I'm planning on getting a truck in the next month or so and am really considering a 2006 cummins....I just wanted to see what some down sides are on these trucks......Idk if I want the 6 speed or the automatic but I've heard the autos are a little weak....what would the difference be in MPG between the 2?.....and what are somethings I should look for when buying a used diesel ? Thanks for any info

 

My 2006 has been what I woulld call the PERFECT truck, I have had no problems that have amounted to much of anything, some little stuff covered under warranty when it was new.

Starts EVERY time without any issues in truly cold weather, runs GREAT, goes down the road towing heavy loads like they were nothing.

I have the G56 6-speed, at 65K, still on the stock clutch, and I have had no problems with the clutch either.

ALL is GOOD, and I have no reason to beieve that anything is going to give me any troubles, running strong, just a GREAT performer.

I would buy another 2006 in a heartbeat.


CD

 

I know the 5.9s are great motors and will last for ever if taken care of.....my plans are to get an 06 crew cab....and intake exhaust and a programmer for a little extra power....then throw on a leveling kit and add some 20" wheels and 35" tires.....I'm not going for anything crazy power wise....and will use it to tow my race truck from time to time.....I'd perfure the auto so the wife could drive it also. But I don't want to be replacing the Trans in the near future

 

Save the money you are thinking of putting into an intake and exhaust that do absolutely NOTHING for your power or mileage. Put that money into a shift kit and a torque converter and you will have an automatic that will pull anything and last forever. (some exaggeration in that last sentence )

The 06 is okay... CD in NM has made some slight mods to her truck....

The center carrier bearing sucks on the driveshaft. I'm not sure if extendo cabs have it, but Megas do. The u-joints in the driveshaft suck. The cloth seats suck. The rear windows can leak, the blower door fails, the #4 fuel line breaks, the front hub bearings are a bear to get out, the truck is prone to death wobble, the tach will die on you, let's see, I know I missed some problems....

Best thing you can do is put a Smarty jr on it, a shift kit and a tc. Then run it for a few hundred thousand miles and see how you like it.

The worst things are probably an intake, then a droning exhaust, and any box besides a Smarty.

 

Love my 06, have approx 60000 miles,tuner on since new,edge/att,20,s,tow a 15000 lb fiver none of the above issues that lost lake has,mine is a Laramie with leather,good seats,always run toyos no steering problems.

 

I agree with what has been said good and bad. I love my 06. I had a 2001 CTD and it was a good truck, but I really love the 06. My blend door broke and I've had to replace the front hubs/u-joints, but that is really about it. Right at 80k miles and my clutch will slip a little if I get on it in 6th gear, but that is probably due to the added power of the Smarty Jr. which I highly recommend. Mine is a SB, so I don't have the carrier bearing...

I have the 4" stock exhaust with a missing kitty and an Aero 4040xl. Sounds great. Save your money on the exhaust and intake.

I'd buy another in a heartbeat. Gets nearly 20MPG if I don't drive it like I stole it and starts every time.

 

Love my 06, the only major issues are in my sig. Have 121k miles now, transmission shifts like the day I bought it and still on the original injectors.

Gonna drive mine until it drops and hope the emissions problems on the 6.7 are fixed by then.

 

06 is kinda the best of both worlds, great reliable truck without all that emissions stuff. Its a simple beast that has enough power to do what you want.

Unfortunately, there are some problems with it-but nothing really major- Same as Lost Lake said.

I'm happy with mine, but I wish I had a standard. The auto is only a 4 speed and it seems to rev higher than required a lot of the time just to make speed-rather than grab a lower gear and load up the engine more.

 

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jdavis:

I also have a 2006 Dodge CTD CR that currently has 127,000 miles on it. I bought it new. Right after I bought it, I immediately intalled gauges, and an
upgraded ATS Transmission as I knew from owning previous Dodge CTD that the transmissions are just not up to my standards.

Later, I added a TST PM 3 and a Smarty Programmer along with a Schwitzer S-300 Turbo. With this set-up, I get about 16 MPG in town and about 18 MPG on the highway.

So far, the truck has been pretty reliable, but at 100,000 miles I had to install some new injectors. I started having long crank times and rough running on ocassion. IMHO,....ALL of the CR Injectors (5.9 and 6.7) are junk!
They are also expensive to replace. Other than that I have had to replace the water pump at about 60,000 miles and the fan pulley.

Overall though my 2006 has been a pretty good truck.

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John_P

 

Thanks for all the info guys......also have any of y'all heard about a company that makes a Trans tail that gives you like a 2nd overdrive? I saw it in a magazine a while back but now I can't find it.....it was suppose to drop the rpms and they estimated up to 5 more MPG.

 

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Here is a link for a company that makes underdrive/overdrive units for the 2006 Dodge CTD CR:

http://www.gearvendors.com

 

And also I've read about injectors failing or leaking...would it be better to just buy some better aftermarket ones if that was to happen?

Idk a whole lot about diesels as far a what makes them gain more power....I know how the motor works and all but I find it awesome that a I6a diesel can make more HP and TQ than my old 66 Chevy truck with a 496 BBC...and I think that's what draws me to this truck....

 

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With a stock transmission, you are not going to be able to go much above stock power with a hotter injector, but yes,.....you can order aftermarket injectors for a 2006. There are alot of programmers and fueling boxes also available for a 2006. Go to our DieselTruckresource Store to see some of these items.

 

jdavis70:

Since you are new here to DTR, I thought you might enjoy seeing just what a Dodge Cummins Diesel can do as far as power and performance. Here is a link to a video of my 1996 Dodge CTD 12 valve drag racing a modified 2001 Chevy Camaro SS at our local dragstrip. Click on the first picture in the upper left hand corner Mr. Davis. BTW,....the loud noise you will hear is the CAMARO running OPEN HEADERS against me and NOT my Dodge CTD Pickup!
Here is the video link Sir:

http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/m...4005406-04.flv

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John_P

 

Now lets say I do go with the 6 speed....would an upgraded clutch be enough to make the transmission hold up better?..

Also....I don't plan to do a whole lot performance wise....and if I did decide to get more than enough power...how does that effect the drive ability and reliability of these truck?