What Should I Recommend

[crispyboy]

For an emissions intact vehicle stay away from 2007.5 thru 2012 - problem child. Go older or better yet newer as others have said. From my readings of these forums trucks 2015 and newer had most of the bugs figured out.

 

[slowmover]

Sold my 05 for an 18 and I can honestly say I wouldn’t go back. Better in every aspect, and that 05 was a fantastic trucks… likely still is.

If I were shopping for a used Cummins it would be a 13+ HO 3500, preferably 15-18. DEF is your friend with intact emissions on a 6.7.

The rest of the complications of “newer” turn me off. It’ll not be more reliable long term despite better engine performance. There are that many more weak points that’ll develop over time.

“Old” is its own set of problems, granted. So HOW old is the question for the buyer.

The six speed Auto (as with 4-whl discs after 2001) is a good marker for: this old, but no older.

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[AH64ID]

Yes and no, the weak point on your 04 is the same as the new trucks... injectors.

The emissions doesn't bother me a bit, and is actually preferred over what the 05 had. Use the truck with the correct duty cycle and the emissions will last a long time.

The cab electronics are another story, but the cab is one of the new things that makes the truck more user friendly. A 14 hour day in the 18 is easier than a 8 hour day in the 05, and that's hard to put a price on.