Trade in my 2001 ETH/DEE truck for a 2006?

[Nickaru]

I'm thinking about trading in my 2001 ETH/DEE (NV5600- 6spd) for a 2006 3500. It was going to be hands down, a manual 6 speed again, but the laziness in me is settling in for an automatic.



I've been doing the searches on here and I see the 48RE seems very troublesome and the new G56 manual has it's problems with the dual mass clutch. I give up!



What should I do? Keep the 2001? It's been good to me, but we need the true 4 doors with more room in the back and a short bed mega-cab won't work for me towing a 15K 5th wheel with a sliding hitch.



Anything else I should know about the 2006 model year?



Thanks for any input you may have.

 

[macdaddy]

I would go for an earlier 05 with a 56 honey if I were you. You could look for an 04. 5 with a NV5600 as well if you dont mind upgrading the fuel transfer system.



I believe the trucks built in the fall 04 was about the time the G56 made its debut. The build date on my 05 was Aug 04, and shes has a 56honey working it's little heart off under there.



Mac

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

I have an '06 and I also had an 02 eth, my 06 has been a piece of crap, some around here will probably say how great their '06 has been but they must be soccer dads, I use my truck and the 4x4, nothing abusive. honestly the '02 was a much better truck it had alot fewer problems and was more reliable. I have spent 6 grand in repairs getting my truck to 87000 miles the 02 had 2 problems that were fixed under warranty.

the front ends on the 3rd gens while they handle much much better are weak the ball joints suck, the ujoints are cheap and terrible, every damn u joint on my truck has been toast by 70k, I also just fixed a radiator pin hole, I think the shroud rubbed a hole in it. another $300 bucks ****** away. I had a rooster comb and check ball problem that caused the truck to be very hard to get out of park, again more money to fix. the 48re is a good trans for the most part. you also don't see all that many complaints on here about them. I tow a trailer all the time and my 48re is still going strong at 87k miles. however I did have the rooster comb problem and I would not have had that with a 6 speed. Another issue is the interior on the '06 and up models SUCKS!!!!!!!! the seats are made out of cheap material that one would think is more fitting for the base ST model, it stains looks cheap and is not fitting for a truck of this value. also the hard plastic they used on the doors, dash etc, scratches very very easily, you can scratch it with your fingernail. I saw a guys ford the other day, and good lord the dodge sure is outclassed in the interior dept.

another thing that sucks about the '06 models is the 3rd injection event, this runs raw extra fuel through the system to keep the cat hot, YOU ARE WASTING FUEL!! as a result you will be getting at least 10% less fuel mileage than an early 04 or 03 model.

I change my oil on the 06 about every 7-8k during that time without fail there is something else that needs to be fixed on the truck. yesterday I walked out and saw a bunch of oil on the ground, looks like something else to fix, some say I am hard on my truck, but my response is I use the truck the same as the 02 and it ran fine.

in summary the rear seat space of the 3rd gens is ideal, plan on replacing ball joints. I would get an 03 or early '04 with the 305hp motor get a 6 speed. low miles these are hard to find and these days the sellers really want a ton of money for them. for a truck with less than 60k on it. its going to cost at least 22 grand. there really isn't much price difference for 05 and 06 models with similar mileage. so the sellers must agree they have a superior truck to the later models.

 

[Barry]

I am the other side of the fence.



My '06 left the dealership Thursday and went to work Monday. (Needed to rig truck)



One A/C compressor(110K) and a clutch(140K)(I installed a Perfection Clutch Kit with single piece flywheel)



Truck now has 155K and climbing. She earns her keep!!!



If I were looking for another truck, and had the opportunity, finding an '03 or early '04 with the 305 HP engine would be a score. No Catholic converter. Less pollution equipment, last of the clean engines. Snap an Edge EZ on that little sweetheart and go. My '03 would run circles around my 04. 5 and getting better fuel mileage doing it!!



mi dos centavos... ... ... .

 

[mickeyblueyes]

Boyz take a look at the classifieds I have a 03 qc 4x4 6 speed w/50,000 miles for sale

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

Boyz take a look at the classifieds I have a 03 qc 4x4 6 speed w/50,000 miles for sale

the owner prolly wants 25k plus it has 4:10 gears, that is the wrong gear for our trucks.

 

[mickeyblueyes]

Its says best offer. Where does it say $25,000. I will most likely take $18,000. But not from you.
And if you are going to tow a 5th wheel or a Camper, and or put larger tires on it. 4:10 gears are what you want. I know its a difficult concept to grasp.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

18 is a pretty darn good price, I think its worth that, I didn't mean to put down your truck I am the one saying those vintage are the ones to have, if I were you I would keep it, because you are not going to get a new one that will be as good a truck. I still have my gear preferences and adding a smarty should allow pulling anything at highway speeds in 6th even over fairly large grades. in any event an nv5600 and an early common rail motor is about as good as it gets.

 

[Mishkaya]

I have an '01 six speed, as well as an '05 six speed (G56), and I can tell you that other than the creature comforts of the '05, I prefer the '01 hands down. The '05 has lost at least a dozen injectors to date (it has about 125k now), and has had more issues than I care to list. Haven't even lost a VP44 yet on the '01...

I won't even go in to the ball joint issues on the '05... They are nicer in many ways but it seems to me that each generation becomes less reliable than the previous one. Maybe it's just me.

 

[DPashko]

I have an '01 six speed, as well as an '05 six speed (G56), and I can tell you that other than the creature comforts of the '05, I prefer the '01 hands down. The '05 has lost at least a dozen injectors to date (it has about 125k now), and has had more issues than I care to list. Haven't even lost a VP44 yet on the '01...

I won't even go in to the ball joint issues on the '05... They are nicer in many ways but it seems to me that each generation becomes less reliable than the previous one. Maybe it's just me.

Im with Mishkaya. stick with the 01! I had tons of injector problems (4 sets) hence why i have a 12V in the 03 now, and replaced my front end 4 times. I had an early 01 with drum brakes on the rear and it was an awesome truck no vp44 problems but had 3 lift pumps go the newer ones do ride a bit nicer but alot cheaper to maintain! And I still love to drive my 97 alot!!

 

[retirednak]

I love my '03,I sometimes wish I hadn't got the 250 horse engine. I finally got a Smarty and fell back in love with my truck. I have 100K miles and just now have to do ball joints. Its been trouble free other then a couple minor things the warranty covered. I know the transmission is getting tired and people have complained about the 47 and 48 series,but mine has held up well with regular fluid and adjustments. All though with the Smarty turned up the transmission does act up. (wonder why) The leather and plastic have help up well,but the foam seating cushion does need to be replaced. My kids have enjoyed the extra room in back and I'm glad I know longer have the extended cab pickup I replaced. If I were to buy another truck,it would be another

'03 or '04 with the automatic. I'm a retired OTR truck driver and have grown very tired of shifting.