Hey guys I currently have a 97 1500 5.9 looking to upgrade in near future. I was looking at like an 03 or 04 either 1500 or 2500 Hemi or the I6 2500 ctd. Did some research and started to like the ctd better but i didnt realize till this morning that it was an I6. Looked up the specs on both and an 04 1500 hemi v8 has more horsepower than the 04 2500 ctd, of course not as much torque but still that seems crazy. what are some pointers as far as deciding which would be best? I do tow every once in a while and play around in mud and sand but mainly use it for work and getting supplies. Ideally would like something that looks like a beast, gets pretty good gas andwill pretty much do what i need it to if something ever comes up. Thanks

 

If you don't need a diesel or have deep pockets and just want a diesel, go with the Hemi. Prime candidates for diesel trucks are people who tow/haul often or extend weight or if you rack up tons of miles (like 20k+) a year. Diesels cost more initially and cost WAY MORE to maintain and work on.

The '04.5 CTD got a considerable HP boost over preceding CTDs. But diesels inherently make GOBS of torque, especially in the low end, but don't make a lot of HP, hence why turbos became standard in the mid-late '90s. I had an early '90s Ford 7.3 NON-TURBO diesel that would still pull your house down the road!

Also if off–roading is a concern, diesels are very front end heavy and can be a detriment in mud or sand. Seen more than one big honkin' diesel truck front end buried where a simple front wheel drive car could make it through....

 

You are correct that the CTD is infact an I6. The 5.9 is a 'bullet proof' engine, surrounded in a less than 'bullet proof' truck. It's not a terrible truck, but the engine is definately the benchmark in the truck.

If you are going to a 2/3500 chassis, find a CTD. The hemi in the 1500 sucks the fuel back faster than a dehydrated soldier given a canteen of water in the desert, it's even worse in a 2500. I've read many owners complaining about the lack of power the hemi has in the 2500. If you are going 3500, the CTD is the only choice available... or it was a few years ago anyways.

Good luck!

 

Hemi all the way

 

I can't agree that the Hemi gets terrible gas mileage. I had a '98 5.9 gasser 4x4 - NOW THAT GOT TERRIBLE GAS MILEAGE. I guess I'm still of the day when 4x4 trucks got 12 mpg on a good day. Not uncommon at all for a 1/2 ton, MDS Hemi to get 20+ mpg on the highway, to me at least, that's DAMN GOOD for a truck! Even non-MDS unlifted 2500s can see 18 mpg on the interstate and 13-14 mpg in combination driving.

But yeah, it'll start sucking fuel towing or hauling a heavy loads and again, you have to weigh your needs vs. your wants vs. your pocketbook.

There are people who NEED a diesel and then there are people who don't need a diesel but just WANT a diesel and there are people who just want one but can't afford the upkeep.

Just depends on which group you fall into. I wanted another one, at the time had the $ for one, but didn't need one. Heaviest thing I hauled on any type of a regular basis was a 2300 lb. bass boat. A new CTD when I was buying had a sticker of $9000 more retail, but with all the incentives on 1500 Hemi trucks, plus the fact the dealers I went to wouldn't drop a dime off sticker on the diesels but would move $5k off sticker on gassers (plus the incentives), the diesel would have been $17k more! Could in NO WAY justify a CTD at $9000 more initial value for $17k more hard cash out of my pocket - UNLESS I NEEDED A DIESEL...

If you want one and can afford one, get one. If you need one - by all means get one. Some of the biggest bi*chers of the Hemi on this forum are guys who bought a 1500 Hemi and try to pull 5th wheels or huge, heavy, boxed in, enclosed trailers who try to use a half ton gasser for tasks only a 3/4 or 1 ton diesel should be used for...

 

thanks, my 97 5.9 magnum gets 10-12 combined 12 on a good week so yes 15+ to me is good. How good are the hemi motors? Will they last a couple hundred thousand miles?

 

Lot of guys on this forum have 180k + miles on their Hemi trucks. A well maintained Hemi that's not been dogged can last 200-250k miles. A well maintained 5.9 CTD can go a million miles - although figure a tranny rebuild about five or six times over that period...

and you're doing good with your 5.9 Magnum. My 98 RCSB 4x4, lifted 4" on 35s got single digits and might could do 11.5 mpg on the highway IF I kept it under 70. My QCSB Hemi 4x4 lifted 4" on 35s gets about 13.5 combo driving and I'll usually see about 16.5 on the interstate with the cruise set to 75, if I take my time on trips and keep it 70'ish, I might can just nip 17 BUT with a sub-framed lift, winch, grill guard, full tool box, I have my truck weighing just under 7000 lbs...

A word to the wise, if doing anything over a mild lift, forget the IFS 1500, it's just limiting as hell and EXPENSIVE to lift. If you wanna do much over a level kit get yourself a SFA 2500, whether it be a Hemi or CTD. If I had to do it over again, I'da got a 2500...

 

hmm well i pull a trailer with dirtbike and quads but nothing a 1500 cant do so technically I dont have a need for a ctd now but would like like to be able to pull another truck if I have to( friends suburban got broken into and needed it towed home about 45min on a car trailer) so in cases like that it would be nice to be able to and if the motor last that long seems good. I guess I have to see if i can maybe find a good deal on one from copart or something with a lil damage so its not 20k

 

The problem I find, at least in my area is that there is no such thing as a "cherry" diesel. If it's over about 4 years old and even remotely affordable, it's been worked to death, usually has a destroyed bed thanks to a 5th wheel hookup and the front end (the 3/4 ton Rams weakness) is shot and in need of a total rebuild.

People who buy diesels for need around south Georgia work 'em hard and because replacement cost for another diesel is so high, usually won't put them up for sale until they are shot...

 

Well maybe Ill just look into the hemi more. I did see that the 1500 and 2500 hemi had the same hp and torque at the years i was looking at so what is the difference there? Is it just the axles and stuff? what about mpg. I appreciate all the help