New to site...thinking Dodge...

[TFucili]

Greetings all! I've been poking around here for a couple weeks, and joined today. This seems to be a great bunch of people , and every thread doesn't seem to erupt into a flame war. I cut my teeth on trucks and have almost always had one in the stable. We were always a Ford family, but after a string of unspeakable crap I tried a Chevy. It's an '04 2500hd crew/shorty 8. 1/allison. I won't launch into the whole story, but suffice it to say, despite what some people here think, GM customer service is the worst of the worst and I am waiting for the outcome of Lemon Law proceedings. I am giving SERIOUS consideration to a CTD, as it is the only REAL diesel out there. I have had two Fords with Navijunks so I know what a V-8 pretender is.



I assumed I would install an e-brake in lieu of the integral grade braking on the allison, but found that's really not possible(warrantable) at this point. Wonder if it's worth waiting for the rumored five speed auto?? (wife can't drive stick)



Anybody have issues with rear accomodations in the quad cab?



Help a former Dodgeaphobe see the light :-laf



Thanks!

 

[GFritsch]

Welcome to the TDR.



IMO Dodge makes the best truck, especially if your shopping diesel. Many will say Ford is the best aside from the engine. I couldn't disagree more. I drive a psd for a work truck and there is no comparison.



If you are going with an auto and can wait, I would do so.



Greg

 

[OCarney]

Welcome Aboard!!!

When I bought mine last March, I looked at the Chevrolet & Ford because I had drove Chevy trucks since I was old enough to drive, & because of the size of the Chevy & Ford crew cab. After I could not find the Chevy I wanted, and after driving the 6. 0 Ford (no way would I have bought the Ford after driving it), I went with the Dodge at the dealer's recommendation. BTW, he is a Dodge & Chevrolet dealer. I have been extremely happy with it & had no issues with the truck or the size of the cab. Truck now has 38k on it.

 

[mberry]

Welcome!! I would have to agree with the other that have posted before me. Best of both worlds would be to teach your wife to drive a stick imho.

 

[DocDetonancour]

I think the cab is just perfect. I wouldn't want anything longer for my use. As to the truck, I have has zero problems and love the machine. Good luck, Doc

 

[NLamke]

Welcome aboard. I too am new here. I bought an 05, SRW 3500 4X4, SLT, Quad Cab, short box, auto transmission. I personally prefer Dodge's shorter rear doors, I think they look better, and the turning radius is better, and I don't have that many passengers aside from the hunting trips. Anyways, a friend of mine is on his second Duramx allison truck, currently owns an 04. 5 I guess it is. He drove mine with an 11,000 pound trailer on it and made the comment that it's the strongest pulling STOCK truck he's driven. He prefers Cummins engines, but GM's bells and whistles, and made the comment that the only reason he doesn't go out and buy a Dodge is the lack of the full size rear doors. I've been very happy with mine and would buy Dodge again if I had it to do over.

 

[WStoops]

I like just about everything about my truck, except that darn vibration. Just be sure to drive it on the highway before you hand over your hard earned cash. Like you I am waiting on the lemon law final results. Only differences are that my complaint is about Dodge. I have requested a replacement vehicle and not a buyback so that should tell you something. In the world of diesels, the mighty cummins cannot be beat. My apologies to whomever I stole that phrase from. Frankly, I don't think any of the big 3 offer good customer service. If you get a good one you won't need it anyway. Good luck and welcome to the site.

 

[TFucili]

Thanks for the replies



I think I see a Cummins in my future (assuming the Lemon leaves) :{





As for the suggestion that I teach my wife to drive stick... I tried :-{} It's hard to comprehend how something that came so naturally to me can be so hard for someone to grasp

 

[JLovas]

TFucili~ I hear ya on the teaching the wife to drive a stick thing. My wife grew up on a potatoe farm and has quite a few miles logged on potatoe trucks with 9 speeds, but she struggles slightly with my pickup because of the way the detents are set up. IMO, its much easier to find gears in a standard 6 hole transmission pattern (3 up and 3 down). The NV5600 is a little unique in that the the detents always push the stick to neutral between 3-4 gear. This is what most people struggle with, the jump from 4-5 (the detents tend to lead people back to 3rd), and even the 5-6 gear change (again, the springs want to push you back to 4th. ) Personally I have zero problems with it and love the NV5600, but I think a better design would only have detents on the 1-2 side and the R side. No biggie, just my observations.



On a side note, I believe the short shifter kit offered by Geno's garage eliminates this, but at $300+, its a little on the expensive side, but many here have said that their happy with this kit.



Anyway~ I'll get off my soapbox and say welcome aboard and good luck with your situation.

 

[GFritsch]

Thanks for the replies



I think I see a Cummins in my future (assuming the Lemon leaves) :{





As for the suggestion that I teach my wife to drive stick... I tried :-{} It's hard to comprehend how something that came so naturally to me can be so hard for someone to grasp

The beauty of teaching someone to drive a stick in a Cummins is how forgiving the truck is. When teaching her don't even worry about the accelerator pedal when starting out. Just let the clutch out slowly in second gear at idle. Use the go pedal after the clutch pedal is out--piece of cake!



My problem is getting into my wifes Acura RSX where I'm either spinning the tires or killing the engine

 

[TFucili]

I have another question on pyrometers. I thought it would only be an issue if you started modifying the engine, but I read a few posts now that say you can run excessive EGT on a bone stock truck. Is this true? If so, shame on Dodge for not installing the damn thing. That's like making the engine un-governed and not installing a tachometer. :--)

 

[TFucili]

GFritsch,

One of the vehicles I tried to teach in was one of my Fords with the Intrashnational. While it was no Cummins, it was pretty much a feather the clutch out w/o throttle proposition. Getting someone to "feel" the take up in the clutch is difficult, and it then becomes a light switch--in/out/stall... :-{}

 

[rashwor]

My wife has driven sticks before, but she says no to driving my new one. I do like the fact you can let out on the clutch without touching the go pedal. My '99 was the same way (she refused to learn to drive it too).



I use the trucks on the farm and tow heavy with them. To me, a auto was not an option, but a problem waiting to happen. She will eventually drive it and our kids will learn in it. The dodge auto is good as long as you don't add horsepower. The sticks are built to tow! Oo.



Good luck with the lemon law process and welcome aboard.



I love my '05, but here are the issues I have had so far. I have developed the white smoke and rough idle at cold startup. There is a TSB out for this, but I have not had time to have it done. The weather strip seals on the front doors are tearing due to poor design. There is a TSB out for this, and supposedly another one is coming, but the weather striping does not leak, so i have not been worried about it. Slight squeak in the clutch when engaged and idling along in first or second gear. I think there is a TSB out for this that involves replacing the clutch, but the clutch works fine and it is not worth the bother to me. That is it! All minor issues with 11,000+ miles on it. I average 17. nn mpg running empty. Some complain about mileage, but on a 7000 # truck, this ain't bad! Should you have mileage issues, there is a TSB out for it and most are having good results with it. I think the mileage TSB and the white smoke at startup TSB are one and the same.



Again, welcome aboard and good luck!

 

[TFucili]

I am still exploring around the boards and am AMAZED at how many people modify their trucks to the point of failure Guess I'm getting old



After all the stuff I've owned I'll be happy to just find something that doesn't give me heartaches every time I turn the key Oo.

 

[DPKetchum]

With the money saved over the usual price of the Ford or G. M. the 48re trans can be upgraded to bullit proof/full lockup/e brake compatable. Never had a complaint out of the back seat room even with guys as tall as 6'2 6'3.

 

[LightmanE300]

I agree overall it's the best truck and I would recommend getting the Cummins. However I have had complaints about the back seat. The seatback is awfully upright, and this is pretty uncomfortable to sit in for long trips if there are two people back there. That said, the dog likes it just fine. He rides there more than anyone.

 

[TFucili]

Thanks for the replies.



I spoke to owners of two neighboring businesses yesterday, and among them there are two 7. 3 Powerdorks and one 6. 0 Powerdork. Mileage ranged from 30k to 70k and all were problem free Browsing the Navijunk forums would lead me to think otherwise One of them with an F250 is big into horses and recently was in Florida for some kind of meet. According to him, and this is NOT flame bait, "all the serious pullers, like serious size fivers with living quarters, are running 'Strokes". I won't repeat what they said of the CTD as it was too inflammatory. :{ He was oblivious to all the 6. 0 problems and Torqshift failures Quite amazing. All remain staunch advocates of the Powerdork.



I'm getting dizzy... :--)

 

[DPKetchum]

Interesting. My neighbor is a horse hauler(141k trouble free miles with little maintance)He says out in Texas and other places all he see's is Dodge. Said all the SERIOUS haulers are running Dodge. His favorite comment is that their THOUSANDS less on intial purchase and get the job done better with less repairs. The ones he knows with Powerstrokes or Duramaxes he always tells them I bought a WORKHORSE not a show horse. His 03 srw 4x4 6 speed 3. 73 gears s/b is on original brakes,90k on first set of tires(running 2nd set now,never been aligned,FIRST fliuds(diffs,trans,transfer)changed at 90k. Its had the Hydroboost hose TSB,alternator bracket tsb,wiper blades. He changes oil&filter every 7500,air & fuel filter every other oil change. One of his trips from Ohio to Florida with 3 grown horses in his Four Star trailer driving NO faster then 70 and mainly 65 to 68 mph got him 16. 2 on overhead. Says he see's a fair amount of Powerstrokes (6. 0s)on the side of the road with hood up. More then any other brand.

 

[LightmanE300]

Word of mouth and what people 'mostly see' means nothing. What means something is failure rates, and as we've seen in the JDpower report and others, the failure rates of the ford 6. 0 are by far the highest, and the Cummins by far the lowest. The duramaxes weren't too bad, but more problematic than their gas brethren. .

 

[TFucili]

DP and Lightman, I have to agree with you. There is no disputing the superiority of the Cummins. I guess some people have to justify their purchase decision.



Nobody picked up on my previous pyrometer/EGT question so I'll rephrase it. I don't pull alot of weight, generally less than 5k, but it's an enclosed motorcycle trailer and the flat front is like pulling a parachute. When I tow I want to move at interstate speeds 70-75 without having to back out of it. On a bone stock CTD, pulling a decent grade how likely is it to attain excessive EGT if you keep your foot in it.