Opinions on 12V vs. 24V

[srawleigh]

I am looking for opinions on 12V vs. 24V trucks. I am posting this on both the 12V and 24V sites to get both opinions.



I will shortly be in the market for a used Dodge TD. I am trying to decided on 12V or 24V engines. I have owned a 94 12V previously and it gave me flawless service - though it was a little weak on HP and Torque. I plan to mildly BOMB my acquired truck (I know everyone says this), but I really do not tow anything of significance. The heaviest load this will see will be 6-7K boat only periodically.



I am looking for a high reliability truck that I do not spend my weekends "tinkering" with or that it spends time in the shop. If this happens the other half will lose patience quickly and my hope of owning a Cummins again will be more grief than I am willing to deal with. I am religious with maintenance and I do not see that this is an issue, but my wife would have a problem with the fuel pump crapping out on our weekend drives to the lake.



What I need help on is the following:



Assume that I will buy a manual transmission, 4WD, run 255 85R-16 tires (33in), extended cab truck that will be driven in East Coast Mountains for taking the family and our stuff to our cabin. If it is a 12V it will be a 96-98, which I think are the best years. If it is a 24V, it will be what ever is the best that is available when I buy.



What do you consider the advantages of the 24V over the 12V? I read a lot of issues with the 24V fuel pumps. 12V do not have this issue.



5-speed or 6-speed? I see a lot of 6-speed for sale? I can only assume that they are not happy with the shifting problems of the transmission. Why else would someone sell a new cummins truck? 5-speeds have their own issues as well with 5TH gear durability at lower RPMs, which is why I would be concerned with 3. 54 gears and 33in tires.



What do you recommend for gears? 3. 54 or 4. 10? I had 4. 10 on my 94 with an Automatic. These seemed a little steep for me even with 33in tires. Are the 3. 54 enough?



The 12V seemed quite peaky to me in in torque and HP production. How are the 24V compared to the 12V? I am not interested in peak HP or Tourque, but usable performance over a broad range of RPMs.



I live in MD with pretty stringent emissions laws. Diesels where I live must be tested every two years - just like the gassers. How do I address emissions like opacity with a Edge, VA or other box on the truck? Does anyone else have this issue? They actually drive these vehicles on treadmills over a simulated road course with the emissions sniffer hooked up to the exhasut. :--)



Has anyone owned both a 12V and 24V Cummins? What years were they? I would like your opinions on both. Good and bad.



This will be a big opportunity to get my Cummins back and I don't want to hear the wife telling me "I told you so" for the next ten years or longer. I have been planning this for a while and I still have a little time left before I pull the trigger. I just want to make sure that it is on target.



I do appreciate any feedback that you can provide. Thanks.

 

[Reb.B]

well, i was about to say that u should go back with another 12 valve because of the reliability and price, but when u tell me they test the diesels over there, than i would say definately a 24v. The 24 v have more stock hp and tq, and they burn cleaner. As for making horsepower, the 12 v can make more hp in the long run than a 24v because of the awesome ability of the 12valve p pump. But the reason i have a 24 v is because i live in California, "where all the best nuts are grown", and people will call u in if they see smoke and they have random smoke checks. Because the 24v can turn on the hp and turn off the hp at the click of a switch i would go with a 24v and immediately change the transfer pump and move the new one in the back near the tank, ... . only takes an hour or so. Also if u're planning any more hp, change the clutch and put a good one in, and definately go a standard for reliablity! IMO Hope this helps, reb

 

[PRout]

IMO, if you buy used, theres a real possibility that youre getting someone elses problems. Most people dont sell their "keepers". Also, if someone knows theyre going to sell a truck, they tend to run the ** out of it knowing its going anyways.



Since you dont want to hassle working on problems, a new one may be more logical.



So, that IMO, leaves a person without much choice. You can only get a 24v in a new truck.



I wanted a 12v for simplicity & getting back to basics, but didnt trust a used truck.



Ended up w/ 24v and am very happy with it. Still prefer the 12v because it isnt as reliant on a computer to keep it running.



Also, w/ 24v, theres more to go wrong. Adjusting valves will be fun.



It seems like the newer trucks, have more bugs worked out than the older ones, so guess ill shut up now, stand aside, & let the details start coming out.

 

[Reb.B]

I don't know about that, i'll never buy another new dodge again. The truck sucks, but as far as the drive train, i'd buy a used one any day. They just go and go. New ones are just too expensive. As for the valves, u have to check the valves on a 12v every 25 k and for a 24 v every 100k! And it takes the same amout of time to adjust a 24 as a 12 because u only have 12 push rods and 12 adjuster nuts on a 24 v.

 

[Archive]

I like the non-electronic 12 valve fuel system.

 

[abledog]

What a loaded question!!!!!



Let me say up front that I own a 2001. 5 24V with a 6 speed an that we have a love/hate relationship! I love to tow with this truck. The 6speed ratios are perfect for towing and the 24V CTD with 275's a VA and propane make enough power to move my 13,000 trailer with ease. I hate to drive the truck unloaded, the NV5600 shifter SUCKS.



From reading your post I'll assume your not going to tow , only haul stuff to your cabin, so in that respect stay away from the 6 speed and go with the NV4500.



The 24V electric fuel system is so easy to switch back and forth that passing the emmissions test would be as easy as pushing a button.



As far as axle ratio's I would go with the 4. 10's if you plan to run large tires and the 24V CTD.



Terry

 

[Mundgyver]

So, where you are located the state requires testing for emmission on a vechicle with a GVW of over 8800 lbs?? No testing where we are. I've got 57,000 on my 6 speed with no problems. People complain about the shifting but heck this thing is a truck. If you want sportscar performance in the gearbox, buy a Corvett. Enjoy what every you get.

 

[speedracer]

I haven't had a 12v (not in a pickup anyway), so I'll just comment on the 24v. I drive my 6sp both empty and loaded, and have no complaints with transmission/shifter performance. The truck has adequate hp/tq stock, although an ez really wakes them up! A definite advantage goes with the 24v as far as emissions testing goes, 'cause you can unplug an ez or turn a comp off. Injectors might be a problem though. Find a nice 24v, put guages(including fuel pressure to monitor the lift pump!) and an ez and be happy!

 

[TPCDrafting]

I like mine empty and loaded, though it's a bit smoother on the bumps with a gooseneck behind. If you're goin' to the cabin with family and stuff, I'd highly recommend the quad cab. If I had to do a lot of city driving, the 5 speed would get tiresom quick (but I don't have much city driving) and I'm gonna drive sticks till my legs fall off. Don't know much about the 24v vs 12v, but it was hard to find the used truck I wanted.

 

[PRout]

Originally posted by Mundgyver

People complain about the shifting but heck this thing is a truck. If you want sportscar performance in the gearbox, buy a Corvett. Enjoy what every you get.

Exactly! People want a heavy duty truck, but they want it to shift like a sportscar. Come on. It a truck. It has 6 speeds.



Maybe these people would be better off with... an Excursion.



I bought mine to shift like a truck, drive like a truck, ride like a truck, & sound like a truck. Love that solid axle ride off road too.



Back to the motor...

 

[Chipstien]

24 valve!

Since you won't be towing then don't get 4. 10. Just get a UFM/Comp and turn it off for the emmision test.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

if you wanna talk about shifting try a manual out of a 3/4 to 1 ton chevy from the mid 90's to 80's talk about shifting probs sometimes I felt like kickin the crap out of the shifter of using some sort of cheater bar on the shifter LOL I don't know what they put in for trans but they suck

 

[abledog]

All of you guys with NV4500's have a problem and need to take your trucks back to the dealers. Tell the service rep you want your trans to shift like a real truck transmission!

 

[Rob Thomas]

Exactly! People want a heavy duty truck, but they want it to shift like a sportscar. Come on. It a truck. It has 6 speeds.

Maybe these people would be better off with... an Excursion.

I bought mine to shift like a truck, drive like a truck, ride like a truck, & sound like a truck. Love that solid axle ride off road too

All of you guys with NV4500's have a problem and need to take your trucks back to the dealers. Tell the service rep you want your trans to shift like a real truck transmission

:-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf



I kinda like my 6-speed too... .....





Later,Rob

 

[BILLUA]

Auto 24 valve

Why not get a auto if all you want to do is a little bombing, I had DD stage ones with a power edge ez for about 296 Hp and never had a reliability issue. And all the miles were spent towing a 5000 lb trailer throughout the Rocky mountains. . It seems as though you are worried about the 5 and 6 speeds, so get a auto!!! There is absolutly nothing wrong with the stock auto trans with stock or near stock horspower. 12 or 24 valve, you can't go wrong. We have owned them both. Again if you want to stay stock or mildly bomb, you will get more power for the dollar out of the 24 valve because stock it puts out more power. .

Good luck on your shopping and enjoy your Cummins, I sure love mine!!