I have a '04. 5, 3500 SRW, Quadcab, 2WD, 6-speed, with a Harbor Utility Body and after a month of ownership(and one payment), here are my observations of the truck:
Plusses:
Quiet... inside and out. Can carry on a phone conversation on speakerphone now.
Load flat floor.
Bench seat center lower storage.
NV5600.
Four almost full-sized doors with roll down windows.
Brakes that are immeasurably better than my 2000 Ram 2500.
Auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Fuel tank IS larger. First fill up was 36. 5 gallons while 2nd was 36. 1 gallons. Most I was able to put in the 2000 was about 34. 5 gallons.
In-dash 6 CD.
Misses:
Rear view mirror is smaller.
I miss the 3. 55 gear.
Cupholders still can not hold the tall Big Gulps secure enough to prevent tip overs.
Some of the powerports still don't work with the ignition off... you'd think they were afraid that the 2 humongous batteries are going to drain out while charging the cell phone.
The fuek tank is harder to fill than the 2000 Dodge and pretty close to being as big a PITA as the Ford twin tank setups.
No overhead sunglass holder for my Serengeti's.
Cruise control buttons are harder to locate while in the dark as compared to the 2000 Dodge.
Exhaust drone at 65 and above... an annoyance and the truck is not as quiet as it could be.
Insurance companies (at least in Kalifornia) are bigtime extortionists when trying to obtain coverage on this thing... about 50% more than the 2500 I had.
I really like this 3500. It is not totally smoke free as it is coating the side of the bed with soot after only 2 tanks of fuel. I can put up a fair smoke screen at night, but no where near what I can do with my 2000 with the Edge EZ and DD-II's. The braking system on this truck is awsome compared to the 2000' front disc rear drum set up. I hope this one is as troublefree as the 2000.
N Dennis
Plusses:
Quiet... inside and out. Can carry on a phone conversation on speakerphone now.
Load flat floor.
Bench seat center lower storage.
NV5600.
Four almost full-sized doors with roll down windows.
Brakes that are immeasurably better than my 2000 Ram 2500.
Auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Fuel tank IS larger. First fill up was 36. 5 gallons while 2nd was 36. 1 gallons. Most I was able to put in the 2000 was about 34. 5 gallons.
In-dash 6 CD.
Misses:
Rear view mirror is smaller.
I miss the 3. 55 gear.
Cupholders still can not hold the tall Big Gulps secure enough to prevent tip overs.
Some of the powerports still don't work with the ignition off... you'd think they were afraid that the 2 humongous batteries are going to drain out while charging the cell phone.
The fuek tank is harder to fill than the 2000 Dodge and pretty close to being as big a PITA as the Ford twin tank setups.
No overhead sunglass holder for my Serengeti's.
Cruise control buttons are harder to locate while in the dark as compared to the 2000 Dodge.
Exhaust drone at 65 and above... an annoyance and the truck is not as quiet as it could be.
Insurance companies (at least in Kalifornia) are bigtime extortionists when trying to obtain coverage on this thing... about 50% more than the 2500 I had.
I really like this 3500. It is not totally smoke free as it is coating the side of the bed with soot after only 2 tanks of fuel. I can put up a fair smoke screen at night, but no where near what I can do with my 2000 with the Edge EZ and DD-II's. The braking system on this truck is awsome compared to the 2000' front disc rear drum set up. I hope this one is as troublefree as the 2000.
N Dennis
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