MENTL231

Hello To Everybody. I'm Jay From Massachusett's. I'm A Plumber And I'm Looking To Get Rid Of My Van For A Truck. I Have Alway's Liked The Dodge Cummin's Truck's And Now I'm Looking To Buy One.

I Don't Know Much About Them.

I Want A Crew Cab, Short Bed. 4x4.

I Have Learned To Go With The 6 Speed.

I'm Looking To Spend Around 20 Grand. And I Like The Looks Of The 2003 Truck's. With The Newer Styling.

What Should I Look Out For?

Any Help Is Appreciated.!!!!!!

MENTL231

Here Are Some Of My Former Truck's. I KNOW THEY ARE NOT DODGE'S BUT THEY WERE COOL TRUCK'S. THE BLUE ONE WAS A 93. I WAS A SUPER CLEAN TRUCK. GOT TON'S OF LOOKS WHERE EVER I WENT. I BOUGHT THE 01 BLACK TACOMA SHORTLY AFTER. THEN HAD TO PART WITH THE BLUE ONE. ONCE I BOUGHT MY VAN I HAD TO SELL THE BLACK ONE DUE TO NOT EVER DRIVING IT. NOW I HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD AND TRANSPORTING HIM IN THE VAN IS DIFFICULT SOMETIMES. THEREFORE ITS TIME FOR A TRUCK.

MENTL231

THIS IS MY OTHER TOY. ITS AN 87 BUICK GRAND NATIONAL. ITS GOT A BRAND NEW MOTOR IN IT AND BRAND NEW TRANNY. I'M GOING WITH A TWIN TURBO SET UP THAT SHOULD PUT THE CAR IN THE LOW TEN HIGH NINE SECOND RANGE. AND THATS WITH FULL OPTIONS. AND STOCK WEIGHT. I GUESS I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF 6 CYL TURBO'S.

Marty86

Nice trucks and I love the GN. BTW, welcome to the board. I don't know if anyone has ever told you, but typing in all caps means you are yelling. Just thought I'd let you know.

And for $20k you could get a pretty decent 3rd gen (the newer body style) or maybe find a low mileage 2nd gen. I wish I had that much to spend!

96_12V

Welcome! Also I agree with Marty - please don't use all caps.

Nice Tacoma's, good rigs, but hard to fit people into.

I would try a nationwide autotrader or similar search using advanced search features to find an 04 or even an 05 from around 18 - 23k. 6-speeds (in these years it's the NV5600) is the way to go. Some '03's may have had some more injector issues. Even they should be a lot more reliable than the troublesome 24-valve second gen units. If you are tempted with one of these, put a check in a CD account at your bank for $1500 and keep it for when the injection and lift pumps fail. Really for your range, the 3rd gens are the way to go. Overall, find the right truck for your needs, and since sales are slow right now, it's probalby not too hard to get one in your price range. Good luck.

MENTL231

Anyone ever heard of Carson City Dodge in Nevada?

BluDieselDually

Wow, typing in all caps dosent affend me!! I do like the GN also!

BluDieselDually

I take it you are using your truck for work now, i am a conractor in So. MD, and i can't stand vans, any dodge diesel would be better than a van..

displacedtexan

FWIW the NV5600 6 speed is no longer being made, parts can be hard to find and expensive...

chipmonk

there is a recent post from someone who says he just bought a brand new '07 from folsom lake dodge in folsom, ca for around $24k.

Rednecktastic

Yeah you can find a third gen for 20 grand with under 100k miles. I wouldn't be to picky except if it's not in good shape I'd pass.

Why not get a long bed if it's a work truck?

Rednecktastic

I bet you could get a 2wd base model for around that with a good discount. I've heard as high as 14 grand off MSRP, I got 10 grand off on mine.

Sixxer

Welcome to the forum! Go with the Cummins and never go back.

MENTL231

Wow, I'll tell yah. I have alot of people on another forum busting my ball's for not going with a Duramax. Don't get me wrong, I would also like to have one of those truck's but there is something about the cummin's that draws me back. They say the Duramax's are quiet. But I like the noise. And the duramax's are waaaay more expensive.

MENTL231

Do the 6 speed's hold up to the abuse of aftermarket bolt ons??