freight train

Hi everyone, I am very new to anything made after 1993. I currently have a 1992 W350 and a 1992 RC both with 12v/NV4500 combo's. The dually has 3.54 and the RC has 3.07's with 35" tires. I recently purcahsed a 28' camper that I hope to use several times this spring/summer. My wife and I are currently trying to grow our family. She has made comments of also taking her neice camping as well. Since I am always hauling scrap metal and fork lifts from work and seem to be beating the crap out of my dually I want to keep it and utilize it for the hard beat on work. The newer truck would primarily be a camper tug.

The point to all that info is I am thinking of buying a newer (2003-07) 4x4, crew cab, 3500, 6spd, dually for a camper tug with plenty of interior space.

My questions are, I dont know these trucks at all. Whats troubled issues that you guys wish Dodge would have done better. Whats the known problems with these trucks that I should be weiry of? Should I be weiry of higher mileage trucks (175k+) if no service history is available? Thanks for any info

Robert
Montani Semper Liberi

C Schomer

The diesels have been electronic since 98.5. 98.5-2002 had a not-so-good injector pump. 2003+ is the CR, common rail, engine and things got better. They should have used a better throttle position sensor - mine quit at 60k miles - fixed myself for $169. They went to electric hvac damper actuators in 2003 and they are bad for breaking the linkage - I have the heatertreater.com $365 fix waiting for me to put them in. I take it you'll be getting a bigger RV or at least growing into one. I love my 4.10 gears for towing and they don't hurt mpg. 03-04.4 CTDs have zip for emission garbage and generally get the best mpg of the 3rd gens. 04.5-07.4 got cats and the 3rd stage injector shot and mpg went down a little. 2003-2005.4 or so have the NV5600 6 spd, 395lb cast iron case brute and a normal flywheel .~ 2005.5 they went to a cheaper G56 alum case 6 spd and a dual mass flywheel that's troublesome. 04.5-07.4 is a little more hp (325 instead of 245 or the HO 305 for the 03-04.4 ctd) and bigger turbo and exh (4") , for whatever that's worth. I got my 03 in late 05 and I purposely passed on the 325s and chose the simpler higher mpg engine - personal choice. Craig

freight train

So if I am keeping things to what I am looking for I should find an 03-05 with a NV5600 and with a HO 305hp motor. I wonder what the difference is in fuel mileage from 3.73 to 4.10's? Are the interiors all the same throughout the 03-07 models? Thank you for the info

roughstock

Id go 3.73

marathon

Especially if you wind up with a G56. The '07.5+ got a higher 6th gear than the earlier models. I get about 19mpg in general daily driving, but the RPMs are about 2000 at 62mph even with the 3.73.

G56s are reverse to the left and down.

freight train

Thanks for the info guys.

Please keep them coming.

Anyone out there getting ready to sell their 03-05 4x4, 6spd, crew cab, 3.73 geared, sport "Red", 3500' Im a sucker for red heads, LOL

C Schomer

The higher hp rating for 2003-2004.4 was 305 and they called them HO 305. The SO was 245 I think. The HOs only got the NV5600 or 48re auto. The SO 245s are fine but they usually got the 5spd manual or 47re auto. There were a few exceptions to those rules in early 03. I'd try to get an idea of the gvw of the RV you want and then decide 3.73 or 4.10. There's several reasons I wanted 4.10 and one was to have a lower granny and reverse with the manual and to have the best towing beast possible. I never use my truck for long empty trips so 4.10 was fine for me. I don't think 4.10 was even available with the g56. I've always read that the 4.10 autos were towing beasts too. Craig

freight train

Thanks Schomer.
I know I want a manual. The terrible auto's in the 1st gens totally turn my stomach on auto's. Never had a good one, ever! No haters please as I know technology has improved but I wont buy one. I wouldnt be against a 5spd but would prefer a 6spd.

freight train

Guys I have to ask, and please dont think I am an idiot. Whats the Bluetec emblem for on the newer trucks? Is there years that require adding some sort of exhaust additive? What the heck is that for? Thanks for all the helpful info
Montani Semper Liberi

C Schomer

Yeh, I went from a 97 3.54 5 spd to the 03 4.10 6spd. I had to run the 97 to redline before upshifting, to get up steep ramps with the 5er. The nv5600 is sooo much better and has evenly spaced gears. Plus, 4.10 puts the gears even closer together. Together, the 03 is a world of difference, better for towing. I sure miss the 3.54 5 spd around town. I also had to do the full mainshaft fix on the 5 spd. I don't know but... Bluetec might be their new fuel/emissions systems and I don't think Cummins needs DEF yet but maybe sometime in 2013. It cleans up the emissions and it has helped mpg for F & C. 07.5 was the end of 5.9s and the start of the 6.7 with egr, dpf and regen. There's 2 things that it will take a LONG time for me to get ready for - a 6.7 and an auto. My FIL has a 07.5 6.7 and there's no drastic interior changes that I saw worth noting and I liked my 03 seats better but that's a personal thing. With a family coming up, you might want to check out the Mega cabs. That would be a later year and probably a G56 6 spd but I wouldn't let that be a deal breaker. Craig

freight train

Craig thank you for the info.

I admit I love the look of the newest grille/hood setup but the fact that (currently) the mega cab only comes with a short bed. I am an old school guy who in the future (if anything should happen to my beloved W350) would want to put a nice toolbox in the bed. I need bed space.

freight train

Currently I have found a local 07 3500 crew cab 4x4 6spd, with 3.73, and 180k on the clock. With DD 50hp injectors and a Phoenix Friction Stage 3 Extra High-Clamp Load Solid Flywheel Conversion Upgrade Clutch Kit. Is there any red flags these items are throwing out to anyone? Its a base model and its not my favorite color choice, petty I know. But it seems in fair shape for the mileage. With the G56 should I be worried, LOL

C Schomer

I had 1 shortbed and won't do that again with a 5er. Hopefully the old parts just got tired and he did the injectors and clutch for a little upgrade and not just to run the crap out of it. 50s are a clue that he wasn't trying to get everything possible out of it. I would do the same thing to mine to make things a little better. BTW, the 04.5+ CTDs got 4" exhaust, instead of 3.5" on the 03-04.4s - another little plus. 180k isn't terrible if it was maintained and treated well. Who knows? Just gotta check it out extra good! I'd want to know what his mpg is after those injectors to be sure it didn't go the wrong way. Take the turbo inlet hose off and check for shaft play. A little side play is normal but the wheel must not hit the housing and there shouldn't be any end play. 4x4s are noted for loose front ends/death wobble. Have you thought about srw or drw for the size of the future RVs? Stability and payload are much better with a drw. Someone else will have to advise on the g56. Good luck! Craig
Oh yeh, the electric/viscous engine fans should turn with some resistance - they shouldn't spin too free. I can only spin mine about 1/2 of a turn.

firgod4

and don't forget with the 07 you get EFI LIVE!!!

freight train

EFI= Electronic Fuel injected???
Seriously? Man these things are nothing like my ol 1st gens.