Looking at some used trucks all 3500, all 6 speeds and in the 55-60k mile range and all similar priced, the 01 is a bit cheaper. There are certain things I like better about each truck so I am wanting opinions about which is the best truck. I know the 2nd generation has IP and LP problems, does the FASS or Helper pump really fix the problem, or just masks it. The 01 I am looking at is solid in the doors and rockers, can you prevent them from rusting or are they doomed? Which has the better front end wear or are they all the same? Any major issues with the 03-05's? Thanks.

 

Ill shoot some personal opinions here:

I LOVE the 2nd gen ISB engine. Even though it has the VP....its still not that bad of a pump. They are cheaper to bomb if you so choose to and yes our system will help maintain life of the VP-44, but wont save a damage or abused pump. Consistant fuel pressre is what you want to supply to the VP to keep it alive and the FASS will do this for you. You need to question how much damage has been done before you looked at it...i would get a history on the truck.....mainly on the fuel system. CHECK FOR CODES!!!!!!!

Watch for the 053 Block...but that might not be an issue from the year it is....some one else might chime in on that one that knows more.

Fnt end has the usal ware issues, ball joints, fnt bearings and such. The track bar is a known bad issue...but a there are several fixes for this as well. These trucks are not at "Tight" as the 3rd gen trucks, but you can get tons of reliable power/miles out of them.

The ISBe common rail has some issues but its a good over all engine. Injectors are a hot issue. They seem to have issues with them going out and they cost $$$ to replace if not under wnty.

Over all i am partial to the 98.5-02 trucks. Once you get to a certian point, they are cheaper to bomb......just address some issues and you will have a truck that will treat you well.

RJohnson is a great example of a 500-600 HP monster that is daily driven and has had minimal issues. You may never go that far but might talk to him......

My truck has over 150,000 and have had very little issue with it. Just a track bar, fnt brakes, and VP-44 todate that have been needed to keep it going.

 

Thanks for your opinions, I am leaning towards the 01 for a couple of reasons, I like the extended cab better than the full quad cab and I like the interior better (laramie). The truck appears clean and rust free and has the look of an older mans truck by the way it is set-up so it appears to be cleaner than a lot of 03-05's I have looked at. Can anyone on here run a Carfax or Autocheck on the VIN for me? Email address is mrj1@alltel.net

1B7MF33731J545096

Thanks.

 

....I've changed VP's that even had aftermarket lift pumps in place.


From a dealer standpoint, I think I would go with the common rail (03.5 up). I was leary of it when it came out because of the electronics involved, but overall I'm putting it ahead of the VP equipped trucks. I love my 01, but am well aware that I best have $1000 handy for when the VP chokes my wallet.

 

Vehicle Option - All

Standard Equipment

Code Description Code Description Code Description
ADJS HEAVY DUTY SERVICE GROUP APAS MONOTONE PAINT BAZS 136 AMP ALTERNATOR
BCQS 750 AMP MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY BRTS ANTI-LOCK 4-WHEEL DISC BRAKES CGDS FRONT HEIGHT ADJUST SHOULDER BELTS
CGWS NEXT GENERATION FRONT AIR BAGS** CGZS PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH CSPS PASSENGER ASSIST HANDLE
DBBC ALL MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS DHGS SHIFT-ON-THE-FLY,241HD TRANSFER CASE DJFS DANA M60/248MM FRONT AXLE
DRLS DANA M80 REAR AXLE EAAC ALL ENGINES GACS TINTED GLASS WINDOWS
GJDS REAR FIXED WINDOW GVAC ALL VEHICLES W/O POWER MIRRORS HGAS HOOD INSULATION
HGBS DASH LINER INSULATION JAYS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER W/TACH JCBS 120 MPH PRIMARY SPEEDOMETER
JHAS VAR INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPERS JJAS CIGAR LIGHTER JJBS DUAL NOTE ELECTRIC HORNS
JJJS 12V AUXILIARY POWER OUTLET LDAS UNDERHOOD LAMP LMAS HALOGEN HEADLAMPS
LNCS CLEARANCE LAMPS LPES CARGO LAMP MBFS BRIGHT REAR BUMPER
MCTS BRIGHT FRONT BUMPER MFDS BRIGHT GRILLE MHAS BLACK WINDSHIELD MOLDINGS
MWDS REMOVABLE TAILGATE W/CALIPER LATCHES NFVS 35 GALLON FUEL TANK NMCS HEAVY DUTY ENGINE COOLING
QS2S BRIGHT SILVER METALLIC CLEAR COAT RAAC ALL RADIO EQUIPPED VEHICLES SBAS VARIABLE ASSIST POWER STEERING
SFBS FRONT HEAVY DUTY SHOCK ABSORBERS SGBS REAR HEAVY DUTY SHOCK ABSORBERS SHAS FRONT STABILIZER BAR
TBBS FULL SIZE SPARE TIRE WDWS 16X6.0 STEEL WHEELS WLAS DUAL REAR WHEELS
WLYC ALL STEEL WHEELS XBSS PICKUP BOX XCMS VENDOR PAINTED CARGO BOX
YAAS BUILD TO U S MARKET SPECIFICATIONS Z8BS GVW RATING - 11000# 1AAS U.S. DEALER RETAIL
141S ZONE 41-CINCINATTI 4KZS 4X4 TRACKING 594S VEHICLE ORDER TRACKING
6USS LABEL - U.S. SPECIFICATIONS 618S KENTUCKY STATE CODE 918S KENTUCKY STATE CODE


Optional Equipment

Code Description Code Description Code Description
*DZ LEATHER TRIM SEATS W/PREFERRED SUEDE -AZ AGATE ADAP LIGHT GROUP
AHC TRAILER TOW GROUP AHJ CAMPER SPECIAL GROUP AHLP HEAVY DUTY INSULATION GROUP
AJKP CONVENIENCE GROUP ASPP SLT DECOR GROUP ATK SLT PLUS DECOR GROUP
A50P 5.9L TD HO ENG(ETH)/6SPD M/T NV5600 CBEP 40/20/40 SPLIT BENCH SEAT CHEP DELUXE HEADLINER
CKEP FRONT SEAT AREA CARPET CLAP FRONT FLOOR MATS CMAP HEATED FRONT SEATS
CUEP REAR UNDERSEAT COMPARTMENT STORAGE CUSP OVERHEAD CONSOLE W/TRIP COMPUTER CXDP TRIM PARTS FOR DIESEL ENGINE
DEE 6-SPEED HD MANUAL TRANSMISSION DMDP 3.55 AXLE RATIO ETH 5.9L HO CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL ENGINE
GNKP REAR VIEW AUTO DIM MIRROR GNVP SUN VISORS W/VANITY MIRROR GPD FOLDING TRAILER TOW MIRRORS
GXMP REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY HAAP AIR CONDITIONING HGDP DELUXE INSULATION GROUP
JBBP INSTRUMENT PANEL WOODGRAIN BEZEL JPBP POWER LOCKS JPDP POWER WINDOWS, DRIVER ONE-TOUCH
JPTP POWER FRONT DRIVER/PASSENGER SEATS JRDP POWER DRIVER SEAT KRXP BLACK - BADGE - 4 X 4, TAILGATE
KTXP BLACK - BADGE - DODGE, TAILGATE K1XP BLACK - MOLDING - BODYSIDE PROTECTIVE, K17P BODYSIDE MOLDING
LBAP MAP/COURTESY LAMP LBCP GLOVE BOX LAMP LNJP FOG LAMPS
LSAP SECURITY ALARM MDA FRONT LICENSE PLATE BRACKET MUZP SLT BADGE
MXCP FRONT BUMPER SIGHT SHIELDS NAA FEDERAL EMISSIONS NBLP DELETE EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM
NHKP ENGINE BLOCK HEATER NHMP SPEED CONTROL PS2A BRIGHT SILVER METALLIC CLEAR COAT
RAZP AM/FM CASSETTE COMPACT DISC RADIO RCEP INFINITY SPEAKERS RDDP FIXED LONG MAST ANTENNA
RDZP STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED AUDIO CTRLS SCVP LEATHER WRAPPED STEERING WHEEL SHCP REAR STABILIZER BAR
SUAP TILT STEERING COLUMN TBMP TIRE CARRIER WINCH TST LT235/85R16E BSW ON/OFF ROAD TIRES
TZHP MICHELIN BRAND TIRES WLBP STEEL SPARE WHEEL WMGP BRIGHT WHEEL SKINS
WMJP CENTER HUB XEFP TRANSFER CASE SKID PLATE SHIELD XFHP HITCH - CLASS IV RECEIVER
XFKP 7 PIN WIRING HARNESS XFLP 7 TO 4 PIN WIRING ADAPTOR XZAP SPEED CONTROL TYPE
XZBP REAR AUXILIARY SPRINGS YG9A 2 ADDITIONAL GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL ZHRP SPRING - LEFT REAR
ZJHP SPRING - LEFT FRONT ZWRP SPRING - RIGHT REAR ZXHP SPRING - RIGHT FRONT
02FA FAM: BE TRACKING: 00629T09 MY:2001 2BH CUSTOMER PREFERRED PACKAGE 2BH 2THA CUSTOMER PREFERRED PACKAGE 2TH
3VUA CUSTOMER PREFERRED DISCOUNT 5A6P WATERBASE PAINT 5TPA TRADITIONAL LAUNCH TRACKING
6FD PAINT ORDER CODE


Dealer Installed Option

No Dealer Installed Option Available

 

I too debated the 2nd/3rd gen thing for awhile. I really wanted the full 4 doors for a growing family. After test driving a few lower end high milage 3rd gens I wasn't impressed. The 6spd I drove had 4.10 gears and I was ALWAYS having to shift gears on the test drive and it seemed to RPM out really easily(like 3000RPM at 70MPH). Also the 3rd seemed to be noiser than my 2nd gen. Not sure if it was the high RPMs or the fact that my 2nd gen is a higher trim level than the 3rd gen(ie better insulation).

I still regret not getting the full four doors everytime I put my daughter into her car seat but the dollar for dollar the 2nd gen was a better buy. A well kept fully loaded 2nd gen went for the same money as a beat up base model 3rd gen.

If the bigger cab isn't important to you than I reccomend going with a 2nd gen. Also are you looking at a 2500 or 3500? I needed a 3500 for the camper and trailer I haul but would have prefered a SRW. A SRW 3500 is only available in the 3rd gen line.

I imagine that in 3-5yrs I'll be shopping for a 3rd gen as my family grows. A mega cab would be nice but I need full box for the camper and a short box dually just looks stupid anyway!