Questions maybe switching from 01 to 05 or newer???

[Truckie]

I got a few questions to ask you 3rd geners. I was out looking at some new trucks and want to know what are some of the 3rd gen problems? You know like us 2nd geners we got the lift pump, VP, ball joints, etc. What are some of the 3rd gen problems to look out for or to deal with? IM asking because I don't read these 3rd gen forums hardly ever at all, so please enlighten me.

I was also wondering dose anybody know if Dodge is going to offer the diesel in the Power Wagon truck? I was also eyeballing one of these up today. And dose anybody know if the 4. 56 gears are the only option they have in that truck?

Thanks for any help.



Mike

 

[insanediego2500]

I believe the power wagon is gonna strictly be a hemi platform. I have 26000 trouble free miles. I love my truck. Just installed a set of isspro gauges in the cubby hole. I smile everytime I get to drive the truck. I wish I would have gotten a diesel years ago but... I am very happy with the 04. 5. Its an e ticket ride.

 

[macdaddy]

Hey Truck

As the pages of history are being written I believe the 05 may go down as possibly one of the best CTD's ever.



*The last year for the NV5600 (if you can find one)

*Pusher style fuel pump.

* 325/610

Try and stay away from the 4X4's with Auto's as they tend to be the one's with the vibes at 70 thing.



I'm sure you'll hear more!!!.



Mac

 

[DPKetchum]

I thought the 03s were going to be the best produced. NO CAT. NO third event firing,better fuel mileage etc. I'm just kidding tho I do like mine a lot. I really liked my 1993 W250 Club Cab. It had charactor and always had folkes in parking lots walking around and looking at it. I still miss that truck.

 

[Dieselnerd]

I recently switched from a 2nd gen to a '05 and couldn't be more pleased. I have a 4x4 automatic and NO VIBE. From what I hear the vibe is rare on the '05. A while back Tomeygun said he had not found a '05 with the vibe yet. I don't know if that's still true or not. I did notice that there is a small flywheel at the rear of the transfer case attached to the driveshaft. I'm sure that must have something to do with fixing the vibe. I've also noticed that the transfer case is much larger and the mounts for the rear of the transmission are unlike any previous ones I've seen. The steering is totally different although the mechanical parts under the truck look the same with the exception of the track bar. That has a round bushing at both ends instead of the quick wearing ball joint at the frame end. The steering feels almost like the rack and pinion steering my wife has on her SUV. Very quick and precise. The best thing is it's almost as quiet as a gasser. You can actually hold a normal conversation going down the highway.

 

[Roy1]

I went from a 2K to a 05 and couldn't be happier. With 325HP and 610FT. LBS. What's not to like?

I had the "vibe" but balancing the shafts and the loosening of the mounts procedure took care of it. Admittedly the vibe wasn't shakeing the mirrors as some have reported. Drive one at 65-75MPH, if you feel it, move to another one.



Roy

 

[gsbrockman]

I thought the 03s were going to be the best produced. NO CAT. NO third event firing,better fuel mileage etc.

Yeah, what he said ! :-laf

Greg

 

[BHolm]

I don't know about the "vibe" being to common. I have three third gen 4x4 autos in both wheelbases and have no vibes on any of them.



I never had a second gen truck but I have had the two other brands and I like the new Dodge the best. Problems? well front ball joints on 4x4's go too early though I've only replaced them on one truck at 65k miles. U-joints are non-greasable from the factory and some have failed. Fortunately there are greasable replacements. I had to have one injector replaced on the '05. I don't hear about to many failing anymore though. If you want a dually the 17" tire selection still stinks. Other than that minor stuff, they are pretty solid machines, reportedly with fewer issuses than second gen trucks.



Go For It!

 

[tschwab]

Steering, brakes and obviously HP & Torque are much improved. Great looks and if your going auto, 48RE is very solid with more improvements made for M. Y. '05. If your sitting on the fence to buy, consider this. '05 ordering gets cut-off very soon, rebates and incentives are very high right now, the '06 will only have the 3/36 warranty where as the '05's have a 7/70, I believe the Cummins will still have a 100K warranty and from what I read, the '06 will have the same front end look as the new mega-cab which kind of resembles the fugly Dakota. From what I have seen in pictures, I know I wouldn't want one, but I'm holding final judgement until I see one in person,



I also say "go for it!"

 

[crobertson1]

I also say go for it. I had an '01. 5, and can say I like this truck, wayyyy better. As for the 4. 56s in the Power Wagon, I think that's all they get. That's the whole point of those trucks, maximum off road capabilities.

 

[NMansfield]

I say go for it too. I swapped my 01' 5spd for an 04. 5 6spd and let me be the 11th person to tell you I LOVED IT!!! Unfortunately after 3 repaints and 49 days out of service DC got that one back #@$%! .

 

[EBottema]

I will have to disagree. The 03 and early 04 will be the best 3rd gens produced, see what DP said above about them. I would stay away from an 05 and look for a good used 04 or 03. Why are you looking to dump the 01? I doubt dodge will ever offer the 456 gears in a CTD truck, i have no idea why they dont have it as an option. Maybe they are just dumb, yep thats it.

 

[JRhinehart]

My '04 305/555 is great, but the leather seats are not nearly as comfortable as my 2K Ram, but I love the power, quietness, and no vibrations I can find! Just got back from a 5600 mile trip towing 11K enclosed and loved it!

 

[DPKetchum]

4. 56 gears are too low for diesel in our trucks unless rock crawling.

 

[Truckie]

Why are you looking to dump the 01? I doubt dodge will ever offer the 456 gears in a CTD truck, i have no idea why they dont have it as an option. Maybe they are just dumb, yep thats it.

IM not really looking to dump the 01 IM going to keep it, well sorta. I am going to give it to my brother to use, and then probably see about building his 95 12 vavler, while I get a new one or newer one. I don't think I will ever get rid of the 01 its the last year that Dodge made a real sounding diesel. I intend to keep it forever. It sure would be nice if the Power Wagon came with the diesel in it. To tell ya the truth IM thinking real hard on the Power Wagon, IM going out this evening to look at one tonight. Don't know how hard it will be on fuel. But if there is a nice looking diesel there I may be coming home in that. I will let ya know how it goes.

 

[tazzen]

Mike,



If you get a new one. you better stop by here so i can see it. and drive it. and and and. :-laf :-laf



ed

 

[tschwab]

I will have to disagree. The 03 and early 04 will be the best 3rd gens produced, see what DP said above about them. I would stay away from an 05 and look for a good used 04 or 03. Why are you looking to dump the 01? I doubt dodge will ever offer the 456 gears in a CTD truck, i have no idea why they dont have it as an option. Maybe they are just dumb, yep thats it.

Truckie, You will soon learn to IGNORE ebotema as most TDR members do. He gets his jollies by trashing "newer trucks" as according to him, his old 12v is the greatest truck ever.



I have an '05, dad has an '03, one uncle has an '04 and the other uncle has an '04. 5. ALL very nice trucks, now - the '03 and early '04 have no CAT or third injection cycle, my '05 runs as strong if not stronger than the rest, fuel economy is very close and the '05 has more refinments that the others don't, i. e. - 48RE changes for better towing, bigger inter-cooler vs '03 & '04, most torque, no vibe, polished aluminum wheels, changes to the turbo, the list goes on. The earlier 3G trucks are fine and the '05 is IMHO the best of the 3G group, yep, I'm biased, but it is also common sense that as the 3G matures, refinements continue to be made and this is certainley the case with the '05 M. Y.

 

[EBottema]

Truckie, You will soon learn to IGNORE ebotema as most TDR members do. He gets his jollies by trashing "newer trucks" as according to him, his old 12v is the greatest truck ever.



I have an '05, dad has an '03, one uncle has an '04 and the other uncle has an '04. 5. ALL very nice trucks, now - the '03 and early '04 have no CAT or third injection cycle, my '05 runs as strong if not stronger than the rest, fuel economy is very close and the '05 has more refinments that the others don't, i. e. - 48RE changes for better towing, bigger inter-cooler vs '03 & '04, most torque, no vibe, polished aluminum wheels, changes to the turbo, the list goes on. The earlier 3G trucks are fine and the '05 is IMHO the best of the 3G group, yep, I'm biased, but it is also common sense that as the 3G matures, refinements continue to be made and this is certainley the case with the '05 M. Y.

Wonderful one of the rodent bunch has turned this into a flame session. Most TDR members ignore me?? Hmm, the rodent bunch does but i have been praised by a few and most do not have a problem with me. I get jollies at bashing newer trucks? Hmm, prove that please. Nothing wrong with the new trucks other than the G56 and the electronic rats nest. No wonder the rodent bunch doesnt like me, they feel like im going to take away their nest :-laf



03/04 is much better than an 05, hmm lets see the reason why the 05 is not superior to the the early 3rd gen, multi stage injection, in tank fuel pump, catalytic converter, g56 trans, the list goes on. Plastic intercooler tanks.



What a jokester, "the 05 is better than an 03 IMHO", well duh, your honestly going to say that something is better than yours? Surrre. All those positive 05 things you listed are non existant since the dodge transmission is still trash from day 1.



And your argument that i think my truck is perfect, well it is not. The 3rd gen offers many things i wish my truck had like better brakes.



I don't own a 3rd gen and if i had a 03 and 05 in front of me, brand new zero miles on each, give me the 03 hands down. Now, i don't own either, so guess what, im not biased like tSchwab...



Erik

 

[Truckie]

So these 04 and 05 got a pretty sound fuel system in them? No need to do a FASS or any other fuel mod? What is the easiest HP mod to make with these 3rd gens?

I was looking at some 05 tonight because the dealer I went to did not have the Power Wagon like they said when I got there so I started to look at another diesel. Keep the info rolling in please.

Thanks.



Mike

 

[tschwab]

Mike, the '05's have the fuel pump "in the tank" which is new, so far, I have not heard of any problems with this set-up. I personally would not BOMB a 3G, the tolerances are much tighter than 12V and 24V 2G's, and it seems those who BOMB the 3G's are the ones having trouble. I think the use of a good fuel additive is cheap insurance. I would keep it stock, hey, its got 325/610 from the factory which is plenty. If you are looking at an auto, I happen to believe the 48RE is a very solid transmission, yes there are those who disagree, but it works great for me as a tow vehicle. If your going 6spd, the g56 is pretty new and they were on hold for a short time, which has been resolved (they came from the factory low on fluid - see one of the many threads on this). The g56 "seems" to be pretty solid from the few that have them, I'm sure we will hear much more in the near future.