Best all around 3rd Gen Truck

[AHarris]

Which year--between 2003 and 2007 (5. 9) offer the best combination of reliability, best transmission (manual or automatic), fuel mileage, and performance? I've thought about not getting a new megacab when we go back to the states but maybe something 3rd Gen for around $20K. Your thoughts?

 

[LesStallings]

Mine, obviously!!

 

[coobie]

Mine, obviously!!

I could not agree more. :-laf :-laf :-laf . coobieOo.

 

[amsoilman]

Can't say much about other trucks, but my 03' has been very reliable, and has had NO major issues at all. I only have 66,000, but it has been near perfect!





Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Pawpaw]

Listen to Les and coobie. They know what they're talking about!



Bob

 

[jnelson]

I had an 04. 5 that was an outstanding truck. At least yall got the first number right.

 

[DeezelDood]

I waited until '06 for the Mega cab and I have not been disappointed (knock on wood). I just love the room in this baby compared to the other brands and the firms seats are to my liking. I didn't need or want a long bed. To each his/her own. I would have looked at previous 3rd gens if not for the small back seat in the quad. I'd love to have the 6 speed auto from the '07, but the DPF with it's DO injection event and high sensitivity to fuel and motor oil is bothersome to me. Manual transmission is awsome but was not an option for me (wife could not drive it). On second thought... My 48RE has performed very well. The only issue I thought I would have, wide gap in gear ratios, has not been a factor. My RPM at the speed I mostly drive (60-70) is the same as it would have been on any transmission. Around town I have not really noticed a problem either. No issues at all towing, plenty of grunt and no overheating. The transmission does shift a bit hard, but I'm told that firm shifts on autos are not necessarily a bad thing. Love my CTD, I dont really think there is a bad version.

 

[JWChessell]

My '03. 5 has been very reliable. I now have 72,000 miles on it -- I drove 32,000 miles in 2006 -- and have had NO issues. Still on original brakes, batteries, etc. I've had fuel figures as high as 22 MPG at sustained 75 MPH going across the Great Plains on long trips. A VERY long thread was done on this issue about a year ago, in this same forum; probably 75 replies. If you do a search on it using my name -- I posted to it also -- you'll eventually find it.

 

[MickeyMiller]

My '03 HO 6 speed has been absolutly reliable for 90K miles. I like 'no cat' and simpler management program (fewer injection incidents) and, I think, better milage.



Get an '03 - '04 HO, that's been well cared for, and you won't be disapointed!

 

[J&LRam]

ditto the better mpg with the '03/'04 305/555 HO with NV5600 3. 73s. Mine averages 22+ mpgs on my long weekly commute [600+ miles]. Every thing else is about equal. The PSD folks really squack when they here the kind of mpgs we are getting. My neighbor just swapped his '04 PSD for a '05 Cummins as he was going for the buy back but this made a better money difference for him.

JIM

 

[rjohnson916]

My '05 didn't need aything for the first 50K, just last month I had the power steering re-done as it started leaking pretty bad. The tech checked my ball joints and U-Joint's said U-Joint look super, but ball joints have play, but within factory specs per se. Also my windshield washer motor gave up the gost at the same time the power steering unit started leaking weird as we hardly ever use the washer but who knows... . other than that I'm realtively happy.



-Ryan

 

[rbattelle]

I like the '03-'04. 5 trucks. Probably the last production automobile in US history with no emissions equipment. (Unless you count the crankcase breather filter).

They also use a more traditional PCM instead of the TIPM. Not that the TIPM is bad, it's just a little inconvenient sometimes.

Ryan

 

[CookJ]

My '03 HO 6 speed has been absolutly reliable for 90K miles. I like 'no cat' and simpler management program (fewer injection incidents) and, I think, better milage.



Get an '03 - '04 HO, that's been well cared for, and you won't be disapointed!

Ditto that. 130K and still running strong.

 

[MStrain]

I had an 05 Dodge Gasser before I got my 06 Cummins, I like the updated front end and the headlights are superior, they are five times brighter and have a huge beam, also I think the interior on the 06 is much nicer. The engines are not that different, I do have a CAT but I don't mind since I live in LA and there is already enough smog here. I have 25k on the truck and so far no issues at all, my truck was made in Saltillo Mexico, the consensus around here is that the Mexico made trucks are better built and have less issues across the board than the St. Louis built trucks, it is up to you but I am very happy with my 06.

 

[Semicrazy]

156K here on my 03. I have a new front D-shaft since the one in it is shot. I also need to get a throw in a water pump. The pump is good, but the seal around the housing is seeping a little.

 

[BHolm]

I have had/have 5 third gen trucks now. My '03 HO's were awesome trucks, best milage of the bunch. I breifly had an '05 and now have an '06 Megacab and an '03 2500 QC Hemi. All have been 4x4 autos and all have been completely stock engine wise.



Certainly the loaded up Mega is my favorite. The power moonroof, rear DVD, power sliding rear window, Sirius radio, factory jake brake, high idle control, and slight power advantage over the 305/555 trucks all make it my favorite, but for a higher price of course.



I greatly prefer the 48re auto trans. If all I did was heavy hauling for a living maybe I would go manual but the autos are so much better for daily use, and are much faster too. I have seen 22-24mpg with the '03 QC SB 3. 73 gears, and the truck was great. I am getting 20-21mpg with a well broken in Megacab that scales at 7700lbs empty. once broken in they all do well for mpg. By comparison, in the same type of driving, the Hemi gets 15-16 mpg empty.



I do think that you will have trouble finding a $20k diesel third gen. I have been looking myself for an '03-'04 and they are much closer to $30k than $20k. I am glad I have an '06 though. I hate the stupid bubble tailights the '07s have, and I think the 6. 7, while a fine machine is way too complex in the emissions dept. Looking at the exhaust system alone scares me. Any third gen that has been cared for is a good bet IMO.

 

[CDonaldson]

When I bought my 06 in Feb 06, I had been looking at the 03-04 models. I test drove a bunch of them and was concerned about thier histories/previous care/abuse. Their used pricing was almost as much as a new truck, these truck DO retain value well. After careful considerations regarding buying used, reading tons of sites like this one, I got the 06. I could have purchased the extended warranty on any of the used trucks, but then considering that additional cost, I figured I might as well have a new one, not just new to me. I have a std transmission and prefer it over an auto, so the new auto transmission in the 07's was not a persuasion factor to wait to order an 07. If I was an auto transmission fan, then I might have waited a couple months and gotten an 07.



I am absolutely happy with my 06 Mega, I love the additional cab room. I also like the short bed, first I've ever had. I tow heavy loads, both GN's and bumper pull's without hardly noticing the trailers are back there, plenty of power.



Tough choices ahead and lots and lots of test drives. I wish you well on your search and decision making.



CD

 

[AMink]

I really like my Megacab. I do miss the long bed (that can be fixed with $6000 and a trip to Texas:-laf), but the room in the cab is more useable more often for me. It pulls my travel trailer very well, gets decent mileage, and is comfortable to drive. The engine is smooth as silk and has tons of power. Someday I'll get a Smarty, but for now, it's great.

 

[JBonpua]

Yooper39, I assume you are in the service, I am too 21 years AF. When I was stationed in Japan for many years I though about getting a CTD but I waited till the right time. Last summer when I found out that the 01/01/07 trucks will have a DPF and a new engine I decided to look for an 06 Mega with all the bells and whistles. If you can find an 06 or pre 01/01/07 07 you like, jump on it. Good luck.

 

[Bochuck]

I love my 04. 5 quad cab w/48RE & 4X4. It's the best truck I've ever owned and wouldn't trade it for anything. I average around 21 mpg on the highway at 80 mph. It has 58,000 miles on it and I never had one problem... ... until just yesterday. I was driving down the road at a steady 35 mph and it just died. I was able to restart it, but again it died within 10 seconds. I thought that my Sentry alarm system may be causing the fuel to shut off, so I set the alarm and then turned it off. The truck started and ran long enough for me to get on a side street, but then died again 30 seconds later. My precious baby is now in the Dodge dealer's shop. Haven't heard anything yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's a problem with the drive train/engine and will be under warranty (100K from Cummins). We were heading out of town with our boat for the Memorial weekend, now we may be plain screwed! I still love my truck though!