Been looking to buy a dually diesel to haul a heavy 5th wheel RV for awhile now, and I was going to go with a Ford (yes, I know, I said the 'F' word... so sue me) since I've been a Ford fan for a While. But I'm very disgusted at the problems I'm seeing with this new 6.0 litre. So since Cummins has the best engine out there it looks like I'll be ordering a Dodge. But I'd just like your opinions... how's the rest of the truck holding up for hauling heavy loads (i.e. 15,000lbs) for a long time? Can I order a Dana rear end or will it come stock with that brand? How's this new automatic tranny holding up? It's just that I've heard bad things about Dodge and GM, too, so I'd just like to learn more about Dodge now.

Appreciate any help.
Thanks.

 

I dont know anything about the auto trany, but i can tell you one thing i am driving my first dodge cdt. this thing is a pulling machine. i have the 6 speed HO and it shifts awesome...i dont normally pull much more than 12000 pounds but i have pulled as much as 18000. I cant say one thing bad about this truck except i might have to change the thermastat it seems like it might be sticking...

 

Mark,
I got my truck 2 years ago. I wasn't a really big Dodge fan, I bought the truck for the motor. My family is Ford through and through. So now I am the black sheep. My brother had been having problems with his powerstroke and I know several people w/cummins motors. Everyone of them is happy w/ their truck. I did a lot of research and did a lot of reading on this site and others. My truck only has 25k on it and hasn't pulled anything heavier than a 33' fifthwheel w/double slides(pulled just fine) It drives just as good as the day I drove it home no sqeeks no rattles. I am very happy w/ mine.

 

Dodge did away with the Dana's for the 3rd gen trucks.
They now have American Axles's (AAM) in them.

You'd have to go used, 2002 or older to get a Dana's on both ends.

The new automatic (48RE) is leaps and bounds better than the old one (47RE), but still having a few issues.


phox

 

I bought my current dodge in 1995 because I needed a truck for pulling large heavy trailers.....now 9 years later its still pulling large heavy trailers and I have no plans on replacing this truck until it's worn out which hasn't happened yet

Plus I use my truck as a every day driver too.....the paint has scratches......its loud (straight piped)....it blows black smoke (over fueled).....and the bed is not very petty any more.....but it would be a gun battle if y'all tried to take my truck away from me

 

Having owned and now owning both I would suggest that the PSD problems have been mostly fixed. I prefer the CTD over the Powerstroke, I think it is a better engine. Hauling heavy I wouldn't rec'd any auto trans. 43k and no problems with my Dodge, the Ford has already had an engine (before I bought it)

 

Thanks for all your help. I guess that answers it... looks like I'll be ordering a Dodge.

 

Wow pappy,your a better man than me,I wish I could stick to the same truck for 9 years,the longest i have went was my last Dodge a 2000,had it 5 years.

You cant go wrong with a Dodge

 

I was a Chevy dealership mechanic during the 90s and all I ever drove was Chevys. The current truck is my first Dodge. This is the truck I'm keeping. I've had it two years and it's still like a honeymoon. This truck pulls like a freight train.

Look at my signature, we have two Cummins 6 speed trucks. That's how much I like them. Get the 6 speed though. They drive real easy and there are no durability issues with them. Heck, my wife even got a 6 shooter in her truck when she ordered it.

 

We own 3 CTD powered Dodges and 1 v8 powered dodge. Yeah I guess we kinda like them. I think we need another one so I can drive one different one every day to College
DM01

 

Thats the way I felt about my 2000,every time I got in it,in five years it smelled new,but then I found out about the #53 block and I had one,the love afair fell apart,I let it eat me up inside

 

Dave, please don't take this wrong, but that's kind of overeacting. Those #53 blocks have cracked, sure, but they aren't a ticking time bomb or something. There's thousands and thousands of 53s out there working hard everyday with owners blissfully unaware of what a 53 block even is.

 

My 98 24v 3500 is still working hard. Still works great with over 170k on it and pulling the dyno around is no easy chore. If I had one complaint, I'd wish for bigger brakes and 4 wheel disc... Oh but wait the new ones already have that.

This dually has been at 260/600 for many many miles, is awesome pulling the hills, gets 12 - 13 mpg runing at 23k gross and I'll buy another one when this one wears out. Hopefully a new truck is not in my near future.