Goodbye to my first Cummins

[JLitton]

Well the time has come, I'm getting rid of a truck that has been with our family for 13 years. This truck has been on every family vacation since 2004 hauling our fifth wheel camper all over the southeastern US. My 11 y/o daughter is rather distraught about getting rid of it. Says that it is part of her. And to be honest I feel a little bit the same way. I am always getting comments in campgrounds and even at the store about the truck. Don't think the new one will warrant the comments from the truck guys. I am buying a 2017 Laramie mega cab dually with the Aisin. The reclining back seats and extra room for the kids was the deciding factor. The kids aren't getting any smaller...

This truck has done all I have ever asked and more. A lot of good memories were made with this truck, for sure.

Hopefully the new truck will not disappoint.

 

[Killer223]

i love my Mega cab with the kids and dog.
i however kept my 04.
that's a great looking truck.
The 6.7's pull so much differently then the 5.9. it's a whole different animal even at the same HP levels.
I did however switch to a G56 from my built auto.

 

[RVTRKN]

You won't miss the 03 once you pull your 5ver for the first time. What rear differential are you getting?

 

[JLitton]

I got the 4.10. I rarely drive the truck unless I'm pulling. I know it may be overkill for my needs as I have never needed to tow more than 20K, but I figured if I was going to get a new truck, I might as well get the most capable. If I drove the daily, or even a few times a week, I would probably have went with the 3.73. That is what my 03 has.

 

[JLitton]

i love my Mega cab with the kids and dog.
i however kept my 04.
that's a great looking truck.
The 6.7's pull so much differently then the 5.9. it's a whole different animal even at the same HP levels.
I did however switch to a G56 from my built auto.

thanks for the compliment. That's partly why its bittersweet to get rid of it. I had the bug about 2 years to get a new truck, but instead, I just added a dual din touchscreen CD.DVD player to bring the interior somewhat up to current standards.

 

[Motorhead]

So tell us... How many miles did you put on the 2003? I'll bet that for the 13 years it met yours and your families needs, you didn't loose a lot of money on the resale from what you paid new.
I'd love to buy a 2017 but with my December 2006 built, 2007, 5.9, NO real emissions junk, I don't want to press my luck. We are waiting for VW to buy back out 2012 Jetta TDI wagon. I'd love to replace the G56 with an Aisin even though the G56 has given me good service.

 

[JLitton]

We put 66000 miles on the truck and probably 20000 were on family vacations either for a week or just a long weekend to the lake. You're right. I didn't loose a lot of money. Actually turns out to be around 1100 dollars per year is what it cost me to own to the 03. I bought it used in 04 with 9k miles.

 

[Motorhead]

Good to know. On the west coast, Cummins powered Dodges hold the highest resale compared to initial purchase prices, especially if they are 4x4's. Old FIRST gen 4x4's in nice shape are getting $10,000. and up on prices. I sold a nice 1990, W350 single cab with 230,000 miles on it for $11,800. Went fast and I got my asking price.
I hope your 2017 serves you as well or better than the 2003. If the '03 was an automatic, I'm sure you will really love the two extra gears that the Aisin has. Using it to tow heavy, i'd say your emission system will probably be far less problematic than someone just commuting with it and no load.

 

[RVTRKN]

Congrats on your new truck, the 4:10 is a great choice. I'm not a believer in the lower ratios that Dodge wants to sell us, but they have been dependable for the most part. The 2014 2500 CTD I was driving with 3:42 diff's, scrambled the gears at @ 14K miles, truck was in the shop for two weeks. My 07 C&C with 3:73's and the G56, towing heavy in Comifornia, bogs down in rolling hills, and I constantly have to shift between 5th and 6th because of the 55MPH speed limit. I missed the boat on equipping the 07, by not getting the Aisin and not equipping it with 4:10,s. On the other hand, my 04.5 that I sold my brother (real cheap) with the 3:73 (see signature) was perfect, even towing my 5ver in my signature. BTW, I really miss the 04.5, I believe it to be arguably the best engine/transmission combination to date for a Dodge pickup.

 

[DonFitzwater]

New truck pics?

 

[inlinesix3million]

I've had friends "upgrade" to 4th gens. I have told them all the same things... Enjoy the refinements. Don't expect to keep the same resale value. 4th gen is an unknown commodity.
Emissions, electronics, complexities, etc... The 06 mega cab with the 5.9 and a 6 speed has a bit more value than mine for now. A buddy recently sold his 06 mega for 30 grand.
He then bought an '012 with all the bells and whistles. He enjoys the new one for sure- but he knows what he gave up will not be repeated.

 

[promisedland]

Congrats on your new truck, the 4:10 is a great choice. I'm not a believer in the lower ratios that Dodge wants to sell us, but they have been dependable for the most part. The 2014 2500 CTD I was driving with 3:42 diff's, scrambled the gears at @ 14K miles, truck was in the shop for two weeks. My 07 C&C with 3:73's and the G56, towing heavy in Comifornia, bogs down in rolling hills, and I constantly have to shift between 5th and 6th because of the 55MPH speed limit. I missed the boat on equipping the 07, by not getting the Aisin and not equipping it with 4:10,s. On the other hand, my 04.5 that I sold my brother (real cheap) with the 3:73 (see signature) was perfect, even towing my 5ver in my signature. BTW, I really miss the 04.5, I believe it to be arguably the best engine/transmission combination to date for a Dodge pickup.

What do think makes the difference in towing? The gear ratios? Or is the 6.7's power curve softer at 2000~rpms?

If your 6.7 is not deleted, that might be some of the reason.
Smarty can help!

 

[RVTRKN]

What do think makes the difference in towing? I never towed with the 2014, but it was at the GVWR @10K. I didn't like the fact that the RPM's would drop under 1000 in 6th, cruising at 50mph. If I ran it in T/H, to change the shifting strategy, it clunked real bad at times, so I kept it out of T/H.
The gear ratios? The 2014 was 3:42, on the other hand my 07 C&C has 3:73's (see sig) but is only rated at 305HP. When loaded @ 23K GCW running through the rolling hills, the RPM's are too low at 55MPH and it wants to bog down. But at 65-70MPH it runs great, the original application for the truck changed in 09 and I only tow with it now. Soooo I wished it had 4:10's Or is the 6.7's power curve softer at 2000~rpms? I like my truck now (305HP sucked) that I have EFILive, but its not deleted.
If your 6.7 is not deleted, that might be some of the reason. Not in Commifornia, big fines and especially big, because it's considered a true commercial vehicle.
Smarty can help! Can't say anything about Smarty, but EFILive is awesome.

The 07 C&C with the 6 spd manual is a mule.