Several members have said "Go with an HO if you can find one" instead of a 600 for a few different reasons, but what if you live in one of the non-HO states? I stopped by a local dealer yesterday, and they had 2 3500 SO's srw 4x4 qc with the 5 speed.

What are they? 250/460 for the sticks? Anyway, once the 05's start to arrive, maybe I'll make an offer on the silver one if it's still there.

So if you could get an SO 5 sp or a 600 6 sp, besides the ~$1200 you'd save, would you go for it?

 

I have a CA SO, same as MA. They are 235HP/460TQ. They also have cats. I get crappy mileage myself. I just installed the EDGE EZ a couple of weeks ago and I am now happy with the performance, but fuel mileage didn't improve much. I think you will be better off with the 600 in my opinion. Since they vary so much in reported fuel mileage, take one on a long test drive. Reset the computer prior and check the overhead for mileage. I see 13-15 in city, 16-18 hwy and 10-12 towing 8000lbs. Keep in mind I have an auto and 315's.

 

Ditto to Mike67RS on the mileage except mine is a 250hp and I run 4:10 gears. I was getting 15-16 city last fall and the mileage dropped during the winter and hasn't come back up since. I think the combo of the tires and the EZ might be the culprit. You will definitely like the power of the 600 over the 03 SO and yes you can put a fueling box on the 03 but then you have to worry about voiding your drivetrain warranty.

Are the 03s still new stock or are they trade-ins???

 

I'd go with the 600 if I were you,..and by the way I did. I wasn't challenged by the same criteria, i.e. CA resident and all and the HO wasn't an issue. But a lot of what people crab about on the 600 went away for me with a mild duration box, i.e. VA. The off the line stumble was a pain under full acceleration, ...as when pulling into traffic. After that it was ok. Also mine felt like a pooch initially. I did as others suggested and did a 150 mile pull with 10k behind it and it really made a difference in power and fuel economy as it helps it break in. If your just driving around town and don't put a load on it chances are you continue to have poor mileage and weak performance. Mine's doing just over 17 now on the highway unloaded. I got 1.5 miles better out of the VA box and I towed that load at 12.3mpgs. I pulled by design the best hills in Missouri Ozarks with it,...which aren't sh.. compared with out west, but however they are plenty good enough to put a good load on the truck. I pulled them in Tow mode and at 75 and never came off that on cruise. I don't need any more than that. Lastly consider the loss in value on the vehicle by buying something that is now history instead of what's current. You pay a big price for that down the road in trade-in value. I'm happy.

 

If you know that you're going to towing heavy loads get the HO, otherwise consider what your other needs are. I have a 2500 QC 5 spd SO, it's a CARB engine, which I picked up as a loss leader in Oregon. I payed waaaay under $30k, don't have plans to tow anything, and think that the heavens parted and pointed the way when I found and bought and the truck. Would a HO be nice ? Sure. Would a 6 spd be nice ? Sure. Would it have been worth the extra $6k to $10k for the trucks that I found that had those options ? Not to me, so I have a SO 5 spd that I expect to keep at least 20 years :^)

 

OK, Mike & Dodgezilla both have 03 auto's, but Mike's 48RE is 235 hp and Dodgezilla's 47RE is 250 hp? I know the sticks have, or atleast had, ~ 15 more hp in years past, but are your hp #'s correct?

I never thought of this, but are both auto and stick 600's 325/600?

I didn't realize all 04's had cats, I thought only the 600's did. Thanks for that info, Mike.

Dodgezilla, both of these trucks are brandy new 04's. I saw the sticks and saw they were 5 speeds, so I verified that they were SO's by first checking the vin, then the window stickers.

I bought my 95 new and if I "knew then what I know now" I would have bought a 12 valve, 5 speed clubcab and have no interest in selling it. I don't think I'll be selling my CTD for atleast 10 years, if not longer, so resale isn't that high on my list, although I will consider it, so thanks, OT.

As 1sttruck said, if I can save 6-10 large by going with a leftover 04 SO, I'll seriously consider that, too. I plan to get a trailer to handle 2-3 tons of wood pellets and tow my future summer car (66-70 B body) so my towing will be minimal.

I'm optimistic that most of the 600's issues will be resolved by 05. Hopefully.



Thanks all for your input!

 

I never thought of this, but are both auto and stick 600's 325/600?

Yup! Horray 48RE!

I didn't realize all 04's had cats, I thought only the 600's did. Thanks for that info, Mike.

I thought the HO/555 motors didn't have them. The CA-legal SO's and the 600's have em.

 

Get the 6 speed

 

That must be it. Gee, that's fair. The states that couldn't get the HO, had to take a cat with their SO.

I don't think the two SO's I mentioned have been at that dealer more than a month as I check local dealers web sites inventory from time to time. (not that they're accurate) So, that means these rams were built before 01/04 and took at least 5 months to get to MA. Sound like what some DTR members like Wexman, NJTackle & a few other members on the "Where's My Truck?" thread went through. Talk about a slow boat.

 

I had the '04 b-4 my '04.5 and it did not have a cat, fyi.

 

That must be it. Gee, that's fair. The states that couldn't get the HO, had to take a cat with their SO.

The states require lower emissions. Cat and lower output equal lower emisions.

 

Yep, the HP #'s are right. The CA SO's got 235hp and the 47 state SO models got 250 and no CAT. The #'s were the same regardless of tranny. Good luck finding your truck. No matter which Cummins you chose, you will be happy. I like the silver too. Mike

 

...that's why I'm going to Texas to get my '03 305/555.

 

Glad I live where I was able to get a 555 / 48 RE, best of both worlds