My buddy called me this morning and is finally looking at Dodges after three sets of POwer Stroke crap. I don't want to steer him wrong and have a tendency to advise the avoidance of 2003s, since it is a transition year. Am I right in this? I am suggesting 04-07 since I can't sway him to my choice of a First Gen. Comments and opinions please.

 

the 03 had virtually no problems and does not have in-cylinder egr like the 04.5 up. i like the 06 the best but you do have to change the flywheel out to a southbend or volair and it takes about $3,000 to remove a lot of the egr. avoid the automatic just like the first gen.

 

my 03 gets 20+ MPG, my 99 gets 17.5 tops. the 99 does have a few mods not listed in my signature

that is miles traveled divided by gallons put in the tank, not the cab meter.

 

He wants an automatic. Are there better years for the autos? How about body, chassis, and brakes; are there better years for these?

 

i sold my 01 and wanted a common rail fuel system. from my research i was aiming for a 03 to 06 due to emissions systems, i can put low sulfur fuel in it, which is farm fuel, off road fuel...............yes i know it is illegal. they dont check round here unless your at one of them rest area inspection for commercial trucks, i dont have to stop at them.

we have a bulk tank for off road equipment, i just pull up and fill up!

due to budget cuts, i haven't seen them out in the past 3 years on the west side of Michigan.

 

The 48RE auto is stronger. It all depends on what your buddy is going to do with the truck... If he is building it for power, he's going to need to build an auto so it really doesn't matter.