OK, my current truck is the first 2WD I have owned, and quit frankly.. it sux..
All the snow and ice this winter has me in the mood to replace it. It is in nearly mint condition, but having a nice truck that cant manage to go anywhere is the pits! Besides, it is in very nice shape, and the way I use my truck, I am probably going to ruin it, and would rather sell it than do that to it.( it didn't even have a scratch in the bed before I got a hold of it)

So.. I have been looking at the trucks selling on Ebay and elsewhere for a month or so, and realized that I can get into a 2nd gen 4WD for the same or less than another 1st Gen...soooooooo, its got me wondering:

1) what specifically is the differences in the first gen 12V versus the 2nd gen 12V? the I.P. and what else?

2) whats the real advantages, if any, to sticking with a 1st Gen over a 2nd? Other than the "real truck" look, I am looking for the "non-emotional" reasons...

 

I haven't worked on an 2nd gens, but I can imagine they only get more complex. The 1st gens are about the simplest and easiest trucks out there to work on if you plan to do all your own work. If you don't plan to go for huge horsepower, the better ip on the 2nd gens doesn't really come into play.

 

Try this...
http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/Facts/epa_changes.htm

Mike

 

The second Gen trannies, both auto (with lockup) and 5-speed (nv4500) are better than the 1st gen a518 and getrag, however you are switching to a chain drive transfer case. easier to engage but not quite a bulletproof as the gear driven NP205 in the 1st gens.

The other thing they don't mention in the motor differences are "now #5 and #6 cylinders nearly impossible to work on" lol. Cowl covers up the back part of the motor.

 

My bro has a 2nd gen. If you open the hood, it looks like a mess. They are harder to work on, and have alot more wiring and other BS. They have full time hubs/ unit wheel bearings. They have some issues with the steering system in the front. They are just as hard(or worse) on steering boxes as our trucks. Track bars wear-out. Ball joints instead of king pins.
I am not saying 1st gens are perfect. But I like how heavy duty they are. I am pretty set on having lock-outs. You can get them for a 2nd Gen, but they are big bucks. As far as creature comforts, 2nd gen wins. They ride and drive great. Quad cab is really nice, a back seat you can actually use. But you will lose vent windows and cowl vents, not a biggie but they are cool.
As far as the drivetrain, they are just as reliable as a 1st gen IMO. Bigger radiator, intercooler.
I would like to get a '98 12v 5spd when funds allow.

 

thanks guys, I haven't decided anything by a long shot, but I am considering ALL my options... even just keeping what I have...
keep the opinions and info coming!

 

I am not sure if I would replace a spankin' good first gen for a second but I would seriously consider adding a second gen to my garage if I was in your shoes. Selling the 1st gen won't offset the expense a whole lot anyway, I bet the 5k you can get for it are not worth the loss of pleasure of driving it.

 

X2 on the frontend issues.They ride nice when new or rebuilt, but generally don't last long. Then its clunky and all over the road. Any fair priced truck is gonna have these issues which are costly. So figure that in to your test drives.

 

I dunno, I was looking for a 93 first gen until I rode in one ( 4WD ). That and the pitiful rear seats kinda dimmed my enthusiasm.

If you are looking for any kind of ride quality, the second gens are worth the extra hassle.

As far as added complexity? Stick with a 97 or older and you basically have no added complexity, not to mention a whale of a lot bigger parts base.

That being said, there is a really pretty 93 extended cab 4X4 just posted in the first gen classifieds, at what I consider to be an extremely fair price, look it over, the red one.

 

Just to add my .02, you may add a second gen to the stable because of all the things cited so far, but if you ever have to replace a heater core in one, you'll wish you had your first gen back. The dealer allows 12 hours to do the job and you have to dismantle the entire passenger's side of the truck to do it. Our first gen trucks are simplicity personified and if you can get them started, they will run until you shut them off - nothin fancy, nothin complicated and no computers to leave you stranded out in the 'boonies' in the middle of winter, assuming you carry a jumper wire for the fuel solenoid ((he,he)).

 

X3 on ther front issues....You usually have to replace the track bar every
50K - 60K miles or so. I had a 2001 QC 2500 4 X 4 and then a 2003 QC 3500 4 X 4 with the HO and the 6 speed. Both those trucks rode nice and had great brakes, but boy were they scary under the hood. I decided to go back to the simple and rugged 1st gen that rides like a real truck.

 

I wouldn't let the HVAC scare you, anybody who takes 12 hours to change the core on a second gen should stick to pruning roses............

 

This is what I see on a day to day basis :

Around my area, 1st Gen. Dodge/Cummins probably outnumber 2nd Gen.

You can't get any of the 1st Gen. owners to even hint that they might sell their truck, let alone price it.

The guys that have one 1st Gen. will grab up any others they see for sale and WON'T sell them either.

Nearly every 2nd Gen. around here has a FOR SALE sign in the window and they get swapped like pocket-knives.

We own a tire shop and the worst tire-eating vehicles on the highway are the 2nd Gen. Dodge trucks, 4x4 are worst, and gas or diesel makes no difference.

This is not an "old wore out truck" issue, as they were tire-eaters from day one, chewing up the outside treads and "dipping" all across, regardless of tire brand/tread-style.


Also, we seldom work on a 2nd Gen. 4x4 that doesn't have at least one front hub about to fall off.

 

Get some good traction tires and a locker in the rear. The V8 S10 Blazer I had did fine in the ice with just a locker and some good tires and everybody would complain about how it was hard to drive in the ice and I would laugh cause I didn't any problems at all.

 

I understand where you are coming from in having your first 2wd, it's the same situation for me, always had 4wd and never really needed it, now it's not there when you need it.

I have a second gen gasser, one major problem are the brakes they don't seem to work as well and have parts problems with calipers leaking and rotors warp like crazy. It doesn't seem that having a heavier engine in front would make the problem any better.

Yes the heater core is a pain to change out since the entire dash comes out so it can be accessed from the top, but now it should be less than a 4 hour job with experience, the first time took quite a while.

Bumpers are like paper, there have been many incidences where people backed in the front or rear in parking lots and driving away. After a while three hundred some dollars for a front or rear bumper adds up quite fast.

The second gen interior is more refined with a modern styling especially the 98+, leather is a nice addition along with having a quad cab for easier access, though a true 4-door would be nice on either 1st or 2nd gen. The newer 3/4 ton suspension is a little softer in the city.

Overall the second gen has newer features and is more refined, but the first gen is pretty much as simple as it gets and is built sturdier more like the older cars, I would choose the first gen any day since there is no need to worry about some small thing breaking in the middle of nowhere leaving you stranded