Those that upgraded from 2nd gen

[Batman]

Contemplating selling my 01 and buying an 04 4x4 dually (HO/6sp)



Those that have upgraded... ... .



Are you happy with the changes?



Which do you prefer and why?



Just wondering how everyone else feels.



TIA for any discussions on this.

George

 

[daytripper63]

I would never go back!

I like my 03 more and more everytime I get in it...

 

[lmills]

I agree. I miss my 01, but love the 03. I don't regret my decision at all

 

[SRadke]

I sold my 96 for this 03 and I wish I had it back. Don't get me wrong I love the 03 and don't plan to give it up but if I had both then I wouldn't feel so bad about spending so much bomb money on a brand new truck.



-Scott

 

[curatchko]

Take one for a ride and I'll guarantee you'll be signing the papers.



Night and day on the chassis, steering, handling and interior fit and finish. They did a great job on these 3rd gen's.



I still can't get over how well this thing handles and steers... Wouldn't go back!



The quiet engine is nice too... . I had my 99 bomb'd and it was loud, and I liked it loud, but now that I have a quiet one... . it's growing on me.



Chris

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Massdiesel's

Hey George remember that $**** eating grin I had on my face after driving Mopar's Ram? That's kinda what I think about my '03 upgrade



I had a 2001 before and I'm definitely more pleased with this one. No regrets here!



Vaughn

 

[DPelletier]

I'm also very happy. I have to admit that some of that is the change to the HO six speed and dually. But as far as the 3rd Gen vs. 2nd Gen goes;

- the interior is much nicer, especially the Quad Cab. No comparison in the back seats. Having the doors open without having to open the front doors and having full opening rear windows are big bonuses.

- truck seems to steer better

- motor is quieter and although I was concerned about that at first (love the cummins sound!), I have come to appreciate being able to go through a drive through without shutting down the engine. Warming up the truck doesn't disturb the neibors or the sleeping kids as much and the new truck has retained the throaty sound I like.

- I like the idea of not having to worry about lift pumps.

Dave



ps. I still love the 2nd Gens too!

 

[bighammer]

I really love my 03, but I still enjoy running my 94.



I really like (on the 03) the:



BRAKES

Quiet (I know, I contradict myself below)

Back seat with independent doors

Interior

Styling (it's grown on me)





I miss (on the 94) the:



The noise (classic 12 valve music)

Front axle un-lock (for 2lo)

Mechanical simplicity (without a computer controlling everything)

Behind-the-seat storage (maybe reg cab 3rd gens have it?)

Wide choice of tires (not many 17" yet)

Fuel economy

Inexpensive BOMBing





If I HAD to get rid of one of them, it would probably be the 94 just because the new one has the back seat. If I had to choose between equally equiped similar condition trucks, I would probably pick a 12 valve.



JMHO of course

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The posts above are a good summary. I like the BRAKES--they are far superior to second gen; 4 doors--way way nice, overall a very nice ride, smooth, firm/good steering and handling. Y'all know I hate those StarTrek borg connections and get this almost irresistable urge to hack off thick wiring harnesses with a hatchet But I'm getting used to the sea of electrons and I have to admit the Cummins stuff is very reliable and the engine runs smoothly and almost like the old P-pump kind of control from the foot to the result. The frame, 6 speed, etc. are all nice features coming from the 97.



Yeah, I still like the violence and noise of my 97, but there are lots of times when [censored] hp is enough and a smooth quiet ride is good.

 

[boonsur]

I miss it......

... ... like I would a Chevy!!!



Once you see the light, you'll never go back. (Had a '99 QC/SB/SRW)

 

[JHardwick]

I had a '99 equiped similar to my '03, the ONLY thing I miss is the rattle of the Cummins and the fuel mileage.



I had and auto/3:55 as opposed to the 6spd/4:10, so had I orderd the 3:73, I'd have been better on mileage. Tires at the 1st change will help that.



As for the rattle ... ... ... ..... there isn't a sweeter sound



I actually envy the 2nd gen sitting next to me at lights etc etc, this truck will never sound like a Cummins (exhaust/rattle) in my mind.

 

[Boonieman]

I had an 01 and loved it. But I like this 03 even better. I agree with all the positive comments from the above posts. One other thing I like better that I hadn't seen mentioned yet is the limited slip on my 03 is WAY better that the 01. It feels like it actually works.

 

[SMorneau]

It seems, the 24 valve guys are not looking back but the 12 valve guys either wish they had kept them or still have them



I never figured I would sell my truck and now its not worth getting rid of. I'll just have to tough it out with my old clunker and maybe look forward to a 4th Gen

 

[Batman]

Thanks for the information guys.



Thats what I was thinking, but wanted to hear from owners first hand.



George

 

[Fireman]

Holy Turbo Diesel Batman !

Went from an '01 2500 auto to a '03 3500 drw 6 speed 14 months and 24,000 miles ago and still no regrets. There a few small things I don't like, electronic throttle control comes to mind, but overall this truck is superior to the '01 in almost every way.

LOVE IT
Fireman

 

[Batman]

Looks like I'm going to have to start finding people to buy all the mods I put into my 01



Maybe I'll have a shiney new Christmas toy

 

[Elk]

I am one of those 12 valve crowd that loved my 97 so much I kept it and it is my wifes daily driver, but like said above the 3rd gen brakes and steering are awsome. Also very nice to have doors in the back in 97 they had no doors for the back seat. Good luck on your new truck you will never regret it.

 

[y-knot]

I would not call it an "UP-GRADE". more like getting a new truck. I like the style and design of the 2nd generation ram, so for me getting a 3rd gen truck would be more of a down grade.

 

[gonzo2]

When I am inside driving, I definitely prefer the 3rd gen. The brakes, handling and overall tightness and feel are a step "up". I had an SO so there is a big improvement with the 6sp HO combo.



The interior, though possibly less attractive(minivan?), has features such as the load floor that I find really useful. My kids definitely prefer the new interior. The only negative is the seats (front) may not be as comfortable.



However, the new rig just doesn't have the overall look, sound and presence of the second gen and simply doesn't turn heads like I got used to. Might as well be driving a chevy in that department!

 

[Vatsa]

There are some real issues with the new trucks that you need to be aware of before you buy. Make an informed decision.



Allot of people say these trucks are quieter. This is only in reference to engine noise. The doors, windows, seals and insulation are all thinner or removed completely. There is so much wind noise from the doors that you can hardly even hear the radio as you drive. Sit in the drivers seat and push on the top part of the window and it will separate from the cab with hardly any pressure. Every time you hit a bump the doors separate from the cab and wind and noise come in. There are tons of posts about this, look them up.



The 4x4 dually long beds pull right BAD. Alignments, tire rotations do nothing to help. Drive the truck at hwy speeds and really look for it. Problem is that it does not seem to start happening until you get 500 to 1000 miles on it. There are tons of posts on this as well. This issue could possibly be tied with ball joint issues on the new Durango’s and there is a possible class action law suite forming. This is the worst thing about my new truck and I would never have bought another Dodge if I had known mine would do it. I put 75 miles on it test driving but it started about a week after I bought it.



There are real problems with vibrations and noise at 1900 to 2100 RPM's. About 70 mph is where it becomes real bad. This is very noticeable after you adjust to the fact that the engine is making allot less noise when driving. When you first drive the new ones you are over whelmed with how much quieter the engines are so it can be over looked. It really gets annoying the more you drive the new ones though. There are tons of posts about this issue as well.



The new seats are horrible, when compared to the 2001. They are thinner, with less padding. After a couple of weeks you will really notice the difference. Pay close attention to this while test driving. There are lots of posts about this issue as well.



The 4x4's get about 3-5 miles per gallon less then the 2x2's. I knew this going in but some people seem to not know so be aware. You will see posts about people getting 19-21 MPG just know that almost all of those trucks are 2x2's and not dually. I get 14-16 hwy not pulling and this seems to be real standard from posts that include what kinds of trucks people are actually driving.



The clutch and 6 spd. appear to be great. No change really from 2001. Automatics appear to be un-changed as well, which means you will be replacing it before 80,000 miles, if you pull.



My opinion:



The quality of the new trucks seems to be poor, especially when you compare them to 2001 models. All the metal, glass, seals, and insulation is thinner and cheaper. Open the hood of your 2001 and look at the under side of the hood. You will see insulation there. Open the hood of a 2003 or 2004 and you will find metal. This is pretty much the theme everywhere so be aware. The new ones are prettier but Dodge definitely cut quality corners everywhere.



The engine is much improved. It is quieter and more powerful. You can actually go through a drive through and order, without turning off the truck.



The cab has more room for 4 people. I wanted more room for my 2 kids and this provides it. These are not full size crew cabs though. Kids in the back are fine but full size adults are cramped.



My . 99.