Hey yall whats up? My name is Jason. Im a junior here at FSU and going to Marine Corps OCS this summer, so I will be going into the Marine Corps after college. In the last few years I have had the urge to get rid of my Lancer and move into the truck world. I have narowed my choice of trucks down to mainly the Ram 1500 and Ram 2500. However I have a few questions. Im mainly looking for a lighlty used 2005 seeing as 2006 is just slightly out of my price range. My main questions are as follows:

1) Which of the two is a better overall truck? (Reliability and length of ownership)

2) If I get the 2500 should I go with the diesel? I heard it gets better gas mileage.

3) Which is more easily upgradeable as far as lift kits/intake/exhaust/ECU ect?

4) In general just what do you suggesst?

Keep in mind im very new to the truck scene so if any of these questions are NOOB I apologize. My price range is really from $25,000-$30,000.
Thanx in advance to all who respond.

 

Well, I've never owned a Ram, but I have owned a few trucks....

Question #1
Either truck can be very reliable if taken care of properly. Proper maintenance, good upkeep, and not abusing it will keep either truck in long and healthy life. Personally, the diesel engine will give you longer life, but the upkeep is higher on it then a gas powered motor. The engine lasts twice as long, and works alot better.

Question #2 & #3
Go with the diesel. It has a crapload of mods available for the diesel motors. Drew, one of our top notch diesel guys, can give you more info. Diesel motors do in fact get better gas mileage. They also provide more horsepower and torque. Best of all, you can beat on them forever. A normal diesel engine should last at least 500-600,000 miles if properly maintained. The 2500 is a good truck, but really, just getting the diesel in either truck would suffice.

Question #4
What I would suggest is getting the diesel version of a Ram. With gas prices being crapola, diesel is more efficient for the price. Not to mention there are all kinds of alternative fuel ideas for diesels, compared to crapola for the gas motors. Also, there's nothing like the smell of a diesel in the morning! I still love that smell....

Honestly, take the flat out best deal you can find. That said, dont settle for less then what you want...I would go for a diesel powered 4x4 and minimum options over a fully loaded gas powered 4x2 or 4x4.

Good luck in your search, and hopefully more people respond to give you more opinions. Welcome to Dodge Forum and hopefully, you become a more permanent member with your new Dodge truck! [8D]

 

Welcome to the site!!

Dusty

 

Welcome to the site.

 

Alright thanx for the info. Very helpful so far. As far as lift kits go, I heard there actualy cheaper for the 2500 because there is no independent front suspension, is this true? And if I go with the diesel (which at this point is looking like the best option) what mods should I do first? And what price range am I looking at for a Ram 2500 4X4 Diesel? And what exactly is the difference bewtween all the trim models, ST SLT Laramine(spelling)? What is suggested?

 

As far as the mods go, I would suggest you talk with Drew. He knows wayyyyyyyyyyyy more about the CTD's then I do. His member name is Drew.

 

Alright thanx, I sent him a PM, hopefully he'll stop by the thread to help me out.

 

if you are leaning twards the Cummins power plant youve got alot ahead of you. Fuel mileage for starters since I filled my truck up last night. I fill it up the same way every time. I keep going untill I see fuel in the filler neck. my hand calculated mileage on my last tank was 19.2mpg and that is a mix of highway and city. I have by far the worse setup when it comes to fuel mileage, the 6spd and 4.10's. guys with this combination usualy average in the high 14's to low 16's. if you want good mileage, make sure the rear axel is geared with 3.73's and get the auto. if you get an 04 or earlier and you want a stick then your ok, but in 05 the manual tranny was changed and the engine revs much higher which equals lower mileage. Ive been tinkering on mine for a while and so far they have been paying off. I used to be a Diesel mechanic in the military BTW still in but have transferred to electronics.

now, if your planning on upgradeing the engine with performance stuff the Diesel is your best bang for the buck. you can lay down $500 on a decient performance box and easily gain 100 hp. $300 on a better muffler to keep things cooland you can go my route with the intake and spend $50 at napa and get a massive air filter that is WAY better than the stock filter. If you do this and keep the box on the lowest setting, you will not only gain about 30-50hp, but also gain 2-3mpg and this has been proven. or you can go wild and have a truck that is laying down over 600hp at the rear wheels


now, if I had the cash handy this is what I would do, Look and find yourself a good 2nd gen 12 valver steer away from the 24 valves except from the 3rd gens, the 2nd gen 24 valves have issues that tend to be complicated with the injector pump. then take the money you saved on the older truck and put that into upgrades. new turbo, injectors, fueling plate and slide that bad boy all the way forward do some screw adjustments on the injector pump and you'll have a truck that will eat corvettes for dinner, then have a mustang gt for desert with no drugs

Now if you want to go for something newer for 25-30K will get you a VERY good used truck and if your looking at the 3rd gens look for the 04.5's and up. the reason I say 04.5 is that is when the 600's came out. the engine stock has 325hp, and a full 4 inch exhaust from the turbo. the 04 305 motors had a 3.5 inch exhaust at the turbo that went to a 4 inch soon after. the way to tell what engine you have is to pop the hood and look on the drivers side of the engine, there is a white sticker that will tell you the rated HP. if it is an 04 and says 325 then youve got a winner.

Now, one thing that Dodge can brag about that Ford and Chevy both cannot is the same engine that is going into the new 06's is mechanicaly the exact same engine that was put in the first Dodge Diesel pick-up back in '89. only a few things have chaged over the years, but unlike both Ford and Chevy installing totaly new engines, Dodge has not. and back in that day, the truck would literaly fall apart, but the engine was still running like a top. infact, some guys have had this happen to them, gone to the srap yard, found a good body and frame and just swaped the engine into that body. usualy it is the other way around and swapping engines, but the Cummins engine is just that good.

but I tell you this, there is nothing sweeter than the sound of, and nothing makes more of an impression than an old 12 valve with dual 5or 6 inch stacks coming out of the bed with some black smoke pouring out when you hit the trottle.[8D]

 

Welcome to the site. Don't mean to rain on your parade, but do you think you will use the truck a lot going in to the Marine corp? It would just suck to have the thing sitting in your driveway somewhere while you can't drive it, but still have to pay for it.

 

Yes and no. I mean I have a year and a half before I got to TBS, and then I have MOS school. So I will be stateside in a training command for the next 2-3 years (more if I decide to fly) And seeing as I wont drive it all to much during the week, may save me a lil in gas haha. But like I stated I have my car to sell/trade in plus a precommisioning loan I just took out that cannot be beat. And im really sick of this damn tiny four door import.


Drew, thanx for the response man that info helps me out a ton. I really want a newer 04.5 and up truck, I really like the 3rd gen better than 2nd Gen. So what price should i be looking to pay for a 04.5-05 Ram 2500 Diesel 4X4? And what options do you recomend, if any? And what branch of the military are you in? im going to take a guess and say Army?