Any of you all have a 2004ish Dodge Ram 1500?

[KSUTOMMY]

Or maybe your grandpa or pops has one... I'm gonna look at one today and want to know your thoughts. I could  search online about this and read what TOTAL strangers have to say, but I figured that some complete EMAW stranger would have a more interesting opinion.

[CNS]

Or maybe your grandpa or pops has one... I'm gonna look at one today and want to know your thoughts. I could  search online about this and read what TOTAL strangers have to say, but I figured that some complete EMAW stranger would have a more interesting opinion.

My dad has a 2006 dodge diesel.  Huge piece of cac.  He regrets buying it daily.  Lots of little things suck about it, rattles and what not, but has had to have U joints replaced three times and has had major transmission trouble.  

Repeat, huge piece of cac.

[Mikeyis4dcats]

I drive a 2005 Ram 1500 quad cab for work.   Good truck.  I have a bad wheel bearing at the moment after 60k.  Had a tranny solenoid replaced under recall in the first year. 

[Pittcat]

Terrible transmission issues with pretty much all Dodge pickups.

[KITNfury]

Got an '05. I like it, but it's the 4.7 liter and IMO is a little undersized, but I don't really need it for hard towing.

[Mikeyis4dcats]

Terrible transmission issues with pretty much all Dodge pickups.

they have gotten better 2004/5ish on.

[KSUTOMMY]

It's a 5 sp with a v6, so there will be slightly better gas mileage and I can get an extended warranty on the drivetrain. I don't plan on towing/hauling much except for the kids and home improvement stuff, so it will be used relatively gently. I too have heard nightmares about the automatic transmissions.

[KITNfury]

It's a 5 sp with a v6, so there will be slightly better gas mileage and I can get an extended warranty on the drivetrain. I don't plan on towing/hauling much except for the kids and home improvement stuff, so it will be used relatively gently. I too have heard nightmares about the automatic transmissions.

I'd really think about getting a V8. Mine is and at 4.7 liters it still feels a little underpowered, although not terrible. I bet that v6 in a bigger pickup like that would be a slug. Just a thought.

Also, I think Dodge is pretty good about fudging on the MPG their trucks get.

[Pittcat]

Dodge gets the worst fuel mileage of all of the three major pickup manufacturers.  Especially in the mid-2000's.  Dodge's are also the most expensive full size pickups to insure.  Basically what I'm saying in these last two posts of mine is, don't buy a rough ridin' Dodge.

[KITNfury]

Dodge gets the worst fuel mileage of all of the three major pickup manufacturers.  Especially in the mid-2000's.  Dodge's are also the most expensive full size pickups to insure.  Basically what I'm saying in these last two posts of mine is, don't buy a rough ridin' Dodge.

But they tend to  be significantly cheaper to buy in the used market than Ford or Chevy. I wanted a ford when I was looking, but the quad cab F150 was thousands more than the quad cab Ram.

[pissclams]

Dodge gets the worst fuel mileage of all of the three major pickup manufacturers.  Especially in the mid-2000's.  Dodge's are also the most expensive full size pickups to insure.  Basically what I'm saying in these last two posts of mine is, don't buy a rough ridin' Dodge.

But they tend to  be significantly cheaper to buy in the used market than Ford or Chevy. I wanted a ford when I was looking, but the quad cab F150 was thousands more than the quad cab Ram.

You understand why their residual value is crap, don't you?

[KITNfury]

Dodge gets the worst fuel mileage of all of the three major pickup manufacturers.  Especially in the mid-2000's.  Dodge's are also the most expensive full size pickups to insure.  Basically what I'm saying in these last two posts of mine is, don't buy a rough ridin' Dodge.

But they tend to  be significantly cheaper to buy in the used market than Ford or Chevy. I wanted a ford when I was looking, but the quad cab F150 was thousands more than the quad cab Ram.

You understand why their residual value is crap, don't you?

meh. The engine is bullet proof. Tranny could become an issue. I take care of my vehicles, so I don't worry too much.

[Mikeyis4dcats]

Dodge gets the worst fuel mileage of all of the three major pickup manufacturers.  Especially in the mid-2000's.  Dodge's are also the most expensive full size pickups to insure.  Basically what I'm saying in these last two posts of mine is, don't buy a rough ridin' Dodge.

interesting.   I just looked at our insurance invoice, and the 2 Dodge's we own are not much different that the 2 Chevy and 11 Fords.

My V8 Hemi gets 14mpg.   And I have a heavy foot.

[CNS]

Dodge gets the worst fuel mileage of all of the three major pickup manufacturers.  Especially in the mid-2000's.  Dodge's are also the most expensive full size pickups to insure.  Basically what I'm saying in these last two posts of mine is, don't buy a effing Dodge.

But they tend to  be significantly cheaper to buy in the used market than Ford or Chevy. I wanted a ford when I was looking, but the quad cab F150 was thousands more than the quad cab Ram.

You understand why their residual value is cac, don't you?

meh. The engine is bullet proof. Tranny could become an issue. I take care of my vehicles, so I don't worry too much.

One significant transmission issue could make that difference up for you pretty quickly.

[KITNfury]

Dodge gets the worst fuel mileage of all of the three major pickup manufacturers.  Especially in the mid-2000's.  Dodge's are also the most expensive full size pickups to insure.  Basically what I'm saying in these last two posts of mine is, don't buy a effing Dodge.

But they tend to  be significantly cheaper to buy in the used market than Ford or Chevy. I wanted a ford when I was looking, but the quad cab F150 was thousands more than the quad cab Ram.

You understand why their residual value is cac, don't you?

meh. The engine is bullet proof. Tranny could become an issue. I take care of my vehicles, so I don't worry too much.

One significant transmission issue could make that difference up for you pretty quickly.

Right, so like I maybe will spend money on a Dodge for a new transmission, or buy another brand for 2-3 grand more out of the gate and hope it doesn't have problems either. No brainer.

[Pittcat]

Dodge gets the worst fuel mileage of all of the three major pickup manufacturers.  Especially in the mid-2000's.  Dodge's are also the most expensive full size pickups to insure.  Basically what I'm saying in these last two posts of mine is, don't buy a rough ridin' Dodge.

interesting.   I just looked at our insurance invoice, and the 2 Dodge's we own are not much different that the 2 Chevy and 11 Fords.

My V8 Hemi gets 14mpg.   And I have a heavy foot.

Is that average between city and highway?  That's for crap compared to my 5.4, and I don't exactly have a light foot either. 

Not trying to one up you, just sayin...

[Mikeyis4dcats]

Dodge gets the worst fuel mileage of all of the three major pickup manufacturers.  Especially in the mid-2000's.  Dodge's are also the most expensive full size pickups to insure.  Basically what I'm saying in these last two posts of mine is, don't buy a rough ridin' Dodge.

interesting.   I just looked at our insurance invoice, and the 2 Dodge's we own are not much different that the 2 Chevy and 11 Fords.

My V8 Hemi gets 14mpg.   And I have a heavy foot.

Is that average between city and highway?  That's for crap compared to my 5.4, and I don't exactly have a light foot either. 

Not trying to one up you, just sayin...

That's combined, but 90% of my driving is city, and the aformentioned lead foot.  And of course the V6 is going to get better mileage.

[Pittcat]

And of course the V6 is going to get better mileage.

You would think so, but that's not always the case.  If you stay off the pedal, you could get a little better mileage.  But think of it as a function of work.  6 cylinders doing the same work as 8 cylinders, which engine has to work less to get the same result? 

[KSUTOMMY]

Hey, thanks for all the info... VERY helpful!!! One question for you all; I have heard that when vehicles have tranny issues - usually the problems are with automatics and the only thing that goes wrong with a stick shift is the clutch and the throw-out bearing (whatever that is), and that is why I wasn't too nervous about the infamous Dodge tranny issues (which I have heard many times in the past).

[kitten_mittons]

Hey, thanks for all the info... VERY helpful!!! One question for you all; I have heard that when vehicles have tranny issues - usually the problems are with automatics and the only thing that goes wrong with a stick shift is the clutch and the throw-out bearing (whatever that is), and that is why I wasn't too nervous about the infamous Dodge tranny issues (which I have heard many times in the past).

Where's the question?

[KSUTOMMY]

Hey, thanks for all the info... VERY helpful!!! One question for you all; I have heard that when vehicles have tranny issues - usually the problems are with automatics and the only thing that goes wrong with a stick shift is the clutch and the throw-out bearing (whatever that is), and that is why I wasn't too nervous about the infamous Dodge tranny issues (which I have heard many times in the past).

Where's the question?

Is it accurate that manual trannys have fewer issues than the automatics? My bad.

[Pittcat]

Hey, thanks for all the info... VERY helpful!!! One question for you all; I have heard that when vehicles have tranny issues - usually the problems are with automatics and the only thing that goes wrong with a stick shift is the clutch and the throw-out bearing (whatever that is), and that is why I wasn't too nervous about the infamous Dodge tranny issues (which I have heard many times in the past).

Where's the question?

Is it accurate that manual trannys have fewer issues than the automatics? My bad.

It's probably an accurate statement, assuming the manual transmission has been taken care of.  As far as I know Dodge manuals don't have the bad reputation that their automatics do.