What would be the best year for a 3rd gen Dodge Ram with the cummins? 03-08

 

I'm very happy with my '07 5.9. I have 61,000 on it and haven't one problem.

 

You will be money ahead if you go for an 06 or 07 with a 5.9L. The emissions systems on the new 6.7L will cost you in the long run. It is unfortunate because the 6.7L combined with the new 6speed auto and the integrated exhaust brake are a good combo but the particulate filter and the egr system will require much more money spent on maintenance than the 5.9L equipped trucks along with lower fuel economy. Really any 03-06 will be a good truck but the newer versions have been revised the most. 03-05 most still have the slightly troublesome filter-mount fuel lift pumps, some may have been fitted with the replacement in-tank units that come stock on some 05s and all 06 and up. The four speed trannys have also been updated and the newer the better.

 

Alright, thanks everyone. I was wondering because i knew there were a couple different engines produced throughout those years.

 

go for an 05, the 05's came with a 4" exhaust downpipe from the turbo back.. 03 and 04 was 3" at the turbo to the cat and then 4" from there, also the 05 has 325 hp and 610 lb ft of torque right out of the box.. 03 and 04 are great trucks as well but the 05 and newer have more poop.

 

Any 03-07 5.9 is good. Like stated above, the 03-05s had more problematic lift pumps, while many 05s and all 06-07s have the better in tank pump. Never had an issue out of eitherone, but Im wary of turning up the power on the 03.

05s had plastic end tanks on the intercooler, and if you get to adding power and upgrade the turbo, thats somthing that needs to be addressed.

03-04s had 3 versions, the California emissions 235hp, the SO w/ 245hp, and the HO w/ 305 hp. Early 03 HOs were only available with the NV5600 6speed manual, but later in the year the 48re automatic was released and available behind the HO...03-04 had 3.5" exhaust from turbo to tailpipe and didnt have a cat other than the Cali. emissions engine.

04.5 came out with the Cummins 600, rated 325hp/600ft-lbs torque. Came with a cat and also had the 3rd injection event. This was an emissions things, but side benefit was power. Its the reason 04.5-07 5.9s will always make more power compared to a similarly modded 03/04 (up to a point. Start into injectors, dual pumps, and turbos they are all capable of making HUGE power) 05 torque was rated 610, hp was still 325 up until the end of the 5.9 in 07. 05 was also the last year of the NV5600, replaced by the Mercedes G56

 

I think it would be safe to say that SCATPACK knows more about it than I do, however my 05 does not have plastic end tanks on the intercooler and does have the in tank lift pump, It's possible that the first owner had replaced the intercooler, but with no other mods I found it unlikely that they would have replaced the intercooler.
Maybe you could shed some light on it scatpack, if my intercooler is stock would it have an aluminized appearance and have aluminum end tanks? there is no kind of brand name or anything on it, just a small etching (about 1" round) that looks kind of like the biohazard symbol on the front of both end tanks.. it looks to be the stock unit just because of the fit and the fact that it matches perfectly with the oil cooler thats mounted directly in front of it.

 

Well, as we all know, Chrysler has never been known for anything being engraved in stone. A person thinks a feature is one year only, but guaranteed it wont be.

I said 05s had plastic endtanks, because the majority did. Some did have aluminum endtanks. Ive heard of an 06 having plastic endtanks. Probably an assembly line worker found a leftover plastic 05 cooler and threw it in there. Hard to say.

It could be factory, or a warranty replacement, or an aftermarket. Doubt its aftermarket though...

The intercooler on my 03 and 07 are black, as best as memory serves me. Ill double check

And 05 was the transition year for the in tank pumps. Early ones wouldnt have one