Do I come back or not

[DAN V]

Hey guys. Thinking about coming back to the 2nd Gen side for a truck. The truck I have is a great truck. I am just concerned about in the future when the DPF gets full and time to replace with money I don't have. I have had several 2nd gen trucks in the past. I know for a fact they are easier to work on and do not have any of the DEQ crap on them. Every time I see a new truck with custom exhaust on it I know it will cost me at least $1500 for the exhaust and tuner to do the deletes for it to run right. The main reason I bought current truck is because of my heavy 5er (see sig). Not sure which one I want but pretty sure either an '01 or '02 due to disc brakes from the factory. Probably will be another dually. Just wish there was more selection out there.

 

[SnoKing]

Why not just buy a FCA extended warranty and continue to enjoy a truck that is rated to tow the trailer that you have now?

 

[DAN V]

Yeah. I guess your right. Maybe I was being stooopid!!

 

[JR]

Quality delete -$1800

Quality rebuild on a 47re that's already at a disadvantage due to having two fewer gears - $4k+.
You could look for an NV5600 truck but you had better be ready to travel and pony up some serious bucks for a 16+ year old vehicle. They are getting rarer in unmolested form and go for a premium. And you still have a 16 year old vehicle with unknown issues.

I had two 2nd gens and just sold my 98 last spring. I really appreciated them for what they were but in the end got tired of the little things that kept breaking and constantly having to tinker. Plus living in the rust belt it was a constant battle keeping the rust back. I bought my 14 knowing the issues with the after treatment. If it starts costing me too much or becoming unreliable I've got a sawzall....and Know how to use it :-laf

 

[jgillott]

Quality delete -$1800

Quality rebuild on a 47re that's already at a disadvantage due to having two fewer gears - $4k+.
You could look for an NV5600 truck but you had better be ready to travel and pony up some serious bucks for a 16+ year old vehicle. They are getting rarer in unmolested form and go for a premium. And you still have a 16 year old vehicle with unknown issues.

I had two 2nd gens and just sold my 98 last spring. I really appreciated them for what they were but in the end got tired of the little things that kept breaking and constantly having to tinker. Plus living in the rust belt it was a constant battle keeping the rust back. I bought my 14 knowing the issues with the after treatment. If it starts costing me too much or becoming unreliable I've got a sawzall....and Know how to use it :-laf

This is a very good post. My current 3rd gens are 11 and 14 years old. Broken wire here, bad sensor there, it all adds up. I don't think that I could in good conscience suggest that someone goes back to an older truck just for those reasons. Engine wise, I still love my 5.9's and my trucks have been great. But the time does come when it just doesn't make sense anymore.

 

[SnoKing]

My nephew just purchased a 2001(not a rear disc brake 2001.5) 3500 duallie for 20K, I warned him to check for a 53 block and it was, and the price came down from 22K to 20K. It is a low mile 6 speed with lots of goodies. The guy that sold it was most likely tickled pink! One dent and cracked dash to boot.

BTW, he could not take his 6.0 Ford anymore, it puked it's head gaskets again.

I spent a lot of money on my 2001.5 47RE twice is 14 years. I always found it a great truck that was gear bound with only 4 speeds. With 4.10's out back it was a good tow vehicle for our 12,400 5th wheel. Cruising on the freeway was a different thing and not that pleasant. It found a nice new home towing a horse trailer in a small town. The horses will run to the corner of the pasture when it gets a half to a quarter close to the farm, to greet her back home.

So I will stick with my original comment. SnoKing

 

[Killer223]

look for a 03-early 04. these are awesome trucks. my 04 has 250K on it, and is a better driving truck than my 08 G56. just a down right great truck, that i'll try and never sell.

 

[SnoKing]

look for a 03-early 04. these are awesome trucks. my 04 has 250K on it, and is a better driving truck than my 08 G56. just a down right great truck, that i'll try and never sell.

Other one being a manual and the other an auto, why would a 04 be a better driving truck than a deleted 08?

 

[Killer223]

That’s an excellent question I’ve yet to find the answer to, both 3rd gen, same wheelbase, but the 04 has better road manners, smoother ride, seats, just the whole driving expierence is better In The 04. Auto is built. G56 has nice clutch, tuned about the same power. I love rowing gears, but the 04 is my preferred truck to drive.

 

[The patriot]

The more I read posts like this, the more I dont mind the little things here & there to do on mine.

 

[SnoKing]

That’s an excellent question I’ve yet to find the answer to, both 3rd gen, same wheelbase, but the 04 has better road manners, smoother ride, seats, just the whole driving expierence is better In The 04. Auto is built. G56 has nice clutch, tuned about the same power. I love rowing gears, but the 04 is my preferred truck to drive.

Do they have the same tires and shocks?

 

[Killer223]

yes, i tried to duplicate the 04 driving with part on the 08, still way different. even swapped coils on the 08, still different. it really bothers me. to the point i'm ready to sell the 08, and look for a manual 04. i've replaced the control arms, all the shocks are bilstein 4600's, same steering box brace, same steering linkage. it's frustrating for sure.

 

[SSage]

I would look for a 2003/ early 2004, for me I would want a manual transmission. But, those are so hard to find around here in decent shape. My friend picked up an auto with 100K on it in Texas for cheap, he painted it, looks good. Lost the injector pump a year later, I warned him about OEM lift pumps. Too late though. I'm still running the original 48RE in our 2003, my 1995 47RH blew around 65K. The stock 48RE is doing much better, but I'm thinking about a manual trans conversion. I would prefer 6 speeds and less cost, maybe?

 

[Killer223]

My stock powered 48re made it 235k. Yes rowing gears is nice, but a built auto is very nice as well. And for the cost of conversion, get a built auto. If you keep on on oil changes and band adjustments, it’ll last a long time. I built mine for power, trans guy said it was in great shape and could have gone another 100k easy.