2000ish dodge 3500

[pavulon]

Looking at these trucks to own for the long run. Would only buy a no-salt exposure vehicle but am wondering about reputation/troubles. Interested in a manual trans and cummins equipped truck. Would most like a 2wd (with "anti-spin") version as I won't need to run it in the winter and getting my daughter in and out will be less problematic.

Experiences?

[IS300]

I own a 2003 dodge 2500 2wd ,4door, long bed its been great, no problems ... except in the snow

[porsche4life]

The drivetrain is good for 500k miles easy. Finding one that rest of the truck isn't shot will be the key. Dads had huge cracks in the dash at 230k, but it was also always outside and got abused pretty hard.

Just watch the injector pump and you are good. If it's hard to start check the fuel pressure and replace the lift pump as needed. Bad design the 200 lift pump fails and takes the $1800 injector pump out!

[cashflyer]

The VP44 high pressure fuel pump was used from 98-02.
They are fuel lubricated, so when your lift pump goes, the VP44 eats itself.
Prices have come down some, with rebuilt units under a grand.

Many enthusiast sites even advise against running the new ULS diesel fuel without some sort of additives to protect the pump.... so you may want to count that expense into your operating costs.


Also... if you ever lose the ECM, you may have a hard time getting a new one. Mine died (2002 Ram 3500). My local Dodge dealer was of no help and I had to go through Cummins to get a new one.

[Dan J]

It's a good motor in a Dodge truck
You don't really want a Dodge truck

[pavulon]

Fair enough but please elaborate.

Originally Posted by Dan J

It's a good motor in a Dodge truck
You don't really want a Dodge truck

[pavulon]

Good info. Thanks!

Originally Posted by cashflyer

The VP44 high pressure fuel pump was used from 98-02.
They are fuel lubricated, so when your lift pump goes, the VP44 eats itself.
Prices have come down some, with rebuilt units under a grand.

Many enthusiast sites even advise against running the new ULS diesel fuel without some sort of additives to protect the pump.... so you may want to count that expense into your operating costs.


Also... if you ever lose the ECM, you may have a hard time getting a new one. Mine died (2002 Ram 3500). My local Dodge dealer was of no help and I had to go through Cummins to get a new one.

[pavulon]

Thanks! Are you in Phoenix? I'm interested in one there if you're also there and willing to look at it!

Originally Posted by porsche4life

The drivetrain is good for 500k miles easy. Finding one that rest of the truck isn't shot will be the key. Dads had huge cracks in the dash at 230k, but it was also always outside and got abused pretty hard.

Just watch the injector pump and you are good. If it's hard to start check the fuel pressure and replace the lift pump as needed. Bad design the 200 lift pump fails and takes the $1800 injector pump out!

[pavulon]

Thank you!

Originally Posted by IS300

I own a 2003 dodge 2500 2wd ,4door, long bed its been great, no problems ... except in the snow

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by pavulon

Thanks! Are you in Phoenix? I'm interested in one there if you're also there and willing to look at it!

I'm in Gilbert(Phoenix area) more than willing to go look at one. Just pm me the details!

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by pavulon

Fair enough but please elaborate.

I think I know what he's getting at. They aren't the most well built vehicles, but when you look at everything from that time period in the domestic market, none of them really were.



That Cummins though.. Tons of power and go for days. Only issues we had with dads over 230k miles was the one Vp44 at 150k miles and then the clutch at 180k miles. Truck made it home both times its worth noting. Never stranded us!

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

The VP44 high pressure fuel pump was used from 98-02.
They are fuel lubricated, so when your lift pump goes, the VP44 eats itself.
Prices have come down some, with rebuilt units under a grand.

Many enthusiast sites even advise against running the new ULS diesel fuel without some sort of additives to protect the pump.... so you may want to count that expense into your operating costs.


Also... if you ever lose the ECM, you may have a hard time getting a new one. Mine died (2002 Ram 3500). My local Dodge dealer was of no help and I had to go through Cummins to get a new one.

My buddy went through this . Cummins ECM sold through Mopar, He waited weeks for it to come in, then the dealer wiped it out flashing it . Had to go to a local big truck/cummins truck guy to get it all sorted . He has 395 k on his truck. One clutch, one VP 44 , and ball joints and u joints more than once . Still pulls like a freight train .

[VincentVega]

It seems you can overlook the peeling paint, rusted rockers and interior going to chit as long as the motor keeps pulling. What a great motor.

[legion]

My best friend has a 20000 Dodge 3500 diesel dually manual. Truck has lived its whole life in the south, so no rust. His only complaint is that the gearing is so low it tops out at 62 mph in 5th at red line.

[Reiver]

I've a 3500 '97 with auto....in my year at least the auto tranny was rated as pulling a heavier load and I can cruise in the 70's 80's with the OD.
Runs like a top, lives outdoors in Az sun so looks like crap as the paint has peeled.

[unclebilly]

These things are F'ing garbage. Once they hit 150,000 miles the dodge stuff starts to fall apart around the rest if it.

The early pre 94 trucks were solid but not great either. It took me 2 of these to learn my lesson.

On my last one, a 2003 2500 HD 4x4 quad cab short of Laramie, it cost me close to $40,000 to own it for 2 years (and it sat parked for 13 months months of those 2 years). I did much of the work myself...

Problems as I remember:

Heater controls never worked right.
Broke front driveshaft in snow.
Transfer case packed in.
Hole in rad from debris between rad and inter cooler rubbing.
Throttle position sensor.
Steering box broke.
Death wobble - front stabilizer fixed.
Both front wheel bearings.
Fuel pump.
Then the transfer case exploded! This took out the trans, the brake lines going to the back, the wiring harness, fuel lines, front drive shaft (huge repair bill and 13 month hiatus).
2 torque converters (warranteed by dodge with their new MOPAR) trans.

These are amazingly capable trucks when they gave low mileage. The guys who swear buy them either have low mile trucks or never use them as trucks.

Steer clear if you plan to own it for ant amount if time. I sold mine with 230,000 kms on it. I could have made payments on a new 911 turbo for less than this POS cost me.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by legion

My best friend has a 20000 Dodge 3500 diesel dually manual. Truck has lived its whole life in the south, so no rust. His only complaint is that the gearing is so low it tops out at 62 mph in 5th at red line.

Holy crapp!!! No freeway driving with that truck!

[VincentVega]

I dont know the gearing in the one I drove. Unloaded first was useless on the road, 2nd gear starts took a little while to get used to. I dont think I got over 65 but it had no issues at highway speeds. I'm sure you can get a real stump puller rear if you want.

[legion]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

I dont know the gearing in the one I drove. Unloaded first was useless on the road, 2nd gear starts took a little while to get used to. I dont think I got over 65 but it had no issues at highway speeds. I'm sure you can get a real stump puller rear if you want.

That's about what my buddy's was like. He started it in 2nd when he wasn't towing.

[flipper35]

We have a 2000 Durango with just short of 200k miles. Had to do things like alternator, starter and such but the interior is in good shape. The A/C has never been real strong though. Still has very little rust on it. Not a 3500 but you get the idea.