truck falling apart, dodge never again

[ScottLewis]

My '06 is bumping against 100K. 80% of miles are towing an 11K fifth wheel. Front brakes and tires are all I've done beyond routine service. My neighbor bought a Ford 6.0 soon after I bought mine and he's spent close to $10K, in addition to warranty work done in the first 36,000 miles, on repairs to the engine and transmission. AND he probably hasn't towed 10% of his 80K miles. His son turned his similar '06 Ford in under the Lemon law within months of purchase. It's a nice looking and comfortable truck but I wouldn't want it and now neither does he.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I'm approaching 300k. I've replaced the ball joints more than I'd like but it is by far the best Dodge Cummins I've ever owned.

 

[RikDavis]

I drilled and tapped the ball joints for grease fittings on my 99 2wd at 20,000 miles, greased every 5k after that
I have replaced 1 set of u joints
I have all my original front end parts with no problems at 576,000 miles
The injectors and water pump are still original also
Maybe I am just lucky

 

[BlackBullit]

Good luck on going with a Chevy! If you do much off roading you will find out that your Ram wasn't so bad after all. You have to keep up with maintenance or you will have problems. And you can't expect to run it into the dirt without taking care of it, that goes for all brands.

 

[TGVET]

With three Dodge Rams I've never had a seat wear out, even the upholstery on the old '01 with 325,000 miles still looks good but for a frayed edge on the outside of the driver's seat.

Someone who is very heavy might have different results or someone who makes numerous short trips requiring entry and exit many times a day might also experience different results.

I don't think it is reasonable to expect the manufacturer to warranty a five year old truck. The warranty is 36 months, 36k miles.

I wonder if those who are dissatisfied with their Dodges truly believe that Furd or Government Motors are going to provide perfect service and free extended warranties. My guess is during this recession when auto and truck sales are generally very slow and profits are slim the manufacturers are not going to be very lenient on normal wear and breakdown problems that occur after warranties expire.

My driver seat flips back with the slightest acceleration or, me leaning back with very little effort WITHOUT pulling on the seat back lever. I only weigh 165 lbs. That really does SUCKS !

 

[jgillott]

Good luck on going with a Chevy! If you do much off roading you will find out that your Ram wasn't so bad after all. You have to keep up with maintenance or you will have problems. And you can't expect to run it into the dirt without taking care of it, that goes for all brands.

In a moment of temporary insanity, I had a 2005 Silverado as a work truck. It was back to the dealer 13 times under warranty for front end issues in the time I owned it. Unless they are used in nothing rougher than a paved parking lot, they simply will not survive.

 

[TGVET]

Um, I bought a new (used) '05 Ram QC 2500 CTD, 82,000 miles. I'm unimpressed with American engineering. I'll keep it to try to put at least another 100k on it, but I've already re-done the front end (UJoints, ball joints, bearings, etc.). Seems like low miles to have to rebuild the front like that. These are HD trucks, it seems to me that they should have been over-engineered. Automakers charge a premium, then deliver mediocre products. Its sad. From the posts above, it seems chronic among all HD truck makers.

IMO, the only thing over engineered is the Cummins 5.9. As for the rest of the truck, I've rebuit and or replaced so much stuff totaling over $25,000.00 since new. The biggest single expense being the 48RE all billet rebuild by the Canadian rip off outfit for $7,000. All other expenses come from drive train rebuilds three times over now. All my miles are freeway miles for work 150 miles per day, no heavy hauling or heavy towing. I am a maintenance freak as well. I would never by a new Dodge Ram or any other make truck for that matter. I'll just keep it running.

 

[jgillott]

IMO, the only thing over engineered is the Cummins 5.9. As for the rest of the truck, I've rebuit and or replaced so much stuff totaling over $25,000.00 since new. The biggest single expense being the 48RE all billet rebuild by the Canadian rip off outfit for $7,000. All other expenses come from drive train rebuilds three times over now. All my miles are freeway miles for work 150 miles per day, no heavy hauling or heavy towing. I am a maintenance freak as well. I would never by a new Dodge Ram or any other make truck for that matter. I'll just keep it running.

I'm really sorry to hear that concerning your truck, especially the trans. Our '04.5 is still running the original, unrebuilt, 48re at 330+K and it plows snow and spreads salt the majority of the time with very little maintanence. I guess we just got a very good one.

 

[mfurrh55]

Some people will never be satisfied, no matter what, best thing is to get rid of your truck if you are not satisfied with it and buy a car or Motorcycle, bicycle , Stick Horse, Heck just walk, GOOD LUCK

 

[BIGNASTY]

Some people will never be satisfied, no matter what, best thing is to get rid of your truck if you are not satisfied with it and buy a car or Motorcycle, bicycle , Stick Horse, Heck just walk, GOOD LUCK

JUST A SUGGESTION!!!

I have some experience in the STICK HORSE option. I would discount the use of the STICK HORSE and opt for the more congenial STICK MULE, they don't get Pithey about things, and the ride is a much better experience, they also like it when the person doing the riding gets more like them with the hat.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Why are we still fertilizing this thread?:-laf

 

[raxley]

You have to watch the mechanics too (and some of the dealerships are the worst) They will throw parts at your vehicle, they don't care, they will replace parts until the problem goes away. Sometimes it can be hard to find a patient mechanic (especially with the diesels, a lot of mechanics don't know about diagnostics there) who won't be all 'touchy' if you ask for him to explain (and show) to you where the 'problem' is. Mechanics make mistakes too, though, and sometimes it's hard to figure out WHERE the shuddering or shaking noise/wobble is coming from and you HAVE to go through the list (hopefully cheapest first) until the problem goes away. Myself, I give them the benefit of the doubt, but I do want the problem explained to me and I'm wary of 'touchy' people (mechanics) who don't 'have the time' to explain their diagnostics and esp. SHOWING me how they figured it out. I always enjoy learning something, and if you don't have patience ('Just FIX the damn thing!") you can pay a 'price' for it.

 

[LFalconer]

Wow - a lot of info and comparison on this thread. I have owned quite a number of diesel fords and dodges. The 7.3 2002 was likely the best truck ford produced, transmission as the weak link..... After a HD replacement it was good to go. My 1996 F250 with the 7.3 and 5 speed was a beauty, not fast, but 20 mpg and just ran - interior was so so... Gave it up as driving a heavy clutch just aint for me.

Have had 4 Dodge Cummins - the 97 in sig had lots of $$$ pumped in it. But at 1100 ft lbs of torque and 650Hp, stuff breaks... Especially when a 17 year old drives it

I have had 2 06 dodges, both treated me well, still have the one in sig with 76 K, great truck, tows great.

Oh - had 2 of the 6.0 Ferds, what a POS motor.... Ford spent $8k on warranty on the 05 before we sold it 3 months before the warranty expired.

I could go on - but all truck break - I concur the front end on the dodge is not what it should be, but put $3K in the front end and that fixes the problem. Looking at new trucks at north of $50K, man that is a lot of payment book to drag down the highway....

Chevy-GMC - have not ventured into the diesel game with them, had several gassers with mixed results....

Good luck

Luke

 

[TGVET]

Why are we still fertilizing this thread?:-laf

Because P.D., there are those of us on here that didn't get the perfect 3rdGen (like some on here) who can only respond with negative useless comments that borderline on personal attacks. The whole point of this thread is for those on here to voice their experiences and concerns that some here just can't except or comprehend and never will.

To those I say, if you don't have anything constructive or pertinent to the topic to share, STFU and move to another thread because, this one is not for you !
.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Because P.D., there are those of us on here that didn't get the perfect 3rdGen (like some on here) who can only respond with negative useless comments that borderline on personal attacks. The whole point of this thread is for those on here to voice their experiences and concerns that some here just can't except or comprehend and never will.

To those I say, if you don't have anything constructive or pertinent to the topic to share, STFU and move to another thread because, this one is not for you !
.

Well at least that wasn't borderline.

 

[TGVET]

Well at least that wasn't borderline.

Not meaning YOU.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Not meaning YOU.

Ah, gotcha.

 

[Regcabguy]

Wow - a lot of info and comparison on this thread. I have owned quite a number of diesel fords and dodges. The 7.3 2002 was likely the best truck ford produced, transmission as the weak link..... After a HD replacement it was good to go. My 1996 F250 with the 7.3 and 5 speed was a beauty, not fast, but 20 mpg and just ran - interior was so so... Gave it up as driving a heavy clutch just aint for me.

Have had 4 Dodge Cummins - the 97 in sig had lots of $$$ pumped in it. But at 1100 ft lbs of torque and 650Hp, stuff breaks... Especially when a 17 year old drives it

I have had 2 06 dodges, both treated me well, still have the one in sig with 76 K, great truck, tows great.

Oh - had 2 of the 6.0 Ferds, what a POS motor.... Ford spent $8k on warranty on the 05 before we sold it 3 months before the warranty expired.

I could go on - but all truck break - I concur the front end on the dodge is not what it should be, but put $3K in the front end and that fixes the problem. Looking at new trucks at north of $50K, man that is a lot of payment book to drag down the highway....

Chevy-GMC - have not ventured into the diesel game with them, had several gassers with mixed results....

Good luck

Luke

Speaking of Fords,my friend's 2000 F-250 has to have the entire cab removed and replaced. He lives 5 miles from the ocean. $3700. Neil Young was right,Rust Never Sleeps.

 

[Wayne M.]

Say what you will about ANY Ram. It never gets THIS bad!

 

[TGVET]

Wow - a lot of info and comparison on this thread. I have owned quite a number of diesel fords and dodges. The 7.3 2002 was likely the best truck ford produced, transmission as the weak link..... After a HD replacement it was good to go. My 1996 F250 with the 7.3 and 5 speed was a beauty, not fast, but 20 mpg and just ran - interior was so so... Gave it up as driving a heavy clutch just aint for me.

Have had 4 Dodge Cummins - the 97 in sig had lots of $$$ pumped in it. But at 1100 ft lbs of torque and 650Hp, stuff breaks... Especially when a 17 year old drives it

I have had 2 06 dodges, both treated me well, still have the one in sig with 76 K, great truck, tows great.

Oh - had 2 of the 6.0 Ferds, what a POS motor.... Ford spent $8k on warranty on the 05 before we sold it 3 months before the warranty expired.

I could go on - but all truck break - I concur the front end on the dodge is not what it should be, but put $3K in the front end and that fixes the problem. Looking at new trucks at north of $50K, man that is a lot of payment book to drag down the highway....

Chevy-GMC - have not ventured into the diesel game with them, had several gassers with mixed results....

Good luck

Luke

My factory ordered 95 GMC K2500 Sub w/6.5TD ate the #2 cyl. intake valve at 476K in Spring of 05 it was my daily work driver, kids and toys hauler for ten very active years. My transmission went out and was replaced under warranty, 1-TPS, 1-plastic T coolant fitting I replaced w/metal one, brakes 3 times, 4 sets of tires, shocks 3 times. That's it beside meticulous PMS which I carry over from my Navy days and still do to this day. All in all, it cost me a fraction to own and maintain compared to my Ram.

I immediately test drove a new 05 Furd, then a GMC both 3500, QC's, 6' beds. Furd was 14 MPG, hard to see over the hood. GMC was not my cup of tee at all, a disappointment seeing as I have always been a GM dude. Then comes the Ram, WOW ! What an awesome piece of work. Enough test driving, ordered a loaded Laramie ASAP. To this day I am still glad I went with my Ram, it's just very disappointing it costs sooo much to keep it going and has many Dodge/Chrysler chassis and interior problems NOT Cummin's.

I don't plan on ever getting rid of it and I'd never own a Furd or a Gvmt. Motors truck..