Time to buy a new rig?

[San Felipe Bob]

Looking for a 2007. 5 or 2008 3500 laramie with front bench mega cab single wheel 4x4. . loaded

The wife will use it around town to haul the boys and we will tow the trailer once or twice a month.

1) Where's a good place to buy in California?



2) Should we wait till 09?



3) 4. 10 gears or the 3. 73 for towing 14k toy box trailer (not a 5'er).



What else should we look for and or need on the new rig?



Thanks

SFB

 

[foolkiller]

since you put a question mark behind your subject line and i envy those with clean 12valves... ...



have you considered just dumping some duckets on your truck to make it what you want? if it still looks like it does in your gallery i say it's worth it..... nice truck! considering the cost of a new truck, you could make yours really REALLY nice for a lot less. and you'd still have a 12ver.



just a thought, jeff

 

[wcjp]

Stick or Auto? On my 06' with stick, rear gears are 3. 73 only. DVD would be nice for the boys. My wife is vertically challenged. Nerf bars were a must. Recommend upgrading the factory hitch. Torklift now has the Magnum SuperHitch. Also added an IPD (now Roadmaster) rear sway bar and Pacbrake airbags.



Bought my some of my Torklift stuff from: eBay Store - TORKLIFT: SUPERHITCH, ROADMASTER, TOWBAR



Also, I'm pretty sure your 97' is not rated to pull your 14k toyhauler. The new Mega should handle it no problem.

 

[greyghost]

To buy or ....

Bob,

I was kind of in the same boat. I chose to buy new, just brought home the new rig yesterday. I was watching the used truck markets for the last couple of months and it made more sense to by new. However I would watch the used and new markets closely. Dodge and Chevy have stop building truck so the 09 inventory maybe a little limited once they start showing up at the dealers. The old supply and demand thing. I had two trucks bought out from under me since I was taking my time here in CO. Not sure how your truck markets are in CA. Hope it helps.



Garrett

 

[San Felipe Bob]

Southern Cal

I have 4 or 5 to choose from that are fully loaded.



I have found 3 3500's

and 3 2500's



Out of those I have found 1 3500 with the 4. 10's best for towing?

And 2 2500's with 4. 10s ( I figure the 2500 will be ok towing the 14k with the 4. 10's)



SFB

 

[San Felipe Bob]

sell my 12 ?

um no way !

we are gonna my wifes Avalance in .

at 12k trade in value it's worth twice my 97 with 300k on the odo.



We'll be a Cummins family all the way!

 

[WKruger]

Stay away from the 6. 7 if it's only going to see a trailer once or twice a month. Stick w/ the tried and true 5. 9L for the grocery getting and round town driving.

 

[Motorhead]

Stay away from the 6. 7 if it's only going to see a trailer once or twice a month. Stick w/ the tried and true 5. 9L for the grocery getting and round town driving.

I SECOND Kruger!!! Read the 6. 7 column on our site. Read ALL about the programing issues and check light issues. My '07 was built in Dec. 16,'06. I got the 5. 9 with the 6. 7 ratio'd G56. I wouldn't trade mine for a 6. 7... . even if they threw in $$$$$! My $0. 02

 

[JDiepstra]

SanFilepe, I have found that my 4. 10's will tow anything but fuel mileage SUFFERS! If it is going to be mostly a grocery getter, and just towing a couple times I month you may want the 3. 73's. Is your towing flat or "hilly"? If you plan on getting bigger than stock tires, you may want the 4. 10's. Hard to say. But I can tell you this, my mileage with 4. 10's it about 15 mpg. That's not good!

 

[1smoknC]

For what its worth, I would stick with a 5. 9 also. Reasons being its a bigger motor with all the EPA garbage on it. Its just not the simplicity of the 5. 9

 

[Forrest Nearing]

let's see... 6. 7 that gets poor fuel economy, has more questionable reliability, etc. for $35k??



or get an earlier 5. 9 4rd gen for $14-18k...



hmm

 

[San Felipe Bob]

6 speed auto

I would get a 5. 9 in a second... if I could get a 6 speed trans with it.

Oh yeah and the factory exhaust brake too.



And it has to be a Mega cab.



Thanks for all the replies.

So far it's lookin like the 3. 73's are our best fit.

White or Silver.



Any more thoughts?



I'm keeping my 12 valve CC long bed Oo.



SFB

 

[Grizzly]

Give Dave Smith's Dodge in Kellogg. Idaho a call. They'll give you a much better price. You fly Southwest to Spokane, they pick you up. Well worth the trip.

 

[1smoknC]

I think either way you go, white or silver it will look sweet. tint the windows and put a leveling kit on it and your in business

 

[Bob4x4]

The 6. 7 will not fare so well in city driving... ... ... . good luck



Bob

 

[Grizzly]

Looking for a 2007. 5 or 2008 3500 laramie with front bench mega cab single wheel 4x4. . loaded

The wife will use it around town to haul the boys and we will tow the trailer once or twice a month.

1) Where's a good place to buy in California?

2) Should we wait till 09?

3) 4. 10 gears or the 3. 73 for towing 14k toy box trailer (not a 5'er).

What else should we look for and or need on the new rig?

Thanks

SFB

What size trailer do you tow and how far? Also how far and how much is your wife playing soccer mom? That should be the determining factor whether you get a 6. 7 or look for a used 5. 9.

 

[swhalen]

Motorhead:

what is difference between G56 ratios in the late 5. 9s vs the 6. 7? also, what is the manufacture date on the 5. 9's for the new ratios? i am considering a leftover 07 5. 9 but hesitate to jump from my second gen. this info could influence the decision. thanks, steve whalen

 

[Motorhead]

Motorhead:
what is difference between G56 ratios in the late 5. 9s vs the 6. 7? also, what is the manufacture date on the 5. 9's for the new ratios? i am considering a leftover 07 5. 9 but hesitate to jump from my second gen. this info could influence the decision. thanks, steve whalen

It is the same trans and ratios. It gives you a . 72, 6th as opposed to a . 79 that the earlier G56's had. The other ratios are different also. It basically gives you about 4-5 mph more at the same RPM in 6th. You need to find an '07, 5. 9 truck that was made from mid November to December 2006. Also you have to confirm by looking at the trans tag for "AE" after the numbers. The "AE" isn't on the METAL tag on the trans but on a white adhesive tag with a bar code. See the picture supplied to me by another TDR member.

I also jumped from a second gen and I have never looked back! I loved my '01. 5 but the '07 is alot nicer in my book.



#ad
<!-- END TEMPLATE: postbit_attachmentimage -->

 

[San Felipe Bob]

Auto

We have to have an Automatic transmission.

Which means 6 speed 6. 7 2008.

I love my 5. 9 1997 !!

Thats why the 6. 7 will be the wifes kid hauler...

SFB

 

[Grizzly]

Teach her to drive a standard. My wife can handle my 6 speed NV5600 with the greatest of ease. When towing the 5er or the (then) Lance camper, she drives about half the time.