So fellas let me know your opinion.Heres what I've got going on.I really want a cummins&I've been saving my pennies &if I really wanted to I could run out in a couple of weeks&buy one But what's stopping me from that is 1 Ill be broke after that so I'm thinking about just doing some upgrades to my 95 1500 it has 3in bl &2.5 leveling kit with 35s&stock gears.So I'm thinking about finally doing the gear swap.So here what I want your opinion on.I know a fella with a 3rd gen with around 100xxx with a hemi&part of me wants to buy it,lift it&call it
a day as its really clean.I however haven't read up on 3rd gens &the hemi.
I have read up on the 12
valves in the 1st&2nd gens&all I read is reliability reliability reliabilty!&that's what I'm really looking for.I don't need it so much for the towing power as I never really pull much but it would be nice when the time comes to not struggle.My 1500 with 31s was a dog pulling a 16ft trailer full of heavy green wood.Had to keep it floored to make it up a hill.
So how does the hemi compare in reliability..I really need something that will hold up for years.Tired of buying vehicles.Also back to the 1500 is it worth it?Putting 4000 or so in it?Part of me just wants to take the 35s off when I get the new truck&put on 33s&just use it as my back up rig.The other part of me wants to regear ,add a 5 in suspension lift&some 37s on 20 in rims as I've put a lot of work& cash into her.I've read a lot today on hemi vs cummins all I see it if your not gonna do a lot of towing get a hemi&if you get a cummins the motor will last way longer than the body.Just figured Id see what your guys opinion is.

 

If you want something that will hold up for years buy a diesel.

Can't compare life span between gas and diesel. You'll see better mpgs with a diesel over the Hemi, but a higher cost at the pump, which should eventually even out.

 

if you want an engine that will last forever, cummins 12v or 24v vp44.

both will easily make it into the million mile club with proper maintenance (which really isn't that much)

as for hills...even before my "moderate" mods, with just a fueling box and a lift pump my truck didn't know what a hill was...10% grade in 6th no downshifting no lugging.

load the truck with a ton of weight, and it rides smoother, but as far as acceleration the truck didn't know the weight was back there... made no difference due to the amount of torque it has.

here's a testament for reliability: there is a long haul driver driving around right now with a cummins 24v vp44 2nd gen dodge, with the NV5600 trans, with an upgraded fuel system, light fueling box, and 75hp injectors that has over 2 million miles on his engine, transmission, and rear end. The truck tows trailers across the country almost every day of its life and gets 165k miles a year put on it. the engine, trans, and rear end are all original. they have never been rebuilt. When he has a problem, he fixes it. He also runs synthetic fluids/oils in every part of the truck. He is one of those guys that takes great care of his truck though. people look at his truck and think it only has about 80k miles on it. Wish I could say the same about mine lol...damn rust!!!

 

I think if you keep your truck, at the end of the day, you'll still want a cummins.
If you get a hemi, you still end up wanting a cummins.
Just get a truck you'll be happy with in the end, and with regular maintenance it should hold up well.

 

I can vouch for the reliability of the hemi motors...we've had one since 2007 and have done nothing but change an ignition coil and the engine oil. The power is reallllly good for a stock truck and I would def buy another one, they are more than enough for pulling everyday loads. I also like the 47re trannys way better than the 46re that i have in my 2nd gen. However, i must admit that whenever i hear a nice cummins role by I start to want one...

 

If you don't get a Dodge with a Cummins it sounds like you won't be satisfied so go for it and sell the 95 1500 so you have some cash after the buy. That is my opinion and I'm stickin to it.....

 

im in the same boat as you "cutt". i would like to keep modding my current truck, but just feel i should save my money at the end of the day for a cummins. its all a mind game to me and the other thing is trying to sell my truck for what its worth too, not to mention poor mpg i get with a gasser compared to a diesel with x2 the torque. :/

 

1st gen Cummins.

 

I dont recommend buying a diesel until you have money you can safely put away for after you buy one. It all depends on your location and on your budget and what year cummins your after 1st 12v, 2nd 12,2nd gen 24v, 3rd gen cr and so on. Im must say coming from a 318 dakota to a cummins is def the greatest feeling. PLENTY of power and plus I love that turbo whistle. Ill never own another a gas truck again. Was pulling 12k this summer and it pulled it with ease. Could barely even tell I was pulling something

 

off topic, but you sure did get a heck of a truck compared to that dakota you had. i made my jump to a full size from my dakota, but to the wrong engine, lol. then again this 5.9 whoops *** compared to the 3.9l i had.