i am thinking about buying an 03-05 dodge with cummins. any suggestions on what to look for for any problems, or any known problems.

 

Well i have a 04 3500 and have had good luck ! The worst thing i have had go wrong is two bad drive lines and i think i am on my third or fourth set of u-joints i 36,000 miles and the dealer can't seem to find the problem

 

I'm happy with my 04.....LP at 128,000 miles.

 

I love my 03! i have only had to shell out cash for 6 new injectors, ball joints and ujoints (drive lines, included). so about 3 grand worth of work.....

but it runs like a top, and now that all that stuff is fixed, I should be good to go for a while!

 

03's look for cracked alternator bracket. Make sure the ball joints are good, and make sure the heater runs correctly on all settings (blend doors can break).

Overall, I think the trucks of that era are very nice.

 

If you will go with 05 you will have more HP.

 

I am partial to the 05... but here is why..

325 motor
choice of G56 or NV5600
in tank LP

 

I have had an 04.5 with 50K miles, and the only issue I ever had was the lift pump went out. I think that was the fault of a Hot Juice stacked with a Quad X2 though

 

03-04 triple nickle gets better mileage. shop for 3.73 gears fuel pressure on my 03 got low at 70k miles, dealer installed the intank conversion pump.

had weheel bearings go bad at 70k miles and needed an axle joint, one ball joint was getting loose so i did them all when i did my hub coinversion. u joints so far seem to be holding up but i imagine at 100k i'll put in some greasables.

 

I get great fuel mileage and power out of my 06, so I wouldn't discount them from your search either, you may be able to find an 06 in your price range also. Plus the G56 is a pretty nice tranny. Scotty

 

I like my 04.5 also. 93k and the only major issues were front end parts which I replaced with greaseable parts, fuel pump which I replaced with a FASS 150, water pump, one u-joint and minor interior flaws. Other than that, she has been good to me.

 

My '04 has been great. Make sure you have an in-tank lift pump, and check the ball joints for play.

I recently added a BD steering box stabilizer and I think it's a must-have for these trucks as well, and a cheap upgrade.

 

05 has been good for me. I wouldnt mind getting an older 12v though

 

Love the 05 just got off a road trip and hand calculated the millage @22.22 MPG
did not exceed 2100 rpm/65mph and did not run the AC...

 

C R R That is some good milage.It go to show that when we soft shoe it that it will do good on milage--