Hey folks,
I would like your opinion. I am looking to buy another truck. In my looking, I have found several older 2003 - 2006 ram 2500's in my price range. If you had an option would you buy a older ram 2500 or a 4th gen ram 1500?

I am even considering a CTD. Now the catch is I don't really use my truck for anything a 1500 couldn't easily handle. trips to hardware store to haul lumber, light very occasional towing.

But my reason for consideration of 3rd gen 2500 they are tanks with there heavier duty drive trains and frames.. And if I did get a CTD, that makes it even more of a tank.

wadda ya think.

 

for me - 1500 = Hemi, 2500/3500 would ONLY be CTD.

 

+1 on what weedahoe said

No point in getting a 2500/3500 if it's not really needed

 

I've got an 06 2500 Hemi QCSB 4x4 and I prefer it over my previous 07 1500 QCSB 4x4. It is a solid in-between from the 1500 Hemi and the 2500 CTD for someone who wants something a little more heavy duty than the 1500 but does not need the CTD (nor the added cost associated with it). Plus the 2500 Hemi's do not have MDS whereas the 1500's do. I hated that MDS on my previous 1500 but never got around to turning it off.

To me, the 2500 Hemi is a meaty version of the 1500 that gets the same gas mileage. I've owned a 2004 1500 RCSB 2wd Hemi, a 2007 1500 QCSB 4x4 Hemi, and now the 2006 2500 QCSB 4x4 Hemi and this one is my fave, though the 04 was a rocket ;-) It does what I need it to with ample weight and power to spare.

 

if you have the money a CTD is the way to go...first off you'll fall in love with that whistle when u give her some throttle lol. but if youre just going to be doign random stuff get the 1500, easier to maintain and 87 is cheaper that 40 thats for sure. i was this close "=" to getting a 2001 CTD with every option i wanted...5"mbrp turbo back exhaust, a pillar gauges, tool box, new air pump, fuel pump....everything...but i deceded to go with a more practical approach and get the 1500 hemi. either way you will not be dissapointed. good luck!

 

I gotta go with the consensus on this one. I've owned two 3/4 ton trucks, one a diesel and the other with a big, honkin' 390 CI engine in it. To me, the Hemi isn't a good 3/4 truck engine, all of it's power is made in the mid-high RPM band and with a big truck, you want it to make most of it's power down low, right where a CTD does.

I really wanted a new 2500 CTD when I bought mine, but with all the incentives on the 1500s (which the 2500 gassers didn't have) and the fact that three different dealers wouldn't budge off sticker on CTDs, I bought a 1500. Heaviest thing I towed at the time was 2500 lbs. of bass boat, coupled with the fact my trucks are almost never my daily driver, I couldn't justify a CTD.

Diesels can run VERY high in maintenance also. Bottom line, IMO, if you NEED a 3/4 ton truck, look CTD, otherwise, the 1500 will suit you just fine...

 

My truck isn't really my daily driver, More my pleasure vehicle. Some people enjoy there mustangs, chargers, etc... I prefer my pickup.

I have never owned a diesel before. My experience is in gassers. Mechanic wise I can do anything to a gas truck myself, I know them inside and out. Diesels are another story.
2 main reasons I considered a CTD were,
1. I thought they were actually less expensive or the same to maintain and pretty much bullet proof. and
2. I have seen the amazing power even just a chipped CTD is capable of, Been to the track and seen plain chipped CTD's make fools of Camaro's, Mustang's, and such. While Im not much more into the racing than just enjoying a night at the track watching, I do love having the ability to make people do that double take when I take off, lol.
At the end, My 05 Hemi was heavily modded and de-badged and I am sure it surprised it's fair share of folks.

If I do go back to a hemi, Which I think is what is going to happen, I will make a solid effort to throw a Pro-charger, Another Cam and custom tune at it most likely immediately. At least then Ill get that throw ya back in your seat feel while still being able to haul things, lol. (Although Ill have to find someone here in KC willing to let me use there garage, Hint hint KC ram owners.)

 

If you're looking to make power, a cummins is by far your best bang for the buck. Cummins love making power, and still get decent fuel mileage.

I went with a hemi simply because I wanted a laramie, and there is no such thing as a non abused 2500 laramie with a cummins (or with a hemi for that matter)

I also dont see how maintenance on a cummins is really that much more than a gasser. It does take a good amount more oil per change. A failure of almost any sort on a diesel can run you pretty high.

 

Everyone makes good points. The deciding factor for me, however, would be the fact that I simply do not like the 4th generation Ram aesthetics. I'm sure they are superior trucks in power, performance, comfort and handling... but (and this is only my opinion) I think they are ugly as sin. I've only seen a handful of 4th Gen's that I really liked, and those were all heavily modded. Hell, even my 1998 2WD Ford Ranger had more ground clearance than 4x4 4th Gen's....

So, 3rd Gen 2500 for me.

 

I say go for the 3rd gen Cummins

#1 The Cummins is a pretty bulletproof engine. It does take 3 gallons of oil per change, but diesel oil by the gallon is a lot cheaper than regular oil and oil changes are 7500-15000 intervals. If they are taken care of and not abused they will last a very long time and the truck will rot away before the engine dies.

#2 Yes diesles can create an imense amount of power; but you have to pay to play. Turning up a chip on a stock truck will instantly turn an automatic tranny into mangled oily scrap metal.

When something does break, it can get expensive. A bad tank of fuel from billy joes gas station can set you back 3 grand for injectors and being idiotic with a tuner can set you back $5k for a tranny or $10k for a melted engine.

All that aside, i think the 5.9 cummins would be a good fit for you. Its a good daily driver, is easy to work on, has the torque to pull whatever you need to do, and as stated, these truck are Tanks.