My POV on the second gens is the frontends don't tolerate the weight as good as old fashioned leaf springs. It's a compromise, better ride, but my buddies with gen 2's are always changing front end components. A p-pumped late gen 2 conversion would be ideal,aside from the coil sprung f/a.The looks of the body is another argument. Love my simple, boxy Gen 1's.

 

I cut my teeth on a 94 2nd Gen 4x4 straight off the showroom floor. It was a company truck. But it started my love and admiration of the cummins. I drove it for 70,000 miles. We snowplowed all winter with it. And towed a 22,000 lbs. of hay with it in the summer. Never had any issues with suspension, drive train, or engine. Don't get me wrong, I love my first gen. But if $$ weren't an issue, I would at least have a 98 12v dually. I've also admired the common rails. The guys a ride and snowmobile with have a couple. They're very nice for traveling and pulling.

 

my next truck is gonna be a 2nd. gen 2500 4x4x stick 24valve. but i will still keep the old first gen.

 

I went from a '93 that I loved dearly, to an '04. Wow. It's comparing a buckboard to a Mercedes. Go all the way to a third gen and you'll get vastly better brakes, much more power, a better tranny, excellent reliability (of course the 1st gens are reliable too), WAY better suspension, more room in the cab, no cowl cracks, bla, bla, bla......................

Just do it. I loved my '93, but NEVER regretted the change, and now with 160,000 miles on the clock my '04 runs perfect. Of course, I had to rebuild the front end and put in a new lift pump, but don't get me started on what I did to the '93 to try to make the brakes work right and the suspension tolerable and fix the squeaks and dry up the floor and get a good seat, and on and on.

The only thing that is really good about the 1st gen is the Cummins. My 3rd gen is the best vehicle I have ever had, period.

 

Not to change the subject but does anyone have an opinion on the 6.7? It would nice to stay with the 5.9 but paying that much for a truck with little to no warranty left doesn't seem to good, especially how you cant fix much yourself on the newer trucks. Is it worth the extra cash and added emissions garbage to go brand spanking new?

 

tater,

That's entirely up to you.

Poor mileage and extremely complicated emmisions on the 6.7. But it runs cleaner, is new and has a nice automatic.

I'll never let go of my '04 555. No way.

 

Im gona keep my eye out for a newer truck late second gen early third gen. It is cool to here everybodys opinions. ON THING IS FOR SURE I AM KEEPING MY 1st GEN as a back up. thanks for all the info I figured 1st gener's would have so good opinions!

 

I have had them all. 2nd gens need 3rd gen track bar and DSS. VP trucks need a FASS or equivalent. Third gens need FASS ('03-'04.5) and a Smarty Jr so they drive like a mechanical engine. The 1st gens are the easiest to work on but the Getrag sucks as well as the poor brakes and small rad. Easy to make the power but can't stop or keep the motor cool. That is why I tow with my '03.

 

The 1st gens are so easy to work on. And a roll of duck tape and bailing twine will get you home.

 

Just don't sell your first gen




I went to the 03 to drive but will never get rid of the first gens!

 

Both my 07 6.7's get 21-24 mpg. Just need to get the 6.7 to someone who knows what to do. One is auto and one is 6speed; both are 4 door duallies; one is 2wd and 1 is 4wd. I stil like my 1st gens too. Just a thought!

 

My 92 has heat that will just about drive you right out of the cab, and the AC works great, too, although I never use it.

My neighbor bought a new 08 last spring and my 92, with over 270k on it, gets better mileage by several mpgs. He had it back to the dealer multiple times in the first two months. I think it is relatively reliable now, but I still get better mileage.

He has way nicer seats, though...

 

i jsut sold my 1st gen on the 14th to get a newer 3rd gen. I jsut have to find one i like...

 

Sorry if this is a little off track, but how do you like the new 6spd auto? I haven't heard much about them.

 

You'd be getting about as close as possible to the perfect truck if that trans had been made available on the last year of the 5.9.