FIRST 1st Gen HELP

[EOwen]

I have been a 2nd gen owner and member since late 2001.

I am looking to purchase a good 1st gen dually club cab to haul RV's for FEMA to the gulf coast and keep miles off my '02.

Can you guys help me learn what I need to watch out for in the 1st gens?

What year did they start the intercooled?

What transmission and rear end to watch out for?

Any other gremlins or problems, or smoke issues, or hard start issues etc to watch out for.

Your help would be much appreciated?

Thanks,

Eric

 

[RailroadJim]

I think late 92' was the start of the intercooled versions, most people like the standard 5 speed for pulling(overfill by a quart) the automatics don't seem too popular for heavy duty stuff, they don't have a lock up torque converter so are inefficient for serious performance durability, gears were 3. 54 standard and 4. 10 optional i think. The throttle positioning sensor is in my opinion the most common problem, for some people it causes the overdrive to act erratic, on mine the cruise doesn't work but i don't care and haven't needed it for 4 years since i've had it, everything else is rock solid dependable for me, as far as body, the original paint is usually crap, the seat brackets on benches are known to tear a hole in the floor on some. Rust likes to develop on the cab roof corners over the drip rail, esp. with roof lights. That's my two cents, i've had my D350 for 4 years now, auto, 3. 54 and it's been the best vehicle i've ever owned, i don't haul diddley though and i pamper it to last forever, just got me a W250 for the beach so the 350 is on the block. Hope this helps, the experts on here should be able to elaborate considerably on these tips.

 

[LEggers]

Eric

everything that Jim says plus a couple things...



Make sure you get a 2 wheel drive if your going to spend time on the road. The 4x4 will kill your back inless you spend some good money on a seat.



Keep the oil changed and greese zecks packed and you should be rolling for some time.

 

[hdm48]

The intercooler came in at 91. 5.

And from here I would say to check the Q&A section.