Sorry if long but, as if you couldn't tell I am new to the forum. Been driving gassers for a long time and now have decided to bite the bullet and get a diesel. I have wanted to get one for years but financially it wasn't there. Now all the kids are gone and the 5th wheel is ready to go. I can haul it with what I have but its starting to get old and I want to replace it before major problems start. My dad is driving a 90 Dodge Cummins with something in the area of 280,000 on it. Just replaced the injector pump in January of this year. I am looking at the SRW 1 ton 03 QuadCab or 02 ClubCab.

Questions: 1) What are the big differences between the 2002 and the 2003 HO Cummins?
2) Is the price difference between the 02 and 03 worth buying the 03?
3)Along with the differences in the Cummins what would be better to go with the 02 with a 5 speed or the 03 with ????

I have been haunting the forums for some time now to include the RV tow vehicle forums. I have considered the 7.3 PowerStroke but am impressed with the performance of the Cummins and have started actively looking for one. Any objective information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Steve

 

1) The '03 is a lot quieter, has a totally different fuel injection system, has more torque/horsepower in the stock version, and a few other things I can't think of.

2) If you want to drive in style, put down some more money for the '03. If you want the feel and sound of a diesel, get the '02. It's mostly personal preference. Both engines are great, but it'll come down to what YOU want. Test drive both years and see for yourself.

3) Again, personal preference. If you like shifting and feeling each gear engaging, get the 5 speed. If you drive in town all day and wouldn't like that, auto. My personal preference, and others on here, for towing you can't beat a manual tranny. Another thing...the '02 comes w/ a 5 speed, the '03 comes w/ a 6 speed. That makes the gears a bit closer together so you can get a heavy load started easier and so you can cruise in your engine's powerband at a wider variety of speeds. Also, most engine brakes are easily compatible w/ manual trannys.

 

Welcome to the site Equalizer....i cant help you with your question, but i have a question for YOU. Years ago we stopped and did an overnight camping session in your town while cutting across your State to visit the Grand Coulee dam. Welllll.... it was a quiet night and i was sound asleep.....but about 2;30 am that darn air raid siren you guys have there just about scared the stuffing out of me! ...i thought the end of the World had arrived!

You still got that contraption there?!?

good luck on your next purchase!

 

a few things...

the 3500 SRW isn't an option on a 2002...
a 2002 H.O. comes with a 6 spd manual as does the 03 H.O.

the differences are pretty clear... an 03 is a lot quieter than an 02... a lot more room in the back seat of an 03... they will both pull about anything you can put behind them... I think it's all personal preference... good luck with your decision.

I like em loud so I went with an 02 plus I liked the ride height and stance better...

 

Since we have both an 02 HO and an 03 HO I can say that I prefer my truck in every aspect except for the rear leg room; but because of that extra leg room, there is less room under the hood which I do notice when I am wrenching on it. Even when my truck was stock it felt like it had more grunt. Every time I drive hers, it makes me appreciate mine even more. It just feels more like a what a truck should be like.

 

Thanks for the info, I have been trying to learn everything I can but like most things there is more out there than there is time to learn. With what I want it looks more like I will work on finding a low mileage 03. Just missed one with 18,000 miles on it by about 30 minutes last week. It was a trade in for a 2004 600 from the dealer that originally sold it.

To Goldenears, I guess we still have it, I believe it is the emergancy alert siren for the Volunteer Fire and EMT crews, they get a lot of calls with the idiots that want to drive real fast on the wet, winding roads here. You should have been here the night the train whistle was stuck on for 15 to 20 minutes. That was a lot of fun too.

 

I think there's no question you'll prefer the '03 vs. the '02... both are geat performers... but with all due respect to the guys who like noise... THE 84 PERCENT QUIETER version which began with '03 is so much "nicer", particularly on a long trip... I can only say the feeling of quieter power with my '04 reminds me of the effortless 455 Olds I really enjoyed years ago... If you go for an '03 / '04, you won't be sorry...