I am thinking of selling my baby, I love the truck and dont want to but I just got back from a 1200 vacation with the family and camper in the mountains and would really like the full four doors and the extra power. I have done soo much to my 98 I thought I was going to keep it forever. I dont think I will trade it in because I want to interview the person who gets it. I have a book of a maintaince record every oil change everything that was ever done to the truck.

I am looking at a 06 (5.9) auto, quad, short, 4x4 with 20K I really like the truck but dont want to part with my 98. Anybody have any helpful info for or against doing this, anyone that went from a 12v to a 3rd gen and your thoughts.
Thanks
Mike

 

U want the power of a 3rd gen? I think u need some new mods for the 12v. Maybe some towing twins, injectors, u'll be pulling like a madman, lol.

 

I have been thinking the same exact thing!, Love my 12 valve 98, but my 3 kids arent getting any bigger!, the power isnt the issue, its the space inside.

 

ill almost guarantee you youll regret it. my dad went from a 24 valve to an '06 5.9 and he wishes for several reasons he would stayed with teh 2nd gen. in anywhere from atstetics to power.

your choice tho

 

I can understand if you feel you need more room, i have not been in the back of a 3rd gen, but they do look like they have a little bit more room. But for towing the answer is in your signature "original tranny", you sure would save alot of cash with a tranny upgrade instead of trading trucks. Hey sometimes you get a itch and have to scratch.

 

Suggest you up their rations

Going to the '06 will be a downgrade. Save your money and buy a sleeper cab that goes in the bed.

 

If I had to sell my 95 to buy my 06, I wouldnt have done it!

 

Family comes first though, so do whats best for them. But from a truck standpoint, and from ur sig, u can do somethings to really change ur truck for not much money. Like was said above, the stock trans is not doing u any help.

 

Wow, I havent even drove a 3rd gen yet, I agree on the auto upgrade I live 10 miles from Suncoast trans and have been there a couple of times but mine drives and shifts good.

I might add that I commute 600 miles one way to work twice a month and also do alot of traveling from Miami to Baltimore I wouild like someone else to do my warrenty work instead of me especially when I am on the road. Also I love the noise of the 12 valve but it gets to ya after the 10 hour.
I tow a 7K travel trailer and plan on getting a larger 5th wheel. the other truck I am looking at is a 06 3500 6 speed 2wd but the respounce I am getting makes me want to keep my 98.

Mike

 

Save your money! You will regret it.
Ever look into the four door conversion? Might be an option, and probably half the price of a new one.

 

Oh, I know all to well Im not to about to get rid of my 12valve, sold the 1 I wish I still had to ANDY505 on here,{I miss it} I often think about once its paid off, I might take it up to MN to Bearautomotive and have them stretch it, but thats alot of cash to spend on an already 8+ years old truck,but something I would love to do, is find fe a 2500 3rd gen with a bad common rail or hemi, or a wrecked one, and drop a 12-valve into it with another built auto, from Dave, ...........
thats my little dream..... although, it might be a ford superduty with the cummins in it VS the 3rd gen.............sorry!

 

I had a '98, bought new and modified a bit. I loved the truck, It did everything I thought I wanted. I had a minor electrical problem that took me a while to resolve and while it was down, my wife talked me into looking at the '06 models. Well, we wound up buying one so after I got the '98 fixed I sold it. That was pretty painful.
Now a year later, the only thing I really miss about the old truck is the fuel economy, especially towing. In virtually every other way the new truck is superior: better towing power, quieter, more luxury stuff. I've gotten more compliments in the last year with it than the 8 years I owned the old one.

I told a friend that I was prepared not to be happy about the trade but the "Red Hussy" (Inferno Red) had turned my head.

Dan

 

Maybe buy a used '03-'04 QC for the long trips with family and keep the '98 for daily commuting? That's what I did.

 

Mr. Waters,

I would suggest you also pose this same question on the 3rd gen boards. There are lots of guys over there who are former 12 valve and 24 valve 2nd gen owners.

The general consensus here is to keep your 12 valve. They are great and im not knocking them at all. But to be fair and balanced, you might ask somebody who has already 'been there' and 'done that' on the 3rd gen boards.

There are some other advantages to the 3rd gen not yet mentioned. A big one is the much better brakes.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

I'll chime in on this if you dont mind. My first CTD was a brand new 2001 with auto tranny which died at 24,000 miles (cant pull back hoe with it!). traded it for a 2003 4 door. SUPERIOR truck in every way except looks!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It pulled the same back hoe like it wasnt even there! Got tired of the payment after 3.5 years so I sold it and bought a 97 CTD. It couldnt pul the hoe being an auto and 241k on the odometer. Sold it and bought a 96 CTD duallie. 4" exhaust. 100 plate, 4k gsk, afc forward, 5 speed. It does not pull like the 2003!! Not even close. The ideal truck would be a 2003 with a 12 valve

I love the rattle of the 12 valve but the common rail trucks can not be beat when all areas are considered. The moral of the story, keep your 98 and buy a 4 door common rail truck. Byt the way, my 96 is for sale should anyone be interested. My kids aregetting bigger too and 4 (Ford size doors would be nice)!


lewis