Your Help Please!!!

[24OutlawSE]

Well alright, I had the unfortunate pleasure of rolling my truck this morning.....I am OK!!! Just pissed.....It wasn't my fault. I was T-boned in the passenger side rear quarter panel which caused the truck to spin and then flip violently, tossing me around like a ragdoll. Pretty scary expierence, but like I said I'm fine just a little battered and brusied...
Ok now I need your help......I need a new truck. I really loved my 2002 Dodge Ram Quad Cab. Even though it wasn't the Hemi, it still towed my boat just fine and it looked awesome. So Let me hear your opinions on what's out now. I'm thinking about another Dodge. Probably a Quad Cab with the Cummins diesel.....Let me know what you guys think about your personal trucks..

P.S.
I posted a couple pics so you can see the damage

[GottaHaveIt]

Sorry to hear about the wreck, and it's good that you're OK.

Well since you had such a good time with your Dodge, and want to stick with it, :D definitely look at the new Cummins Rams. They're up to 325 HP and 600 Ft Lbs. Even with the automatic 48RE transmission. Of course my opinion is that a Cummins deserves a manual tranny. In that case it's the NV5600 6-speed manual.
There are a few incentives left. Check out the new Rams at
Dodge.com (http://www.dodge.com/ram_2500_3500/index.html?context=ram_truck&type=bottomImg) and click on Inventory Search. There are two HO Cummins engines. The 305/555 Cummins is the 2003 High Output. The newest uprated version is the 325/600. Easiest way to tell them apart in an inventory search is by the price of the diesel package. If it's $5,225 then that truck has the 305/555. That one will not have a catalytic converter in the exhaust system. The 325/600 has a huge catalytic converter. That was the only thing that Dodge had to do to the truck to certify it 50 state legal. But there are MANY other changes/improvements to the 600 besides the cat.
The 600 has an option price of $5,360. When you do an inventory search there is a window sticker view which has that info.
To get the most information on the Cummins Rams, go to the
TDR, or Turbo Diesel Register (http://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/) forums. There are a couple of sections dedicated to the "3rd gen" which is the 2003+ Rams. You will know everything there is to know about them right there.

The Hemi is a nice engine but the gas mileage is not so good. Probably 11-14 real-world MPG not towing. The Cummins is definitely the way to go!

I have a 2001 2500 Ram quad cab short bed 4x4 with the Cummins and NV4500 5-speed manual. I get 19+ on the highway not towing, and at least 15 towing my 25 Outlaw.
So far over 52,000 trouble free miles and going strong!

[haulinvols]

I agree with Gotta. You can't beat a Cummins. I worked for a Chrysler dealer for several years, and there is not another engine on the market I would rather have in a truck for towing. I drove a 1996 3500 Cummins for a work truck towing horses across the U.S., beat all others hands down. That said I do also like the new GM HD series trucks with the big block. Not a fan of their Isuzu diesel. It has been a while since I was up to speed on the Dodge option list, but If you plan on going with the 6-speed and are towing a 24Outlaw still, I would stay with the 3:55 gears. The 4:10s will give you better low end grunt, but with no more weight than you will be towing it will eat you up on top end and fuel economy. Trust me 1st gear in the 6-speed is plenty low to forgo the lower gear set. You would never miss it unless you are towing 10,000 plus pounds on a daily basis. Glad you are still with us, and good luck on a new purchase.

[TeamBajaMarine]

24,
Just approved the photos! Count your blessings and thank goodness you walked away from that. A rollover is never a pretty sight, I have seen my share with worse outcomes as my brother-in law owns a huge wrecking yard.

[pancepance]

WOW,
Bet you had a headache after that one:spineyes
I have the '03 2500 Quad Cab with the Cummins HO (the 305)
I cant say enough good things about it. It moves my 302 down the road like its not even there.
I traded in a GMC 2500HD w/8.1L on it and have never looked back.
The biggest concern ppl. have is the cummins w/the auto. Mine is fine, never slips (even with having Banks box). Runs great and I'm getting around 18mpg on the highway. Definately a pricey rig but if your planning on having something for a while I'd say get the 325/600 and you'll have it a while.
I also think hands down that the Ram 2500 QC is the best looking truck in its market by far.

[25OutLaw]

Todd,
Glad to hear you are OK. That looks like some scary stuff you went through. Did you have any of the optional side curtain airbags in your truck?
I can't offer you any opinion on the Cummins diesel. But I did recently get an '04 Ram 1500 Quad with the Hemi, automatic and 3.92 rear end for pulling my 25 Outlaw. Gas mileage is not the greatest (typically 11 streets, 14 highway), it has been as low as 8 and as high as 18mpg. I haven't towed the boat yet, but I'm sure it'll be fine.

Stay safe.
Steve

[24OutlawSE]

Thanks for the replies guys......I'm sore as hell today.....Geez that was a crazy ride....Yeah I definately will be looking at the Dodge with the Cummins.....I had planned on keeping my truck until it died....Well I guess it's dead now...I only had one more year to pay on the damn thing....Glad to hear the gas mileage on the diesel is that high.....I was only getting about 10mpg when towing. That sucked....I'm waiting for the insurance company to call so I can get this thing rolling....No I didn't have the side curtain airbag....I will definately look into that on the next truck.......Well I'm heading back to the couch to rest the body somemore......Thanks for your thoguhts......:zzzzz

[srpbaer]

24Outlaw....I too like the dodge, but I would compare it to the Chevy Avalanche...I know.......you will say it is ugly...I disagree but I love mine and it does tow like a dream and rides like you are on silk...Get the Z71 auto with towing package and I think you will surprised as I was. One great tow vehicle. Room inside to live .;)

[Seize n Ticket]

We drive an old beater 1997 Ford F-150, which pulls the baot very well. I have had Dodges in the past, which were not good experiences. All my other trucks have been Fords and no problems. The wife drives a Chevy Impala, so it's not just a brand thing. We drive what we get the best results with. Glad to hear you're okay.

[kidbaja]

:zzzzz Take your time with recovery, we need you on the water at 100%. The Dodge is cool but Chevy all the way. The new diesels are so quiet you hardly even know they are a diesel. Hope you feeling better:biggrin

[toypuller]

I drove a lot of trucks and also work for a electric company in fleet,i purchased a gmc 2500 hd with the 496 with the Allison trans and 4.11 gears my buds drive fords and dodge gas and diesel and the mileage is not far off from the rest of them while not towing when towing it is within 1 to 2 mpg plus you can get gas anywhere my bud last you ran out of diesel because he could not find any its not always available around some of the small towns

[GottaHaveIt]

Gas is nice but I'd rather be different. I love the noisy Cummins under my hood! :biggrin

I've been driving diesel pickups since 1994 and not once have I been in a situation where I couldn't find fuel. You just have to keep that in mind when you're not familiar with the area. Generally when I'm on a road trip, it's easy to find diesel. Especially if you're on the interstate, there are lots of truck stops and the fuel quality is better since they sell a lot of it and it doesn't sit and get water in it.

The only thing you need that's important for a diesel is a couple of spare fuel filters in case you get a bad load of fuel.
That's never happened to me as of yet..knock knock! ;)

As for mileage, the 8.1 GM2500HD trucks average 12 MPG not towing if you run with traffic. These days traffic runs 70-80!
I get 19 MPG during my commute, and better if I run below 70.
Diesels get better fuel economy because it takes less diesel fuel to make the same power as gas.

There's nothing wrong with the GM 8.1. I really like the engine but if I had to choose between that and the Duramax in a 2500HD, it'd be diesel for me. The Allison tranny is awesome too!

[24OutlawSE]

Thank for all your advice guys. I'm starting to feel better. I test drive a 2004 Dodge 2500 with the 5.9L Cummins. Wholly hell Batman that truck runs like a raped ape. I'm sold. I don't even need to look at anything else. The only complaint I have is that it is too quiet. I will have to rip that factory exhaust off and replace it with an aftermarket exhaust. Probably by Banks Power. Just so I can piss off the neighbors again. They hated my old truck. :thatsfunny

[haulinvols]

Good luck with your purchase 24. I can tell you first hand those things sound mean with an aftermarket exhaust. I think you will be happy with the Cummins.

[pancepance]

Get it, go nuts and get two stacks fabricated for you to run up out of the bed behind the cab. A guy pulled next to me with a set up like that. They looked awesome and sounded the same. Probably a few bucks but well worth it in "piss off the neighbor" value.
I'm thinking of doing it to mine this summer

[GottaHaveIt]

Great choice! :biggrin

Now join the www.turbodieselregister.com/ (http://www.turbodieselregister.com/) TDR and learn all you can about the truck, the engine, the mods...

:D

Get a standard trans! A diesel sounds wimpy with an automatic! :evil

[24OutlawSE]

Well guys I did some shopping over the weekend. Today I put some money down on a 2004 Dodge Ram Quad Cab Cummins HO automatic. I'm going with the dealer on Wednesday to Columbia to pick it up. How about that for a test drive. Sticker on it was 41,800. I'm stealing it from them for 32,094. :) I think it's a hellava deal. I'm happy with the price and with interest rates as low as they are my payments are cheap. Well cheap is a relavent term. So hopefully I will have her home by the weekend and I can try to figure out how to fit the new beast into the garage!!!! I'll post some new pics of her when I bring her home. Thanks for the advice.

[BDannecker]

Congratulations! Should make pulling a boat a real pleasure... :biggrin

[GottaHaveIt]

Dang dude, that's an awesome price! Ya did good man! :biggrin Definitely looking forward to the pics!!

You bought one helluva towing beast! :dancinbanana