300hemi

Whats up guys, i'm new here and have a ?. I'm very close to buying a 2003 cummins 4 door long bed, 53,000 miles off of a old man that bought it new and has preety much babied it only hauling a camper every other weekend! My ? is i have big plans for the truck including turbo, injectors, clutch, program ect. and i am curious if the trucks hold up pretty well, since i'm pretty sure the motor is different from the 2004 and newer trucks any info is greatly appreciated!

Chad

dodgetech77

The best year!!!!!

Dodgezilla

Agreed!! Fast too with only a "couple" mods.....

SOhappy

If your goal is to make a 1/4 mile machine, be sure and get the HO engine (will say 305hp on the engine tag, which is about 20hp little less than you get in an 04.5) which comes with the 48RE or manual tranny. Even with the 48RE you're going to have to beef it up. Hope you got the $$$.

Otherwise, if somebody was looking for a good, fuel efficient daily driver with plenty of grunt to tow up to 11,000 lbs, the SO engine and the 47RE combo would work just fine (with a couple of inexpensive mods).

ck1

i have to agree as my truck is an very early build 03...(10 02) and a cali 235 hp to boot! and is for the most part been trouble free...ac condensor in the first two weeks and right now the alt bracket is cracked...other then that...great truck...pulls great and gets a legit 18- 19 mpg under 70 mph empty...everyone I have talked too that has had an 03 and then bought a newer one had said that the 03 was a better truck.... front seat is bigger, all sorts of different things...
cameron

highoutput75

I have to agree. My truck gets about 25000 miles/ year. I'm at 85,000 miles now & it runs better now than ever. Early 2003 HO Club Cab 6 speed.

PsRumors

I like mine too. At 86000 miles I just got 19.4 mpg. Not bad for a 1 ton 4x4 w/ 35" tires and 4:10 gears.

I have had the u joints, ac control unit and turn signal switch replaced. That's about it.

JJ's CTD

I just put a nelson muffler and some more 4" pipe mine a few weeks ago and with the xzt it now gets a solid 22mpg per tank (hand cal.). I also tow a open car hauler and a 30' tag (11,000 w/ car and stuff), and still get better mpg than a 600.

300hemi

thanks guys i guess i know what i got to do now! I have already picked out the mods i'm wantin to get, around 5,000 bucks worth, but what the hell your only young one time and ya can't take it with ya! Thanks for the info!

chad

Dodgezilla

You will be happy regardless of which one you get. Once you reach the level of BOMBs I'm at, it doesn't matter if it's an SO or HO because they make about the same power.....
It will take a bit more than $5000 though...

300hemi

oh for sure but this guy is married..... so the 5,000 bucks will get me a good start!

chad

Dodgezilla

Yup, Definitely a good start.......

Jonesey

jlbrown

Got my baby in March 2003. Only problem I have had was moisture in my brake sensor. Have 70,000 miles on it with original BFG tires with tread still left. Wouldn't trade it for twice what I paid for it.

Capt'n Ron

Yup I like my 03 also. Lost the factory chrome bug visor in some car wash or something and the U-joints and ball joints went, but were covered warranty. Now its the turn signal problem and think it is only the multifuntion switch. Other than those issues and the high cost of fuel its been an awesome truck. see my pics