dodge truck guys?

[87WhiteStang1]

anybody know a lot about didge trucks? i know in the 90's the transmissions were horrible and usdually went up before 100k. is there a point where the transmissions started getting better. i am looking at a 2002 ram with a 5.9 auto. 104k

 

[68stang351]

You might as well buy front wheel bearing/hub assemblies and ball joints for it right now.

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

And a body control module.

 

[stykthyn]

skip the 5.9. 4.7s make just as much power and if you are looking at a car that is about to be 8 years old no reason not to get a 5.7 hemi. 4.7 and 5.7 get the same mileage but the 5.7 has 100hp on both the 5.9 and 4.7

 

[LaserSVT]

I agree, the 4.7 is the better engine and will give better mileage. Front bearings/hubs go bad as was stated and heater cores are another issue. Whole dash has to come out to swap it. They eat rotors too.

They are designed to have the fluid in the trans changed every 20K as well and if you do that then the trans will last. Most people wont change the fluid that often and they are the ones with the bad trans.

 

[stykthyn]

fwiw i have an 04 1500 with the 5.7 and i have had a 4.7 the only things i have had to do are rfegular oil and brake changes. if the truck has been well maintained there should not be anything wrong with it.

 

[Beasty306GT]

go with an f-150 dodge are crap

 

[MeanMike]

go with an f-150 dodge are crap

I was going to say a 250 but a 150 is still better than any Dodge.

 

[PNW LSC]

I was going to say a 250 but a 150 is still better than any Dodge.

 

[MeanMike]

I call on your and raise you one

 

[bentley429isBAC]

Moper is the biggest pos ever. Only thing they made that was any good was the hemi and the torqueflight wasent bad either. Everything else is a pile. Period.

 

[lancec2c30]

If you are going to buy a Dodge pickup, diesel or bust.

 

[PNW LSC]

If you are going to buy a Dodge pickup, diesel or bust.

Ok, agree. Cummins, Dana, New Venture, they sourced everything just about. I've never had an issue with any of the Chrysler made parts though.

 

[90mustangGT]

I'm an auto tech in an independent repair shop. I never knew dodge transmissions got much better. If the trans on that one hasn't been replaced, it will need one soon most likely.

5.9 has good grunt down low, but doesn't have anything up top and I hope you have lots of money for gas or you won't drive it much.

I dont know what kind of deal you are looking at but in that range I would look into a Silverado. I'm biased but my truck has been by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. 149K on the original front and rear disc brakes, gets 20mpg, rides smooth as anything, handles well, great traction, stops great, I swear it takes a whole lot to make it hydroplane, and is faster than a stock fox by a noticable margin. Never had a check engine light on it, no breakdowns. The alternator and battery had an issue once, I put a 130amp unit on there and a dry cell battery three years ago and no problems since.

 

[Shaolin Crane]

If you are going to buy a Dodge pickup, diesel or bust.

dont even bother buying any gas truck, i'd rather have a cummins over a gas ford any day, but i'd also rather have a powerstroke over a cummins any day

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

If you are going to buy a Dodge pickup, diesel or bust.

The 4.7 isn't a bad engine, neither is the 5.7 Hemi. I've been happy with the 4.7 in my Grand Cherokee. It's got plenty of power and never has any trouble getting out of its own way. The transmissions still suck though. Mine shifts weird at times (up and downshifts strangely in relation to throttle input), but it seems to work well otherwise. *knocks on wood* With that last comment and the fact that it's up to 73,000 miles, maybe it's time to upgrade to a TBSS that I've been thinking about...

 

[90mustangGT]

but i'd also rather have a powerstroke over a cummins any day

Wow, really? Never heard that before but at least not from anyone that really hauls real weight. I remember when I drove a semi, all the real haulers drove dodge cummins trucks, pulling some amazing loads. When I was in my truck and I saw a 5th wheel pulling as we approached a hill, and if it was a Ford or even a Chevy diesel I would immediatly get over because I knew I was going to have to pass them. Buddy had a Cummins 5.9, I'd like to see a powerstroke take that truck with equal mods.

Now, I will say the Ford truck is definatley a better truck, the dodge the truck will fall apart around the engine. Sorry but that POS interior gets in your nerves in the Dodge. Can't beat the interior of the Ford. The Chevy drives like a car as far as drivability and smooth ride.

If you could only get a Ford truck with the Cummins engine and the GM/Allison trans and rear end, that would be one set truck.

Oh, and the Duramax engine is an Isuzu engine.

ON A SIDE NOTE: The cummins tends to get better MPG, but it might be a bit much unless you are really going to use it, and I mean pull real weight.

Funny thing I noticed, when it comes to horse haulers, it's almost all Fords, when it comes to construction pulling bulldozers and such, it's Chevy's, but when it comes to OTR hauling, it's dodge.

 

[stykthyn]

my 04 hemi ram would hand my my 87 lx its ass. ram has 4.11 gears,lt's, gibson supertruck exhaust, and an sct tuner. city mpg is 12-14 and on the hwy tt 75mph i can still knock down 19-21mpg depending on driving conditions. truck has 80k on the clock and is still the smoothest riding truck i have been in. unless you plan on hauling a lot skip the diesel. never cared for ford trucks. all the f150s i have been in felt like flimsy pos's and i really had to floor it to get them to move. the new chevys arent bad if you can get a good deal on them. the new tundras are amazing as well. in all honesty though, unless you were stealing the 02 i would shop around for something newer with a more modern powerplant. the 5.9 is based on the 360 that has been around for the last 40 years or so. i have worked on a few and were not impressed.

 

[Shaolin Crane]

Wow, really? Never heard that before but at least not from anyone that really hauls real weight. I remember when I drove a semi, all the real haulers drove dodge cummins trucks, pulling some amazing loads. When I was in my truck and I saw a 5th wheel pulling as we approached a hill, and if it was a Ford or even a Chevy diesel I would immediatly get over because I knew I was going to have to pass them. Buddy had a Cummins 5.9, I'd like to see a powerstroke take that truck with equal mods.

Now, I will say the Ford truck is definatley a better truck, the dodge the truck will fall apart around the engine. Sorry but that POS interior gets in your nerves in the Dodge. Can't beat the interior of the Ford. The Chevy drives like a car as far as drivability and smooth ride.

If you could only get a Ford truck with the Cummins engine and the GM/Allison trans and rear end, that would be one set truck.

Oh, and the Duramax engine is an Isuzu engine.

ON A SIDE NOTE: The cummins tends to get better MPG, but it might be a bit much unless you are really going to use it, and I mean pull real weight.

Funny thing I noticed, when it comes to horse haulers, it's almost all Fords, when it comes to construction pulling bulldozers and such, it's Chevy's, but when it comes to OTR hauling, it's dodge.

really as far as im concerned my truck is everything i could want, im able to tow 16k lbs easy, and yes i do it quite often, runs a 9.4 in the 8th, has a dana 80 rear end, sure the transmissions can be troublesome if you dont have a proper tune on the truck but other than that i cant complain about a sinlge thing in my truck, 165k and ive only had to replace 3 sensors, ever, and ford trucks can be had with cummins engines try out destroked.com they offer those conversions, and im sorry the cummins engines no longer compare to the new 6.4l power stroke i know a few people personally who are running over 500hp on just a tune alone, and those trucks can tow 26k lbs no sweat

 

[90mustangGT]

Yeah I'm sure the newer one's have improved. A lot of people are not liking the new cummins engines as much. The older 16 valve 5.9 turbo is a beast. The older powerstroke was a powerjoke. Going on the diesel forums you get a good view of what is out there.