Buying a used 3500

[AHolbert]

Hey guys, I'm in need of upgrading my towing abilities and suffer from sticker shock as far as buying new. I'm looking at '03 to maybe '07 3500's. Don't really need 4 wheel drive but I want the highest GCWR since I'm planning on a heavier fiftth wheel. I need some help regarding what year Dodge went to G56 transmission or how the 48rfe's hold up. If I go auto, I'll plan on a rebuild at some point. Also, do all the 3rd generation trucks have the same size brakes ? And what year seems to be the best as far as mileage and reliability goes. I've got a '95 2500 ext cab 4x4 that's been amazing (over 255,000 miles with no problems) but she just doesn't have the towing ability for what I need her to do. Looking at up to 16000lb fifth wheels. I appreciate any suggestions and info.

 

[Road Dog]

Check out the Turbo Diesel's Buyer's Guide. If I was in the market for a 3rd gen it would have a 68RFE transmission.

(Download the guide and view it as a PDF -- it' much nicer that way. )

 

[AHolbert]

Thanks for the reply Road Dog, is there a source to lookup payloads (GVWR) and max GCWR ? I don't see one in the Buyer's guide. Thanks again.

 

[AHolbert]

Disregard, I found what I was looking for in the buyer's guide. Printer is acting up and those pages didn't print for some reason.

 

[Road Dog]

There's the Dodge Towing Guide which goes into more detail on weight and towing. It only goes to 2009 for some reason. Maybe there's a newer version somewhere.

 

[RVTRKN]

04. 5 through 07 with a 5. 9 is going to give you the highest ratings, from 05 through 07 the torque went from 600 lbs ft to 610. If it was me, I would get it, only in a standard trany with the NV5600 being the first choice. I don't like the 48RE, except maybe the 06 and 07, due to not being capable of an exhaust brake.



Good luck finding that truck though, there are not that many for sale with low miles and manual transmissions, just ask my brother, he had to settle on my 2500 with the long bed that he didn't want. I only sold it, because my brother needed to replace his 03 2500 Hemi, and he couldn't find a CTD with low miles.

 

[Jim W]

I have always used Dodge.com/builder for my information I have attached the website below for you. http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2007/docs/dr/mlup.pdf.

This list a 15,950 LB max trailer weight for a 3500DRW, 5. 9L with 4:10 gear and the 48RE 4 spd auto. MY is 2007.

Jim

 

[rashwor]

A thought.

If I were buying used, I would want it checked (within reason) to see if there were any tell-tell signs of a power box having been used at some point and if there was, that might give me pause.



Some boxes will leave a trail in the ECM and some probably don't. I would want it checked.

 

[macdaddy]

I would look for a 03 to 05, with a NV5600. MY05's with a build date up to late Sept had the last of the 56 honey's, and the in tank fuel transfer pump. Do a search on the trucks with 5600's. some have gone well beyond 500K miles.



Mac

 

[NIsaacs]

TDR member, RustyJC has a new one on order. I don't know what he is doing with his current truck. It is a low mileage '02 like you are looking for. Lives in Texas too.



Nick

 

[AHolbert]

Thanks for all the replies, I found a truck I've put a deposit on. Going to check it out next Thursday. Late '04 build 3500 DRW, leather interior, low mileage (approx 61k), 4. 10 and auto. I'd prefer a manual but just couldn't find one with gearing I need and the ones I did find had well over 100k miles on 'em. High mileage isn't too much of a concern for me as relates to the Cummins (my '95 is 260,000 and still trouble free). I figure potential injector replacement at 150k, potential transmission rebuild at some point in the future for this '04 but I'm happy with the price... ... Truck is clean, clean, clean... . One owner with maintenance history.

 

[HBarlow]

Sounds like you found exactly what you need. The good trucks are always out there. It just requires a little effort and patience to find them. That truck is as good as a new one at a fraction of the original price.

 

[AHolbert]

HBarlow, I've enjoyed reading some of your postings on your CC and seriously considerd/looked at used ones. I ran across this 3500 and put a deposit on it, if it turns out to be not as nice as the pictures and owner represents, I'll continue my search. I think I saved a link that you posted regarding a transmission rebuild. Local guy (I live in Keller just north of Ft Worth), I think it was James transmission's. The link is on my other computer so I'm not sure without doing a search. Anyhow, if that was you, are you still satisfied with your bomb'd transmission and do you have any words of advice regarding same ? Thanks in advance for any reply... ... ...

 

[HBarlow]

AHolbert,

James Transmission Technology - (972) 467-3702 - Home

James Northrum is the guy who built my 48RE. When he did the rebuild for me I was heavy into transporting trailers and planned to continue. By late '07 RV/trailer shipments were slowing down, fuel prices were rising, and our rates were not. I could see an economic slowdown coming.

I had run 400,000 miles in two years and nine months as an RV transporter and was getting tired. I was also facing another winter of pulling trailers across snow and ice covered highways and figured I was on borrowed time. I decided to "retire" from transporting and return home. I had only put 100,000 miles on the James rebuild when I sold the truck. It was working perfectly and I took a huge loss selling an '06 Ram SLT quadcab that looked like a low mileage truck but had 230k miles on the odometer and an expensive DTT built 48RE at near the peak of diesel fuel prices and the low point of diesel light truck sales.

I feel confident that the DTT 48RE James built would have given me several hundred thousand miles of reliable service under arduous towing conditions. James could and would have kept it performing even if something had worn out. I just didn't keep it long enough to learn what its limits were.

 

[AABEN]

Hey guys, I'm in need of upgrading my towing abilities and suffer from sticker shock as far as buying new. I'm looking at '03 to maybe '07 3500's. Don't really need 4 wheel drive but I want the highest GCWR since I'm planning on a heavier fifth wheel. I need some help regarding what year Dodge went to G56 Tanny or how the 48rfe's hold up. If I go auto, I'll plan on a rebuild at some point. Also, do all the 3rd generation trucks have the same size brakes ? And what year seems to be the best as far as mileage and reliability goes. I've got a '95 2500 ext cab 4x4 that's been amazing (over 255,000 miles with no problems) but she just doesn't have the towing ability for what I need her to do. Looking at up to 16000lb fifth wheels. I appreciate any suggestions and info.

Look on here for trucks for sale ! Look at 04. 5 up they have a more hp the 03 04 has 305hp 555 ft pound of torque . I have not found any lack of power with my 03. When I ready to go my weight is 23. 000+ I run all over TX AZ NM CA OK MO I went from Yuma AZ to San Diego across I-8 went from 250ft below sea level to 11. 000+ ft with NO lack of power !But the JAKE payed for it self on that trip. Will never have a diesel truck with out a JAKE BRAKE