Buying a New HO Diesel

[SFarrell]

Help... .

I am planning to buy a 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD SLT SRW Long bed Quad Cab 6 spd manual. Not only is this new to me (My current ride is a 69 Ford F250), but so is chatting, threads, posts, etc...

Is the SRW an option group? Is there a good way to search for this truck or should I just order it? The local (New Jersey) dealers keep telling me about 2500&3500's that were damaged on a ship?? I am willing to travel to shop. Is a block heater standard? Is there an oil pump that creates oil pressure before starting? How much weight capacity is lost from dually to SRW? Any problems with the 6spd? Is fuel mileage any better than automatic? Why is the camper group not available this year?



I am planning to carry a 2500# slide in camper which I may upgrade (heavier) in the future.

Sorry for all the questions... Thanks for any help.

 

[DPelletier]

Ok, one at a time! LOL



Ok, nice choice,

Yes the SRW is an option group

Can't help you with the ordering thing, I'm from Canada!

Block heaters were standard, but the cords aren't!

The lift pump creates FUEL pressure before starting, but nothing creates oil pressure before starting

you go from 12,000 gvwr with the DRW to 9,900 with the SRW, so 2,100 lbs.

The 6spd is AWESOME, but does take some getting used to. expect to take a week or two before you get the hang of it. BUT make sure when you test drive that the truck doesn't grind going into any gear. Check it out well, just be aware of the driver error vs. transmission problem issue.

Yes the mileage is better with the 6 spd. How much. Dunno, probably 1-2 mpg.

They no longer make the camper package. They say that the placement of the springs (farther outboard) makes the sway bar of the camper package redundant. There are conflicting thoughts on this.

If you have a 2500 lbs camper (dry? gear?), and are thinking of getting something even bigger, I'd opt for the DRW. Again lots of opinions on this and the SRW can arguable handle something bigger, but I can't see buying a brand new truck and being over GVWR right out of the gate. Expect the truck to weight 7,000 - 7,500 lbs.



Hope this helps and welcome to the TDR.



Dave

 

[DPelletier]

Oh, I forgot. Rumor is that the trucks damaged on the ship suffered from salt water damage. Buyer beware.



Dave

 

[Bartlett]

Ifound that kelly blue book (kbb.com) to be pretty helpful. Click on new vehicle pricing and then go to the bottom where it says "price with options". It gives all the codes etc. Now i know this is not 100% accurate but it was a good starting point for me because i didnt know jack$@!# about them when i ordered it. also check on dodges site under"price and build". I knew more about the truck than my salesman did. this should give you a good starting point. Check back at the TDR though as these guys have a tremendous amount of info. good luck

mike

 

[barbwire]

Fuel mileage

I was just talking to the salesman at the dealer, about my 04, the other day. The subject of fuel mileage came up, and I told him what I was getting. He said that from all the reports on mileage that he gets from the customers that he deals with, that it seems as though the automatics are getting the better mileage. He is a very nice fellow, and has no reason to fib to me, so I am inclined to believe him. Also, by dealing with him, I know that he has an interest in this area. He also thinks that there is a possibility that the auto's kinda adjust to the operators way of driving, more so than the manuals. Therefore giving better mileage. FWIW

I think that if I can ever afford another one in the future, I will get an auto. I think that as with all other things that people are improving on, the automatics are also getting better.

Welcome aboard

 

[DPelletier]

Barbwire,

You do realize that its impossible for an auto to get better mileage, all things being equal, right?

Not trying to be negative, but if I ever meet a salesman who knows even half of the stuff that an average TDR member does, I'll be pleasantly surprized. (You don't count ,Tommygun ,as you are a TDR member!).

Autos have thier advantages, if you live in the big city and do a lot of stop and go driving or if you seldom tow for instance. But for towing and hauling heavy the 6 spd is far superior IMHO. No thrust washer issues or exhaust brake issues either AND you get two extra gears. Really helps with gear selection towing in the mountains.

The thing with fuel mileage is that there are way too many variables; load, driving habits, 4x4 vs 2x4, DRW vs SRW, calculating by hand or using the overhead, etc. etc. Not to mention that some people just tend to "stretch" the truth a little!

A 2wd, shortbox, 6pd will be the combo that gets the best mileage. A 4x4, QC, LWB, Dually auto w. 4:10's will get the worst. Again, all things being equal.



Dave

 

[barbwire]

You are probably right Dave

We will probably never know, as we usually only know what we get with our own vehicles. And to make a judgment by what few other vehicles we as individuals really get to know, may not be a fair judgment

 

[DPelletier]

On the other hand, I am often wrong. Just ask my wife.



Dave

 

[Mad Bomber]

Originally posted by DPelletier

On the other hand, I am often wrong. Just ask my wife.



Dave

I think that's just the way the other half thinks



MEN = always wrong

 

[SFarrell]

Thanks

Thanks for the input so far. I definitely prefer the manual- I test drove one the other day. I am trying to decide whether to special order it and where from. I would rather just find one at a dealer. I will be visiting Lancaster, Pa and Langhorne, Pa. I wish I could search the entire Dodge database instead of one dealer at a time. I'm not that picky, my trucks got to be out there somewhere.

 

[Jengle]

Check my sig at the bottom. I got the 3500 SRW with the 6 spd. Another of Tomeyguns specials. Give him a call and even if you don't get the truck there, he will give you a price to use as bargaining power with whoever you buy from. And he knows his trucks. I loaded mine up with 4k and drove it about 500 miles, and got 19. 6mpg calculated. The truck never knew it was on there, other than the extra smooth ride. I didn't have a problem getting used to the 6spd, it is heavy duty, but not a hard way to row em. You could teach anyone to drive this one. Good luck.

 

[swexlin]

am trying to decide whether to special order it and where from. I would rather just find one at a dealer. I will be visiting Lancaster, Pa and Langhorne, Pa. I wish I could search the entire Dodge database instead of one dealer at a time

I would recommend trying to find one in stock - IF you can. If you go over to the ordering thread on the "other" site , you can read about all the trials and tribulations of us mid Atlantic guys trying to get our trucks.



I'm at 8 weeks and counting, and it looks to be at least another 3-4. But, the dealers are even having trouble getting their stock trucks. My recommendation - go with Tomeygun.