I'm looking at purchasing a 2017 2500 4x4 w/ Cummins, Crew Cab, SLT and am considering:

1) manual vs automatic (I'm happy w/ my manual in the 2000 I own). Is it worth considering the auto? Clearly that gives me more choices since the automatics outnumber the manny tranny by a lot.

2) long box v short box ----- I haul a gooseneck trailer quite often and have a full sized bed right now. Would the shorter bed still allow me to do that because it's a no go if it won't. Besides the obvious smaller bed space, any other concerns about the short box? I sure would like to cut down on the length of the rig w/ a crew cab.

3) any serious shortcomings/flaws in the 4th gen? The 6L diesel? Either of the transmissions? I see they switched over to coils in the rear ---- is that a positive? How about the 4wheel drive selector on dash? That just feels weird to my mind. Is it reliable?


Finally --- the dealer prices are all over the map for pretty much the same rig. I'm seeing everything from 43K to 50K for the same setups ---- everyone looks like they're giving the same "dealer incentives" but they start w/ different MSRPs so they end up w/ differing sale prices. I know the old "here's the invoice price. It's what the dealer pays." is bull and has been almost as soon as internet pricing stuff came along. I'm just trying to find a starting point to work from.

Thanks for the input

 

I think with a gooseneck I would stick with the long bed. The truck is more stable when towing (longer wheelbase), and fewer worries about crunching things in tight turns. Friend of mine has a fifth wheel in his shortbed though..... so, suppose it depends on the trailer.

Coils tend to give a nice ride when unloaded, but, still firm enough when loaded.

I am not a fan of the electronic transfer case shifting, but, I don't think you even get the option of a stick on the floor....... The systems seem fairly reliable, but, like any electronic vs. mechanical system, more layers of complexity, means more failure points.....

 

Thanks HeyYou ---- I was thinking the same thing about the transfer case but then remembered that on my 2000 even though there is a lever on the floor, it's not really linkage in the old school sense. It uses vacuum from the power steering pump, as I recall. Those vacuum lines are crap so maybe this is better?