Well the time is drawing near to purchase a new truck. Looking to buy a '98 and up(want the quad doors) extended cab, 3/4ton 4WD. Oh yeah, DODGE(DUH!)

Anyone have any suggestions on what to look out for? I have heard that in some years the trannys were crap and there were problems with the trac bars? Any help/advice would be appreciated. Also if you have one for sale pls PM me privately.
Thanx.

Well, so as I can figure for your best bet.. Buy a Ford.. Much better quality..

I know you said '98 and newer but stay away from the '97 autos .It was an oddball tranny they tried and they are very hard to come by.(2 weeks ago there was only 1 in Canada for $4300+tax in Winnipeg).I can't say much about newer than 97,as mine is a '96 and my friend owns the odd '97.

I Fix Or Repair Fords Daily for a living. For my own personal truck I want to buy a Dodge.What does THAT tell you?

Can you give me more info on that tranny? Model? Was it ONLY used in '97 and is there a swap out for it? Thanx?

I would stick with the nv4500 (5 speed) or nv5600 (6 speed) trannys as they are build much better then the 46re's are. The Autos are crap for towing and daily use. My friend (female) has 60,000k on her truck and is on her 3rd tranny (46RE).

The track bars are easily fixed by a DT track bar (about $300) and much stonger and only $40 if you have to rebuild it. Steering wander is an other thing people complain about. Also easily fixed by adding a steering stabilizer ($200) that a guy in Sask makes and sells. The truck drives better now than it did stock. Once you have done these simple mods it is really a treat to drive.

If you are looking at the 3/4 ton I would not settle for anything less and a cummins you will really regret a gas motor.

Watch the auctions I have seen many diesels go for about $12,000 with 100,000k - 150,000k.

Also make sure to put it in 4wd and that the light comes on. Or if it is always on the CAD (central axle disconnect is shot and will need replacement, replace it with a 4x4posi-loc.

If you are ever planning to wheel it I would make sure that it is a 98 or older truck that has the speed sensor in the tailshaft housing in the t-case. The 98 and newer have a speed sensor/abs sensor in the rear diff and your hooped if you want to change gears or axles.

Feel free to PM me with any questions about 94-02 dodges I know them like the back of my hand...

From what i've read on the www.pavementsucks.com forums (tons of late model dodge guys on there), the 94+ dodge's dodn't seem to hold up very well. It seems that everything there has broke at one time or another and most of the owners will admit that the dodge rams have reliability issues. But this is all second hand info as i dont own one myself.

On the other hand I personally know a few FORD superduty owners and drive a few for a living and they are great trucks.

i personally drive a 1995 dodge 1500 ext cab short box fully loaded and had no problems with it . 318/46re/241/9 1/4
with 256000 + km on her what i have found is the 9 1/4 diff is weak (not your problem because your going 3/4 ton) and the 46 re is a problem too . BUT everything in my truck is from the factory nothimg has been replaced . but know I am looking at full repower now IE engine/ trans / diff . My company trucks have been 3500 cummins duallys have never had a problem with them . Three so far just with me ( sold off when they reach 325 000 to 375 000 kms . the key to the cummins is oil changes With fuel filters every 5000 kms and a valve set at every 100 000 kms Only thing i would bitch about is the brakes there heavy on the front and parts are expensive

Yeah I have heard guys having a hard time with pads in the front but I am still one my stock set with about 60% left with 75,000k on them running 35 and towing my trailer. But I think my clutch is taking the extra wear I always gear down....

the duallys are loaded heavy al the time and worked . they get about 50 k`s to the brake job the 1500 did them twice so far .

OH the duallys are always sticks . the new one (2001) has the 5600 and its sweet no more hole between 3 rd and 4 th and goes like hell !!!! truck and load weighs in at about 7800 kgs so roughly 17 500 lbs i get 15 city and 23 highway

Quote:

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the key to the cummins is oil changes With fuel filters every 5000 kms

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Absolutley, it's more important than religion. Some of the guys at Superior were saying that they're starting to see 5.9l cummins come in for 1st rebuilds at 750,000-800,000 kms, now that says something. I'd take an inline 6 diesel over a V configuration any and everyday.

Demon, want to know why a CTD lasts longer than a Ford or Chev diesel?

Well, the CTD is a real diesel, it's designed to be that, nothing else. The Ford and Chev, haha, take a gasoline block, change the heads, and do a few small things, and blammo, it's a diesel ;)

I don't know much else about the 97 except when my buddy got his tranny done even the guys from Dodge told him the trannies in 97 (only year) were the biggest mistakes they could have done.If you buy any Dodge I'd personally stay away from the autos.
My 96 has the 5.9l,nv4500,dana60's(front and rear)4.10's and 235000kms.I also run 35 MT Baja Claws. I can't bitch about anything on my truck,the few things I've replaced were the usual things like brakes,shocks(due to running 35-36" tires) and the clutch(at 218000kms)
I don't care what anybody says,DODGE has the best truck out there.
Sorry I can't tell you more about the newer ones.

Loki, not really. GM did that at one point a long time ago. The automotive diesel V-8's of the past 15 have been dedicated diesels. My point was the inherent physical properties of the V configuration doesn't bode well in most diesel applications, IMO. Now before you jump all over me, I know there's a ton of "V" diesels out there, Caterpillar, Cummins and Detroit all have them, but they have their place in specific applications. Which is NOT, in trucks and transports, on the road.

Demon, I know that the specific V config cat and cummins and such diesels are a much better design than that of GM or Ford, as much as most don't wish to admit it.

I did not mean to point fingers at anyone, but I'm just one of those "Only inline engines are real diesels" kinda guys...

Oh I understand, me too

if you are buying a 98 get a later year like 9month prod date they have all the updates, and the trannis r better then too

i got a 96 ram 1500 replaced my tranny twice with 220 000 km on it and yes the rear diff is weak along with the front axel shafts have went through 2 of them but get good u joints and shouldnt have a problem but like the some of the above posts stay away from auto trannies they suck in any year with the newer dodges but other then that the truck is great i beat the shit of it and it seems to hold up stong, i got the 5.2 318 and have not had 1 problem yet its a great moter with plenty of power. but with getting a 3/4 ton i dont think u will have problems with anything. so good luck with picking one out!.

I actually couldn't afford what I wanted, a '98 or up quad cab 4X4 DIESEL.

Sooo,I bought a sweet '93 3/4ton club cab 4X4 CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL!.

Awesome milage! Power is as good as my old built up 360 was. Thought it would be better but its enough for now. It has dana 60s front and rear with the OD automatic, ok so far. Maybe in a few years I will upgrade but for now this will do.