narrowed it down to two trucks, and I am confused
 

I finally decided to paint my 93 dodge diesel and sell it. Low milage of 126000 but need a real rear seat for my growing kids.

Drove out to Tucson this weekend to look at a Dodge 3500 diesel 4WD and like it a lot. Compared to my old 93, it was day and night. It has plenty of power and it was sooooo quiet. I drove my truck out there and half way through, I needed ear plugs. Oh, its a stock truck. the ride on the new truck is soooo much nicer. Even though its a 4WD, the ride was firm. Its an 05

Now, there's this 06 Chevy Duramax, also 4wd. I found 15 miles from my house. Owner seem to really want to get rid of it because he bought a Megacab Dodge. he's spend 14000 bucks on new injectors, pump and a bunch of front end parts making it reliable.

Both truck are within 1500 buck of each other, but I hear the Chevy is a better riding truck with IFS front suspension and a great transmission. The dodge is a tank with the good-O-Cummins in there.

I need to decide but are having a hard time doing so. I know the Chevy is a better truck overall compare to Dodge's legendary built quality but I really like the engine. Those are the last years without all the smog crap. the mileage on them are acceptable, under 175k.

What would buy?

So, starting all over with this thread????
Here's your last thread on this.

Different answers this time?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/945153-general-truck-diesel-smog-question.html

BTW, 4WD is not important to me. These trucks happens to be really nice truck that hasn't been abused and they fit my needs

I am lame. Couldn't find it.

If mods can help me move it over to the other thread, that would be great. Thanks

Don't know how the '05 compares, but CR rated the new Dodges low, low, low on crash protection rating. Plus the exterior parts of the Dodges have always had a reputation for falling apart.

Dunno nutin but my friend has the diesel Chevy Silerado 4X4 (bought it to haul his boat) and he loves it, he even uses it for Vegas runs (he and his friends are XL size). AFAIK he has not had any mechanical problems.
YMMV

Cummins all day long, every day. I am personally a Ford 7.3L owner and lover. If I were to buy something different, a Cummins is at the top of the list.

Oh, that's great to know. Safety is important, but paint and trim work, not so much. My 93 is paint is faded and trim pieces falling apart just sitting there.

Its funny how we all have different wants/needs. If you werent across the country I'd be interested in your 'old' truck as it sits.

My uncle has a 2-3 yr old Chevy 2500, really impressive. I think the ride is excellent for a 3/4 ton and like you said the trans is excellent. I've read way too many dodge trans issues to be a bit weary. At the same time, I'd be a bit cautious about the early Duramax, make sure you get the right year or at least avoid the bad ones.

I have been reading a bit about the Chevy, and this 06-07 are the ones to get. Trouble free. The way I see it, the cummins is "the" motor (living proof from my 93. 126xxx miles without one single thing done to it but a pump. That's was all my decision and it really wasn't needed). I think the weak link is the motor or IFS suspension. With a Dodge, transmissions are cheap to rebuild where as a Duramax motor is $$$$ when it goes. Th drive train on that dodge is solid with the questionable tranny. Love the solid front axel.

I own a diesel shop, I drive a Dodge. Long term ownership will be less with the Dodge for sure. Duramaxs are actually good engines, keep clean fuel flowing to them and they will go 500k no sweat. Same with the Dodge. To build a Dodge 48re "Correctly" to handle the torque of the cummins and last, expect to pay $6kish, installed. Expect to to replace injectors in the dodge at 150-175k. the 06-07 5.9s did have some issues with dropping valve seats, but there is no rhyme or reason as to when or if that will happen.
The Allison should last forever. Build quality is about the same between the two. Ride is way better on the Chevy. If you don't need 4wd, then the solid front axle shouldn't be a concern either, so the Chevy may be a better choice for you.
Hope that helps a little. There are some common issues listed on my website, Left Coast Diesel Performance and Service if you want to check them out.

Wow, this place is too cool. Thanks LeftCoastErik. You think that cummins HO motor is too much tq for their 48RE?

Doesn't the 3500 with the big C have the Aisin transmission?

Dodge.

Looked it up, the Aisin wasn't available until later. Bummer.

I'd take an '06 Duramax LBZ w Allison over an '05 Dodge eight freaking ways from Sunday, unless there are some extenuating circumstances. You provide zero information about miles or condition, so I can't definitively say for the two trucks you're looking at but an '06/'07 LBZ is one of the best trucks ever made and an '05 Dodge is junk in comparison.

Cummins engines are great but they have their own issues and none of them matched the old 12v in toughness as they advanced in refinement. The problem is the truck they came in. Don't take my word for it, do a search here and on the rest of the web.

I'd say hands down that an 06/07 (old body style if '07), Duramax LBZ was the best diesel truck ever but the Ford 6.7 may have knocked it off that throne in my book. The '05 Dodge would be square on the bottom of the list.

I'm with Dennis on this one, but generally, there is always something that separates one truck from the others. Perhaps you just haven't adjusted to Chevy ?

I have a ford with the v-10 gas motor in a e350 cargo van... Was $3700 with 110,000 miles on it 8 years ago. Van looked like new. Diesel was 5 times that.

Rides great, and was cheap used...

Everyone wants a diesel. You can get a truck with a big gas motor for very little, even 80% off the diesel. That's a lot of gas money...

If you drive for a living, that's one thing. If it's to pull your boat or car once in a while, gas will do...

The only thing you have to worry about on the early Duramax as I understand it are the injectors and the occasional glow plug which can be a bit of a task to replace. . If he had new injectors installed you should be golden. I'd go Duramax for the power and the Allison transmission over the Dodge.