Clayten

Buy a 1994 second gen. Forget selling the 98.

HOHN

Another vote for the 305/555. It's not only about the engine-- the 3rd gen trucks are pretty decent, assuming you have one with the issues worked out (vibration, window leakage, etc).

jh

Gary Emerald

agreed, they're nice. I love my 555! and the truck itself is so much nicer/newer/etc. inside

but if you told me I had to haul a horse trailer from one end of the country to the other and that my life and livelyhood depended on it, I'd pick the ol' 12v every time

if she just wants a new truck? fine, nothing wrong with that... I LOVE my '04 and if I didn't use the 98 for work every day, it'd probably never get driven

but if the argument for a newer truck is because you need something more reliable? well, then you don't need a newer truck!

RAMRODD

I had a 555 engine in a 04 and don't miss it, less power even with the mods. The 06 gets the same fuel mileage as the 04 did.

SIXSLUG

IMHO, Spruce up the 98, fix the trans once and for all and drive the you know what out of it. The earlier third gen seats are awful after 2-3 hours on my backside and lower back.

Kurt

NoSparkplugs

You've never ridden on the bench seat of a 1st gen then. Get on a rough road and those things are pretty much just springs with fabric on them. 3rd gen seats are quite cushy after that LOL.

blondedodgeluver

Thanks guys for all your input. I was offline for a few days and just got back on to see how much the thread had grown. As far as the 98 tranny problems, it had the first 5th gear nut fall off at 75k, went with the dealershit locktite fix and it went again at 105. Finally talked a new dealership into the fully splined main shaft. At 125, while way out of town, tranny locked up b/t gears. Bad fix...should have towed it the 300 miles home. At 150, some dude tried to steal it, and buried it in about 4' mud out behind the Cummins shop. Started shifting funny so they paid for a rebuilt. Last year I ended up putting a SB clutch in (odd shifting problems again) and so far it's been great. (It DOES occasionally fall out of 5th gear when coasting down the big hills with a trailer... any ideas of why it's doing that??)
I don't NEED a new truck, but I am not a mechanic and hate being stranded for any reason on the side of the road with stock on the trailer. It is a huge stress for me, and I was just hoping if I got into a newer model I could count on having a few less gray hairs after the next 100k.
I just had Cummins run mine on the dyno last week and their words were "ma'am, this is one strong truck". It was turned up in St. Louis right before I bought it, but I didn't tell the boys that till they were done drooling...
If the experts here tell me I ought to skip looking at the 03, then I will just keep on with the 98, but if I can get the same performance out of a newer one (and worry less) I'd like to look at a few.
One that I am looking at is in Hickory NC, so I might have to find someone reputable to take a look at it for me. Any ideas?
Thanks for all of your help -- I have learned a bunch from all of the articles and information here!

blondedodgeluver

Thanks for the offer, but I am looking for a 2wd.

Common

I'm keeping my 12v till its rotted out.

But if you have to, get an '04 or '05+

blondedodgeluver

I'm going to drag this thread up again... I've been shopping a little and found an 05 on ebay, just to get some ideas. I know several of you mentioned the 04 or 05's. Let me know if this sounds like a decent replacement for my 98. I realize everyone says to keep running the 98, but like I said before, I'm gun shy going cross country with over 220k and a 5 horse GN (alone). I haul a rig 2 -3 weekends a month, and I just HATE being stranded or even worrying about it! My other options are going with a NEW truck, since they are getting cheaper by the minute. I haven't heard any good stories on the new cummins. I don't think I could make myself buy a Ford. I don't know enough about the duramax trucks, but a few friends haul with them and brag a lot. (personally the smoother ride and quieter sound don't matter much to me, if the truck doesn't stop and go and stay going)
Here is the ebay truck link...any ideas are welcome...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/__Cars-Trucks_QUAD-CAB-DUALLY-SLT-CUMMINS-6-SPD-MAN-LIKE-NEW_W0QQitemZ120332090214QQptdnZCarsQ20Q26Q20Truck sQQptdiZ2282QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash =item120332090214&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms= 72%3A727|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Asher

I would say look for anything from a late 03 to and new as you can afford. Becareful with 03-early 04 trucks because they did make some of them standard outputs, all you have to do is look on the valve cover for the HP ratings. It's seems like everyone thinks thier year is the best, but in all honesty the trucks really haven't changed that much from 03 until the 6.7's came out. Basically some minor exterior cosmetics, and an interior change in (maybe 05 or 06) but you will have to be the judge on which one you like better for that.

If you want realibality and better MPG, then get the manual not that auto. One of the nicest things about the new CR engines is that you can adjust your power levels to what ever you want/need with most aftermarket accesories, that is something you can't do with a 12V... All new trucks suffer from weak electric factory lift pumps, so get a guage to monitor the fuel pressure and consider installing a aftermarket lift pump for piece of mind. I bet with even a tiny bit of tuning (simple electric module) you will have to retract your statement about your current truck being more powerful than a new one... These CR engines are monsters with a little tuning, and again the turn of a ****, 2 minutes to reprogram, (or which ever you decide to do) and your back to stock settings... you'll never get your hands dirty...

Good luck on your hunt...

patdaly

X2 I can't imagine at 200K it is even remotely time to retire a 12V.

patdaly

Also, do not forget, the Common rail 03 up trucks are much more sensitive to fuel quality/water.

Running cross country, if I did buy a CR truck, I would sure as heck add an Air Dog or similar pump/filtration system to trap any junk........ I have seen way too many 18K plus repair bills posted here by justa little water ingestion.

mcolectd

Just keep the 12v, and get a new one. You're prolly not gonna get enough for it to make it worth selling it. I've had an 05, and now have my 07 5.9 with a G56. I love this truck and wouldn't trade it for anything. Pulls real strong, and I'd trust it to take me anywhere. I would recomend doing an Airdog or FASS. Thats my next step. But the boys are right as far as how simple it is to get power out of the CRs. A simple turn of a ****, or a little tuning while sitting in the drivers seat, and you'd be amazed at what you can turn your truck into in less than a minute or two. I would go with a 6spd though, over an auto. More reliable,and much better for towing, as you probably already know. And the G56 is probably one of the smoothest, if not the smoothest shifting manuals there is. And one of the stoutest too. A few higher hp people have broken them, but for general purposes, you can't beat em.