Don't get me wrong, I love my dodge (the engine anyway). Why did the engineers at Dodge design a chassis, tranny and front end to expire so early with a power plant that could outlive 3 front ends etc?

Hopefully the 05, 06 versions are getting better.

If not, the competition (GMC duramax) is going to get the edge


comments?

 

Cost, it all comes down to the cost of the new truck. Are you willing to pay an extra 10-20 grand for higher quality parts? Tie rod ends, idler arms, and ball joints aren't all that much to replace. As for the tranny, driven properly the clutch and gear box should last the life of the engine. Should you have an automatic I suggest you have Aamco do a lifetime rebuild. Aamco will inspect the tranny every year for free and the tow and rebuild will be free when needed. Had 5 of em rebuilt so I know about this.

 

Sad but true. My opinion on this is that the people at dodge design things that wear out, so they can make more money selling you parts and new vehicles. I wish that they had a program where you could buy a cummins motor and then lease a chassis. then every 3 three years get a new one. I think that if they built a truck that could last as long a CTD they would cost a lot more. Like as much as a Duramax.

What I realy like about dodge now is the low resale value, it helps poor guys like me afford to go out and buy a really reliable truck that is 5-7 years old without having to spend as much money as the guy who bought a ford or GMC.

 

Around here the Dodge still commands a higher resale than the equivelant Ford or GMC- higher inital cost and higher resale. My 96 is still worth over $10K.

 

comments, is this a joke, i have 264k on my dually, and it has went through 1 wheel bearing, my wifes 98 has 240k on it and i replace the upper ball joints at 230k. heck hers is still on the stock clutch. man i hope my trucks never hears that it is only good for 100k. i have driven many dodges over 250k on them and for the world of me i can't remember driving one chevy or ford that had that on it.

 

Hey, hey. My chevy 6.5td has 300K on it with ALL the original front end parts.

 

I just bought a 98.5 with 195,000 miles and it is the tightest nicest truck I have ever had. And so easy to work on.

 

we just bought a 96 dually ec cab 4x4 auto with 174k and it is all stock except for new ball joints and it is really tight and drives/ridel like a dream. I feel sorry for my 94 Dodge because I have not driven in if a week or so.
DM01

 

Hmm

mine has not given me too much trouble on either end here, The motor is good and for what i use it, the chassis is sufficient. I do wish at times though that i had factry overloads or one ton springs on the rear of the truck. It does seem to squat down really easy. Another issue is the body dings really easy. My x gf left a nasty scar on my truck, and other ppl at school have hit it with doors and backed into it and so forth... ppl here have no respect or dont know how to drive, if i can back my truck into a parkin space without hittin anyone, why do they have to hit me?

Tx

 

400,000---ish on the whole truck. Could use some kingpin bushings and some body work. Guess it depends on ones opinion of a wore out chassis.

 

Also depends on the environment the truck is used in and the ability and methods of the driver. I have seen trucks turned to scrap in 3 years by abuse or improper usage and we have all seen the original 50 year old trucks still tight as day one.

Hey TxDiesel007,
The Camper package was the factory overload springs- you can get them- and the 8800GVWR trucks were 1 ton rear springs. If you have an 8800 check the salvage yards for the booster springs- relativly easy to add- just need to remember to pull the spring pads off the doner trucks frame.