These trucks can be very strong pullers. There are many changes that will make even more power for heavy duty work. If possible hookup truck to a heavy trailer and decide if truck will do your task. I have a Ford F350 with a diesel. I just finished a 2K trip. It was like magic. My truck is the same numbers except for the rear axle ratio, mine is 4:10. My milage was about 13-15 at about 65-70, down west coast and back. There are several great Dodge diesel sites on the net. The price of the truck is dependent on many factors, mainly your personal views.......
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Visit Idaho The people are great
Sorry, not a slam on Dodge trucks! I'm in one of those moods today. (Anti CAR Dealer) I just checked the value of my truck on Edmunds.com, and lo and behold, the "private party" price is over a thousand dollars lower than the "Dealer Price". A dealer would think or say that since it has 85,000 miles on it then only 15% of it's life is left, because as far as dealers are concerned, the useful life of any vehicle is 100,000 miles, unless of course they are selling it. A few trucks ago, I had a MINT condition 1990 GMC short bed, half ton pickup. I wanted to trade it in, and they offered me $1500!!!!! I know darn well, they would turn it around and get $6500-$7000 for it, because I sold it for $5000.
To find the true value of that truck, use tools such as edmunds.com and autobytel.com, as well as looking around local dealer lots. Dodge diesels are so popular, that I doubt you'll find one used on any lots.
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CP 9 miles off Exit 399, I75.
2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4 D/A Ext. Cab
Propane Powered Honda EU2000i
Lots of Hot Sauce! Air # 283
I just checked Kelly's Blue Book (www.kbb.com) and the value that you listed was right at KBB's listing. My mother is a loan officer at one of the bigger banks and she sais that KBB is the only thing that they use.
I have a '99 Dodge 2500 short bed 4x4. I have to say that it pulls anything that I through at it (including the time that I pulled an overloaded goose neck 70 miles and blew two of the tires on it. The trailer and load wieghed in at 25400lbs. I was told that my load was lighter).
Pros:
-Dodge uses 1 ton axels on there diesel 2500's (mine has Dana 60 in front and Dana 70 in back)
-Plenty of power
-Cummins users are reporting 400k miles before rebuild
-14mpg towing on interstate-20mpg empty
Cons:
-Transmision (people say 60,000 miles. I tow almost everyday for work and have 80,000miles so far, but I am antisipating a rebuild one day. I do change fluid every 15,000miles)
-Harsh ride (It is a truck though)
-Eats brakes (every 25,000 miles with mine; and yes all my trailers have brakes)
Would I recomend it. I don't know. If you expect a truck, go for it and plan for tranny rebuild. If you want a comfy ride, look at a chevy.
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Patrick Crusse
'74 Tradewind 25', Rear Bath - Center Twin, Mostly Original except wood floors.
Tow Vehicle: '99 Dodge Ram 2500 w/ Cummins Diesel, Auto Trans. Tows great even without equilizer hitch.
PatCrusse has picked up almost everything I was going to say. Edmunds.com suggests that you are in the ball park on price, depending on the exact options and condition. The Cummins engine is largely reguarded as the class act among the big three pickup diesels. The automatic transmissions are apparently a weak link, and I hear complaints about the brakes - in fact I understand there is a fairly large aftermarket industry supplying upgraded discs and calipers for Dodge trucks.
Those miles don't mean anything in the life of the engine (assuming decent maintenance).
By "Anti-spin diff" I assume you mean limited slip.
They are LOUD!
That is going to be one long dude to parallel park!
I live in Central VA also, and pull with a 2001 Dodge Diesel 24 valve Cummins. Quad cab, short bed, 4X4, otherwise equipped about like the one you have considered. I have to agree with some of the other comments about the 17K price. Too much. I think if you can find a good truck manager at a Dealer (I used the one at Brown's in C'ville) he could save you time and money.
As for pulling... we have pulled our 31' A/S Sovereign about 12,000 miles with this truck from home to Maine, into WVA mountains down to Florida. It has enough power (All Stock) to generally hold legal interstate speeds except at 5-7% grades. We pull about 8700 lbs and on a recent Florida trip averaged 12-14 mpg while towing, 17-20 without trailer. Yes, it is noisier than the Ford or Chevy. Most of the people I meet with Cummins power are pulling horse trailers, etc. and go way over 200k miles without re-builds. I think transmission life is somewhat a function of how you treat it and regular service. Ditto for brakes.
I hope this info is helpful, email me if you would like any further input. Good luck.
I tow a 25 ft Excella (max 6800 pounds) with the Ram 2500 Cummins diesel. It tows beautifully. However, I consider an exhaust brake highly desirable if you go near any long steep down grades. The torque converter clutch unlocks when the throttle is released, so you will be relying solely on your service brakes without an exhaust brake. (Virtually no engine braking). Along with this you would need a method of locking the torque converter when the exhaust brake operates. I have a BD-Power e-brake and Autolock to deal with this. The brakes will wear far less with an e-brake.The stock transmission frequently suffers if modifications are made to increase the power of the engine, but this is not surprising. (My reference for this is the Turbo Diesel Register, on the web). Problems can occur if towing takes place in overdrive at slow speeds. (lugging) The owner's manual advises against towing in overdrive. The overdrive clutches depend on fluid pressure to lock on, and as engine revs drop, the pumped fluid pressure drops, just when you want it to stay up. The clutch can then slip, causing damage. I tow in overdrive, on the flat, over 1800 rpm, without accelleration, and without cruise control, but I've fitted a BD Pressurelock to increase fluid pressure under these circumstances. The 24 valve engine has had problems with the fuel pump (expensive), and the track bar, which gives lateral location to the front axle, often wears rapidly. Every make of vehicle has its plusses and minuses. I decided the Cummins engine was the one for me. As for the price, you can only compare it with others for sale. From my experience of examining these diesels before my purchase, I would say the price is fair. The only thing stopping me from buying it would be the lack of 4-wheel drive. Because the back-end of the unladen truck is so light, backing up on muddy ground can be a problem. I can't reverse into my garage without 4 WD if theres been any rain on the dirt approach, and it's not steep. Backing an Airstream at an angle in a soft sandy camp-site or field has occasionally only worked in 4 WD. Good luck. Nick
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Nick Crowhurst, Excella 25 1988, Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel. England in summer, USA in winter.
"The price of freedom is eternal maintenance."
Contemplating a 2001 Dodge 2500 (3/4ton) Quad-cab(stretch) /Long bed.
5.9L Cummins 24valve Diesel / 4spd auto (47RE) / Anti-spin diff /
3.54 : 1 I think, / trailer tow group / camper spec group=stabalizer bar and rear aux springs / 136 Amp alt. / 16x8 inch wheels /
85000 miles
17500 dollars
Any advice appreciated.
So what did you end up doing? No info on your profile...
__________________ Phil and/or Sue (with Buffett, Gus and Penny) 1983 31' Sovereign 1973 31' Sovereign (project)
'01 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad LWB 2x4 6sp Cummins Turbo Diesel
AIR 1753
Prob won't get an answer....last activity for Pap was back in 2003. Hasn't been around since.
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Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 1991
Prob won't get an answer....last activity for Pap was back in 2003. Hasn't been around since.
Noticed that in general, but did not check his posts. Hoping he gets email notification, I guess. His profile does not allow email to him.
__________________ Phil and/or Sue (with Buffett, Gus and Penny) 1983 31' Sovereign 1973 31' Sovereign (project)
'01 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad LWB 2x4 6sp Cummins Turbo Diesel
AIR 1753
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