I take GREAT pains to get good mileage and not to beat up my truck.

All fuel used since I got it 24,799 gets me an overall average of 19.36 (has been trending higher for months now).

EDIT: And mine is BONE stock. All silencers and such are in place. I almost always lift and let it ease into OD. Seems to make my tranny last.

 

(2004 dodge 2500 quad cab 4X4)74,000 miles bad tranny(48re),all of the u-joints replaced,front axle shafts replaced

 

I read and read all this and just don't get it. How is there all these issues? I have never had any issues what so ever with my truck now and there is 60k on it. Have I just been extremely lucky?? Is it driving style? I hope all this doesn't catch up to me at once.

 

I'd be careful, it's probably just going to explode in a huge fireball after you get in and turn the key one of these days.

 

yeah i am pretty sure i purchased someone elses headache at 65K. First thing that went wrong was the lift pump at 72K. I feel that all these mods out there are part of the problem. Or alot of people are not usein the truck for it's original intent, like an everyday driver in town, or long periods of idle time. Just my thought behind all the problems. But still alot better than Ford problems.

 

Thanks Ace. Now I'm gonna be looking under my truck everytime I start it.

 

As long as you have high idle and keep the RPM's over 1000, there will never be a issue from idling. I think a LOT depends on how the truck is treated. My bro just picked up a 06 with 85k and ball joints are iffy, and axle shaft U-joints toast, front brakes were toast, and 1 rotor was scrap. Only 9k more then my 04, which hasen't had ANYTHING on the drivetrain replaced, not even brakes and they still have tons left in them. The truck looks like it's been drove a bit rough. The owner does have a lot to do with it for sure.

Granted I baby my truck to the extreme pretty much all the time. Can't afford to do the front end for a while anyways! So hope it has lots left.

 

Mocho your truck is a standard, I think our brakes tend to last longer as we gear down, is your brother's an auto?

 

Yes, but I get lazy and use them quite a bit, I just drive easy maybe half the time I don't use them to stop. Really no idea how his was driven, but my dads 05 auto lasted about 55k miles on front, and he is very hard on his brakes, and towing all the time. And the odd thing was, the one rotor was worn down VERY bad, it was extremly odd, especially since only one side, possibly replaced the brakes once before and only one rotor, but I can't see needing two sets of brakes in 85k miles?

Counting down the time until I need a clutch, the 15k miles i've had it I can sure notice a change, I don't think it's got much life left in it hopefully I can get another 15k miles.

 

Oh HORROR! My dash has begun cracking. One right in the middle on the outer portion and one on the back lip of the righthand shelf. And I hear pops and clicks from time to time.

And I thought maybe they had straightened out such problems by '03...

 

Had my truck since new with only 8 miles on the odo. 4 months later hit a cow at night at 70 mph just south of Dallas on I-35. Hit just below the crosshairs and pushed into the block, Over $10K in Damage (thanks Geico). Felt like going over railroad tracks. The plus side of this event is an all metal inter-cooler was installed instead of the plastic capped one.

Next a semi at work backed into the read passenger side door and cab. Almost $3500 to repair (Thanks FedEx).

The only things that have broke on their own is the high pressure line seal on the power steering let go early this year ($70) and last week in three months straight 100*F heat the rear-view mirror dropped off (haven't been to windshield shop yet to have reattached). Just coming up on 64K on the odo now.

 

I have had my u joint go bad. My ball joints need replacing now. My trailer lighting wires also shorted out. Other than that 90,000 miles and counting.

 

So far only had to replace the hydroboost line, but I only have 50k miles on the old girl.

MikeyB

 

At about 12k it took a radio head. Now at 49k the front axle "U" joints are shot. When I replaced them I found that the grease had dried up in the bearing caps yet the was still plenty of grease left in the drillings in the trunnion. It seems like the used a grease that didn't flow properly. Oh, early on I found that the steering was getting stiff and a ball joint was starting to show wear. I drilled it and installed a grease fitting. Problem solved.

 

I bought my truck new Sept. '03. A/C compressor replaced July '07. Other than that, no problems. I love this truck. Fixin' to turn over 50,000 miles.