Sorry to hear about your 98 12v. Those are the best of the 2nd gens.

I had an 01 6 speed and now have an 03 auto.

Like my 03 a lot better.

Very happy with the 3rd gen truck.

I also like the 03-05 interior a lot better. Just don't like gray or tan. Really like the charcoal black interior.

My buddy has an 06 6 speed and has had no problems except for a broken tranny mount recently.

I've had my 03 for a little over a year and have had zero problems. Previous owner that I talked to almost a year after getting the truck said he had no problems either.

I don't think you will regret going to the 3rd gen truck.

Take your time and find a good one. Spent a lot of time searching to find mine.

 

I hesitated going to a 3rd gen but put on enough miles the moving up from a 1st gen made sense I found a 06 and haven't regretted it once since. Quiet smooth and power to spare. Look close at the auto the 48re is good but to much power will still tear it up. The interior seems stiff at first but is comfortable for hours on end. Sorry about your truck but glad she didn't get hurt bad. Good Luck

 

Absolutely love my 06. Had the blend door issue and two injectors that were leaking down but the dealership took care of those no problem.

The interior does stain easy but there are nice seat covers on the market that take care of that.

If I could get my hands on a 2006 Megacab I would sell my quadcab and buy it in a heartbeat. (Kids and dogs take up lots of room)

 

I see most of this was yesterday and I may be to late but here in Michigan I would buy your truck back from the Insurance Company and have it fixed, don't know if that is a option for you. I have a 94 at home that is well worn out 400k and at the moment I am driving a 03 2500 Hemi I love the truck (except the Hemi) much better than my 94 ever was, and I bought that one new, I am putting a 04 Cummins together as we speak and I cant wait till it is on the road. As far as the Engines go you had the Cummins with the most problems since they were put into Dodge trucks (the 24 Valve)

Glad the GF is ok My wife drives a mid size car and I always worry about if she ever gets in a wreck with it.

Good Luck
Joe

 

I have both a 12V and a 3rd gen. Granted my 12V is a 1st gen but here is my 2 cents:

The 3rd gen rides, drives, and handles WAY better than my 93' could ever hope to. The interior is much more friendly especially with passengers. Its quieter (yeah I know the 12V sounds sweet) and a lot smoother. Overall the truck is way more comfy. You won't regret stepping into a 3rd gen, I know I didn't.

12V diehards flame away

 

I have both 97 and 04.5. The 04.5 is quieter, rides better, takes way more area to turn around, more power, still has a junk front end. It has lots of annoying bugs in the electrical you might find your self chasing down light contacts bloody drag. Seats SUCK not nearly as comfortable as my 2nd gen. AC isn't as good. You will find yourself in the land of "CODES" another bummer every time your truck hiccups you'll be reading codes.

If my wife would cut loose with the 12 valve I'd rather drive it even though it's more primitive.

The front end of both gens blow you need to rebuild both of them with help from the after market.

Good luck and enjoy your new truck.

 

Love my 06. No real problems other then two U-joints. Nearly 100k on the clock. Seats do stain easily but I find them comfortable for long hauls. Much more so then my 02 1500. I plan on keeping the truck for a long time and would not hesitate to buy another if something happened to mine. Although I would get a manual trans for sure. The auto is not the smoothest but I cant complain too much. Never had a lick of trouble with it and have lots of towing miles.

 

I'd avoid the truck you are looking at due to the beating its taken with the programmer.

Its easy to find an unmodded truck. buy that one.

 

My truck has been really good, I've replaced all my u joints, both inner tie rods, it needs ball joints at 67,000 miles. Buddies 07 dodge 5.9 dropped a valve seat a few weeks ago at 30,000 miles. My farmer neighbor had an injector stick open and take out his engine at 120,000 miles. And this has me really nervous, and wishing I had my old 12 valve back.

I bought the truck worried about the trans, but after 67,000 miles and now a shift kit, I'm not worried about the trans anymore, I'm worried about the motor. Thinking about leaving diesel world, and getting a tundra, sucks.

 

I got sick when I saw your sig 98, QC, shortbed, 12V.


Hopefully someone fixes it. And glad to hear your GF is ok.




As far as the 06 truck goes I love my 2007 5.9 but I'd make sure you have some cash on hand for front end parts as mentioned above.

 

Front of the frame is bent, steering box broken, lots of stuff tweaked in the front, both front panels need replaced both doors would need replaced. Quite a bit of damage

Thanks

 

Thanks for the info guys!

Still not sure.... Have a couple I am considering from a 03-06 Duramax, 07 Tundra, and 05-07 Cummins.

One really has my eye... It is a 07 with the 6.7 and 45K miles. Not a lot of great options but what I need which is power everything, short bed, crew cab. Price seems right but it is a little far.

Did not buy my truck back from the insurance. I did get about 3K more than there original offer after a little over two weeks of building my case and a lot of phone time.

I broke my back snowmobiling less than two months ago so I am in no shape to be taking a truck apart and parting it out. I am also no mechanic but can do routine maintenance like I have done with the 12v.

What is the ownership costs like? Oil changes? Fuel filters? Diffs? etc....?

Thanks again everyone for your responses.

 

Fuel Fitler every 15K, Diffs every 15-20K Full Synthetic, oil every 7500, transmission every 30K. I do my own so don't know the costs.

 

Maint costs should be about the same as your 98 just need a code reader to make TS easier.

 

Boondock
I apologize I had it in my head that you had an 01 24 valve

Yes it is to bad you couldn't have had it fixed you did have a great truck like mentioned above a QC with a twelve Valve, I would give up my 04 QC for what you had any day. Good Luck

Joe