moterhead,

You need to go here: www.thedieselstop.com

You think this site is slanted with problems? My God, the Ford guys 6.0 page at the diest stopped, has 31 problem threads out of 48 total, on the first page! And most are not minor like our door weather stripping.

We have it good, and our engines are a breeze to work on, ever seen a 6.0? My friend has one, his 2nd one, you can't find the 6.0 under all the crap on top. Looks like a poorly constructed salad under the hood.

Mike

 

You've got to remember that boards like this concentrate complaints. Sad, but true.

 

Localnet, My response wasn't intended to say that the Dodge or Cummins were rife with problems. Only that, as kry226 said, boards like this concentrate on helping with problems. When was the last time you say a post that just said "My truck is just wonderful and has no problems at all"? Yes, you do see a few, but most posters are looking for advice on problems or potential changes or how to configure an ordered vehicle. Same as most newspapers. Problems and trouble are what's in the paper. Very little good news.

I think the diesel Rams are great trucks. I'm on my 6th Dodge pickup, 5th Ram, second diesel, so obviously they are my brand of choice. I can buy a Ford on "A" plan thru my wife's work. Do we drive Fords? NO! Well, except for the old '56 T'bird which my Dad bought new. It's a family heirloom, not really a transportation vehicle.

 

I've been a lurker on both this and the Ford diesel website for some time now. I don't own either a ps or a ctd - my reason for lurking is research. I'm in the market for a diesel truck and decided to try and find out what kind of problems both have had. My "research" has also included asking owners of each about their problems and recommendations. I'm taking my time - I'm in no hurry to buy.

I've learned a lot over the past few months. The psd seems to have a lot more, in my opinion, major issues. When I first started perusing this forum the first thing that was apparent to me was the lack of what I percieve as major issues with the ctd. Only recently it seems has the injector problem cropped up.

To be honest I was initiallly leaning way toward the psd - but after reading the myriad of problems with it, and the lack of problems with the ctd, I've changed my mind. My next truck will be a ctd.

Now, if only Dodge would make a true 4 door!!!!

Just my opinions.

 

Thanks for all the comments. I guess the one thing that is bothering me about purchasing the cummins is the injector issue. Is this a problem with the injectors or with the common rail fuel system. Can the injectors be engineered not to fail?

Thanks again for all the input.

 

Here goes... Again.

8500 miles at this point. Never towed a thing because I'm too lazy to install a brake controller. EZ box because I felt like it (never above Level 1). The sum total of my experience up to this point:

1. Headlights could be better. They're not bad, it's just that I've been behind better.

2. Drivers door gasket has rubbed. It doesn't leak or make noise so I'm not too concerned.

3. Passenger heater door didn't work properly. The dealer took care of the problem.

4. Seats are smaller than my '99. Very good, but smaller.

5. The "quiet" is wonderful. I now use my CD player. No drones or anything else.

6. Rotella DOES stink. Did it on my '99 and does it on the new truck.

7. MPG's have suffered. Probably 1/2 mpg overall. Just returned from a 250 mile run from
Reading, PA... Interstates, city, two-lane, mountains, you name it. Turned in 20.2 mpg
and my overhead is accurate. (Averaged a tad better than 60 mph, so I was moving.)

8. I would think on a $44000 truck that wheel liners and rear mats would be standard.

9. And speaking of Rotella stinking... For some reason this truck has a fresh air pickup that
would make a bloodhound proud. If there's a gasser in front that's really working, I'll
guarantee the sulphur smell in the cab. I'd even bet on it being able to sort out an old
cigar sitting dead in the ashtray of a car a quarter mile ahead. I come to the conclusion
that RAM's like to share the environment with those inside the cab.

10. No knocks, no smoke, no drones, no payments. (I like all of these.)

11. Oh, did I mention power? Don't mess with this truck!

12. Looks... Lot's of them. Need I say more?

13. Build quality... Excellent.

14. My next truck? After a '91, a '94, a '99, and now this '04.5, why would I look beyond
a Dodge?

Ford and Chevy make good products I'm sure. Perhaps they're better for some, and that's the way it should be. For me it's going to be Dodge.

 

Moterhead,

I know what you were saying, and agree. I guess I should have said it better. Comparing the Dodge and Ford sites, I see more how do I do this, what's the best (fill in the blank) or fix that with the Dodges. I go over to the Ford site, I see shear terror. My engine is blown, my tranny grenaded, I'm on my 4th buy back, etc....

I know there are problems with the latest Dodges, but nothing like those Fords. I do wonder what is up with all of the sudden injector and lift pump problems. Some I would say are possibly bad fuel, there is allot out there. But, not that much to see so many bad injectors, sounds like Bosch screwed up in the manufacturing process. Hopefully it has been corrected. At least they are fairly easy to change out, but that is no excuse for a new truck, ecspecially for what we paid. I did run into a guy that had a lift pump go on his 03, but he had over 250,000 miles on it, all towing. I'll keep my fingers crossed, as I have had no problems with mine. Other then burning a whole in my wallet for all of the toys available for our trucks.

Have a Merry Christmas Wayne!

Mike