I'm wanting to purchase either a Dodge 2500 or 3500 pickup for towing a 30'+ RV 5th wheel trailer.
Ok, So I know that the 12v has the million mile fuel pump and are pretty much carefree. I also know that the 24v with their fuel pumps are something to stay away from.
What about the newer engines (common rail) do they have the same problems as the 24v with their fuel pumps? If Dodge/Cummins fixed the problem what year(s) of production should I look at other that the 12v?
One last question: How many miles would be the point at which you should consider that it might be in the range of over-hauling the engine?

Thank you in advance to any advice.
Rob aka Stargate2112

 

I would say the P-pumped only , just simple & reliable .
As for engine life , that is hard to pin down , without knowing history of how it was driven and maintained , someone could kill it the 1st day they had it , and another could get over a million miles , 500,000 is easy .
How much does the 5th wheel weigh ? and is it one of the tall ones , I have an Airstream 32' , tow with 2500 SRW is easy , I would not limit myself to a 3500 DRW , but would not pass up a good one either .

 

every motor has its little problems. the 24v can be fixed by getting a good after market lift pump. the cr motor main problem is injector wear and those things arrent as cheap as the 24v. i have had them all and have had problems with the motor and the truck. towing that size of a trailer i would go with a drw Especially with the winds that blow around their in the spring, used to run a ranch around Sturgis, so i know how nice the winds are. the 03 and 04 seem to getthe best mileage out of the cr models but are more prone to injector problems if modified. my opinion, hope it helps

 

Yeah, ditto that. It seems the VP44 monitoring lift pump pressure is the key to not destroying them.

The common rail I think is pretty reliable, but you do see threads about injectors going south. I'm guessing (just a guess) that doing one of the kits for a 2 micron fuel filter between the stock 7 micron filter/seperator might help.

I towed a 30' toyhauler with an 03 SRW 3500. It handled it fine, and was within all it's weight ratings. When I decided I wanted a big one, I first got the 06 dually I have now. I towed the 30' one a trip or two before I found the big 5th wheel I wanted. Though the SRW handled it fine, I'd have to say pulling it with the dually was more relaxing on uneven narrow winding mountain type roads.

On the 3rd gens, the difference between a 2500 and a SRW 3500 is a set of overload springs and a higher weight rating on the door.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

Hi John, Rich, & Jeff

Thank You for your posts.

John - I think I'll be looking in the 30-36 foot length of 5th wheel trailer. Being that the budget is limited, I'm sure it's going to be an older trailer which are a lot heavier in weight than the newer ones.
The reason I asked about (time to over-haul) some of the used '97s I've been looking at have 250,000 miles on them.

 

some say 500k is the number for overhaul. i would say get a drw for a trailer that size you will feel a lot more comfortable. a plus wth buying a drw is that they seem to be easier to find for a lower price then a srw

 

Food for thought, each generation has it's own set of general issues. No model year of any truck is completly trouble free, just different set of issues. Earlier trucks have mechanical sytems which make them easier to fix for the average home mechanic. Later models are more and more electronically controlled meaning speacialized tools and knowledge to repair but when all is well should be a much more civilized truck with more creature comforts.
There will always be a trade off between older and newer with regards to ease of repair and options. Those trade offs will be a personal choice that only each can answer for themselves.
I would look at, test drive and research trucks from different generations to form my own likes and dislikes of each then base a buying decision on my own set of pros and cons.
By the way, you are at the right place to get lots of good information. Good luck with your search and hope you find what works for you and makes you happy to drive it.