Hey guys Ive been thinking of buying a 3rd gen and have not been keeping up to speed on the newer stuff so I got a few questions for those that have moved up from a second gen.
First are you glad you moved up
What are some of the things that make one year better than others
Are their any fatal flaws (ie: VP FP/KDP) to watch for in any of the years.
Thanx

 

i like mine

 

I am very pleased with my third Gen and glad I bought it. I personally believe the Second Gens look slightly better. I moved up due to the fact that my 01 was a clam with way to many issues (retired construction veh.) You dont have to worry about the Killer dowel pin issue. The fuel pumps also are more reliable.

 

mines fun.

 

I like mine better then my 2nd gen.

More power in stock form
steers & tracks better
no more vp44
no more under the hood lift pump
four real doors
quieter in cab even with free flowing muffler

Issues with some

leaking cp3
ripping door seals
plastic tank blowing on intercooler early 05 only
jury still out on intank lift pump

 

Fatal Flaws - none

Issues - CP3 issues on 03-04.5's. These models had the CP3 mounted on the fuel filter. The lift pump on the 05-06 is in tank. Dodge will replace the Filter mounted version with an in tank version if it fails.

Say byebye to 20+ mpg. On average most guys are getting 17-19 highway and 14-16 city. The 03-04's get the best mileage of the 3rd gen's.



Other than that, I think the 3rd gen is a great truck. I have had two now, my first 2 diesels, and they have both been reliable running, comfortable to be in for hours, and fun to drive.

The 06 is by far the quietest of the 3rd gens. More changes were made to the frame, body mounts, sound deadening, laminated glass, door seals to reduce engine and road noise. It worked. The 06 48re has a tow/haul that locks the TC in 3rd and sometimes in 2nd, and also has an O/D off setting.

If you are into the 6sp, the G56 is geared towards towing running higher RPM's at highway speeds than the 48re. I test drove one, and if I remember right, the rpm's were 2400 at 75mph. My auto is 2100 rpm at 75mph.

 

Thanks for the replys guys this is the stuff Im looking for keep it coming
What type of changes have been made since the 03s?

 

[QUOTE=djbikeman]Fatal Flaws - none

Issues - CP3 issues on 03-04.5's. These models had the CP3 mounted on the fuel filter. The lift pump on the 05-06 is in tank. Dodge will replace the Filter mounted version with an in tank version if it fails.

Your confuseing the cp3 injection pump with the lift pump. It is the lift pump under the hood under the fuel filter that has been changed to the intank pump to supply the cp3 injection pump.

 

I had an 02 HO but really like my 06.

Wouldn't go back now.

 

Bad stuff
1. Paper thin sheet metal
2. Paper thin paint
3. Soft paint
4. U-joints that crap out way too fast (2 and counting with 35k miles)
5. Bad seats if you're in it more than about 2 hrs
6. Injector problems (Mine is going to go in next week for excessive smoke and bad MPG)
7. Speaking of bad mileage, I got about this good out of my 5.3 Chevy
8. Upper control arms go out (Going to probably get my 2nd one next week too)

Good things
1. Looks cool
2. More power than you can really use most of the time
3. Sounds sweet with no muffler
4. All the poor saps with minivans looking at you all sad when you go by.

 

This is my first Diesel so far I love it. I cant fill up the tank or get out of it in a parking lot without someone asking me questions about it.
My dad has a 98 that I drove quite a bit and mine is:
Faster
Quieter (you can hear the turbo over the moter)
Rides better (his feels like your sitting on a 55gal drum sideways around corners)
More comfterable over long trips (Portland to AK in >3 days only stopped for fuel and bathroom breaks)
I definately like the interior and controls better
Plus it will fit me ,the wife, and our 3 boys with stuff for a day trip easily
Thats the short list

 

One less known issue with the 3rd gen is dropped valve seats, but I believe this has been fixed on the late '05s and newer.

The jury is still out on injector life. If you follow VP44 failures on the 24v, they were always there, but not near to the extent now that the trucks are 5 and 6 years old.

 

I love mine, but this is my first Diesel, so I don't have the where with it all to compare to gen 1 or 2 which I hear are well liked as well.

 

Mine sucks! It smokes and the back tires keep wearing out!

 

The valve seat issue is caused by much higher than normal EGTs from running performance boxes.


I'm loving mine.

MikeyB