Found one for sale locally. 5.9 Cummins, mega cab, 4x4, barely over 100k miles. Anyone have experience with them? Run away fast or decent set up? Tag is 20k.

Thanks

I've got an early 07 and love it. Same engine in the early 07 models, later in the model year they had gone to the 6.7.

One fuel injector pump went bad early on and was replaced under warrantee. No problem since. Good thing, it is a 1,000+ repair. Had the brake pads changed at 90,000, don't know how much longer they would have gone. Water pump bearing went at just over 100K. Needed ball joints, wheel bearings, and tie rod ends at 160K. Typical actual hwy mileage is 19-20 mpg at 70-72 mph. The computer readout is about 1 mpg higher than actual. Start pushing the speed up and the mileage drops off faster with a diesel than gas. Running 80 mph out west I get about 17 mpg.

You have to watch the rear two fuel injector lines. They corrode from the outside for some reason.

My first set of tires were Michelin, strictly road tires. They went 70K. I put on a more aggressive tread, Michelin again, and got 88K. They probably had another 5-10K left on them but I had a trip to Idaho planned and wanted new rubber.

Ive got one
Leave it stock or make sure it is and it should run forever just about. They can't handle being chipped and supped up with out some major mods.

I have a 2004.5, so the same engine. Bought it new, have 260K on it. Mine has been chipped most of its life, but I keep it at a moderate setting. Mine is starting to rust out, but mechanically it has been a great truck.

Change your fuel filter often!

Scott

I had an 05. Probably the same truck. I won't go back to a diesel (they are just more spendy to run), but never had an issue with the truck, other than just normal part wear. One nice thing about Dodge (or now Ram I guess) Is they make a tight truck. No squeaks or rattles. They're nice and quiet inside.

I did go with the lighter weight synthetic 10-30 oil (or was it 5-30?) in the winter as opposed to the 15-40. Made a pretty big difference on start up on those well below zero days.

I can't find what I want in a ford and started to look at 3500's, what motors or years do you want to stay away from?

I have about 240K on an 06 3500, 4wd. Didn't read where everybody said change the injectors at 150K so it cost me 10K for a rebuild at 190K, burned rings on 3 cylinders, one real bad out in Iowa. 2+ gallons of oil later I got it home, well oiled drivers side and tailgate. Not a fan of the common rail injector but so far the only issue was a leaky #5 injector line, another common issue. For all the upfront weight the ball joint/tie rod maintenance is not out of line. Most frustrating thing has been a lot of small electronic issues.

That being said, if it's not eating out with rust, the price is probably a little high, but not a bad deal if you can get them to deal down a little, knowing you will sink some maintenance money in it in the near future.

10k? Ouch. Yep, everything is double or triple priced on the Diesel...even the parts that aren't on the engine. They wanted $268 for a muffler on mine. I wrapped the old one in tin and pop riveted instead for about $8.

And just a thought, Might not be an as much of a money savings option on a used truck but there is only one difference between the 2500 and 3500s: An overload spring on the rear. I now buy the 2500 and put airbags in the rear. Saves me thousands and it gives you a LOT more payload rating than the 3500....and its adjustable. I wish someone would have told me that before I bought a new 3500 years ago. Just food for thought.

Axles aren't heavier on dually 3500?

I have airbags on my f250, compressor under hood. I haul with a goose neck all winter feeding cows, some days real heavy.

Not sure about the Dually, Otis. I/ve never owned the dually.

I could see the onboard compressor a real asset to someone who uses (and adjusts them) daily per load.

We would plumb in an air chuck off the compressor that aired up the bags during install. Could be pretty handy.

The 10K included new exhaust and some other odds and ends, but it still hurt! The GVWR on my dually is I think about 2400 more than my old 94 2500. Pa. DOT educated me to the fact that it's 12,200 several years ago, I think the 2500 is about 9800. I'd have to look at curb weight to see how much is actually extra payload, but would think it would be more than just what a helper spring would take care of.

Keith, can you tell me more about the injector replacement recommendation? I'm currently at 170K on my 07 2500 and you have me wondering if I am headed for a problem. Does this apply just to the 06's or is it a generic 5.9 problem?

It's really not. The overload springs (on the Ram anyhow) are the only difference. Similar set up on the Fords and Chevy's from what I'm told anyhow. The airbags are the way to go. Totally adjustable (really a leveling system if pulling a heavy trailer). The tail wagging the dog (or headlights pointed at the moon) aren't a thing anymore. Much safer.

I squatted the rear end of my 3500 bad, all the time. Doesn't happen with airbags. when it starts to squat, just ad a little more air. No load, let air out if you want. They add roughly 5k of payload when set heavy...and a lot cheaper than the 3500 models. Just what I've found...but again, I've never ran the dually's.

Just a cheaper (and better than stock) option for anyone buying a truck for hauling heavy loads.

As always...to each his own, however.

I've also heard a lot of good feedback on the timberen blocks.

have an 03 crew cab 3500 24 valve, 5.9, manual, 230k on it, 2 buddies also have them with 300k, and 430k respectively. keep it stock just delete the EGR, it will serve you well. now to address the weight, my dually with a 9' steel skirted flatbed weighs 8530lbs. with a 9' aluminum skirted flatbed weighs 8030lbs. gets 19 miles to the gallon and drives better than my 03 tacoma.
RR

What kind of horsepower ridge?

Ford's the 250 and 350 used to use identical springs, the difference was axles. I don't know if that's still the case, but it could be.

Now you're going to make me look, a 2500 lb pallet of salt at the back of he bed levels out the 3500, the 2500 goes a little below level, but not enough to push the pallet up to the front of the bed. I'll look and see if it's on the helpers that much next pallet.

For injector information go on the Cummins forum's, you'll find information for all the generations. When they went to the generation with the common rail, which the 06 is at the end of, that's when problems started, sounds like running under load is obviously more of a problem causer. At $350+ for remans it's a big deterrent to replacing them, but the factory injectors are known for failing and either causing rings to burn out or a hole in the piston. Geno's Garage deals in nothing but Cummins, a good source.

I think its 325 or 335, but its all I need, hauls 2 1/2 cord of firewood like your pulling nothing, just MPG drops to around 14.

RR