we're looking to get a 2004-2007. do you have any problems with your truck? how is the gas mileage?
if you've purchased one recently, how much was it? my husband's mustang's registration is about to expire and i know it won't pass smog, so i'm considering letting him buy the truck sooner than later just to avoid repairing his car in order to pass the smog.
2007-08-02 07:36:14 · 7 answers · asked by vern01 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Dodge
Own a 04 Ram 3500 4x4 quad cab Laramie CTD (Cummins Turbo Diesel), 4 speed auto with 3:73 limited slip rear-end. I have just over 75,000 miles on the truck and it has been rock solid!
The only issue I had was at 25,000 miles when my lift pump failed but this was a recall on the 03 & 04 HO (HighOutput) CTD and covered under warranty.
The truck stock for fuel economy was 15 to 16MPG city and 19 to 20 Highway. However, after I installed The Edge Juice with Attitude powerchip, AFE stage 2 CAI & 4 inch turbo back free flow exhaust and diamond eye muffler, I now get a steady 18 to 19 MPG city and 24 to 25 MPG highway and even running on 35" Toyo open country M/T's. The power is incredible with the chip installation! I can keep pace with a few sports car's with this chip not bad for a 8000lb truck!
The CTD is bullet proof as I have owned a 90 Ram with the CTD and ran it to 450,000 miles with not issues with the motor. Just be prepared when your oil changes come as the CTD will gulp down 12L of oil in one change. Also from owning my 1990 CTD when parts break on a diesel....be prepared for an expensive fix!
Side note: I believe the 2004.5 was the time they started placing Litter boxes on the CTD....(Catalytic converter) as well that was when they increased the HP & Torque
5.9L inline 6
2003-2004 HO CTD - 305HP 555lb/ft of torque
2004.5 to early 2007 "600 series" - 325HP 610lb/ft of torque
** 2003 & up with the HO CTD with Auto have the new 48re transmission same as the 600 series***
6.7L CTD
late 2007 - is the new CTD motor believe the HP is 325 and torque is up to 625lb/ft torque and burns cleaner!
2007-08-02 08:27:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a 2002 Ram, 2500, 2 wheel drive, with a Cummins. I get about 23 mpg on the highway, it is a standard transmission and a short wheel base. (I know you said you are looking at 04-07 year model, but I just wanted to say something about the Dummins reliability.) It is a great truck. It will last forever, the doors might falls off, the a/c might quit, and it will rattle you, but it will still go down the road. I pull a trailer with some, and still get good mileage.
2007-08-03 09:37:34 · answer #2 · answered by CoolHand 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Own a 03 HO Cummins turbo diesel 4x4....the thing is a tank no issues at all running on a 4 speed automatic with 3:73 rear end. I see 17MPG City and 21MPG Highway
I have to correct 45 Cal......The 2003 & 2004 Ram 2500/3500 with the HO CTD with 4 speed automatic came stock with the 48re transmission which is identical as the 600 series CTD trucks 2004.5-early 2007.
20 HP and 55 lb/ft of torque will not make much of a difference in the long run as you can chip up the diesel and add a CAI and exhaust.
2003-2004 exhaust is 3.5 inch turbo back to muffler and 4 muffler to tail pipe.
2004.5 and up exhaust is 4 inch turbo back with Cat.
If you are considering chipping you will more than likely should swap out the cat and muffler for free flowing cat and muffler to increase air flow to keep your EGT's down.
2007-08-02 16:24:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
these are great trucks!!! and that's all I drive and have since '91 for my own transportation. they have very few break downs with very few problems (in general). box stock, you are looking at around 19/15 manual and 18/14 automatic (hwy/city) but for a few hundred dollars, you can add a "chip" that will boost your mileage 10-15% (merely plug them in) without doing alot of more expensive mods like exhaust, turbo, injectors, etc.
they have plenty of torque for pulling just about anything the normal person would ever need to tow.
if you are looking at a used truck, a few problems come to mind with the '05 back down to the '98 were not designed for the new low sulfer diesel and likely will require an injector pump somewhere around 100K miles. in the '03 down to the '98 had a poor fuel delivery system with a two pump design that when one failed, the 2nd didn't last long and the injector pump came shortly behind. with an automatic, the throttle position sensor lasts out to 120-150K miles before taking a dump and it's about $350-400 to repair. the '02 down to '98 4x4 with auto has a poor design on the transmission cooling lines where they pass over the front axle and rubs on the cross member which saws a hole in the metal lines... of course those are available from the factory only. likewise, in the '98-'02 the sunglass holder has a plastic snapping device that breaks about every 18-20 months with normal usage... rear end will need bearings and seals around 200K, manual transmission will need clutch replaced every ~50-80K depending on what type of loads you haul, go with either OEM or the higher performance when replacing (or it will be 30-40K replacements)...
none of these (other than the injector pump) is a costly fix. I haven't had any issues with the newer body style ('03 and up) to speak of yet.
I have run all of mine at least to 200+K miles before trading to a new one. currently have '98 with 280K, '02 with 120K and '05 with 50K miles... my '91 I ran to 380K miles and was still running the original injector pump, transmission with only the rear end bearings & seals replaced at 200K cause they were leaking a little bit...
2007-08-02 12:11:31 · answer #4 · answered by pmk 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Only get 04.5 or newer as it has 325hp different trans than 04 with a 4" exhaust. I have 04.5 auto 3500 4x4 swb 2" lift with 315X70X17 BF at/ko stock rims.Ram/air induction into stock box. 100hp quadzilla plug in chip.I get 20mph at 1650 rpm 70 mph hwy 17 city great truck no major problems 7/70 bumper 2 bumper 100,000 on the eng warranty. only 04&05.not offered on 06? The Dodge dealer in fla will see at dealer invoice + $3500 rebates 07 stay with the 5.9 as they have very little smog the newer are more$ an loaded with smog crap???
2007-08-02 14:32:00 · answer #5 · answered by 45 auto 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sorry, Dodge went to an in-tank electric lift pump controlled by the PCM via a relay when they switched to your engine, the ISB-235, at the start of Calendar Year 1998, and I am not aware of any external override of the PCM with respect to the fuel pump. Most of my experience is with a VERY early MY1998 BE2500, one of the last with the twelve-valve engine (spec., 6BTA5.9-180); the 6BTA5.9 packs a mechanical lift pump low on the left of the cylinder block with a manual plunger, unlike the ISB.
2016-05-21 02:09:42 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ill tell you that you will not regret a cummins turbo diesel. in my opinion the combination of the diesel and turbo spool makes the best sound on earth. you can also look at up to 20mpg. they have plenty of ponies under the hood and will pull anything. if possible i would go with a manual just for the fact that chrystler isnt notorious for their automatic transmissions
2007-08-02 08:22:03 · answer #7 · answered by Shooter 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋