Best Year?

[Russknh]

I sold my 05 3500 early in its life due to poor fuel mileage concerns and now find myself wanting another Dodge dually. I would like to hear some opinions about the best year trucks based on mileage,drivelines and potential performance. I still fell like the 5600 is better then the G56 but don't see much posted in the way of failures. I feel like the dual mass flywheel is poor design after replacing dozens in Fords and I think Dana's are better than AM's so what's the rest of you think??---thanks getting ready to hit EBAY

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I think a late-model '03 or early '04 would be a good choice. Don't go for an '04. 5 because the earliest 600s had some problems. I had a mid-year '03 6-speed and it was great.



What sort of MPG were you seeing? With a 6-speed, you should have been around 17 highway driving reasonably (keeping close to 70, not a lot of grades). In town 13-15. Having a dually definitely knocks 1-1. 5mpg off a comparable SRW truck.



Vaughn

 

[CPittman]

Of course, I would vote for an '04. Last model year without ANY emissions controls - no cat, non-electronic waste gate, still had the metal end caps on the intercooler.

 

[RBollengier]

still had the metal end caps on the intercooler.

My 06 has the metal end caps, they are painted black in the front but you can see the aluminium from the back where it wasn't sprayed.

 

[CPittman]

my bad... maybe it was only the '05s that had the plastic intercooler caps... or maybe I'm full of horse hockey...

 

[RankRam]

my bad... maybe it was only the '05s that had the plastic intercooler caps... or maybe I'm full of horse hockey...

The early 05's (about 6 months) indeed had the plastic ends, some of us around here call them the limited edition intercoolers.

 

[BigDan]

You sold it simply due to a concern on MPG????



Well you pretty much shot yourself in the foot is performance is what your after. 04. 5+ respond very very well to mods. Heck you can get 170+hp from a Smarty on a 05, but 130hp on a 03, 04 a difference of 40HP. Dont forget about Crazy Larry with its 200+hp for 04. 5+ only. Also you get high idle features on the 600's, the list goes on and on performance wise.



Have you seen dyno number the the 04. 5+ have been throwing down!!!! Its amazing, Luken has 650+hp with stock injectors, stock CP3, no twins, no drugs, nothing really fancy. Theres lots of 04. 5's running 13 second 1/4 mile with a few simple mods, like a box and a TC. If you can believe it there's a 05 with a G56 and a BDDL Crazy Larry running 14. 2 in the 1/4 and thats with a 6 speed!!!!



Now I read your after MPG well thats the only place a 03, 04 shines and its still debateable.



Dont get me wrong I love my 03, its actually what I wanted and would cry if I lost it. I didnt buy it to go fast, but if I was looking to go fast id get a 04. 5+. It is still possable to get 550hp out of a 03, 04 it just takes more parts, more money.



As far as powertrain and driveline's as you call it... . All years are good, no major problems that cant be fixed, or arnt covered under warranty. In simple words there's no real good reason to avoid any year.



Hope this helps

 

[BHolm]

I've had two '03 trucks with the HO and an '05 and now an '06. The '03-'04 305/555 trucks undoubtably get better milage. My '03 QC SB was getting low 20's all the time, sometimes 24-25 mpg. My '03 dually gets 20-21 all the time. My '05 did as well as 17-18 and my new mega (26k miles) is at 17-18 up from 13-14 when new. One thing to consider is that I think the auto trucks have a fuel economy advantage. OD is taller, and rpms lower, in top gear with the same rear end ratios. All of mine have been 48re/3. 73 trucks. All of the srw ones got taller 285 BFGs so they were the same tire hieght as a dually.



I used to think that the 5600 would be the ticket, and obviously there is nothing "wrong" with it but, the latest TDR sure made the G56 sound rosy. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.