waynehenricksen

I am pretty new to this forum. My wife and I will be buying a used pickup truck in a month or two. We will be putting in the bed a 10 foot Alaskan Camper and all told will be putting about 2800 to 3000 pounds on the truck. No serious towing in the future intended (just a small uhaul trailer to get to Taos and that's it). The basics needed will be a 4X4 diesel,3500, cub or quad cab, long bed. I am hoping to keep the price under $25000. Given the changes that have been made on the Dodge Cummins 2003 models and my intended application, would my best choice be 2003 or an early 2000 Dodge. I have looked into early 2000 Chevrolet 2500 duramax and Ford 250 powerstrokes and for various reasons have become wary of these as compared with the 3500 Dodge Cummins.
Any comments or suggestions welcome. Thanks

streetsmoker

Always buy the newest truck you can afford. For $25,000 you should be able to pick up a 2004. With the newer ones you are also likey to still get a warranty.

Hounddog

With the differances in frame,brakes and power and fuel system I would hesitate to go with anything less then 3rd generation for the money.

runamuk

FORGET THE 04 POWERSTROKES AND NEWER, JUST SAY NO TO A 6.0!!!!

Personally if you plan to keep the truck I'd go with a late 2nd gen > 01.

I love my 05 but it is not in anyones price range!! NOT FOR SALE!!!

Rick

35xj

Well. I spent months looking for a truck in that price range. Was out to find an 01-02 as well. Basically exactly the truck you want. Drove a few, loved the truck. I initially didn't want a 3rd Gen. (Love the 2nd gen looks)
The problem i encountered was that all the 2nd gens I found had 100k on them, they were still going for 23 Plus. I finnally found an 04.5 with 28K on it.Basically all the features I wanted. for 28. LOW, EASY miles!
Now that I've got a 3rd gen, i'd never go back. My Dad has a 2nd gen and the 3rd is a much nicer truck in everyway. Quiet, roomy, comfy, more powerrfull,The back doors make it reasonable to haul 2 in the back for more than a few miles, and they'll not be crippled and deaf upon ariival.
That being said, everytime I pass a nice looking 2nd gen I still fall in love all over again. hope this helps, dave

sherman

$25,000.00 will easily get you into a 04, like the previous reply said, buy as new as possible.The 3rd gen trucks(03&up) have better brakes,are quieter and are not dated in case of resale. you should be able to get into an 04 with less than 100,000miles on it. Start shopping!

Hounddog

If you can investigate OWNERS and WARRANTY service history a high mileage might not be bad.My neighbor traded in a 03 4x4 3.73 H.O.6 speed with 151k.Like 16 months old.NEEDED NOTHING.All hwy miles towing 8k or so and he refused to tow over 70.Liked 68 mph.Regular maintance.A few Tsb's done early on.P/S hose&alt.bracket.Original brakes etc.and on its second set of tires.Never aligned(never needed)No rear scratches or chips/dings etc.They allowed $15k&change on trade and wholesale it 2 days later.After he did that a LOT of folks said DO WHAT! I would have bought that truck right then and there.He NEVER tried selling it.Just traded it.His EARLY 05 has had a number of on going issues it now has 65k or so.