I'm a 3G owner now! (long post)

[Wayne M.]

I would like to thank member Steven Lenz for pointing me towards Jim Fischer at Franklin Sussex automall (NJ) who located the truck and provided excellent salesmanship. I also want to thank member Roadking for getting his Son to buy my old truck which made moving on possible, He is now a TDR prospect.

I now know what all the buzz is about this truck. I can't believe how a vehicle this big and heavy can move with such prowess and authority! The turning radius is fantastic, and I don't have to take a moment to stretch after my hour long commute anymore.

I have no quality issues right now and build quality is real good, although I am questioning the plating job on both bumpers. I picked it up Wednesday night with 18 miles and now there is about 290. I got it with a full tank and now there is slightly less than 1/2 showing. The mileage so far seems ok, and I will report my findings after I tank up a few times. I am ignoring the overhead display. I did take a creeper ride underneath and am impressed with the looks of everything, the frame looks like something custom built. I didn't see any odd rusting patterns on parts except for bare metal items like the driveshafts and transmission case.

I will miss my old 1G truck (believe it) since it has spoiled me with simplicity and reliability- make no mistake, this new truck has real big shoes to fill in the reliability department.



Here's the specifics,

'04. 5 3500 SRW CTD 6 speed SLT Quad shortbed, Patriot blue/ dark slate, prem. seat, tow grp, rear floor, anti spin, slider, tow mirrors, moulding, fog lamps, block heater, cd/cass stereo, wheel controls, leather steer wheel, cast wheels, under box liner.



For guys who like that stuff, the loader is a Case 821B. One of MANY the City of NY owns (and I fix).

 

[lil red cummins]

hey wayne, she's a beauty!



congratulations. every day i give thanks for the fun my truck provides. you think it goes now, you should try the TST box. mine breaks loose in 6th on 2/2 when on damp pavement with about 1/2 of the "go" peddle. i found this out the first time at 60 on the interstate. makes for fun driving.



i am planning to rustoleum the undercarriage before winter. i also noticed the rust on the trans and a few other places.



please tell me you didn't back into that yellow post. looks close!



is the orange color standard on that loader or is that a city requirement?



good luck with the new truck



jim

 

[Yo Hoot]

It's a beauty. .



I use Loctite Extend rust converter... comes in a spray can. . get it at Lowes or Home Depot. I sprayed all the large rusty areas as soon as i got my truck. All my axles are protected with it. . I then sprayed the axles with Duplicolor Black bed paint. Also sprayed any rust that I could see with the Extend. It helps keep it in check and gives you some quality time with your truck.



I get comments from people asking me how the underside looks so new... I'm over 10,000 miles and she is clean under there.



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Enjoy it! Looks great!

 

[Wayne M.]

Jim, I park there every day and I touched it once so far. Very careful backing up. I was thinking about using POR15 or magnet chassis saver shot by gun for the undercarriage coating, but that loctite stuff sounds interesting. I commented about that because of an earlier thread concerning unusal rust. I think these trucks are lacking protection underneath, they skimped here.

Thanks for the kind words- I'm still pinching myself! I packed up the family lasy night and went cap shopping- something I could never do before. I think i'm going for the Leer 100 XQ and the lund ford style black 80" boards.

The orange is the color for all of our snow equipment (loaders, spreaders, snowmelters, and frinks (loader mounted monster snowblowers)). That loader is Cummins 8. 3 (C series) powered.

 

[ppfd]

I like the color!

 

[roadking]

welcome to 3g

wayniemister who's your buddy ? 17 years were freinds you better take that truck for a break in ride to see me! mopar spoken here #ad
pic's of prides & joy

 

[CoastyAV8R]

I love the dark blue color, if I wasn't in South Texas, I would have gotten it. I wouldn't even look at the mileage till you get some miles on the beast. I think we all expect too much too soon, let it break in and pull something with it then you should get a more accurate indication...

 

[DBoyd]

Yeah, you sure don't want a dark color down here!!! White or silver is the prefered colors for reflecting the heat.

 

[DBoyd]

And regarding the rust protection, I use the aerosol LPS #3 Heavy Duty Rust Inhibitor. It goes on clear and dries to a waxy sort of finish and really protects. But it does have to be reapplied every year or so. The finish is similar to the rust protection that Saab uses on their vehicles.

 

[Wayne M.]

Just tanked up for the first time Tuesday @ 490 miles, I'm not sure where I started, (idling time @ dealer etc. ) but I calculated 17. 9 MPG. This truck is amazing. The transmission is starting to smooth out a little.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Nice truck. Sussex automall told me they needed a deposit to do a dealer vehicle search... .

 

[EEngel]

new truck

Nice truck!



Don't worry, this truck will fill the shoes of your old one plus more.



I like what you did to the underside, looks good.



I picked up about 1 1/2mpg by 10,000, so give her some time.

 

[Wayne M.]

Patrick, are you still shopping? The salesman I mentioned in the first post here was real good about the money thing- spotted and got the truck for me just for asking and not commiting to anything.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

No i'm all set here! I ended up going to a dealer in Maryland, that was 10 months / 94K miles ago! Enjoy the truck!

 

[Wayne M.]

100,000 mile update...

So here I am, still here after almost 9 years. I just lit up the 6th digit all by myself. I know that's not a big deal to many, but It's the first time I did it to a new vehicle alone. In reflecting on my first post here, It really has been a good vehicle- I have to intention on selling or trading it. It's been reliable, never ever leaving me stranded- come to think- the original batteries have NEVER been disconnected or dead! I did replace the Brakes, Ujoints, ball joints and put spyntecs in among other "maintenance" but really it's only needed filters (most work posted about here on the TDR). The only inexcusable gripe I have is the rear door harnesses. They both broke wires at the hinge point. A replacement harness is real expensive, but I did it so I can do a good repair and have a spare. Rust is starting to creep, I only did minimal work on prevention. I have a couple of bubbles at 12:00 on the rear wheel lips, and the tailgate thinks it's from a Bronco.



Looking forward to 100,000 more.

 

[jgillott]

Congrats on 100K. I'm certainly happy to hear of your experiences with the 3rd gens. Our trucks have been the same, nothing rather remarkable other than routine stuff, ball and u-joints, etc. After owning both 1st and 2nd gen trucks, I was convinced that I wasn't going to like these 3rds. But, the opposite is true, I've really come to appreciate them.

 

[RVTRKN]

WOW, I was just about to post that, that was a clean looking 04. 5, then I noticed the date the thread was started. I miss my 04. 5, but it did go to a good guy (brother) and he loves it as well. The NV5600 is a good trans behind that CTD. It seems like you drive them as many miles a year as I do. My brother has 140K on my old truck, but I would just be reaching the 100K mile mark on it now, if I still owned it.

 

[Wayne M.]

It seems like you drive them as many miles a year as I do. My brother has 140K on my old truck, but I would just be reaching the 100K mile mark on it now, if I still owned it.

Hey thanks for the kind words guys, The first few years I wound up lots of miles, then in '08 I got transferred closer to home, then the truck got a cushier life- which is not always good. Now I look for excuses to wring it out and get it warmed up. The pictures in the first post were taken in the Bronx- almost the opposite end of the city from where I am. Yes the 5600 has taken a beating. It probably has 200K mi worth of shifts on it... .

 

[EricBu12]

With the older 5. 9 trucks the cushier life is OK, with the new Emissions trucks now, it is hard to not go at least 15 miles or more to get it to at least do a partial regen. . glad your truck is still doing good. !! keep it up. . go for 200K