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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
 
Location: Loma Linda, CA | Well, went to the dealership last night and I am stuck on 2 trucks if the one I applied for doesn't work out.
The one I am shooting for is a bit more expensive, but only has 24k miles on it. If the payment stays near or under $450 then thats the one I'll get.
Turbo Diesel Dodge ram 2500 (06). So maybe?
The other 2 are similar with just a few factors difference and that is where I need the opinions of those who drive a dodge as their tow vehicle.
The first is an 06 Ram 2500 quad cab (diesel), it has 136k miles, 5.9L engine.
The other is an 07 2500 (diesel) mega cab, but has 153k miles on it, 6.7L engine.
Things I like on the 06 - lower miles, 5.9L engine gets more MPG
Things I like on the 07 - Mega cab, has navigation which is key to me since I live in a new state and rely on my map quest to get me around. It would definitely save me a lot in phone data to have it, but I guess I could always just buy a GPS in whatever vehicle I get lol.
What I'll use the truck for - Regular commuting - school/work/ranch, and hauling to barrel races and I do plan on making some trips to AZ and CO and hauling my horse.
I haul a 2 horse trailer, nothing fancy or overly heavy, but it will be my main vehicle till who knows when.
Thoughts? My gut is saying the 06 just cause it does have fewer miles, both trucks cost exactly the same. Both trucks are white, and I think car fax has said both have been in little fender benders, but no crazy amount of damage or anything.
Thanks for your input. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 164
| The 5.9 is a much much better engine than the 6.7, that's what I would go with. I also think Mega Cabs are ugly though. Makes the bed look too small!! Just my opinion :) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
Location: Loma Linda, CA | Any opinions on the mileage? 130k okay to be hauling around as much as I want to? I'm in Southern CA, would be traveling to Peyton, CO and Prescott, AZ. I hear the trucks can last up to 500k, more realistically around 300-400k. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
Location: Loma Linda, CA | Another consideration is future children. Strollers, baby seats etc which is why I liked the mega cab. And we have dogs, a basset hound mix and a beagle mix, but I'm sure they could fit in anything, but they'd travel with me too. And I'd most likely sleep in the back seat if I ever hauled out of town with them :P
But I did an online search and everyone liked 5.9L a lot better lol. |
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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
 
| 5.9  |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
 
Location: Montana | Between the 06 and 07, go for the 06...you will be happiest in the long run. You can always use your phone or a GPS...plus if the navigation goes out in a vehicle, it is REALLY expensive to fix. If both of those trucks cost the same, go for the 06. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1162
Location: White Mountains of AZ | 5.9 Cummins!!!!! |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| Love my 5.9 it has a cold air intake, 5 inch exhaust, and programmer. Will burn the tires right off the truck. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 554
| 5.9 way better |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | 5.9 hands down. Even better if it's the manual transmission. |
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 Go Canada!
Posts: 2954
| Phxbarrel - 2014-11-18 5:51 PM Another consideration is future children. Strollers, baby seats etc which is why I liked the mega cab. And we have dogs, a basset hound mix and a beagle mix, but I'm sure they could fit in anything, but they'd travel with me too. And I'd most likely sleep in the back seat if I ever hauled out of town with them :P But I did an online search and everyone liked 5.9L a lot better lol.
I have a 2007 regular cab Dodge 3500. It has the 6.7 diesel which I would have preferred the 5.9 but other than that this truck was exactly what I was looking for. It is a manual transmission which I've heard are pretty rock solid. So far I really like it.
I have two large labs that have been in the truck at the same time and just flip the back seat up. There's plenty of room for both of them! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| If those are your only options ... choose the 5.9. Ours will pull anything, anywhere. I have never been stranded or worried about safety in it. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 490
| I had a 99 5.9 cummins. When the block cracked at 274000 miles I was forced to get a new/used truck. I have an 08 half ton now. I MISS MY DIESEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My husbands F-250 (yuck) has 113,000 miles on it and is having major issues with the transmission. He is seriously regretting the decision to buy a Ford. I am refraining from telling him I TOLD YOU TO GET A GOAT. I haven't said it yet BUT its coming.....
Get the 5.9 if you can. Awesome motor. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 170
Location: up to my waist in you know what | 5.9 is a really great motor, resale on them is good also but a mega cab is really handy to have especially if you will be hauling extra passengers with you. We miss our mega cab anytime we go for even a couple hour trip. |
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Location: KS | We must have had the only 06 Mega Cab/diesel that was a lemon! New transmission, new rear end, and injector line number 4 kept breaking. Our mechanic said the injector line was a design flaw that allowed that line to vibrate more and that's why it kept breaking. Stranded me with a trailer 3 times. It broke down at the dealership when I was trying to trade it off. We could have paid the junker off with what we put in it trying to keep it going down the road. Traded for a brand new 11 Chevy (only way I could get out of the dodge half-way decent) and have LOVED the Chevy. Prior to the 06 was a Dodge truck driver all the way, now not so much. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1162
Location: White Mountains of AZ | Everybody I know who has a 5.9 Cummins, never has had major trouble. my 98 5.9 3/4 to just hit 244k in miles and the only thing I've done is body work over the past few years. Pulls anything anywhere. I would eventually like to get a newer truck, but this truck is just so awesome it's hard to get rid of it!!! It's loud as he** and pours black smoke everywhere we go...but I love it :) It was after 04 in the Cummins engines that people started having issues with them...at least from what I've seen and heard. I like my simple 12 valve :) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
Location: Loma Linda, CA | Thanks everyone for the inputs. I am waiting to hear back on loan options.
It sounds like 5.9 is the way to go! :)
Hopefully my next reply is pictures of me hugging my new truck! :P |
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
| We had a 5.7 crew cab and we currently have a 6.7 mega cab.
I loved the mileage on the 5.7. It also pulled a little better but not much in my opinion. I did not like to ride in the back seat. There is little room for extra crap. The back seats are uncomfortable and I didn't have much leg room.
We bought the 6.7 mega cab after I had my daughter. It does not get as good of mileage as the 5.7 and because of the cab/bed design and where the rear axle sits it is advised that you get an off set ball if you are going to be towing any goose neck trailers with an in bed hitch system. I LOVE the cab. I won't go back to a standard crew cab after having the mega. You wouldn't believe what you can fit behind the back seat, we have put a stroller, playpen, diaper bag, etc, PLUS the back seats recline AND you have so much more leg room in the back seat it isn't even funny! If you are planning on kids and traveling, I would forgo the better mileage for the comfort. A friend of ours has a 2011 6.7 but it does have a manual transmission it, he has over 300,000 miles on it and it has had no mechanical issues.
Edited by cyount2009 2014-11-19 12:16 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
Location: Loma Linda, CA | Alright, here she is, my new truck!
2006 Dodge 2500 cummins diesel.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/1463...
Changed to public so the pic can actually be viewed! :P
I'm in love. She handled really well, almost as good as my little cobalt. Very smooth ride. I'm thinking of hooking up the trailer tomorrow and hauling it around a few blocks just to see how it is pulling (probably like a dream) :P
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 Certified Snake Wrangler
Posts: 1672
Location: North MS | To late now, but google "Dodge Death Wobble". Tomorrow you should go find the absolute worst bump you can find and hit it going 55-60 mph. Hold the steering wheel tight. One wheel will feel like it is a triangle and the other a square. This is more common in 4x4's due to the front trac bar and bushing wear. I bought one the weekend before labor day in TX. I got to Shreveport and hit a MONSTER pothole on an above air overpass and the truck started bucking. I thought I had blew a tire and since I had never blown one out on a truck before I didn't know what it felt like. I pulled over and found nothing wrong with the truck. Hubby wouldn't let me drive the rest of the way home. It never did it again. Fast forward a few weeks and the wear and tear of the horrible roads in my hometown have made it where if I try to pull my bumper pull trailer and hit a bump I can't go over 35. Found that out on the way to Alabama to pick up a horse. Had to swap trucks or I never would have made it. Fast forward 2 more weeks and the hubby wants to drive it to Arkansas to get him a truck. My truck bucks 4 times on the way and we have to get off interstate to drive slower. He didn't realize it was that bad apparantly. A week later he orders the upgraded track bar, steering stabilizer, and several other things to tighten up the front end. So far so good, but I sure wish I had known about death wobble before I bought it. My 06 Dodge was a 2500 with the 5.9 and gave me no trouble. But this 3500....... Now I have to chase down a wiring short due to the western hauler bed being wired like a trailer. |
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