Looking to buy a 3rd gen. Anything I should look out for ?

[SMalafy]

I had a 2nd gen 95 that had the frame rot out so I was looking to upgrade and seen quite a few 3rd gens with some low prices and some of them had 4 or 5 owners so I am wondering what I should be aware of before I buy. Can anyone tell me what usually goes bad on these things and what to watch out for so I do not get burned ? Thanks.

 

[seafish]

You really oughta just read the TDR Truck Buyers Guide here--


https://www.turbodieselregister.com/content/538-Buyers-Guide-2003-2009

 

[SMalafy]

You really oughta just read the TDR Truck Buyers Guide here--


https://www.turbodieselregister.com/content/538-Buyers-Guide-2003-2009

Thanks, I never knew there was such a thing. Now I have to wait until they finish the upgrades which seems to be taking forever

 

[MarkEkberg]

Unless someone proves injectors were done you will be doing them. Front end will be junk.

 

[SMalafy]

Unless someone proves injectors were done you will be doing them. Front end will be junk.

Thanks, I am starting to think I should look for another 2nd gen.

 

[Motorhead]

"Unless someone proves injectors were done you will be doing them. Front end will be junk." quote from above
I have a 2007, 5.9, 6 speed with just under 100,000 miles and my front end is still tight and My injectors are still working well.
Two things that have helped BOTH:
1) I don't drive my truck like a Monster Truck but do use it off road, I have proper back set on my aftermarket wheels and lastly, unless I absolutely need to, I try not to turn the steering wheel in tight places like parking unless I am rolling a bit. This takes a lot of the load off of the tie rod ends.
2) Right from about new, I added secondary fuel filtration, a Glacier Diesel kit with about a 2 micron filter.

I owned a second gen from new and it was a good truck but my third gen is a better built truck.
The 2003 and 2004 trucks were good because of no real emission junk. The 04.5 to 2007 with the 325 hp, 5.9 is a hard truck to beat too. Stay FAR away from the 2007.5- 2012's

 

[Shadrach]

Number 4 injector line is prone to breaking. Go to Cummins and buy the updated version. On early 3rd gens the exhaust manifold can crack and the alternator bracket cracks as well. By now these should have been fixed.
David