best year for 3rd Gen???

[BILLUA]

. My mileage is back up to where i am happy with it but, still not as good as a 2nd gen. .

You guys that make that comparison just kill me everytime... Your third Gen comes with 100 more horsepower stock than our second Gens did... Do you think that horsepower comes with no additional fuel burn???



I wish :-laf

 

[rbattelle]

From a practical standpoint, I agree with those who say 03-early 04 models. It represents the last non-emissions engine (unless you count the crankcase breather) ever produced for the US market. There will never be another like it. To me, that translates into high resale value (if you ever plan to sell one).



Normally, I would recommend the NV5600, but lately I'm not so sure. The 5600 is an awesome transmission (probably the finest transmission ever offered in a light-duty truck), but it's not made anymore. And that means an extreme shortage of parts. That actually makes me nervous, knowing that if I blow my transmission my truck could become a 7200 lb doorstop because I can't get the parts to fix it. As a result, it *might* actually be a better choice to go with a 48RE... but I'm not sure.



-Ryan

 

[jjdiesel]

The G56 is gaining some ground though. There are some really good things being said about it's construction... . by guys that know trannys. Some of the features make it nicer than an NV5600, it just does not yet possess the reputation that can only come with time

 

[rjohnson916]

I feel the '05. I have 35K miles on mine and it has only blown the plastic intercooler (My fault) too much boost from the programmer :-laf I like the addition of the rear seat head restraints added to 2004-05 trucks and believe it or not, the squared off rubber seal on the 04-05 trucks looks so much better than the early rounded corner of the 03 trucks and the silly SLT badge next to the door, it's just cleaner IMO. Also I like the way the tailgate is dressed out on the '05. seemed to me a lot of the '03-04 trucks had lift-pump, injector problems, leaking steering gear, death wobble, U-joints etc... Also we all know mineral grey is the cats meow



-Ryan

 

[CHolman]

I like my 04 HO 305/555... Great power "plenty for me" and can get more really easy, good MPG. The biggest thing for me is the "NON" electronic waste gate..... I have the NV5600 and haven't had any problems "KNOCK ON WOOD" I did have to replace a U jount at 80,000 miles on her, so replaced them all with greaseable ones while the shaft was down. 113,000 miles later, she and I both couldn't be happier. Though brakes are coming soon.....

 

[Cowpunk]

Gotta throw my vote in for an 03. Like everyone's been saying "no kitty, awesome power, and all the fun of the HPCR's without having lower milage. " Throw an NV 5600 up to it and call it a day.

 

[JARichard]

MY 03 was awesome and if my car allowance would not have changed to a 4 year old vehicle I would have kept it. Rear u-joints went at 60k and a lumbar support motor had to be replaced. No lift pump, axle u joints or death wobble issues.



It at Allen Samuels Dodge in Katy if anyone would be intersted in it, It was spoiled.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I have an early 04.



You can't beat the advantage of CR injection with no emissions garbage or third injection. I got the 48RE auto to boot.



You get half decent mileage too.



Funny when I first ask the dealer to find me a new truck I insisted on the Cummins "600". When my truck arrived I popped the hood and saw the 305/555 sticker on the side of the head.



I raised all heck and said the deal was off. They knocked $500 off and gave me a tonneu cover :-laf :-laf :-laf



Now I look back at it as a good thing all the way around.

 

[BBRam]

I say the best truck is the '03 HO with NV5600.

I HAVE TO AGREE WITH THAT

 

[gtobey]

My wife has found a new Mega Cab 3500 single wheel 4X4 and wants me to trade my 2nd generation 4X4 2500 QC. What would be the pros and cons? I am very pleased with my 2nd gen as I also bought it new, and have had 63,000 trouble free miles apart from the steering wander which I have fixed. I have a 3. 54 rear now, and get about 20mpg on the road and 17. 5 in town in the mountains of VA. What can you tell me? Thanks for any info...

 

[jjdiesel]

You're fuel milage will likely take a dive, but the over-all comfort and drive will blow a 2nd gen away... I personally feel much more confident with the reliability factor of a common-rail system over the VP-44. Almost as confident as with a p-pump,... well, maybe not quite.

 

[MChildress]

I like my 04. 5 no problems and averages 17 mpg . The milage came up at 35,000,guess I was babying too much and it finally broke in.

 

[Elite1]

You're fuel milage will likely take a dive, but the over-all comfort and drive will blow a 2nd gen away... I personally feel much more confident with the reliability factor of a common-rail system over the VP-44. Almost as confident as with a p-pump,... well, maybe not quite.

When I had my 96' I would get 21 mpg empty, on a long trip, if I took it easy & kept my foot out of it. Under the same circumstances, My 03' get's the same 21 mpg!

 

[jjdiesel]

Same here, if I drive easy, I can rival the mileage of my '99... can't beat the mileage of my '95 though, at least not with any consistency. He's talking about a M/C, which is an entirely different animal.

 

[mlewis73]

Had my '06 a week. Love it! G56 is very smooth, and the truck tows like a dream.

 

[CLAYTON]

I have been loving my 03 HO... Only problems with it have been self inflicted

 

[TCluff]

i just dropped a valve seat in my 03 at 60000 really hard miles, its been a tuff truck and was getting 19 mpg up to just before the damage :--)

 

[jjdiesel]

Ouch!!... sorry to hear that. Any idea's on the cause?