New 6.7 or find a used 5.9
 

Wanting to buy another diesel, and as wondering which way to go. Mostly just for pulling and what highway miles i do are mostly long trips.

Should i just get a new 6.7 or find myself a used 5.9?

What are yalls opinions?

I'd stick with the 5.9 better mileage, more parts, proven platform. As for what year 04.5 or 06 seem to be great years.

I loved my '98.5 5.9 and really love my '06 5.9, I wouldn't give it up for a brand new 6.7!

I like my 06 but I wouldn't pass on a 6.7 for a 5.9. The 6.7's are an improvement over the 5.9's.

Personally don't care for all the emissions crap on the 6.7's and if you remove it you void your warranty. With the depreciation hit someone will take on a brand new truck seems like it makes more sense to get the 5.9 and wait to see what happens with Dodge.

Can you explain to us why you think that? I can't really think of an improvement the 6.7 has over a 5.9. Worse mileage? No more power? More headaches with the emission stuff?

The only advantage I know of......is the automatic transmission trucks under stock power only. (you can't really upgrade the 68rfe, so I hear, but it is sweet under stock power or maybe even slightly more power)

I think I'll stick with my 5.9 and a built transmission.

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Hey, I was wondering about the 68rfe. So there is no way to replace the old 48rfe on the 5.9 and upgrade other components to the 6 speed tranny?

I have 90,000 miles on my 2004 5.9 with the 4 speed auto. I don't tow alot, but someday soon I'm gonna have to look at more that an oil change on this tranny. What other options are there?

There is really nothing wrong with the 48RE, under stock power, other than a sloppy torque converter. A built 48RE is tuff and sweet!

Just call your aftermarket transmission co. of choice and they can answer your questions. I have a DTT...but lots of guys are happy with their Goerend's or HTS or ATS or Suncoast...etc.

If you just use your truck to tow on occasion you would probably be happy with a torque converter and a valve body from one of the above mentioned cos. If your trans is working for you, just keep yourself on a maintenance schedule of draining your fluid and replacing your trans filter every 25K-30K miles or so. There are lots of stock 48REs out there that have over 200K miles.

Regarding the 68RFE.....It is my understanding that there is not enough room in the case to upgrade the shafts. It is very difficult for the aftermarket to do much with them. But, under stock power they are nice....just like the allison in the Goverment Motors trucks.

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Stick with success, get a 5.9. Most likley be a more reliable truck if you plan on keeping it a while. Like said above the 6.7 get worse mileage, have emisions stuff up the whazo, and who knows where chysler is going these days. I have never peronally owned a 6.7 so I may be partial to my 5.9 but it has been and still is a great truck. Plan on keeping it a long time to come.

I don't think you could go wrong either way. I've got 2 friends with 6.7 that are pulling a tad heavier then I and they have no issue keeping up actually they have ask on the cb if I need a push. Yes they are stock 09's. I'm not thinking it's more power but that the new auto puts more of the power to the ground which is what we all want. A lot to think about, the new 6.7 has turbo brake, sweeter tranny in my opinion. But if you get a 5.9 and do some simple upgrades and you'll out pull a 6.7. As far a milage if you bought this truck to do a job and do it good your really not concerned with mpg's. A guy that is majorly concerned with mpg's just needs to buy a Prius

Posted this in the 4th Gen Forum but seems to apply to part of your question;
As has been already said, I love the interior of the new Dodge 3500 but my favorite of all time exterior is the 2009. Really like the headlights and the short bed Mega Cab DRW version of the 09. A dealer near me has 14-3500's on his lot and 9 of them are Laramie, drw, mega's. 2 loaded @ just over $60K and 1 white one that I could not have ordered any closer to what I would buy. I might need to jump real quick since my old 2004.5 is paid for and has 30K on the clock. :-/ $17K off sticker, my truck and $12K. What do you think? Where do I sign? Just kidding.:-) I better not, he might take it.lol
If I thought he would, I probably would. I like the 09 body style that much better than the 10. Did I say my truck is paid for? Thought so. Have to keep reminding myself tho. Have not gotten my stimulus money yet. :-)
Note to self; my truck is paid for, my truck is paid for, my truck--------------

As a member that has had a 6.7, and wishes he still had it, and also several 5.9s, I think you would be happy either way. The only stipulation to that statement is that if you get a 6.7 truck you have to plan on removing emissions junk. Once that stuff is gone I would recommend the 6.7 100%!!! Great power, Cool E-Brake, and that 68RE is the best trans ever behind a diesel truck IMO. It just knows exactly when to upshift or downshift and it's not all sloppy like the trannies before. I really like my current truck but given the opportunity to switch it for my 08 I had to sell, I'd do it in a heartbeat.....

I was wonderin the same thing, what's to like about the 6.7?
Not being able to upgrade the auto really sucks in my books, a truck with only stock power would be a little boring! [coffee]

I have a few friends that have 6.7's and I have driven a few for work. They have all been excellent trucks, compareable mpg both towing heavy and highway, better power, and just all around nicer trucks than my 06. If money is no problem go with new. Otherwise pick up a used 5.9.

Id get a 5.9, if you can find one with low mileage...
I found my '07 5.9/2wd/6spd/Mega with 9k miles, bought it for $23k:)

If you do get a 6.7, get a '08-'09 just for the fact that they have improved on the problems the first runs were having, I wouldnt get a '07 6.7 unless it was really cheap, even still many had horrible fuel economy and still had lots of other check engine light and dpf/turbo clogging issues. Alot of the new flashes help, but still id go with a '08 if you want a 6.7.
Really they arent all bad, once you delete the DPF/EGR/EGR cooler.