.
.
04-15-2012, 12:30 PM
#11
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No one here has to agree with my take on things. I've been driving about 40-years and have worked as a pro driver, so my take is my own:
- Preferably one is seeing a 35-mph average per engine hours divided into total odometer miles. Anything a lot lower tends to speak of stop-n-go plus extended idling. 27-mph and up also tends to mean less fuel burned for a given mile.
- The trucks that will do the best in terms of longevity (given book maintenance) do not see short trips. Engine life is expected to be 10,000-hours. MTBO or B50 life is 350k miles. That's an average of 35-mph.
- 4WD is a convenience one will pay extra for as are automatic transmissions. Have to suck it up for those two in re lower mpg and higher repair/maintenance costs. (Lift kits, offroad tires, wheels, etc, just add to purchase price and even worse cpm numbers). Usually not justified.
- With a 2WD and a light touch on the controls I very much like getting 120k from tires and brakes. (One $45 repair in 180k miles). High mpg is obviously a benefit. Etc.
- Pushing harder on the drivetrain (magic boxes) will have a downside somewhere. For owners not in commerce (versus those who travel almost exclusively highway miles with IRS deductions), any changes from stock specification should be carefully considered. Lack of records usually covers up the true extent of the downside.
- The older the truck, the more the miles, the harder it can be to diagnose problems. Anything inserted in that decision tree (gimmick boxes) can complicate the problem. Plenty of trucks get sold over this, long before their service life was anywhere near to being over (by the original owner).
- "Stock" may be boring. But it is real easy to live with if one wants 15-years of service and/or 360k miles for a private individual. It can be work enough just keeping the cosmetic standard high. Any other changes should only be considered if they genuinely appear to affect reliability and longevity in a positive way.
.
- Preferably one is seeing a 35-mph average per engine hours divided into total odometer miles. Anything a lot lower tends to speak of stop-n-go plus extended idling. 27-mph and up also tends to mean less fuel burned for a given mile.
- The trucks that will do the best in terms of longevity (given book maintenance) do not see short trips. Engine life is expected to be 10,000-hours. MTBO or B50 life is 350k miles. That's an average of 35-mph.
- 4WD is a convenience one will pay extra for as are automatic transmissions. Have to suck it up for those two in re lower mpg and higher repair/maintenance costs. (Lift kits, offroad tires, wheels, etc, just add to purchase price and even worse cpm numbers). Usually not justified.
- With a 2WD and a light touch on the controls I very much like getting 120k from tires and brakes. (One $45 repair in 180k miles). High mpg is obviously a benefit. Etc.
- Pushing harder on the drivetrain (magic boxes) will have a downside somewhere. For owners not in commerce (versus those who travel almost exclusively highway miles with IRS deductions), any changes from stock specification should be carefully considered. Lack of records usually covers up the true extent of the downside.
- The older the truck, the more the miles, the harder it can be to diagnose problems. Anything inserted in that decision tree (gimmick boxes) can complicate the problem. Plenty of trucks get sold over this, long before their service life was anywhere near to being over (by the original owner).
- "Stock" may be boring. But it is real easy to live with if one wants 15-years of service and/or 360k miles for a private individual. It can be work enough just keeping the cosmetic standard high. Any other changes should only be considered if they genuinely appear to affect reliability and longevity in a positive way.
.
04-15-2012, 01:26 PM
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My trucks entire life was used in the oil patch up here in northern British Columbia. I am a contract operator, so just about every mile on the truck was put on it by me. And these miles are on rough, muddy, roads in the spring and summer and snowy roads all winter. I doubt my wife put 5,000 kms on it. I credit some of the engines longevity to:
1) my oil pan heater
2) never any trips under 20 miles
3) always keeping tank over 1/2 full. I have no evidence or reasoning, but I think it helps!
4) buy fuel from same high volume place it's whole life.
5) stock paper air filter. Very boring, but it works!
6) can't say gauges, because I never did get any!
7) drive it like you own it, because it is how I feed my family.
1) my oil pan heater
2) never any trips under 20 miles
3) always keeping tank over 1/2 full. I have no evidence or reasoning, but I think it helps!
4) buy fuel from same high volume place it's whole life.
5) stock paper air filter. Very boring, but it works!
6) can't say gauges, because I never did get any!
7) drive it like you own it, because it is how I feed my family.
04-17-2012, 07:28 PM
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My trucks entire life was used in the oil patch up here in northern British Columbia. I am a contract operator, so just about every mile on the truck was put on it by me. And these miles are on rough, muddy, roads in the spring and summer and snowy roads all winter. I doubt my wife put 5,000 kms on it. I credit some of the engines longevity to:
1) my oil pan heater
2) never any trips under 20 miles
3) always keeping tank over 1/2 full. I have no evidence or reasoning, but I think it helps!
4) buy fuel from same high volume place it's whole life.
5) stock paper air filter. Very boring, but it works!
6) can't say gauges, because I never did get any!
7) drive it like you own it, because it is how I feed my family.
1) my oil pan heater
2) never any trips under 20 miles
3) always keeping tank over 1/2 full. I have no evidence or reasoning, but I think it helps!
4) buy fuel from same high volume place it's whole life.
5) stock paper air filter. Very boring, but it works!
6) can't say gauges, because I never did get any!
7) drive it like you own it, because it is how I feed my family.
Another guy up your way is EngineerDawg, IIRC, doing 24/7/65 hotshot north of Edmonton in a 2WD G-56 that he changed to 3.42 gears. 300k miles, and around 20-mpg highway. He has much the same "habits".
Most everyone with a toy truck would be better off with an economy car in terms of their family welfare is the hard part to learn. Plenty of small sedans can pull a trailer that can carry more than a pickup can in the bed.
.
04-21-2012, 08:03 AM
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I was at Dunkin Donuts the other day and a 2005 3500 DRW pulled into the lot with a gooseneck and a bobcat. The guy seemed nice so I asked him, "how many miles?" "290,000!" he proudly answered. "I deliver heavy equipment for a living," he said. I was fascinated because, other than a large dent on the tailgate, the truck looked new.
The line was long, so we talked for a while. He informed me that the only reason he made it that far is because it's a manual. So far, he has only changed ball joints and a clutch or two. His brother has an automatic (2005) and has had numerous transmission problems. His brother also installed a $7,000 trans which is also giving him problems. He suspects it's because the truck is "chipped," and tuned.
I love my truck, and there is nothing I would rather drive. I don't like the new trucks because the diesel particulate filters scare me, MPGs suck; and if need be, I can order a bullet proof trans. Therefore, I hope my truck lasts me for a long time.
That being said, it would be interesting to hear from the "High Milers" and whether they are manuals or automatics, "chipped/tuned" or not. Pics would be great too!
The line was long, so we talked for a while. He informed me that the only reason he made it that far is because it's a manual. So far, he has only changed ball joints and a clutch or two. His brother has an automatic (2005) and has had numerous transmission problems. His brother also installed a $7,000 trans which is also giving him problems. He suspects it's because the truck is "chipped," and tuned.
I love my truck, and there is nothing I would rather drive. I don't like the new trucks because the diesel particulate filters scare me, MPGs suck; and if need be, I can order a bullet proof trans. Therefore, I hope my truck lasts me for a long time.
That being said, it would be interesting to hear from the "High Milers" and whether they are manuals or automatics, "chipped/tuned" or not. Pics would be great too!
