I've been on this site for awhile now, but all my posts have been in the 2nd gen arena. Well, I've got a potential opportunity to make money contracting out as a hotshot driver through a friend's company. I'll make the investment of truck/trailer, but it's going to require a "new" truck. I'm looking for the bad/good from the folks who have them now. Initially I'm planning on a 3500, 4x4, 5.9 liter, with a manual tranny. It'll probably be a 4 door. Which year would be the best? I'm leaning towards an 06 or early 07, but don't know. Let me have it folks and thanks in advance.

 

I have a 2005 and its been a great truck. my friend bought a new 08 model and he had smog related problems, truck would not even pull itself out of the driveway, had to be towed back to dealership, he traded it for an older model.

that is the only things i know other than no factory grease fittings on the frontends of our trucks, so many frontend parts are worn out by 100-130k miles.

so, if you buy any model with those kind of miles, expect to replace some frontend parts.

some say weak auto trans, but most up the hp of the motor past the limits of the trans or overload the trucks and that was the problem.

so far (62K), my truck runs great, drives fine and gets good fuel mileage, I would buy another one, if i needed a truck.

 

I was wondering about the 04-05 years. I found a nice 04.5. I read something the other day that made me question the 08-09's but can't remember where. An auto would be nice, but I think I'll get more life out of a stick.

 

I sold my 2007 5.9 and miss it every single day. It had the G56 6 speed manual trans and that thing was bullet proof. After getting rid of the stock clutch and flywheel for a southbend the truck was incredible to drive, lots of power, no emissions crap, just a good diesel pickup. My better half still thinks i'm crazy because i have a picture of my old truck in both of my new trucks.

 

The 04.5 is a great truck. If you found one you like, go for it! I've been very happy with mine for over 8 years and 175K miles. Makes tons of power.

Any of the 3rd gens are fine though. The 07.5 on up are the 6.7 Cummins with more emission stuff on them.

..

 

My 2003 has served me well for the ten years I've owned it...It does everything I want with never a whimper......Ben

 

What about the injection pump? Is it the same one that is on my 2000? Do they have the lift pump also, or did Dodge change something on the late 5.9's? Also, are the front ends still problematic like on my current rig?

 

03-04 will probably return the best mpgs (no cat or 3rd injection event). Had great luck with mine... but yeah, make sure to carry a spare fuel pump if the one you find is still in the factory config.

 

They went to a new IP with the common rail engines. CP3. A whole lot better. They went to an in tank lift pump in 4.5 or 05 maybe. Still crap and to me harder to deal with cause the tank has to come down, and when it fails, you have to deal with the gauge part too. A remote mount LP and big line kit is still the way to go. Mount it all right under the drivers seat on the frame so you can feel it buzzing is what I like to do. Then add a T in the big line for a gauge. If you have the in tank, you add a pickup tube and leave the gauge with the disconnected LP just swimming all day in fuel.

 

one more question, 3.73 or 4.10's? It's going to be a daily driver also, probably 50/50 work/play. When it's hauling, it could be up to 30,000 lbs. total combined weight. I'm thinking 4.10's but what say the experts?