The only thing I've had wrong with mine is minor stuff... Rear Axle seal, U joint, and a thermostat... Hurt me!

I'm getting almost 21 MPG and she has a heart of GOLD! I've NEVER been broke down with a MOPAR product ever!

Tow Truck what's that!? (Knockin on wood all the time!)

 

Does the snow plow package really make the truck turn sharper and if so, how? I love my truck and the only "problem" I have is a little too soft of a brake pedal. 56,ooo miles and couting. Almost ready to start un-stocking my lil twuck

 

I just went in to get my LP changed under warranty. I have 74K on it now. Very little towing. Only thing I don't like is the front end dropped 2inchs, other than that I'm happy .....for now.

 

Compared to a '98 it turns way sharper ..with my '98 I had to plan ahead where I was gonna park ,but now I can whip the '02 around just about anywhere. Ive never driven the '02 with out the plow package so Im not positve their. The dealer said the plow package includes a upgraded stearing box and longer travel frount end. along with a heavyer built front suspension.
My brakes are kind of soft also ,but Ive been in a couple emergency situations and the brakes really did the trick very happy , that one time I thought there was no way I was gonna get stoped and I did with about 2" to spare thank you ABS brakes ...
just dont slam your brakes on with 2 tires on the bearm and the other 2 on the black top the ABS kind of freaks out and the peddle will go all the way to the floor and youll coast in to what your trying to miss. dang them ABS brakes (not in a cummins it was a chevy) on a test drive BTW.

 

I've had my 02 for about six months now and I love it more every time I drive it. Rides great, tows great, and mileage is better than the little Dakota I had. Best vehicle I ever bought, really

 

OK, I''ll say it. It's quite possibly the last "real" truck to be produced by Dodge.

I'm very happy with mine; 70,000 miles in 2 1/2 years, strong lift pump, original tires and brakes. Don't like the late year mod to the Dana 60 axle though.

 

What's this about?

 

My 02 has been a perfect angel. I have 55,000 as of this morning and I have not had one glitch. I do agree that the steering is amazing. I have a 4wd 3/4 ton long wheel base, ex cab. Very long truck and the bumper I have on the front is a big un. However, the turning radious os awesome, and handles great. I can park anywhere that a Dodge neon could park, well except for those mirrors This will be my 3rd dodge that I will never get rid of. Even though the 02 been perfect, i still dont think it will surpass the longevity of my first gen and I dont expect it too. BUT it is well on it's way!

-Amanda-

 

The removal of the Central Axle Disconnect, or CAD.
Now the front axles and driveshaft always turns, leading to premature wear on the front DS u-joints.


I am very happy with mine.
Other than my VP44 failure at 4,000 miles, I haven't had a single problem.
Few complaints, like my front DS vibe due to combination of lift and no CAD, but I brought that on myself.
Only 36,000 miles though, but I see many more coming.

I also got mine knowing that 2003 would be the new body style and new fuel system.

Glad I did, I like the Diesel sound and the look of the 2nd gen body.


phox

 

The Rear Axle seal went out on my '98 it must be one of those week spots
EX.----- chevys rocker panels, toyotas tail gate latch,shift boots, window regulators,body in general, and fords ..................everything

 

I bought mine in May with 33000 mi. on it ...now at 41000mi... Avg 23 mpg empty and 17.5mpg towing my trlr. w/skid loader.(roughly 8000lbs.) absolutly trouble free so far...What's not to like?

 

including company provided trucks, this is my 5th ctd. my o1.5(same as 02) has 67,000 miles and has never been in for warranty work. this truck has been as solid as my other and the first one i have started bombing. i will probably keep this truck for a long time as it is paid for and i don't want to give up the suicide doors.

 

Had no serious problems with my '02. Two years, 30K miles, lift pump went out once, but now I'm running a Holley Red inline with the new LP. Biggest problem has been the intermediate steering shaft, after 3 went bad, I went with an aftermarket hi-perf. I suspect everyone here has a bad one, they're junk out of the factory box.

Nothing else, though, and I tow and do a lot of off-road work. Very happy with it, and very, very happy with the price I got on it, still new and on the lot just after the '03's came out -- the discount was very deep.

The stock clutch has kept up with the moderate bombing -- never slipped it nor smelled it. The 5600 tranny has the new materials in the synchros, and had no problem there.

The CAD thing bothers me, too, though.

 

I am thinking the same thing will be said about the new 600 in the near future , reason is that eventually the 05 , the engine will have the VGT turbo which everyone will love to have... but the only reason it will have the VGT turbo is because the engine will have the EGR again and for it to function correctly it need the exh back press in the exh manifold to force the gases thru the EGR cooler and then into the venturi of the intake , ahhh mileage is going to get worse even , anywho I love my 600 and is really happy with it , it just turn 10k and I am getting 17 mpg with 50/50 driving ,

 

This is the MDH of my truck. As you can see, it was built on July 15th of 2002 at 1400 (2:00PM).

That makes it about one of the very last Second Gen trucks. I love it.

When I bought my truck, the '03s were already out and available for order (late August '02). So I had a dilemma: '02 or '03?

I reasoned that the '02 would be about the best of the older litter. It had all the improvements they made to the 2nd gen trucks (Big brakes, best VP44, best LP, etc..). I knew it wouldn't have the advancements of the HPCR or be quiet.

But I bought my truck with BOMBing in mind as well. That means that the simpler it is, the better. The VP44 will make 600hp, which is more than I'll ever have.

True, the Second Gen trucks have their weaknesses (track bars and LPs come to mind). But they are KNOWN issues, with available workarounds.

Finally, emissions were looming on the horizon. I foresaw the days when trucks were so super tightly regulated that the Bombability was hampered or absent.

We see this already with the 600 engines and the electronic wastegates and extra pilot injection. I DON'T WANT A TRUCK BUILT BY THE E.P.A.!!

My truck has been even better than I had hoped. I had a backup switch go out which was replaced under warranty (it's the switch on the trans that turns on your backup lights).

That's the only thing this truck has had go wrong in 2 years. I've had other things that were MY fault, not the truck's. My EZ fried and threw codes. My gauge installation and fuel plumbing caused a hard start problem.

The truck runs great now, and I love it even more now with the DT track bar, EZ, and DD2s. Stock clutch still holds!!


The only thing I would have done differently is get a long bed, maybe an auto tranny, and get more options, like leather and plow package. I LOVE THIS TRUCK!

Justin