Hi I am considering buying a Dodge 2500. <br><br>No Offense to all the readers here but I have, in the past, always been a little weary of the dodge products from a quality point of view. I guess I grew up around too many Chrysler problems and no chevy/ford problems. With Chevy being slighly better quality and ford being the best of the 3.<br><br>After buying new a 97 f150, then a new 99 F250 SD Powerstroke and then havimg them bought back from me, I quickly became dis-allusioned with the american truck Industry and went to toyota which has been a great truck but its problem is that it is too light duty of what I need at the moment.<br><br>At this point I find the need for higher towing capacity and the ability to attach a plow. Since this requires me to look at american trucks again, and since I will never ever buy another ford I am left with Chevy and Dodge, and was hoping to get some insight from people that own and use the dodges.<br><br>Thanks in advance for you input.

 

well sir, I have been a ford fan all my life, my last diesel was a 85 ford 6.9 with 600,000 miles on her. Believe me to go that long was not cheap , and all the repairs I preformed my self. I tryed a 98 gas dodge ( got sucked into that one long story) traded it for 01 diesel ,still have a hard time wiping the grine off my face . The best way to find what you like before laying down a fist full of cash is to go rent one for a week and try it out!!!!!!!!!!!

 

In the last five years, I have owned all three of the Big Three pickups, Ford, then GMC, and now Dodge, all diesels. I actually liked the cabin of the Ford the best, being a true crewcab, and it had a conversion leather interior. The GMC was a nice truck, but WAY underpowered. (pre-DM) IMHO, the Dodge is the best all-around truck of the three. This truck also has a leather conversion interior, and the fit and finish is the best of the three. I've had very good service from my dealer, which is important. My Dodge has BY FAR the best engine going. For towing, I couldn't be happier. There are lemons produced by any manufacturer, but for my money, I'd buy another Dodge in a heartbeat.<br><br>DeWain

 

I'm basically a pure GM guy...don't like fords at all - and grew up like you thinking chrysler made total junk. Then I started looking for a serious tow rig back in '97. Several people at work said the cummins was THE way to go. Not wanting anything to do with Ford, and chevy having a garbage diesel - I rolled the dice and went with the Dodge....Let me get to the point here....I recently lost my '97 in a divorce and have since placed my order for another Cummins/dodge. I didn't even look, price, or consider any other truck for even one second. My '97 was 100 percent flawless - never had one problem with it and it would about pull the toung off my 30' toy hauler - granted I did a little upgrading to it ;D<br><br>Anyhow, My previous illusions of chrysler junk were erased after 5 years of a fine rig..now I would really have to think about a gas powered truck - I would probably cave in to my GM roots - but as for a diesel - you can't go wrong with the Cummins, and the dodge chassis seemed to hold just as well as the engine.<br><br>Rob<br>

 

c5r:<br>This is NOT a sales pitch!<br>I currently run the internet department of a well known Dodge dealer here in Texas, and I'm PROUD to be selling the best doggone built diesel trucks around!<br>I have worked for Chevy and Ford.....but there's something very unique about a Dodge Cummins Diesel owner. They own THE hardest working and most reliable truck available today. Period.<br>And if you talk to a lot of these folks, they KNOW power...they KNOW torque...THEY KNOW TRUCKS (and in most cases, they know a LOT more about these trucks than I do!)! <br>ASk just about any rancher, farmer, construction worker, ANYONE invovled in heavy duty applications....they're sure to recommend the Cummins Diesel.<br>Buy one.....you're sure to be grinnin' ear to ear!!! <br>

 

I am not much of a Dodge fan, but as you can see from my sig I am a big fan of the Cummins. You don't say if your nightmare was related to the engine or some other component, but IMHO money cannot buy a better stock engine. BTW I have also had good experience with the Powerstroke, and like others have mentioned I too prefer the Ford cabin. My first Dodge/Cummins was a 1991 and the Dodge boys are regularly making improvements to their product. The most noteable improvements on the 2003 are brakes and steering. If you will be towing at or near GCWR I would either steer clear of or be prepared to modify the slush box. I love my six shooter. I have never been an import truck fan (I have used my trucks as trucks not car substitues until now), but the build quality on the Dodge product is not quite to Toyota standards. <br><br>Good luck, I doubt that you will be unhappy with a Dodge/Cummins purchase all things considered.

 

When I went to college at GMIT (General Motors Institute of Technology) way back in the early 50's, I was told by my instructors that Chrysler had the best engineering, but that GM had the best marketing. That was true for many years. I have owned a lot of vehicles in that time, but none have surpassed the MOPAR vehicles. True, my family did have one lemon, a 1951 Chrysler Windsor -- it was a real POS - not aided by the fact that a race car driving son of the owner (me) beat the cdrap out of it. Probably the worst vehicles I owned were two Toyotas that I had in Hawaii in the 70's. My Chrsyler 500's were the most powerful beasties on the highway. My '89 Ram 350 CTD was an outstanding pick-up -- even though it was an auto I towed race car trailers all around the west coast with it, but my '03 Laramie 3500 HO, 6-speed is unbelievable. It rides like a luxury car, but has the pwoer to pull a house off its foundation. Oh -- BTW -- I'll be without it for two days next week while the jake is installed and some railroad dust is removed -- so, as I need transportation -- I went out back last night and cranked up my '68 Plymouth Fury III (210,000 miles), it started right up (28-degrees OAT) and is ready to roll. Says something about MOPAR engineering doesn't it? --- 35 years old and still a workhourse.

 

I just purchased a 2003 SLT 4x4 quad cab with the standard output Cummins engine, it replaced a 85 Dodge crew cab 1 ton 4x4. While the 85 Dodge was a trouble free workhorse for many years, it can't compare to the brute power of the 03 diesel and the creature comforts present in the new model. The new model with the 4 speed automatic drives and rides like a luxury full size sedan. I'm very pleased with the 03 and it's a pleasure to tow with this vehicle. <br><br>With the auto trans I'm getting 13 to 15 mpg towing, 17 to 18 mpg in the city and 20 plus out on the highway. The 03 has approximately 2500 miles on it and I'm sure this mpg figures will only improve with usage. <br><br>Several of my friends have older model Dodge diesels and just love them. Now I know why.

 

c5r, I would suggest that you test drive all 3 brands of HD diesels. I have'nt driven the 6.0 ford, but I did drive a 7.3 PS.I also drove a crew cab gmc with the d-max/allison. Both were ok, and had larger cabs than the &quot;crew cab&quot; dodge. But the 03 dodge is my choice. Steering and brakes are incredible. It doesnt ride like a truck. (mines a 1-ton, see sig) Smooth, powerfull, and economical, these engines have proven themselves over and over again. I dont regret my choice at all, and would do it again. JMHO. <br> <br><br> Cat Cracker.

 

Thanks for all the good info. The more I look at the New dodge the more I am convinced that it may be a big turn around from the Late 70-early90's dodges. <br><br>I am convince that the cummins will not disappoint, but wonder about all the supporting parts. THE PS in my ford was outstanding but the auto trans, brakes, axle, engine bolt-ons were the problem part.

 

Just traded in this past Saturday my 01.5 2500 Quadcab 4x4 LWB HO Six speed on a 03 3500 Quadcab 4X4 LWB SRW HO Six speed. My 01.5 was a great truck and I loved it, but this new Ram rocks! It's not just that it is brand new, it is just better in all areas. You will never regret it if you choose the new Dodge. ;D

 

[quote author=c5r link=board=17;threadid=9481;start=0#91459 date=1042471403]<br>I am convince that the cummins will not disappoint, but wonder about all the supporting parts. THE PS in my ford was outstanding but the auto trans, brakes, axle, engine bolt-ons were the problem part.<br>[/quote]<br><br>c5r,<br><br>You WILL eventually be disappointed because nothing that is attached to the Cummins has as long of a life expectancy as the Cummins.<br><br>My .02

 

I just sold my 96 and am shopping for an 03. Other than the POS automatic tranny, and the aux cigar lighter that came loose the truck was remarkable. Interior and exterior looked like new, it was still quiet and rattle free after 80k miles (including one brutal Baja trip). Service was OK to good, and always quick. <br><br>Unlike the Jaguar/Ford product I just sold, I'm a repeat buyer with Dodge. BTW I've owned Ford trucks and other GM products...this was hands down the best vehicle I've ever had.