2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Your 2nd Gen Cummins Status

[Ram4Sam]

94 bought new in dec 93,some hard miles,some easy,show and shines.drags,sled pulls,trailer towing and daily driver.down for a bit now too busy and hot to pull the trans for repair. Daily commuter for the most part now

Some hard miles?? Ya think??:-laf:-laf

Sam

 

[jeepit]

Found mine in July of 2002. All the options I wanted (Needed). It now has 110,000 on it. Winter use is to only plow my driveway O/W it sits in garage during winter. If it is a dry day with no salt on road I will take her out and get it good and warmed up! Summer use is to take loads to the dump, haul truck camper or travel trailer. Also to haul Jeep around to off road events in the midwest.
Love the suicide doors

 

[CRodi]

Using mine as a daily driver. I've been driving it year round since I bought it. I've hauled a lot of stuff with it, hose out the bed and it's ready for it's next job.

Bought mine in 2009 with 115K miles. Was looking for a good, low mileage P-pump 12 valve with less than 100k miles. They weren't available. I guess the owners didn't want to give them up. Settled on this one with slightly higher mileage. Currently has 165k miles. The reason I held out for a 2nd gen is that I'm not good with sensors, electronics or computers. These are very simple, straight forward, dependable trucks. I still can't get over how reliable and trouble free the engine has been.

 

[GCroyle]

My Son drives the '97 3500 and while its showing a bit of cosmetic wear and tear, when he fires it up it is pure 12V symphony time. Got over 200K on it and still strong but we don't get to work it hard, just daily use.

One thing that I will brag on for our combined efforts, we bought it with a 3" chunk of the gear case busted out, can you say KDP?

It took us 5 weekends in '07 with every bolt a discovery but with the help of the TDR Gang, in particular Anthony C. and Josh W. back in the Mid TN gang days, a new case was we got it running and haven't touched any aspect of that KDP repair as a do-over.

Gary

 

[Road Dog]

I have one of the last 2nd gens -- built April 2002 -- with all the trimmings. I bought it in 2008. It's just been used for camping so 130,000km (78,000mi). I like the look of the 2nd gens the best although 4 regular doors would be nice. A lot of people can't figure out that you can't close the front door until the back door is closed.

 

[Bill Lins]

You also should have included primary work vehicle. Bought the truck new and don't plan on selling or trading it.

Agreed. Ordered mine new & got it just before Thanksgiving 1997. Just turned over 200k. I drive it at least 5 days a week, sometimes 6 & 7. Needs a new rear seal & clutch installed, windshield & headliner, and valves adjusted, but too busy running it to get that stuff done right now. Only body problem I've had is some minor cracking around the latch assembly on the driver's door. Thanks anyway, but IT'S NOT FOR SALE! :-laf

 

[Cummins12V98]

On my 2nd 98 12V. Sold 1st one to Son with 380K and now have 98 12V with 327K runs great gets 21 mpg easily. Uses 1qt every 1k, think it's the rear seal mostly. Awesome commuter/work rig.

 

[VolsFan]

On my second cummins powered truck, both 2nd gens this ones a keeper. Don't use it everyday anymore, but always reliable and ready to pull the equipment trailer. Like this one having 4 wheel disc and 6 spd. 200k and rust free, still turns heads and it paid for!

 

[Oly]

Bought new in 2001, been in use ever since. Rolled 337K this month, had the body issues fixed for a whole lot less than a new one would cost. Better fuel mileage as well.

 

[SAndreasen]

On my 5th second gen updating this post because the 53 block had me in a sour mood when I origionally posted it . Had two automatics blew em both up do to oil leaks that just caused oil level to drop below safe one was on the front of transmission and one I broke a sensor off while towing off road dropped the oil out didn't notice it till I got home . Bought a junker 98 that had a bad history of abuse and poor maintence had a serious drive train issue don't know why but it broke 2 different transfer cases off the origional one and I found a used one and broke to took the truck back to the guy I was buying it from . Had a 98 five speed that somebody ground the thread out of the fifth gear nut drove. The nut back on and welded it to the shaft !! Had to replace that nut and the fifth gear and reverse gear which I had a set of so didn't cost anything . Totaled that truck and now bought the bumble bee 1998 24 valve its a 53 block other than that I really like the truck has 275 injectors edge juice with attitude chip and I added a bhaf man that thing will pull . So two automatics do to major oil leaks one vp 44 and one set of fifth gears and two transfer cases I got for free and one head gasket .

 

[drag racer]

looking forward to hitting 32,000 on the odo one of these days...

 

[DavidC]

looking forward to hitting 32,000 on the odo one of these days...

Beat my miles. Of course if you throw out the odometer I have 50k on the 56 after the crappy 53

Dave

 

[The patriot]

I havent driven mine 10K miles in the last 10 years.
I'm the original owner.

 

[RDMueller]

My 2001.5 has 256k on it now and still runs great and is totally reliable. It is a secondary vehicle, but gets used very regularly both for towing our camper and for frequent runs to home improvement and landscaping places. Every now and then I do get "new truck envy", but that usually goes away after I need to haul a load of topsoil, mulch, rocks, etc. home from one of those places where they pull up along side your truck with a front end loader and dump a yard or more of whatever material into the bed. I just can't see myself wanting to do that in a brand new $70,000 truck! As long as it continues to be as reliable as it has been, I don't see myself wanting to part with it any time soon.

 

[samsonite01]

I love my newly purchased 01. It is a beautiful truck and the newest i have ever owned. Who ever owned it before me took care of it well and i thank them for that. She has 140k and runs great. Daily driver. Very nice compared to the old 88 toyota pick-up! Never wanted a newer dodge. Love the simplicity of the older ones. Loud and proud! My boss says it sounds like a school bus. I cant wait to roll coal on him and his dirtymax! Hear what a real truck sounds like!

 

[Ken Roberts]

Ken R here.
98.5 bought new in 99
270K miles right now.
53 block
original automatic trans
The first 175k miles were towing a Toyhauler or an enclosed trailer full of race/track bikes around the east coast.
The next 50K miles were just basic unloaded running around.
The next 50K were as a daily driver with a full bed of workday supplies.
20-22 mpg is normal.
Best truck I have ever owned.

 

[Woodenhead]

Good post Vaughn. My '96 was almost a daily driver used it for everything other than commuting to work. It's a Canadian truck and has around 425,000kms on it.
Since I bought my '98 3500 and built it I use it only occasionally and just when I need a truck and for towing the boat, gooseneck etc. I bought the '98 with 230,000miles and have since put about 3,500miles on it in the last year.

Need to put the '96 back together and get it sold. Will be a project for this fall/winter.

Mike

 

[drag racer]

Ken R here.
98.5 bought new in 99
270K miles right now.
53 block
original automatic trans
The first 175k miles were towing a Toyhauler or an enclosed trailer full of race/track bikes around the east coast.
The next 50K miles were just basic unloaded running around.
The next 50K were as a daily driver with a full bed of workday supplies.
20-22 mpg is normal.
Best truck I have ever owned.

Great post! As long as I can get parts and keep it running, I will NEVER sell my '99. Yes, the new trucks are nicer in some ways (especially the transmissions), but what the treehugger government have made Cummins and the rest do to the engines is a travesty.

 

[JMarhofke]

I bought my 95, 2500 4x4 new for the purpose of a daily driver and ATV trips. Shortly after it's arrival I was given a "take home" vehicle. The truck was now only used a weekends, "special" occasions, and some trips to Northern WI with the ATV trailer. With only 48,000 miles the truck is pretty much new. I thought I would beat DavidC's low mileage, but then I saw drag racer with only 32,000 miles. I have a Jeep Wrangler for a daily driver so the truck doesn't see any inclement weather..

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Mine's the only vehicle I own. (not counting wife's & kid's cars, plus inoperable motorcycles). Current commute is 20 mi each way.

I really, really, REALLY want to paint it in the spring. Tired of it looking like crap, though at least now I don't spend any time washing or waxing it. Ever. See sig.