Cab and Chassis can be built now with prices

[EB]

I had a cab and chassis built for me Friday, the 25th. The main things of interest for me were the 6. 7 engine, $5,555, the six speed Aisin transmission, $2,295, and the exhaust brake, $300. I guess now I will start talking with different dealers and see what kind of deal I can get. My 03 now has over 326k and the repairs are starting to mount up. Still wish we had a 4500 and 5500 series truck.

 

[FATCAT]

So you can now order the 6. 7l for a build date ON OR AFTER 1/1/07? I figured they would take '07 build orders now for only the last of the 5. 9's?



Do you really want a 6. 7? Your a brave fellow.

 

[AMink]

I thought the new VG turbo could act as an exhaust brake. Do you need the exhaust brake too? Maybe I misread or, more likely, misunderstood something I saw. :-laf

 

[KCJackson]

So you can now order the 6. 7l for a build date ON OR AFTER 1/1/07? I figured they would take '07 build orders now for only the last of the 5. 9's?



Do you really want a 6. 7? Your a brave fellow.

The 6. 7 is available starting in September for the chassis-cab model. Won't be used in pickups until Jan 07.

 

[HBarlow]

EB,



Are you sure the 4500/5500 won't be offered soon? Considering what you do with your truck you might be very disappointed if you buy a new 3500 cab and chassis and then one to three months later the larger versions are announced.



I don't have any more knowledge than anyone else, just wishful thinking, but it seems reasonable to hope that DC might also offer a Class 4 and 5 truck. The corporation probably spent hundreds of millions developing the new cab and chassis. It would be surprising if their plans didn't include the Class 4 and 5 models as well. DC is certainly aware that there is a significant market for them.



Harvey

 

[jelag]

I was told by my dealer that they thought they would be able to accept orders for the 4500, 5500 by the end of the year with delivery starting in Feb/March 07, I'm holding off buying until than.....

 

[EB]

I'll try to answer some of the questions that my original post brought up;



FATCAT,

Yes you can order the cab and chassis now, as far as the 6. 7 goes, Cummins made it, it will be fine. Things were said about the 5. 9 when they went to the electronics and the quiet engine, mine has 326k on it and will probably go quite a bit longer, it is just what I do that is beating the truck apart.



AMink,

The turbo is set up to act as the exhaust brake, the $300 is for the controls and programing. Still much less than the Jacobs brake.



HBarlow,

I would like a 4500 or 5500 truck but there is nothing in the pipeline about one now. I agree that Dodge is really missing the boat by not having anything to offer in that class of truck.



jelag,

Everyone at all the dealers around here, including one really big dealer in the Houston area say that anyone that says they are coming out anytime soon is just blowing smoke. According to EVERYONE I have talked to says it ain't going to happen anytime soon.



Anyone have any idea what an 03 with 326,000+ miles on it should be worth on a trade-in or outright sale. Pictures of it can be seen in my gallery

 

[FATCAT]

EB,

Why not spend a little more and get a real medium duty truck that will hold up to what you do. One medium duty will outlast two pickup truck I'm sure and you'll be way ahead on the purchase price (2 3500's will run you probably 95,000+ in the long run vs. one med. duty today at 60K).

 

[AMink]

OK, now I get the exhaust brake/turbo connection. I didn't realize it needed special hookups.

 

[rjohnson916]

I had a cab and chassis built for me Friday, the 25th. The main things of interest for me were the 6. 7 engine, $5,555, the six speed Aisin transmission, $2,295, and the exhaust brake, $300. I guess now I will start talking with different dealers and see what kind of deal I can get. My 03 now has over 326k and the repairs are starting to mount up. Still wish we had a 4500 and 5500 series truck.

EB good luck with your new truck, although I'm more interested in your '03. I plan on keeping my '05 for many years to come, likely 250K+ miles or more. When you say your truck repairs are adding up, could you enlighten me on what repairs are starting to add up on your '03? I am curious as to what things will break down on a 3rd gen at higher milage.



Thanks in Advance



-Ryan

 

[rashwor]

I agree with EB. I think Cummins builds it and it will be fine in its stock form. When you start modding, all bets are off on these 3rd gens.



I suspect that EB is talking about truck repairs adding up and not so much engine repairs on the 03. Like all of you, I am interested in what they might be.



I am on my 3rd CTD since 1992. I ran my '92 for over 240K and had only minor problems with it. My '99 is still on the road with almost 200K and the VP44 has been the biggest (most expensive) issue. My '05 has 70K on it with no problems so far. The '92 and '05 are completely stock. I plan on the '05 staying that way. It is the luck of the draw with mods and I just don't feel that lucky on a 3rd gen.



Congrats EB and keep us posted on how the new truck runs and holds up.

 

[EB]

Nearly all the repairs have been fuel system related. I'm on the 4th CP3 pump, 4th pressure relief valve and third lift pump. I have had ball joints replaced in the front end and of course brakes and 1 set of universal joints in the drive line, also 4 fan clutches. I was running a Edge box, it came off after a couple of CP3 pumps and relief valves, although Edge says it couldn't have caused the problem. I don't like the pump in the tank setup, put a fuel pressure gauge on and with a heavy load it will show "0" pressure going down the road with a headwind. Dodge says it is the volume of fuel not the pressure that matters. Sorry, if you don't have any pressure you can't have much volume. Right now, I need front end work, (ball joints) and my A/CA is starting to go.



I'm not afraid of the engine, transmission, or rear end at all. The truck uses no oil and I use extended oil changes with the by-pass filter. Other than worrys about the fuel system messing up again, and they are expensive repairs, I would keep the truck. Someone could get the truck and put it on a farm or ranch and it would probably last another 10 or 15 yrs. Doing what I do it will be pretty well worn out in another couple of yrs.



FATCAT

I would do something like that except this is my personal transportation also. Kinda hard to park in town or the store parking lots. Also the fuel mileage difference would be hard to take. I agree that a medium duty truck would outlast 2 one tons, but I have to take everything into consideration.

 

[Coalsmoke]

Congrats on the new truck. I was seriously looking at one, and would bite, but if I want the extended cab (quad cab) I have to settle for a 6 foot bed space instead of the 8 footer. I need to have a 9-10' bed, so that leaves me completely stuck because Im afraid that I'd end up with most of my weight too far back. If Dodge doesn't have this cleared up by the end of this next summer, I'll have no choice but to go Ford Business must go on, what's a guy supposed to do. I just can't believe Dodge doesn't have a 4500 out yet.

 

[EB]

I agree with you on the fact that Dodge doesn't have a 4500 or 5500 series. That is really what I wanted but I decided to go ahead and get the cab and chassis model. I hope they will come out with the larger truck but I'm afraid it will be several years.



I would be very careful about getting a Ford. I know several people that are in the hotshot business that got them and ended up replacing them before the first yr was up. They were still under warranty but the down time was eating them up. If your truck is in the shop, you're losing money that you can't ever make up, it's gone. The only way I would go with a Ford is with a 650, then you could get a Cummins or a Cat engine.

 

[Coalsmoke]

I agree with you on the fact that Dodge doesn't have a 4500 or 5500 series. That is really what I wanted but I decided to go ahead and get the cab and chassis model. I hope they will come out with the larger truck but I'm afraid it will be several years.



I would be very careful about getting a Ford. I know several people that are in the hotshot business that got them and ended up replacing them before the first yr was up. They were still under warranty but the down time was eating them up. If your truck is in the shop, you're losing money that you can't ever make up, it's gone. The only way I would go with a Ford is with a 650, then you could get a Cummins or a Cat engine.

yeah, I agree about teh f650, but then I wouldn't be able to fit on most pipelines, so I am stuck with something in the smaller size ranges. For now I'll jsut be hoping and praying. I sent a letter to DrZ telling them to hurry up with the 4500 and 5500.

 

[GWBourne]

FATCAT

I would do something like that except this is my personal transportation also. Kinda hard to park in town or the store parking lots. Also the fuel mileage difference would be hard to take. I agree that a medium duty truck would outlast 2 one tons, but I have to take everything into consideration.

im confused here...



EB, from waht i see yoru brand loyalty lies with cummins... why not go buy a F-650 with a cummins in it? keep your dodge as your daily driver. with 300k+ on it i cant see you getting very much for a trade in... .



i am VERY happy to see your truck lasting that long and i wish it to last to a million, but wouldntit make more sense to have somethign to drive that CAN eb worked and work something that CAN be driven... something tells me you already haev a daily driver, but to ME it just makes more sense to have both. i would love to do what youdo, and one day i will... but i would have to hae about 3 rides. a DD, a working DD and a work truck that can be Daily Driven... .

 

[GWBourne]

yeah, I agree about teh f650, but then I wouldn't be able to fit on most pipelines, so I am stuck with something in the smaller size ranges. For now I'll jsut be hoping and praying. I sent a letter to DrZ telling them to hurry up with the 4500 and 5500.

EB, sorry to get off topic here, but it relates a BIT... lol



Coal, the 4500 and 5500 being thought about on the freightliner chassis would be roughly the same size as a F-650...



i am SERIOUSLY thinking about an F-650. removing all the extras on my dodge, trading it in on an F-650 with a cummins and a utility body, and having them give me the last POS thing that rolled in for trade in to drive every day. if it breaks down i can drive the F-650 till i fix the POS...

Grant

 

[EB]

I was seriously thinking about a small Freightliner or International 4300. The problem was that I couldn't find a good used one and a new one would cost about $20k+ more than the cab and chassis will. My present truck isn't paid off so I would be looking at two truck payments. From a practical standpoint, it makes more sense to do what I'm doing. As far as a trade-in goes, mine is worth $5500 they say which is ridiculous. I'll be putting it up for sale as soon as the cab and chassis gets here, and will be asking $10,000. That is what I've put into it since the first of the yr in repairs. New CP3, lift pump, high pressure relief valve, all 6 injectors, axle seals, emergency brakes, and fan clutch. I'm also out of depreciation on my present truck. The problem with the type of work I do is if you have your truck in the shop, you lose work and income that can't be made up. Also, I'm not getting any younger and have had some health issues. You have to have a DOT physical card to run and I nearly lost mine last yr. so I really don't want to get in any deeper than I have to. Right or wrong, this way works best to my way of thinking.

 

[jelag]

EB



You might be right on the 4500 and 5500, but I have the largest Dodge dealer dave smith as a customer and the largest one in WA as a customer as well... . they both have said that they might be able to take orders late in this year. . for deliver after production starts in Feb or Mar of 07... ...



I was told that early Aug I'm guessing..... but who really knows..... they did show me some samples of the liturature for the 4500 and 5500... cab and chassis but wouldn't let me take it or copy it..... as it was just for show.....



Jim

 

[Coalsmoke]

EB



You might be right on the 4500 and 5500, but I have the largest Dodge dealer dave smith as a customer and the largest one in WA as a customer as well... . they both have said that they might be able to take orders late in this year. . for deliver after production starts in Feb or Mar of 07... ...



I was told that early Aug I'm guessing..... but who really knows..... they did show me some samples of the liturature for the 4500 and 5500... cab and chassis but wouldn't let me take it or copy it..... as it was just for show.....



Jim

Oh thank goodness there actually might be a 4500 / 5500 in the near future. All I need is extended cab, 4x4, and room for a 10' deck. If there's extra length on the frame rails I can lop them off, so long as the wheel base is still around 150-170". Jim, if you find out any more, please, let us or me know. Thanks.