Do you know what year Dodge

Phred · Jul 9, 2004

Rat,

It's funny to note that my previous ride was also a 93 ford non trubo IDI 7.3. Although mine was a manual, and the radio never worked well... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Trust me you will love the difference!
These new trucks are nothing like the old ones.

Fred

_RaT_ · Jul 9, 2004

Fred, as one who frequently goes up to Lake Tahoe (a Lake near me), I find myself getting more embarressed all the time with an empty bed and lots of smoke pouring out at about 4000' to 5000'. It only gets worse from there. I find myself continually glancing in the rear view mirror to look at the exhaust to find the "no smoke sweet spot". I thought a new pump and injectors would help.

NIXON · Jul 9, 2004

Rat ,
I hear it all the time that the 6.0 ford ( especially the first ones ) have a lot of problems . I can't dispute that . But I've got an early 03 that's been very reliable . I did have an FICM go bad at 14K miles . (fuel injection control module )
But it never left me stranded . Other than that it's been totally rock solid . But my son in law has a dodge . I've got to grudgingly admit it's a very well designed machine .
If I were to be in the market for another truck today it'd be a hard choice indeed ! But either way I went it'd be an Auto .
John

rockyridgefarm · Jul 9, 2004

USED Diesels? HA!!!

I work for a Dodge store... We sell a ton of trucks. OK Lots of tons of trucks... Feel free to browse my homepage, I ain't trying to sell 'em here... But, we have the selling prices posted, and you can use it to comparison shop.

Buy one on the last day of the month....

_RaT_ · Jul 9, 2004

OK, I'll take one. I want the hand crank window, plastic seat (no yellow), 4 door, shorter bed, auto or manual, light colored, diesel and no undercoating. What, no used, that will never do, I've never bought anything new but Kubotas and milk. Rat...

LarryRB · Jul 9, 2004

yeah
and that's another thing. Those Ford power stokers that I drove had lousy radios in them too. At least I have the infinity system with 38 doo dad buttons that will tie me up another 8 months figuring out what is what to hear good music..

_RaT_ · Jul 9, 2004

Actually, my stock radio is in storage, I have a Pioneer CD player. Between the CD player and AM, I'm quite satisfied. I pretty much gave up on FM somewhere in the 80's or early 90's. After the Police, Dire Straits and Patrick O'Hearn, I resorted to my old music collection on CD's. The 90's music never grew on me or I grew old to it.

TOMLESCOEQUIP · Jul 9, 2004

RAT.......I just traded my '02 dodge in on a '04 and 1/2 Dodge with the quiet diesel and the automatic. The '02 was standard output diesel and auto with 45k miles. The new truck is a 3500 series 4 door short bed 4x4. I got it 2 1/2 weeks ago and left on vacation to canada 4 days later. It's awesome so far.........2000 miles on it already.............it sounds like a gas job with noisey valvetrain problems.......hardly any motor noise at all........My wife was used to the old "noisey" truck.......She calls this my new "stealth" truck.........she doesn't hear me coming up the driveway anymore !! This is my 3rd dodge diesel, Dodge 1995, chevy 1996, then the 02 dodge and now the '04.......It's by far the best one so far...........I thought the cummins in the '95 was a horse compared to my previous gas pickups, Then I got the '02 which blew the '95 away........and now the new one ............The dealer had someone who wanted my '02 with the old body style.......They made me a deal I couldn't refuse..........I had auto trans in them all..........I tow forklifts around on a heavy tag trailer.........I never had any transmission trouble with any of them............They've been good to me ............Tom

YanmarFever · Jul 10, 2004

I have an 02 ho 6 sp. dodge , and I love it.
Only it sounds like a bucket of chestnuts with a microphone in it !! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

cowboydoc · Jul 10, 2004

I think the cummins is the best engine out there but it's in a Dodge, /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. The cummins with the 6 speed I think is an awesome combination. The auto has something to be desired. They still do not have it right. And that's not from me that is from Dodge owners. Ford never had it right until the new torqshift either for that matter. Until Chevy pushed the edge and finally put a respectable Allison behind the duramax it was a crapshoot with an automatic. I think just like the cummins is probably the best motor the Allison is the best transmission. Ford would be second and last would be Dodge. All are great trucks though. I just don't think I could live with a duramax when there are great engines from 100% american companies out there producing the cummins and international.

Just a few facts about the Ford though. Ford didn't push the software too far. The 6.0 is rated for up to 450 hp and 700 lbs. of torque. The problem was the emissions control. Ford has these trucks emission compliant for the new very stringent standards that are going to be happening very soon. There were some problems getting the first 03's right. I never had any problems and mine is still running very strong but some did. There was also a problem with the placement of the ICP sensor being too close to a heat source. Those problems were fixed by mid 2003. The 2004's have had no problems.

There also was not a lawsuit by Ford on the 6.0. It was over the 6 CYLINDER diesel that International was producing for the SUV's and the 1/2 ton pickups. That lawsuit was settled out of court and it was brought by International not Ford.

Also the 6.0 was not run for 8 years. It was run for one year before going into the pickups, well actually about 6 months. The engine went into production in Jan/Feb 2003. Originally the motor was slated for the pickups in Aug. of 2003. Some programming issues came up and it was delayed to later that winter. Ford thought they had the issues worked out. Problem was you never know for sure until things hit mass production. There are many, many 03's running the original programs with no problems.

The good news from Ford is come next month they are coming out with a completely new design. If you've seen the Tonka truck it will be similiar to this. There will be a complete frame, brake, and suspension. This will allow Ford to bring their GCVW up to a rumored 24k. That will be best in class. The 6.0 and torqshift will stay. The sheet metal will be completely redesigned as well as the cab. The cab will have less of a truck feel, bad news to me but good to others, and more of an expedition look. They will have all the creature comforts that were missing before ie. climate control, etc.