iam looking to buy a dodge diesel 1997-2003 24v 2500 4x4 truck. please give me some info to stay away from or check on when buying truck. transmission????? i want 215 to 250 hp eng. what do you recommend ????? what exsperance does any one have on mileage and up grades to get the milage.. please all the info anyone can give please.. ill be halling ***** and boat and rock 4yards .. i realy want to know about tranny and milage thanks

 

i think the manual trans trucks will give the best mpg, but it depends on how you drive it! i was getting 22mpg when my truck was bone stock, now it is more like 18mpg with the lift/wheels/tires and performance upgrades.

 

spike where are you at mine is for sell

 

A 96-98 12v with a 5speed is hard to beat. Whichever truck you get pay close attention to the frontend for wear. Also if your looking for mileage find a truck with the 3.55 rear end.

 

You have a wide range in there (97 -03). 97 and early 98 will give you a 12valve. 98.5-02 will give the 24 valve. 03+ is 3rd gen common rail with the new body style. I would go with either 12v or common rail depending on budge. The 12v is considered pretty bulletproof and is mechanical. The 24valve has a problematic VP44 injection pump that is $$. The common rails are also proving to be pretty reliable. The 3rd gens are a lot more comfortable with better braking and other goodies available.
I have a 94 12valve now and had an 03 common rail. Both have there positives. The 12v is much less expensive and you can do a lot of work with out a lot of money if you do your own work. The 3rd gens are a nicer truck in my opinion, but a lot more money. Also, upgrades come via boxes and downloaders rather than "turning up" the pump and fuel plates as is done on the 12 valves.

Good luck either way and if you have a better idea of what you are wanting out of it, that may help your decision. Cheaper work truck or toy = 12v. Nicer newer more electronics = 3rd gen.

 

medford or

 

get the 3rd gen, if i was looking for a truck thats what i would get. more comfortable, quieter, better brakes, four full doors, and better interior.