DKothe,
Do a search, there have been several threads extolling the virtues of the 3rd gen vs. the 2nd gen and vise versa. In a nutshell, there have been very few problems with the 3rd gens, but some common issues/complaints are;
- vibrations; there was a TSB for a new power steering hose and the '04's have a revised part number with an integral weight. Some vibrations in the driveline have also been reported. Front driveshaft replacement seems to be the most common fix. Test drive any potential truck and look for vibrations at 70mph and 1800 - 2100 rpm.
- rear ends; The new AAM rear ends have had a much higher failure rate than the previous Dana units.
- lift pumps; still hearing of lift pump failures (may finally be addressed in 2005, with a new pump at the tank), although very few CP3 (common rail pump) failures unlike the 2nd gens VP44's.
- minor issues; engine noises (new engine is quiet, so you hear more mechanical noises), wind noise and door seal issues, reports of problems with some of the factory tires (SRA's mostly), and probably a couple that I'm forgetting
- the 48RE seems to be holding up well. On a stock or nearly stock engine, no modifications of the transmission would seem to be necessary. Common thoughts are the 48 can take mild modifications without a problem, unlike the 47RE. If you are thinking about an Exhaust Brake, keep in mind that 48RE exh. brake approval is still pending. If you are thinking about a standard, the NV-5600 is virtually bulletproof.
- Haven't heard of any transfercase problems although a couple of people have posted failures of thier Laramie "Dial a Drive" units. I have the manual lever.
Overall the driving experience is much improved over previous versions. The cab storage is much better, the white gauges are visually nicer, the rear seat/proper door/ roll down windows and increased space is much nicer for rear seat passengers. Regular sized adults will be quite comfortable in the back. The load flat floor is a clever option that should come standard on all QC trucks.
Happy shopping,
Dave
Oh yeah, " Resistance is Futile"
