Hey guys, new here, currently considering a cummins or an 05+ ford powersmoke. I am leaning towards the dodge, what would you recommend I keep my eyes and ears open for when looking at the 2003+ dodges?

Also with the auto what kinda mileage can I expect?

The truck will be used for pulling this on the weekends

70-75 mph blast http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oCiByEBf-s

Air shot

 

DODGE!!!!!! The cummins engine is awsome.

 

I;m aware of that much, but what common problems should I keep my eyes out for when looking at the 2003+ trucks?

Locally it seems they are running about 23-25 grand at 70-80,000 Miles, which is my "range"......

 

Likely won't find an 05+ Ford for that, and I would have a million Cummins trucks before I owned one 6.0.

 

I have had no problems with my '03 (knock wood). However just looking through the many threads here you would the most common of issues cropping up consistently. MPGs are all over the map as reported. My truck is probably typical averaging 15.5 mpg with 50/50 mixed driving and 10-12mpg towing 11k.

Ball joints, U-joints, AC door, 70 mph driveline vibe, lift pump,steering box,headlights suck (03-05). All are fixable, and better-than-OEM aftermarket parts are available.

The +'s are:
Cummins
reasonable power can be added without further mods
great stock brakes (four wheel disc)
hydro-formed frame gives excellent strength and rigidity
solid front axle on 4x4's
and believe it or not, both the manual and auto trans are the most reliable of the big three.

 

I'll have to agree with everything except for the auto being more reliable than the big three. If that's the case then how does it get the rep on every single board for being the worst?

 

Dodge does have a well deserved bad reputation for trannys based on everything from the 47re down to the front wheel drive minivans. I don't recall where I saw the reliability stats a year ago, but the 48re was at about a 2.5% fail rate, Ford's auto was close to 4% and the Allison was near 5%.

Like I said, believe it or not.

 

You sure they didn't put a decimal point in the wrong place?

 

The Dodge auto is crap.

Allison (GM)
Torqueshift (Ford)
48re (Dodge)

in that order. I have owned all 3 diesels (not the 6.0 PSD, but the 7.3) The 6.0 is the reason I bought my Cummins. I was not going to have ANY part of that motor. And let me tell, and not because I own it...this is by far my most favorite truck. The thing with the Dodge is this: It is the most work oriented of em all. If you can handle a little harsher ride, a little less comfy, and less car like stuff, and more truck like, than the Cummins is for you. If you are teh opposite, go buy a Dmax. I would not in a million years own a 6.0 unless it was given to me. I know too many people wth them that have had too many problems with the motors and turbos.' A friend that has 2 of them for his car transport company, inside of 50K miles has replaced the turbo on both of them once already, and the "new" turbo on one of the trucks has gone out agan, and in the shop. My uncle has an Excursion with the 6.0. Turbo and injectors within 75K.

Cummins: U joints, AC problems, Lift Pump, Ball Joints and Unit Bearing on teh 4wd. And teh auto if you hotrod it.

Anyways, that is my take on it.

 

Looks like you need a HANS system for that boat more than a truck

 

Ever owned one?

 

I never had one, but I would think most ppl think that way about the 48re because of its gearing and shift points. It seems inferior in design (not saying it is) The 48re is what you make it, just like the allison and torqshift.

 

All the research I've done has showed the Torqshift to be strongest.

 

Yeah, without a doubt it could use another gear between 3rd and OD. Someday a Gear Vendor for me.

With my 4.10s though, I have no problem pulling 11K @ 65mph at about 2900rpm (hills and such). Runs great like that locked in 3rd.

 

On another web site (Dieselram) there is a frequent contributor who works in a shop that specializes in truck transmisssion repair (all three). His personal experience pretty much agrees with 2003RAM. Based on several years records, he says that they see Allisons the most, with Ford tranies a close second. The Dodge 48res were fairly rare even accounting for the number of trucks on the road. The 48re was also much less expensive to repair than either of the other two.