Dad's buying a 3rd Gen ~ Need Some Opinions

[DieselMinded]

What pleages the 2003 up CTD's ???

 

[jjdiesel]

No plagues since the lift pump/VP44 debacle... . that ended in '02. Wait a minute... . do you guys think the lift pump qualifies as an ongoing plague? Still troublesome, but the end result is not as devastating... so... I'd say no plagues

 

[dan.poitras]

Dry U-joints from the factory. Replacement OEM's aren't any better (no grease fittings)

 

[Slow Six]

Some things but nothing real serious. There has been some lift pumps and the odd CP3. U-joints are short lived but the replacement with better ones is easy. I really like the quietness, the 4 door cab and ride. Stock shocks are inadequate, but again an easy upgrade. Brakes on the 3rd. gens are real good.

 

[BRayls]

Some things but nothing real serious. There has been some lift pumps and the odd CP3. U-joints are short lived but the replacement with better ones is easy. I really like the quietness, the 4 door cab and ride. Stock shocks are inadequate, but again an easy upgrade. Brakes on the 3rd. gens are real good.

do you have a short bed? cannot find better joints for my long bed, axle joints dry as well as ball joints.

 

[Prairie Dog]

The only common problem they had was the broken heater plenum doors (broken during assy). If it will change air output from floor to dash to defrost then it's ok. Other than that there's really nothing worse about the 03's than any other third gen.



Scotty.



EDIT: Almost forgot about the cracked alt brackets. The first ones were made of heavy gage stamped steel, the updated part is made of cast steel.

It's a simple fix.

 

[DieselMinded]

Looks safe to me to go with a 1996-1998 12V or a 2003 and up



Thanks Guys



DM