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Posted: 1/7/2005 10:47:13 PM EDT
[#1]
I have a 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab with a Cummins Turbo Diesel and almost have a 100K on it. Other than the normal wear and tear items (tires, brakes), the only things that have gone on it so far were the A/C compressor and crank case sensor.
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Posted: 1/7/2005 11:01:26 PM EDT
[#2]
I promise after you own a diesel, you will never buy a gas engine again.
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Posted: 1/7/2005 11:08:38 PM EDT
[#3]
Thanks for your advice, guys. I was going back and forth between a SIlverado 1500 and a Ram 2500, but only if it has a Cummins. I go back and forth between the two all the time, but I really do think I have a better chance getting a Cummins.
If anyone else out there has any wors of wisdom, please, by all means, share them! Kevin |
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Posted: 1/7/2005 11:15:51 PM EDT
[#4]
Wanna bet?  Vehicles owned in 04: 00 F250 DIESEL (kept 12 mo) 04 Mustang Cobra (kept 6 mo) 04 Dodge 2500 DIESEL (kept 2 mo  )04 Mach 1 (currently) Future 2nd vehicle: GAS engine truck, loved my V10 back in 01, kept it for the longest time (2+ yrs), I've come to the conclusion I don't pull cattle trailer (2x/yr maybe) enough to justify a diesel as a 2nd vehicle Now, as far as your primary vehicle,  |
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Posted: 1/7/2005 11:41:45 PM EDT
[#5]
If I had money like the Rockefeller's, Kennedy's, and Gunlvr8's there would be an airplane between there somewhere.
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Posted: 1/8/2005 12:02:41 PM EDT
[#6]
Personally, I'd get the Ford F-250. While the Cummins is the better engine, Ford has the better truck. Dodge has that crappy Dana 60 axle with ball joints, turd axle if there ever was one. My .02. Merlin |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 12:12:51 PM EDT
[#7]
Great engine surrounded by a POS truck.
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Posted: 1/8/2005 12:38:38 PM EDT
[#8]
My dad has a 1999 dodge ram 3500 with a cummins. It is a really good truck. There are a few VERY common problems with these 2nd gen trucks. The most common, and potentially the most costly, is the dreaded lift pump failure. There are two fuel pumps on these trucks. The first is called the lift pump. It sucks fuel out of the fuel tank and also 'lifts' it up a bit. The lift pump is located in the engine compartment on the drivers side.
From a pumps standpoint it is easier to push fluid than suck it. Locating the pump in the engine compartment was a poor design choice by Dodge. It should have been located on the frame rail right next to the tank. On the 2005 RAM cummins trucks the pump is in the tank. If the lift pump fails the truck will run fine (for a while). You may notice a very small decrease in power. However when this pump fails it puts a large strain on the high pressure injector pump (a BOSCH VP44). The VP44 uses diesel as a lubricant as well as a coolant. If a failed liftpump goes un-noticed for any lenght of time it can take out the VP44 due to a lack of lubrication. The liftpump is around $300 canadian (~$250USD). The VP44 is MANY thousands of dollars to replace. Make the dealer test the liftpump before you buy it. If it is defective make them replace it. |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 12:44:50 PM EDT
[#9]
The Ford has the same crappy ball joint Dana 60 in the front. Basiclly anything with unit bearings sucks ass. |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 12:51:52 PM EDT
[#10]
I have a 2002 2500Ram 4x4 with the CTD and love it.
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Posted: 1/8/2005 1:02:01 PM EDT
[#11]
I have always been a FORD man myself.
But after much reading and looking I bought a 2003 Dodge RAM 3500 QC DRW w/5.9 Cummins H.O. It also now has 97,000 miles on the ticker and not one problem. And never looked back! I love it to death.
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Posted: 1/8/2005 1:13:21 PM EDT
[#12]
I had a 2001 Ram 1500 gaser. It was a great vehicle, never took it in during it's new wrranty period. I traded it in and just got a 2005 Ram 3500 SRW Laramie with a Cummins. I couldn't be any happier with it. I ordered this one and it took 2 1/2 months to get, so I got it exactly like I wanted. Six speed, leather, 4.10 rears and towing package. I also have a 2004 Ford Excursion with the 6.0 powerstroke diesel built by International (Navistar), the Cummins hands down beats the powerstroke.. :)
I think what your looking at would be a 2nd generation Cummins engine. It's a tad bit noisier then my 3rd gen, but they are top notch and you won't be disatisfied. |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 1:16:58 PM EDT
[#13]
I can't even hear my 03 running next to a 2nd gen. I don't mind though cause I can let it warm up in the middle of the night without waking up the neighbors. 
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Posted: 1/8/2005 1:18:17 PM EDT
[#14]
My 2005 Ram 3500 has American axles. I think the 2500's come with the same axels today as well. |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 1:30:58 PM EDT
[#15]
dont get it with an auto, ram trannies are shit, their manual will last you forever
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Posted: 1/8/2005 1:38:54 PM EDT
[#16]
Dreamin.............dream dream dream,..............  P51 maybe, I wish  The problem I had with the 04 Dodge Cummins HO was I just don't like to drive trucks daily anymore, it doesn't fit my style I guess. After my father died, he left me the unfinished farm, no hard pullin truck, had just sold my V10 for a mustang, so once I needed something for pulling a new gooseneck trailer, the used 00 Ford diesel did that fine as a second vehicle, cobra became my daily driver. I later got the idea to just lose both the cobra and the diesel and get a really loaded dodge cummins to drive daily and pull if needed, big mistake, I just missed the small car for running around in. I've heard the automatics can be troublesome in the older dodges, but they supposedly beefed them up in the 04-05's. One thing I noticed is that the cummins HO was very quiet when I first bought it, but after 8K miles in 2 months, it was a lot noisier, but not as bad as an old powerstroke.
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Posted: 1/8/2005 1:41:49 PM EDT
[#17]
Their new 48re is not that bad unless you tow alot. I have the 6sp cause all I do is tow. The 6sp is not what you want if you want to run another diesel that has an auto tranny. That being said I don't drag race my truck....I just work it 
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Posted: 1/8/2005 2:02:51 PM EDT
[#18]
$17k for a truck with 100,000+ miles on it ???
 I just bought a LOADED 2000 Chevy 4x4 Dually with 39,000 miles on it for $17,900. It was darn near $40k new... It runs and drives like a brand new truck...  
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Posted: 1/8/2005 2:02:57 PM EDT
[#19]
Dynatrac makes a kit to fix that. 05 SuperDuties have a reverse cut 60 front. The 450s have 35 spline shafts and extremely large knuckles. I wish they were an option on the lighter trucks. |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 2:06:42 PM EDT
[#20]
Fixed it for ya...
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Posted: 1/8/2005 2:07:26 PM EDT
[#21]
How big is your boat?
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Posted: 1/8/2005 2:12:17 PM EDT
[#22]
Later models have AAM axles. in the 90s and before a combination of Dana 60s and 70s or 80s was common. |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 2:16:51 PM EDT
[#23]
You let your Cummins idle to warm up? I'd never do that as the cylinder walls don't get hot enough with just idling. Unburned fuel washes down the walls, dilutes the oil and will cause cylinder glazing. Less you have an exhaust brake which provides back pressure to raise temps never idle for more then a few minutes. |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 2:17:39 PM EDT
[#24]
Excellent trucks, my da has a 01 4x4 dually with a programmer and that thing runs like a gas burner, damn stout too. |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 2:36:02 PM EDT
[#25]
Get ready for a Transmission. 115,000 is the majic number. The engine is good for 350 K.
We were talking this week about trucks ( funny you bring it up), We have been doing lots of Dodge transmissions this year. We used to do lots of Ford trucks, but when they introduced the 4R100 in 1997 things have gotten alot better with Ford. In fact we haven't done any newer Fords ( 2000-2002) in the last 6 months. OUr shop does alot of Vehicles. If you hook an F250 7.3 diesel back to back with a Dodge 2500 Cummins, the Ford will pull it around like there was nothing there. The Power Stroke has some balls. We had one in last year that has some mods on it and the owner puched it in 4wd and it literally lit all 4 tires, It was bad. Top honers go to the Chevy with the Allison and their Duramax, but it is big dollers. The Duramax was bad enough that it was breaking the Allison Torque Converters soon after they were relaeased. Just my observations. |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 2:45:55 PM EDT
[#26]
I rate the engines like so:
Cummins Powerstroke 6.0l Duramax Powerstroke 7.3L |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 2:56:29 PM EDT
[#27]
Yep, I got a PAC Brake  I love the E brakes! I have 97K on the truck and still have the factory set of brake pads on it. I hardly ever tuch the brake peddal unless I want to let others know that I am comming to a stop. I also still have the factory tires on it too. I might need a new set at about 105,000 miles.
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Posted: 1/8/2005 3:38:49 PM EDT
[#28]
i drive a one ton dodge 3500 work truck never had a bit of a problem with tows up to 15 grand and the cummins in a fine dam motor we did lose the tranny 5 speed at 287 grand its so cool to pass a powerstoke on a hill with a cummins and and bobcat on the back
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Posted: 1/8/2005 3:48:34 PM EDT
[#29]
Call the trans shop and ask them how much it cost to rebuild the tranny and also ask them if it is a reliable trans design. If they are honest, you might change your mind, or at least start saving for the next trans build......... Dodge is going to copy the Allison soon. Maybe in 05. They can't call it an Allison, but it will be from the same blueprints. Motor-wise, great engine. |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 5:09:02 PM EDT
[#30]
NOpe I don't think so. The Ford F-250's come with what's called Dana 50's, basically a Dana 60 with Dana 44 internals, but it still has the Dana 60 kingpins instead of the ball joints. Still would get the Ford, though, and I own a Dodge '98 Ram 1500 4x4. Merlin |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 5:51:54 PM EDT
[#31]
99-01 had the Dana 50. DRW of all years and 02+ had Dana 60, and now they are hella strong reverse cut units. |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 8:13:48 PM EDT
[#32]
Thank you everyone for your replies. Maybe I'm just blind to it, but I don't see why everyone has beef with Dodge auto trannies. I have a 1996 Dodge Dakota with 117K on the original tranny and O/D unit, and not one spec of trouble from it. I guess it was maintained very well by the previous owner. However, all tranny issues aside, I have a few more questions about owning a Cummins that I thought up.
1.) How often, if ever, do the injection pumps fail? I just wonder because that is a VERY high dollar item on a Cummins, and would like to know how reliable you guys think those parts are. 2.) I saw the post on the lift pump and it going bad. How can you test one to be sure it's still good? 3.) I do not have ready access to a place to plug in the block warmer. If I had to, I could plug it in for a little while and sit with it, but the dorms on base don't have outlets out in the lot; only two I found are by the main entrance. How reliable is the Cummins to start on cold, midwest winter days? Any issues with that? If I think of anything more, I'll post; otherwise any help with the above is appreciated! Kevin |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 8:23:29 PM EDT
[#33]
My beef is $2600 in 14K miles from my 4x4 98 halfton with 5.9liter. I honestly loved that truck, but couldn't afford to replace that shitty 46RE auto tranny. Get the 3/4 ton Cummins, save your money for an APS transmission, and when you get done, you will have a damn fine truck. |
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Posted: 1/8/2005 8:37:50 PM EDT
[#34]
I would only get one if it had a manual tranny. I've heard of too many problems with the auto, I also heard they detune to engine when used with auto transmissions.
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Posted: 1/10/2005 8:18:53 AM EDT
[#35]
Sorry, but all Dana 60's are ball joints now. Dana hasnt made a king pin axle since the early 90's ( I think the 93 Dodge was the last to use the king pin axle) Check out Pirate 4x4 Front Dana 60 Page |
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Posted: 1/10/2005 9:31:09 AM EDT
[#36]
The injection pumps shouldn't fail unless the lift pump fails causing the injector pump to overheat due to improper cooling and lubercation.
Do a fuel pressure test. Install a pressure guage on the outled of the fuel filter. There is a fitting there. I think it is 1/4"NPT. Bump the starter but do not start the engine. The lift pump will run for around 20 sec. It should read ~10psi.
The engines start OK in the cold. If you will never have a place to plug in you could consider investing in an ESPAR heater. Dodge espar heater The engine wont heat up very good if it is just idling. They need to be loaded/driven in order to generate heat. All diesels are like that. These are good trucks. The engine will last forever. |
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Posted: 1/10/2005 9:44:51 AM EDT
[#37]
The 5.9L Cummins is a damn fine engine for a pickup application. Too bad it's the meat in a shit sandwich.
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Posted: 1/10/2005 1:19:12 PM EDT
[#38]
Heh, so says you |
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Posted: 1/10/2005 1:54:19 PM EDT
[#39]
you won't be disappointed! solid trucks. You might want to check out the stuff that bully dog has for the dodge cummins engines, better performance and mileage.
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Posted: 1/10/2005 3:17:48 PM EDT
[#40]
Apples to oranges. The automatic that Dodge puts in 3/4 and 1-ton trucks with the Cummins is a piece of gosa, and has been since the 80's. An entire cottage industry has sprung up around aftermarket parts and modifications that attempt to make it reliable. It ain't worth the grief. |
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Posted: 1/10/2005 3:30:42 PM EDT
[#41]
A Dakota isn't a 1 ton truck producing 400 to 600 foot pounds of torque, unless it is in a collision with a tractor............. I qualify my remarks with the backing of a fleet mechanic. The auto trans fails. It fails frequently. It is too weak. When it goes, it usually 'grenades' and leaves no usable core to rebuild, requiring a complete replacement, starting around $3000 for average repairs. Any questions? |
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Posted: 1/10/2005 10:59:09 PM EDT
[#42]
After reading all the posts, I decided that if I were to get a Ram with the Cummins, I would prefer the manual. Many others I have spoken too said that the manuals are damned near indestructiblae, and the autos aren;t worth it. I've found a couple manuals that I will look at,
Also, concerning the lift pump. There is a company I found that makes a kit that enables you to add a Carter 7 psi push pump to the fuel lines uner the truck. This has proven to be a very easy and reliable fix to the lift pump problem on the Cummins ISB engines. The guy that told me about it has put almost 65,000 miles on his lift pump with this kit and has never had any abnormal drops in fuel pressure. He told me he was going through pumps every 15K miles or so. This one has outlasted every one of the others he's had, and he owes it to this kit. Several others agree. So I pretty much decided if I get one of these things, it has to be a manual, have a fuel pressure gauge put in immediately, followed by that kit. That should give me a real nice truck. Kevin |
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