2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission What do you like about your 2nd generation truck, compared to the 3rd?

[rrausch]

I also think the 94-02 Dodge Cummins will be collector's items. The 2nd Gens were the first pick-ups to adopt that "big rig look", and they got it right the first time IMO. The styling seems like a no-brainer now, but at the time it was a radical thing to do. I remember seeing them back in '94 and thinking they were ugly!! True! Luckily I later saw the light!



Oh... did I mention my 2nd Gen is PAID FOR!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"Although I consider this thread somewhat retaliatory, I figure if its OK for you to post on the 3rd gen thread, it's OK for me to post on this one!"



Absolutely!



My primary reason for this thread is to allow/motivate the MANY owners and members here to air their views on what is STILL the most owned generation on this board!



Too often on other similar boards, and to a degree on THIS one, we see owners make the switch to the "latest and greatest", and then immediately start kicking dirt in the faces of owners of the older stuff THEY are still quite satisfied and proud of - after all, the original version of this thread STARTED over in the 3rd genny forum.



*I* like to read stuff over there too - but really don't need to be made to feel inferior or faintly insulted in doing so! Guys with the latest stuff deserve to be proud of what they have, but need not be insensitive towards their buds who still have reason to choose to "suffer along" with the previous generation stuff - after all, those owners of newer models were once owners of the older stuff too, and were understandably proud of it - have they forgotten why?



It's not uncommon as each new year's models arrive, we gain a few things, and lose a few - the point here is to remind ourselves, as owners of the older version, of those neat characteristics and features still present on our "older" versions - and be proud of them...



After all, SOME of us don't own the older stuff because we HAVE to - but because we PREFER to!

 

[DPelletier]

I agree,

be proud!

To be fair, I don't think Ken started the original thread to "kick dirt" in anyone's face, but I agree, some of the posts were inflamatory. I do believe that the 2nd gen trucks have some advantages (see my previous post), but I also think that some people make up advantages, overinflate advantages or rely on purely subjective arguements and this happens on BOTH threads. I do enjoy reading the posts that seem to fairly compare the two.

How's about a 1st gen vs. 2nd gen thread!



Dave

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"How's about a 1st gen vs. 2nd gen thread!'



I've gotten into a few of those as well - some 2nd generation owners occasionally got a bit overenthused about their trucks compared to the 1st gennie stuff - and even tho' by then I had also switched to the 2nd generation I now own, I make NO secret that I have a VERY soft spot in my heart for the total reliability, simplicity and dependability of my '91. I drove that truck for 11 years and 120,000 miles - mostly towing - and other than normal replacement items like batteries and tires, spent a grand total of $12 in failed parts - a voltage regulator!



$1 or so a year for repairs ain't BAD!



I'd LOVE to see ANY 2nd or 3rd generation truck match that, including my own - and you can dern sure BET, *I* will not stand idly by if any want to downgrade the 1st generation stuff - if it wasn't for THEIR excellence compared to the competition at the time, the later stuff we now enjoy wouldn't even BE here!

 

[DPelletier]

In '93 I wanted a new 1st gen so bad I could taste it, but I couldn't swing it. I did manage to convince 4 friends to buy one, and they all held up great. Too bad about that voltage regulator, though!



Dave

 

[nfox]

2nd to 3rd gen

What ever you want to call the 3gen supposedly four door sucks and so do the seats, i just wanted to clarify my POINT!! They are like sitting on a board. Oo.

 

[DPelletier]

nfox,

Just to clarify my point, if the 3rd gen QC sucks, the 2nd gen QC sucks worse!



As far as the seats go, I have to admit that I'm very confused about the issue. My Premium Cloth 3rd gen (pwr driver seat w. lumbar) is more comfy than my 2001. 5 with premium cloth. I've heard that the Laramie leather seats are shorter, maybe they're not as comfortable or maybe it has something to do with fitting people differently? I dunno. I would have no problem admitting that my '01 seats were better, but they aren't (at least for me). I've heard this several times, so I know people aren't making it up. Drove 22 hrs straight in mine from Kelowna, B. C. to Las Vegas and life was good. FWIW I'm about 5'11" tall and 185 lbs.



Cheers,

Dave

 

[DWendt]

Have both a 2nd gen ( 02) & a 3rd gen (03). Prefer the seats in the 02', fit me better, 03' feels like sitting on a board & I have power seats & still can't get comfortable. @nd gen sounds better, maybe due to aftermarket exhaust, bigger injectors ect, just can't get the 03' to sound as "tough". 3rd shifts cleaner. All in all I would have prefered another 2nd gen but wife wanted a 3rd gen. Both trucks are work trucks and we put about 80,000 - 90,000 miles on each per year. Both are holding up better than any Furd or Cheby.

Derek

 

[nfox]

3rd gen seats

Try being 6'6" and weigh 325 lbs and then try out those nice 3rd gen seats. Thats why so many people are putting in aftermarket seats in there new 3rd gen dodges. Oo.

 

[Tcolesanti]

Just giving my opinion here but I drove a new '04. 5 with a six speed. Got a truck off the lot as close to mine as I could possibly get. I noticed quite a few differences. I liked: the steering, the shifting and the overall ride. I did'nt like the plushness of the ride-(got to thinking what will happen when I load this thing down?), The seats were cloth and mine are leather, but I did'nt like the seats. I definatly did not like the axle selection underneath it and I don't like how they don't offer 3. 54's anymore. I don't like the dash set up either. I think if you put a leveling kit in the new 3rd gen's with a set of 35"s they look great though. One thing I will say is I don't like how they got rid of the suicide door QC. I rarely put people back there and have no real use for four full doors, especially to gain more wheelbase for nothing. Just my $0. 02.

 

[Joe Pool]

I prefer the body style of my '02 over the 3rd gens. The 2nd gens hit the styling right on the nose, then they went and screwed it up with the 3rd gens ( general proportions not as smoothh ). This is the reason that I bought my '02 as soon as I saw the new ugly '03s.

I also prefer to hear the Cummins -- the new ones are too quiet. I bought my Duramax for quiet travel.

This is just my $. 02 worth.



Not trying to offend 3rd gen owners -- I just don't like the new styling!!



Joe

 

[RustyJC]

Like Gary, I intentionally ordered my 2002 as the last year of a proven design, and I couldn't be more satisfied. It has great 4 wheel disc brakes, no steering issues (it's a 2WD), comfortable front seats, and has been absolutely bulletproof so far - it's never been back to the dealer, has had zero warranty issues and the original lift pump is still putting out 16+ PSIG at idle!



Styling, as others have said, is purely a subjective issue. To me, the 2nd generation trucks represent the pure design. The 3rd generation truck styling is derivative - "We have to update it so it looks different, so change something!" I've heard it said that the 3rd generation trucks look like a 2nd generation that someone stuck an air hose up the tailpipe and inflated the whole truck!



Yes, I'd like a roomier back seat (like a Ford crew cab!), factory satellite radio with nav system (we're RVers!) and some of the other 3rd generation niceties, but I'm perfectly happy with my noisy, smoky, stinky, clattering old 2nd generation truck. Besides, I couldn't handle the power reduction if I bought a 3rd generation truck!



Rusty

 

[rweis]

I like the 2nd gen for same reasons as RustyJC.



When I changed the injectors it was sure nice being able to reach #6 reasonably easily (with a crow foot wrench)



Last of a GREAT line.



Bob Weis

 

[Un-Hemi]

I've heard that the 3rd-gen injectors kick up some radio-frequency noise. Is this true, Gary? If so, as a radio guy, I'm grateful for my mechanical injectors!



The 2nd-gen non-sport headlights can be (and should be) changed out to sport-style dual-lamp units. With the 3rd-gens yer stuck with what DC gave ya (notwithstanding add-on lighting, which can be added to the 2nd-gen as well).



I prefer the 2nd-gen instrument cluster. It's less obtrusive.



My 2nd-gen is also paid for. As much as I'd appreciate the quietness of the 3rd-gens, and the additional legroom in the rear, I am satisfied with my '99. Passengers just talk louder to be heard over the Cummins. Fortunately, my hearing was poor long before I acquired this truck. Just ask my wife!



If the 3rd-gen had looked more like the Power Wagon concept truck... . well.....



However! If the 3rd-gen is such a loser, then why are there so many of them on the roads around here??!

 

[C Schomer]

I've driven a couple of 03s and the DBa, brakes and handling are great but I didn't like the high hood hump or seats. I've done so much to my 97 for power and made it so 5er friendly, the 3Gs aren't even close to making me want to start over again! Craig

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

No one would intelligently claim the 3rd generation trucks are "losers", nor is that the intended point of this thread - merely attempting to point up the excellent points of the 2nd generation stuff that motivated some of us to buy/keep them instead of going for the newer stuff - nor is any of this a slam at the new trucks or their owners - we respect THEIR choice, just as we expect them to respect OURS!



As to RF hash in the newer trucks, I have no idea - haven't yet heard from any trying to use mobile radio in one, but that IS a very positive point in my '02, it is absolutely dead-quiet on HF/VHF/UHF. It *is* pretty common in the Fords for pretty high RF hash with their newer fuel supply system, dunno about GM or the latest DC stuff...

 

[Cummins Pilot]

I'm not sure if somone has already mentioned this but I don't like the wheel well cut outs on the 3rd Gens. It looks like it was cut with a sawzall. Its round but there is no sheet metal styling around it. Most every vehicle out there has some sort of sheet metal form around the wheel well.



There just flat.



I'm a tall guy but the hood slopes away to soon for me. I know it makes it easier to see over it but it seems weird. But then again I thought the 2nd gens were weird coming from behind the hood of a Ford.



Also the A pillars are to shallow sloping causing a bigger blind spot. The 2nd gens aren't much better. Again, used to a Ford (94 PSD F-250).

 

[kshimizu]

I like the styling of my 2nd generation compared to the 3rd generation I had for a few weeks. The windshield in the 3rd generation was at a different angle and everyone that rode in it said it felt like you were in a bubble.



My 2nd generation front seats are more comfortable



Even though it's a shortbed, the 2nd generation is a few inches longer and I'm able to spin my gooseneck trailer at a 90 degree angle. Those few inches also give me the extra room to carry our Rhino, it wouldn't fit in the 04 shortbed.



Tighter turning radius with my 02 than the 04.



My 02 sport lights were like night/day compared to the 04.



Better MPG than what most people seem to be getting. I guess I lucked out with the 04 I had getting 20+ mpg from day one.



I'm keeping my 02 forever, but we'll probably get a 3rd generation one of these days. Hopefully when they make they make a fullsize four door model.

 

[cumminspwr01]

Like pretty much everyone I think the second gens look better, I love the Dana 80 rear although the 3rd gens do come with the 3:73 ratio which I would prefer but the price difference is one of the biggest differences. I paid just under $31,000 for my truck and the 3rd gens at the same dealership I got my truck from have them at $48,000. If I had to buy another truck it would no doubt be a second generation.

 

[SpicyJam]

I like the looks of the 3rd gens also, I prefer my '01 though for many of the same reasons listed. I also like having mine paid for. I have drove, and have friends with Gen 3's, for me I do not like the dash, nor can here the Cummins purr like in my Gen 2. Seems like Dodge does a design change every 4 to 5 years, so I am waiting to see what they could entail, I hope the dash changes.



As far as a "true crew cab" I doubt you will see that. From what I have been taught about cost savings is that the Rams, and Dakotas are short on purpose. DC does this to keep cost down so they can remain competitive in the truck world. I am 6'3" and I can sit in the back of my Gen2 fine, with the seat up of course. As well I am just as comfortable with my seat way forward to drive. Trust me I know I did a trip from WI to Idaho and back with 4 adults.