Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Wiredawg
TDR MEMBER
Fellow Rammers:
I just bought my wife a Silver 03 2500 QC 4X4 SB HO/48RE. I bought my 02 3500 in Aug 2002 (last production run of 2nd Gen). Having owned 2 2d gens, I feel somewhat qualified to make a comparison.
The 3d gen steering is tight, the fit and finish is great and the stock power of the HO is very good. I'm not big on slush boxes, but I think the 48RE shifts crisp and keeps you in the right power band. I like the quiet of the truck. You can still hear the mighty Cummins and the exhaust has a nice tone. I pulled my 20 ft enclosed car hauler loaded at about 10K lbs and it pulled great. This is a great out of the box truck. Empty, this SB with the HO drives/manuevers like a sports car. I will add guages (EGT, transmission temp, boost, and FP) and new air filter setup. Ilike the stiff frame and the transmission cooler is massive (covers the whole front of radiater). Infinity stereo is great. The QC has lots of room and doesn't need bigger rear doors (IMO). I set the front seat where I like it and got in the back seat behind it. Lots of room.
The 2d gen 3500 steering is loose, the stock power sucks and the fit and finish is OK. I BOMBed it w/ DDIIs, TST PM-3 adjustable and Scotty Air and BD 4" exhaust. I have to say I do love this truck. It's loud and in your face power. It's big. I don't like the frame. Got stuck in mud (ugly story) and had to jack up the frame to dig out wheels. I centered 4"x4" wood on frame in front of rear wheels to jack it up. The frame isn't reinforced there and not boxed. The weight bent the bottom of frame (C-channel) up and truck fell off jack. If you jack frame, don't center wood/jack on the bottom of frame, center on the vertical portion to distribute weight. The QC is OK to haul adult on short trips, but not long ones.
I bought my 2d gen 3500 on Aug 9 and bone stock except for 4" BD exhaust and exhaust brake. I pulled my 16K lb 5th wheel with just 45 miles on it from Maryland to Indiana for TDR Nationals. There, I drove a 3d gen 3500 4X4 QC w/ HO-6spd w/ 3. 73s. Comparing 3d gen 3500 stock with my 2d gen 3500 stock, I already had regretted not waiting. The 3d gen doesn't need BOMBing (IMO) unless you want to drag race or pull big trailers up hill at 80 MPH.
Finally, if I had to do it over again, I would have waited for a 3d gen 3500. IMO, the 3d gens are overall better quality and fix all the gripes (steering, power and finish) we 2nd gen owners have complained about. BTW, I owned a 2000 2500 Ram, so I have more than a few months of 2nd gen ownership under my belt. True, I've only had the 3d gen only 2 weeks, and if anything changes about my imperssions of quality, power etc... , I'll be the first to report it in this forum.
I'm sure this will stir some lively discussion, but hey, that's what the TDR is all about. Feel free to stir the pot!
Wiredawg
I just bought my wife a Silver 03 2500 QC 4X4 SB HO/48RE. I bought my 02 3500 in Aug 2002 (last production run of 2nd Gen). Having owned 2 2d gens, I feel somewhat qualified to make a comparison.
The 3d gen steering is tight, the fit and finish is great and the stock power of the HO is very good. I'm not big on slush boxes, but I think the 48RE shifts crisp and keeps you in the right power band. I like the quiet of the truck. You can still hear the mighty Cummins and the exhaust has a nice tone. I pulled my 20 ft enclosed car hauler loaded at about 10K lbs and it pulled great. This is a great out of the box truck. Empty, this SB with the HO drives/manuevers like a sports car. I will add guages (EGT, transmission temp, boost, and FP) and new air filter setup. Ilike the stiff frame and the transmission cooler is massive (covers the whole front of radiater). Infinity stereo is great. The QC has lots of room and doesn't need bigger rear doors (IMO). I set the front seat where I like it and got in the back seat behind it. Lots of room.
The 2d gen 3500 steering is loose, the stock power sucks and the fit and finish is OK. I BOMBed it w/ DDIIs, TST PM-3 adjustable and Scotty Air and BD 4" exhaust. I have to say I do love this truck. It's loud and in your face power. It's big. I don't like the frame. Got stuck in mud (ugly story) and had to jack up the frame to dig out wheels. I centered 4"x4" wood on frame in front of rear wheels to jack it up. The frame isn't reinforced there and not boxed. The weight bent the bottom of frame (C-channel) up and truck fell off jack. If you jack frame, don't center wood/jack on the bottom of frame, center on the vertical portion to distribute weight. The QC is OK to haul adult on short trips, but not long ones.
I bought my 2d gen 3500 on Aug 9 and bone stock except for 4" BD exhaust and exhaust brake. I pulled my 16K lb 5th wheel with just 45 miles on it from Maryland to Indiana for TDR Nationals. There, I drove a 3d gen 3500 4X4 QC w/ HO-6spd w/ 3. 73s. Comparing 3d gen 3500 stock with my 2d gen 3500 stock, I already had regretted not waiting. The 3d gen doesn't need BOMBing (IMO) unless you want to drag race or pull big trailers up hill at 80 MPH.
Finally, if I had to do it over again, I would have waited for a 3d gen 3500. IMO, the 3d gens are overall better quality and fix all the gripes (steering, power and finish) we 2nd gen owners have complained about. BTW, I owned a 2000 2500 Ram, so I have more than a few months of 2nd gen ownership under my belt. True, I've only had the 3d gen only 2 weeks, and if anything changes about my imperssions of quality, power etc... , I'll be the first to report it in this forum.
I'm sure this will stir some lively discussion, but hey, that's what the TDR is all about. Feel free to stir the pot!
Wiredawg
Being a single guy, the longer cab and full doors doesn't matter to me. One other reason I stepped up early was to get the tried and proven Dana Axles. 
