So how are they????

[Elk]

They are awsome I have had a 91,93,97, and the 03 is by far the best just don't tell my wife since she now drives the 97.

 

[rkennedy1]

so how are they

I bought a 2003 SO and I am very very disapointed in the performance. I have a 4800 lb camper and it kicks out of overdrive at the very slightest grade. Its been in the shop 6 times for no power and they can't find anything wrong. The Chrysler engineer had the truck this week and still can't find what is wrong. Per service bulletin 18-015-03 they reloaded the software and I had less power. The Bulletin was to get more power.

In NC the lemon law kicks in after 4 tries to fix. I guess that's my next step.

 

[Dean Upson]

Re: so how are they

Originally posted by rkennedy1

I bought a 2003 SO and I am very very disapointed in the performance. I have a 4800 lb camper and it kicks out of overdrive at the very slightest grade. Its been in the shop 6 times for no power and they can't find anything wrong. The Chrysler engineer had the truck this week and still can't find what is wrong. Per service bulletin 18-015-03 they reloaded the software and I had less power. The Bulletin was to get more power.

In NC the lemon law kicks in after 4 tries to fix. I guess that's my next step.

I think I would have been disappointed in an '03 SO auto as well



Dean

 

[DPelletier]

rkennedy1,

You have basically the same drivetrain I had in my '01. 5. It wouldn't pull a slight grade in OD, empty. My new truck rocks and can haul a load uphill in OD that the SO couldn't do empty. The OD ratio in the autos (47RE's anyway) is more of a jump than on the manual's. Makes the problem even worse. I learned my lesson this time and bought what I should have the first time, a HO, six speed. In all fairness, I didn't get to try a HO with the 48RE, but I knew I wanted the NV-5600 no matter what.

If you can get DC or the Dealer to do anything for you, I suggest getting the HO, if not and its really bothering you, then you may want to just add some goodies for more power. Downside: probably kissing your warranty goodbye.



good luck

Dave

 

[DocDetonancour]

96 5 speed to 48re

Really like my new auto 04. I can't think of anything the 96 did as well and I thought it was a great truck. You won't be sorry, IMO. Doc

 

[KBennett]

rkennedy1, I did not like the 2003 SO auto I had either. I decided to go auto after three sticks in a row.



Traded it for the truck I have now(see below) and love it. I can't recommend stick or auto because I am really biased after this experience.



There is a guy in town with a 2003 Ford PS that just got a 2004 HO 48RE for his wife (did not go Ford due to the 6. 0 problems). He has bombed the PS extensively... turbo, injectors, chip, trans, lift, tires, etc. I saw him the other day and he is very impressed with his Dodge. , probably to the point that he may trade in the Ford

 

[Jengle]

See my sig for my ride. If something happened and I had to order another one with whatever I wanted on it, I would get the exact same truck again. That tells me, that I got the right one the first time around. This is my first Dodge and Diesel, and I now have 7k miles on it and love it more, the more I drive it.

 

[ttreibel]

I got an SO with 20K now, a stick however, and still smiling from ear to ear.



And wow how did this tread come back to life afetr a year collecting cobwebs.

 

[Hunter1]

Went from 1970 GMC to 1976 Chev to 1988 Ford to 2003 Dodge, SRW 3500 3. 73 with 6 speed, all the others were also 4x4



Best of all worlds, power like a muscle car!



Hunter1

 

[Pug59]

This might be like comparing apples to oranges since I went from a 95 1500 RAM 5. 2 gasser auto reg cab LB to a 03 2500 RAM CTD auto QC LB. I will say the power/throttle response is incredible. The brakes on this truck actually work. The 95 had rear-antolock brakes and I think it was only because they we not able to lock them!!! For a 2500, it has a firm but smooth ride. transmission is much better that the 45RE. that one would down shift if I hit a head wind on the interstate. I love the new truck. We use it to to an 8800 pound 27 ft. travel trailer and it pulls the few hills in western Md. mostly in OD. When it does downshift, I stays in 3rd and the only thing limiting me to 67 mph is that I am approaching the redline. I have the 4. 10 gears.