Looking to retire my 98 12v 5spd 4x4 and i am wondering what dodge to replace it with. I will stay with a manual and 4x4 4-door diesel. Which year will give me same service and dependability that i have had with my old truck?

 

Is your 98 a 4 door?

 

Yes it is the org 4 door the two rear doors are sucide doors

 

2003 is a nice year but there is no perfect year.

 

EFI Live has recently come out for 06 and 07 models. Take a look at those maybe.

 

The 1998 12 valve 5 spd has been considered the holy grail of trucks. My has been trouble free. It has given me very good service and if i could find a newer truck that gives the same service i would up grade. Thus saving ins. and tax and tags.

 

Yep, know what you mean. My '98 is 100% dependable. But it is a reg cab. I have a '02 quad , auto that is a very good truck, But i like the 5spd too well. Looking to sell the auto but I really would like to have the quad in my '98. i would try a CR but the wife prefers the suicide doors.

 

I kept my 97 5 spd for about 10 months after I bought this 03 so I could build the bed and get it the way I wanted it. I still wasn't sure I sold the right truck when I sold the 97. The P7100 12 Vs are bulletproof! I MUCH preferred the 97 for a daily driver and I MUCH prefer the 03 for towing and that's the main reason I got it. I love the Q cab. Some early 03s had problems with vibrations, door/wind noise and a couple of other things but mine has none of them. I would say to look for 03-04.4 - before the next round of emissions. The 03-04.4 have NONE of that stuff and get mpg like the 12 Vs. I switched off driving the 97 and 03 for towing and commuting and they both got the same mpg. When my tps went out, earlier this year, I wanted my 97 back so bad but I got online and figured out how to fix it myself for $169. That really helped with my fear of electronics. My 97 was well modded and I was surprised at how much it took to get the same power out of the 03. Craig

 

id stay with the 12v im ready to sell my 05 common and go back to a manual motor common rails look nice and drive good but outta my 3 diesels which was a 97 12v and then a 99 ford with a 12v in it the commons been the worst on parts and power for sure id trade it back for my 97 dodge anyday it was indistructible