best year

[cmills]

I was just wondering what the best year of the 3rd generation trucks is? Didn't they switch auto trannies in the 3rd gens? I have a 99 with the 5 speed, but would like the next one to be an auto, but I was wondering if the new one is going to hold up because I know the old ones didn't do too well if you worked the truck very hard. ( I do a good amount of towing) If you could give any pro and cons to any of them I would aprreciate it. I would probably be looking between 03-05 maybe 06.



thanks again for any info.





Cory

 

[nickleinonen]

late 03 or early 04 you could get the 48re and the 305hp ho engine. . no emissions stuff on them at all. . late 04 to early 07 was same 48re as before, but with the 325hp engine and it gets a cat and an extra injection event to comply with emissions. no egr on them so that is good.

i have no experience with the auto's, so i'll let others chime in on that one.

 

[daytripper63]

2003 of course

 

[Grizzly]

I believe it's the 05 and that's not just because I have one.

 

[Heavyweight]

2005 by a MILE!

 

[NStates]

O5 Was Great

I just sold my 05 3500 and have an 08 on order. Used it for some serious towing and found the six speed great for towing. Gears were split perfect for heavy towing. Not a stick person but had an 02 and an 05 six speed and found them super. Ordered an 08 automatic and will see how it does. Looks like a great transmission as well.

Norm

 

[NStates]

O5 Was Great

I just sold my 05 3500 and have an 08 on order. Used it for some serious towing and found the six speed great for towing. Gears were split perfect for heavy towing. Not a stick person but had an 02 and an 05 six speed and found them super. Ordered an 08 automatic and will see how it does. Looks like a great transmission as well.



Norm

 

[KSears]

I had an '03' 2500 swb quad and now have an '05' 3500 lwb srw quad. Both are 6 speeds and great trucks. The '03' got a little better mileage but had 3. 73 gears and the present truck has 4. 10's. Both are H. O. engines, in 2003 their were two options for motors and depending on the motor it governed which transmission you could get in an auto. Personally I like the '05' better, I like the ride of the long bed. I liked the idea of no emissions though on the '03', but I have made a few mods to the one now. Both are good trucks and have good things about them, I don't think you could go wrong with just about any third gen. , they are designed well. . My first CTD was a 90 W-250 5speed. I drove it for over 14 yrs and many ,many miles and it treated me very well. If I get half the service out of the one I have now as that one I will be very happy. So far, the only issue I have had in mine now is my cd player broke and I am waiting on a replacement.

 

[JCleary]

I had an '03 and loved it...

But I vote for an '05 being the best!

 

[Buffalo]

Just out of curiosity, what is it about the '05 that causes you to think it is the best year?



Thanks.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[JJPage]

2003 of course

I had an '03 and loved it...



But I vote for an '05 being the best!

If you can find an "03", THEY ARE THE BEST!



0. 4/5, 05's, can make more hp, easier, but when has easier... been the way to go.

 

[Matt400]

I owned an 03 and now an 05, both 48re auto's. Both very similar equipped- SRW, 2500, QC, 4x4 SLT's so can only compare those two.



You would think my SO 03 would do better on fuel but I have found my 05 does just as well, runs more quiet and comes with 90 more hp.

Both trucks were CAT equipped. Of course being the 03 was an SO, it did not have the added piston cooling the HO's and my 05 does.



My 03 had a separate computer for the trans where later models like my 05 has the engine computer running the trans.

The 03 had smaller exhaust at some points in the system where the 05 has 4" turbo back.

The 03 had an odd TPS, Throttle, cruise control set up that seemed old school compared to the integrated way of my 05.



The 03 had a filter mounted lift pump, mine didn't go bad but the replacement part is now a retro-fit to what the 05 uses.

The 03 came with a 10. 5 rear axle where the 05 uses the 11. 5

The 03 front drive shaft did not have a lube point for the center CV joint at the transfer case like my 05 does.



My 05's Tow/haul function works better IMO than the 03's overdrive/off.

While I would like to choose OD off sometimes while in TH, its just not that much an issue because if I get an unwanted shift to OD while in TH, all that is needed is a double tap of the button and you are there again. Overall shift strategy seems improved on the 05.



My 05 came with a plastic tanked inter-cooler which I don't care for but is still holding together. Blown ones are replaced with metal ones.

Overall I think I like my 05 better and only sold my 03 to give our son a good deal on his first diesel or else I would still be driving the 03.

 

[Grizzly]

Overall I think I like my 05 better and only sold my 03 to give our son a good deal on his first diesel or else I would still be driving the 03.

Very good evaluation Matt

 

[Salt Dog]

2003 of course

Ditto... ... ... ... ... !

 

[DPKetchum]

Only EARY 03s came with a 10. 5 rear axel. I have a 03 and several friends did and none of them were a 10. 5. My Buddys have had 03s then a 05 and a 06. Both towed 90% of the time(still do) They drove the 03s to 150k with very very little repairs or maintance for that matter. The replacement trucks(05 and 06) Are/were NOT the trucks the 03s were. Both had drivetrain vibrations,spit off serpitine belts,less fuel mileage and in general just felt looser at a earlier mileage. I get the impression that the 03s and more so the early 03s that the quality control on the production line was tighter being a new platform. Mine has yellow and green marks/lines for aligning things up in a number of areas. Human nature you always do your best at a new job and the design was,is a solid one.

 

[JJPage]

OK, I concede, the 05's do have some improvements over the 03's. The electronic wastegate, cat converter/emissions, 5 hole injectors vs. 8 hole, plastic intercooler tanks are just a few of the items that are not better.



If I had two brand new trucks in front of me, 03 / 05, that would be a really hard decision... . Probably the 05 would win out, because the items I do not like about them are easily overcome. And, with my current mods on an 05, I would be over 500hp.



You would not be disappointed in either one. Jess

 

[rbattelle]

late 03 or early 04 you could get the 48re and the 305hp ho engine. . no emissions stuff on them at all. . late 04 to early 07 was same 48re as before, but with the 325hp engine and it gets a cat and an extra injection event to comply with emissions. no egr on them so that is good.

I agree with Nick. I'll add that just from looking at the diagrams, I prefer the electrical system on the '03 to the TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) on the 2004. 5-up trucks. I think diagnostics are harder on the TIPM, unless you have a DRB-III.



In addition, at some point (2005?) they switched the fold-flat load floor from a nice steel unit to a super-cheap make-the-accountants-happy plastic unit. That change alone would be enough for me to avoid one of those trucks!



Ryan

 

[Grizzly]

I agree with Nick. I'll add that just from looking at the diagrams, I prefer the electrical system on the '03 to the TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) on the 2004. 5-up trucks. I think diagnostics are harder on the TIPM, unless you have a DRB-III.

In addition, at some point (2005?) they switched the fold-flat load floor from a nice steel unit to a super-cheap make-the-accountants-happy plastic unit. That change alone would be enough for me to avoid one of those trucks!

Ryan

My 05 has the steel fold-flat load floor.

 

[Driftwood Ram]

I was just wondering what the best year of the 3rd generation trucks is? Didn't they switch auto trannies in the 3rd gens? I have a 99 with the 5 speed, but would like the next one to be an auto, but I was wondering if the new one is going to hold up because I know the old ones didn't do too well if you worked the truck very hard. ( I do a good amount of towing) If you could give any pro and cons to any of them I would aprreciate it. I would probably be looking between 03-05 maybe 06.



thanks again for any info.





Cory

I was going to ask this very same question, but with a 6 speed transmission rather that an automatic. I have had it with automatics for towing!!!

Wasn't there a change in 6 speed transmissions one of these years??

Didn’t the lift pump get moved one of these years to the tank?? Is that better??

Reasons why one year is better than the other help.

Thanks for your input.

Tracy

 

[nickleinonen]

Only EARY 03s came with a 10. 5 rear axel. I have a 03 and several friends did and none of them were a 10. 5.

only SO auto's had 10. 5 behind the cummins. . all manual trans and all HO engines had the 11. 5

as for 6 speed... 03-05 was nv5600. . 05. 5-present g56. .

i believe they changed the OD ratio in the g56 in late 06 or 07 [someone confirm that one]