1st gen vs 3 gen

[Featherman]

Hi Guys:



I don't want to start a war, but I am soliciting opinions. As you can tell I have an '04, which is my first diesel by the way. I looked for a 1st gen long and hard before I decide to buy new. After buying the 3rd gen I am NOW leaning towards a 1st gen and am actively looking again.



My question is; other than all of the technological advances, what are the differences between the two?



The first gen I'm currently looking at is an automatic as well and has 160k on it, is the transmission weak?



Quite honestly, I like the looks of the 1st gens a lot better.



Your opinions would be much appreciated.



Thanks in advance.

 

["Mad Max"]

Well I guess I'll start off :-laf . I like the 1st gens because I've always been a die hard Power Wagon fan, and I like 'em boxy and square. Plus, I like to tweak my stuff without needing a computer. Another thing is this - the 1st gens are a lot easier to see out of than the 2nd and 3rd gens, at least I think so.

Yesm, the transmission's eventually need help... but so do the 2nd gens, and maybe the 3rd. I like being able to 'beat' on my truck (at least before it got wrecked. . but it will be rebuilt) without worrying about making payments on it while I'm using it.

I could go on and on, but I just like the 1st gens better, looks and functionally, and with a few well-placed modifications they are every bit as good as any other truck out there, from any generation.

Yeah I like my new Mopar (it is sooo sweet), but it can be replaced - my old iron tho... no contest - I'm old-school and I like it. Here's to us and those like us

- Max

 

[TKingsbury]

The old trucks ride worse and have almost no creature comforts compared to new vehicles. That being said, they look cool, are easy to work on and if you have a nice one they draw lots of looks and comments.

Travis. .

 

[JZellers]

I have one of each - see my signature. The 3rd gen is a lot better for towing and long distance driving, but my 1st gen is really fun to drive and looks great, even though it rides a little rough. It also get's better mileage and with the current cost of diesel, that's a plus. Electronic injection is nice in the 3rd gens, but mechanical injection has been proven very reliable for decades. I also enjoy messing around with mild performance upgrades without jeopardizing the warranty I have to say if it weren't for these forums it would be a real nuisance to troubleshoot many of the common 1st gen problems. I've had probably 80% of the most common issues with mine and have found the solution in these forums alone every time. Given all that, I plan on owning one for a long time.

 

[MMoyle]

I too was faced with this very same issue. I was thinking of buying a brand new truck, for the comfort and newness of one, but I decided against it. I bought my 93 instead. For me, it boiled down to appearance, mechanical injection, and cost (in that order). I just love the look of these trucks over any other. You can't beat the square massiveness of the 1st gen rigs. I wanted a truck I could toy around without going to the computer. Love the old fashion mechanical technology that has been around for a long time. ANd the cost aspect was big too. I was able to buy my 93 in cash. Sure you will put money into it, but you won't be stuck with a 500 per month payment for 5 years. Just my 2 cents.

 

[FSecosky]

New or Old?

I too wonder about the choice to get a 1st gen or 3rd. I recently purchased a '93 D250, it has great power and really gets the job done. But, my only quam with older vehicles is the electrical gremlins! I seem to spend soo much time on older vehicles with trailer wiring, lights, etc. I would love to have a newer truck just to be able to have the electrical reliability which I expect they would be better with--or more equipped, heavier duty. But, for the price, if you can find an older 1st gen at a decent price, they will surely get the job done, and do it reliably. I tow a race car with mine, and it does great. I am also still in college, so I really did not have too much of a choice as to which (new or old) I could buy. You will spend some dough on maintenance issues early on, and you will want to do upgrades. I have probably spent a little over $1200 on mine so far in a few months time, with about 3/4 being repair and maintenance and the other 1/4 being the cool stuff we just have to put on!



Just don't get a gasser, don't don't, diesel is definitely where its at!

 

[royster]

as mentioned by others, the old school look is what attracted me. it may be sacrilegious to mention here, but i also like the old school f@#d trucks from the early 70's. by the way, check out this nicely finished rig if you like older trucks in general...



http://www.buysell.com/root/detail/...1550/1972_FORD_CREW_CAB_4X4_on_1996_ford.aspx



i'd like to drop a cummins in that!



i took an 04 2500 for a test drive two years ago and loved the feel and ride and all the modern creature comforts, however, there are so many of the 2nd and 3rd gens running around that they don't particularly stand out. my 93 gets lots of looks, is easy to work on, cost less than a third of a new truck, and i'm not so worried about parking lots dings and the love scratches i get when off roading.



yes, the automatics leave something to be desired and if you start bombing you'll need to include the upgrades to the transmission in your budget. maybe someday, someone will make a four-link kit for our trucks and we can all scrap the horse and buggy ride, too!



cheers,



roy

 

[CLiberty]

I`ve owned a 2nd gen gasser, nice truck,nice ride and all but the front end was horrendous IMO (track bars,BJ`s etc). It also almost put me in the pooor house paying for it... AND the required full ins coverage(theft, etc. ) I like my 1st gens because they look the best out of the lot, it`s stone simple to work on pretty much and it`s all mine... no monthly $$$ Plus you can`t beat thier ruggedness, very tough trucks, and if you want to be a bit different, remember that ALL other trucks outnumber a nice 1st gen rig by about 1000 to 1 (at least in my area). My wife says to me every time I`m "tinkering" on it... "why don`t you just sell it and get a new one?"... she just doesn`t get it, it`s not a truck, it`s a way of life!

 

[Featherman]

Keep em cummin

I really appreciate the feed back. When I look at how much I payed for the truck and started to really examine the metal (dare I call it metal) I was really disappointed to see that it was no thicker than any other Toyota, Chebbie, Ferd sitting in the lot.



To me it doesn't make sense having a 3500 series truck with one of the toughest engines on the planet wrapped in an almost aluminum shell. Don't get me wrong I'm a Mopar diehard and love the truck (sort of). I think it's the Dodge part I love, but I need some real steel. I've made a few treks to look and in some cases bring back some classici Mopar steel with the 04 and have really enjoyed the performance. I won't mind a rougher ride of the 1st gen. It'll be a badge of honor.



Just wanted to know what BUGS, I need to look at to make it road worthy for trips to Nevada and California.



Will probably put mine up for sale and if the truck's owner whose truck I'm looking at is willing to negotiate, I'll take the plunge.

 

[TKingsbury]

I don't think the "bugs" are too bad. The factory paint generally falls off, they have some electrical problems at times (what old mopar doesn't?), and the transmissions and rearends aren't up to big power and a heavy foot. I have to disagree about the 1st gens having more steel in 'em, they are pretty flimsy too (at least I think so). If you are into older mopars, there will be nothing too surprising. Take the plunge, head-first!

Travis. .

 

[Headshot zod]

The average insurance in NJ is $1,100 the insurance on my 92 is $610. 00. With the veggie oil and/or B100 I probably pollute less then one of those 24v "emissions" motors. Sure it would be cool to plug in computer upgrades (I wish I could do that), but then again I don't worry about theft and the minor bruises my body has are character lines. And you cannot beat the openness of the engine compartment. At least our air intake faces the front on the vehicle. And modding a first gen won't void your warranty.



oh yeah..... the bedliner from my old 73 power wagon was a drop in fit

 

[RonA]

The average 1st gen owner changes his own oil, owns a tool box and will buy an owners manual if he needs info. He will haul stuff in the bed without putting a hand knit coaster under it. If he breaks down along the road he will use baling wire and duct tape to get home. Third gen owners tend to be more into personal grooming and wardrobe. Cup and drink holders, window tinting, brunch, wine, ... . well you get the idea. You will also see more women driving 3rd gen trucks than 1st gen. Which is understandable because the person who wears the pants in the family should drive the Dodge diesel. As you can tell I have 3rd gen envy. Better brakes, fewer hemmorhoids, what's not to like. (well 16mpg sort of sucks). It hasn't been easy adjusting to the lack of power in the first gen, But i am limping along as best I can.

 

[RailroadJim]

One word........... PROVEN

I owned a 56' cadillac eldorado before my 93' dodge, never even had a diesel, but i did 4 months of on line and real world research to determine the ALL TIME best truck for the money. I was temporarily out of a job with the rail road at the time and needed something tough as nails and cheap to maintain for the long haul, needless to say there was no comparison to the 1st gen diesel dodges, i found many still rolling with over 800k miles with only the transmission and pump done on them one time!!! as i said, PROVEN is the key word, i looked at ferds and even gas toyotas but they fell short for meeting all the critieria, basically, tough, excellent gas mileage and cheap to maintain in stock form, no other comes close. Hope this helps.

 

[Headshot zod]

He will haul stuff in the bed without putting a hand knit coaster under it.

DOH! Oo.



that about sums it up... .....

 

[TKingsbury]

It hasn't been easy adjusting to the lack of power in the first gen, But i am limping along as best I can.

That's funny :-laf

Travis. .

 

[Philip]

He will haul stuff in the bed without putting a hand knit coaster under it.

:-laf :-laf



Oh man that is a good line. I gotta remember that one.

 

[Featherman]

I'm falling

Travis:



Looks like I'm heading your way. But I better get rid of my knitting kit, wine bottles, brunch basket and whatever else I have to get rid of. While I'm at it, I better pick up some duct tape and bailer twine :-laf :-laf :-laf



I'm really enjoying this thread . I don't want it too end.

 

[crobertson1]

The average 1st gen owner changes his own oil, owns a tool box and will buy an owners manual if he needs info. He will haul stuff in the bed without putting a hand knit coaster under it. If he breaks down along the road he will use baling wire and duct tape to get home. Third gen owners tend to be more into personal grooming and wardrobe. Cup and drink holders, window tinting, brunch, wine, ... . well you get the idea. You will also see more women driving 3rd gen trucks than 1st gen. Which is understandable because the person who wears the pants in the family should drive the Dodge diesel. As you can tell I have 3rd gen envy. Better brakes, fewer hemmorhoids, what's not to like. (well 16mpg sort of sucks). It hasn't been easy adjusting to the lack of power in the first gen, But i am limping along as best I can.

I about coughed out my white zin all over my cardigan sweater! Hold on... yes honey, I'll clean the poodle's bed in a minute... sorry about that. Anyway, I take offense to that remark. None of it's true.

 

["Mad Max"]

Yup... if you like to tinker, and sort of 'personalize' your rig, I'm of the opinion that the 1st gens are the only way to go. They're simple, and capable of all the power you could ever need with simple mods. I did an HX-35 turbo, POD's, 16 cm collar (all from PDR), tweaked the pomp a bit, and I doubled my power - all for $1100. Doubling power in any vehicle is tough. Doing it for $1100 is incredible. Oh, and the feeling of 630 lbs of torque, at the tires, in a beat up ole 1st gen... while smoking an import car to death... . priceless

- Max

 

[Featherman]

Taking the plunge

Well guys... ... ... ... I'm taking the plunge, deposit on its way tomorrow . 1993 Dodge Ram 350, extended cab, dually, CTD with a banks power pack(not sure what this) but its there. Only thing that I'm leary on is the automatic transmission. I'm hoping that with 160k it still has lots of life. I won't beat on it.



I'll have to make sure I dust off my tool box and will be back looking for suggestions on tweaking this monster.



Can hardly wait to take a pic with the rig and an ole Mopar on the back, that will be the ultimate in 'cool"