stack_climber

I have a custom ordered 2004 2500 SLT LWB 4x4 with 360,000 miles. Ordered it first of Dec in '03 and drove it off the lot Feb 6th of '04. The motor is still solid as a rock but the rest of the truck is wearing out. I drive 800-1000 miles a week so I'm ready to replace the old goat.

I'd like some hard core opinions on the new 4th gen's. I'm wanting a Lariat Longhorn class. Cant decide if I want 8' bed or th Mega cab. I get about 22mpg out of my old '04 with no mods so I hate to give up the fuel mileage, others have told me they don't get near the mileage that I do with thier new trucks. Do you all find the same? Any issues I need to be leary of? Etc. Also, as in '04 I'm not finding the truck out there that has exactly what I want on it. Should I try to order or wait for the '13 to hit the market?

Thanks in advance, I know you all will be a wealth of knowldege like you have been for the past 9 years.

wyosteve

I'll offer my .02. I just traded my 04.5 SLT LWB in Nov. I had ordered that truck new. I now have a 2012 Longhorn 3500 SRW Long box. Pros of new truck are the 6 spd. auto, much more quiet and refined interior and better ride. The only con is fuel mileage, which I knew before I got it. I'm averaging between 13 and 15 empty on normal day to day driving, i.e. city and highway. My 04.5 would get 16 to 18 under same conditions.
I went with the '12 rather than a '13 for several reasons. The primary one being the price. I got my '12 for just over $12k under sticker. I don't think similar deals will be made on the '13's for quite some time. I figured that savings would take a long time to recoup, if ever, with the claimed better fuel mileage and fewer oil changes on the '13. Also, the current 6 spd. auto has good reviews and I didn't see any real benefit in the Aisin and 850 ft. lbs. of torque compared to the present 800. I don't believe anyone will be able to tell they have 50 ft. lbs. more torque anyway. Similarly, the increased tow ratings don't mean anything to me. I can tow everything I need to with a '12. Hope this helps.

stack_climber

Thanks! Like you, I'm thinking the extremely deep discounts going on now make an imediate purchase worth the while. Besides, once the 13's come out and the bugs are worked out the discounted 12 would be easy to turn loose of in a trade without taking a raping.

SOhappy

I went from an '03 with 100k that I bought new to my current 2011, it was hard to let the old girl go but the 4th gen truck is vastly superior in everyway except mpgs. The '03 I was averaging 18mpg on my daily commute, the '11 is around 14mpg. I don't think you'll regret going to the 4th gen, at least not between fill-ups any way. Deleting can help with mpgs some, and increase oil change intervals and probably engine life.

stack_climber

I'm going to show my lack of knowledge on the 4th gens but.......what is "deleting"?

stack_climber

Not happy with what I'm being offered for trade-in. Mine books for 11,000 and that's low/poor trade-in but the most I've been offered is $6,500

Has anyone had issues with the 2012 cab lights or sunroof leaking?

Crabjoe

With the number of miles driving, if I were you, I'd order a '13.

You already know you're going to lose about 5mpg, so wouldn't you like to get 10% of the '12's back? Also, you'll do half the number of oil changes on a '13 compared to a '12. Plus you get an upgraded interior and the '13 is supposed to use better materials then the '12. Pricing is now available, at the dealer too.

If you're going to keep driving as much as you've been, I think the better bet is on the '13. You'll pay more for a '13, but when you figure in all the changes and upgrades, I feel it's worth way more then the '12s with the crazy discounts.

BTW, Deleting is the process of removing the emissions off the '12. You'll get about a 10% gain in MPG, but it's going to cost you in parts and a tuner and your warranty. Unless you're looking for more power, which can blow your head gasket, why would you want to spend more to get the 10% MPG increase, when you can get the '13? Also deleting is going to get harder, the EPA has come down on the tuner makers and one of the major producers, H&S, has stated no more delete tuners without an EPA waiver.

stack_climber

And there in lies my delima. LOL! Wonder what I could in April for trade in on a 3 months old 2012 Laramie Longhorn 4x4? Ha!

SOhappy

As long as it's running, you've hit rock bottom on your value- it ain't going any lower. My 2003 2500 SLT QC 4x4 with 100k I mentioned earlier went for $18,500 last year. Sat on the dealer lot (as a consignment) for about a month. I'm guessing you should get at least $10k private party (if you think about it, that truck with 360k really don't owe you nuttin' ) . Clean it up and see what people offer you- only way to find out truly what it's worth.

stack_climber

talking with dealers on the phone today the best sight unseen offer I've had on mine was $8,000 and lowest was 4,000. The best deals I've found was $9,500 off the sticker plus rebates from the one that offered me $8,000 and $13,400 off the sticker plus rebates from the one that offered me $4,000. The dealer that has the truck I would order, if I were ordering, only had $7,000 off the sticker and never would commit to a sight unseen offer on mine. All of which were approx 3 to 4 hours driving distance from where I live.

stack_climber

Bought one today. 2012 Ram 2500 Larime Longhorn Mega Cab 4wd. Deep Molten Pearlcoat over Gold.

wyosteve

So what kind of a deal did you end up with? Just curious

stack_climber

6,500 off the sticker plus 4,000 in rebates and 6,000 for my trade. I wasn't happy with the trade amount but with 360,000 and 9 years old I didn't expect much.

SOhappy

Congrats! Pictures please!!

wyosteve

Stack, I think you did fine. I know if I was in the market for a used truck and with that many miles, I wouldn't pay more than $8k even with the Cummins. Enjoy the new truck. One thing I did to make it more enjoyable to drive is to turn the 'menu' on the dash 'off'. When I first got the truck, I had it on 'fuel economy' and it pained me to see the mileage drop when the truck regens.