I am currently looking at an automatic 99 Quad 3500 CTD 4x4 duelly to buy. It has 87K on the clock. It would be my 4th Ram, but first diesel.

I once owned a 99 Quad 1500 4x4 automatic that the trans went bad in. I am wondering if the dually would share the same model trans?? If so, did Chrysler beef it up a little considering the extra weight of the truck and expected work tasks of a 3500? Point of concern looking ahead for sure.

 

it is a bigger trans than the gas engine, but its still an auto, it all depends on how it was treated through its life, check the fluid for color and smell and a good test drive is about all you can do, then just hope for the best

 

thanks...after researching a little more I found out it should have the 47re in it, which is not the same as a 99 1500 4x4. Everything I've read so far says it's a good trans for the cummins until you start to mod the motor or tow excessive weights. Lifespan of the trans. basically points to staying within the design parameters and keeping the fluid and filter fresh.

 

You are correct..

 

Do yourself a favor and pass on that one. That automatic is junk. Get one with a standard.

 

well that was an interesting test drive...

went to the dealer and test drove it today. First thing - went to let the salesman in the passenger side door and the lock wouldn't function with the fob or the switches. I could hear the relay but no lock movement...not a big deal I thought. Started it up and it sounded good...checked the trans fluid and all seemed well there...nice and clean with no burnt odor. Noticed a Edge box sitting loose near the drivers side battery with a harness connected to it so somebody's played with something. Went to select D with the shifter and noticed it was very stiff to move...doesn't seem normal to me. Went to pull out and immediatley noticed a 30 degree steering wheel movement either way with no response from the front....just like my 99 1500 ended up doing. Went up the road and got on the highway...took it up to 65mph and didn't notice any vibration or wobble. I did notice it stayed in the gear just before the last gear for quite a while. As I recall, they default to "OD on" mode from startup unless you change it, so the trans temp may have been keeping it in D until the temp got up a bit. I guess the bottom line is it certainly didn't inspire me with confidence that it would be driven for long before something goes wrong with it. I guess it's a 99 and your going to get a bunch of 99 issues along with it. Plus they have a 15,9K price on it??? Granted it comes with a nice fisher plow setup, but thats high from what I see online. Got another place that has several CTD's I'm hoping to get to today.

 

*update* - as I was driving down the road in this truck I noticed an electronic unit in front of me on the top of the dash...it looked almost like my XM satellite tuner (LCD screen ect.) so I figured thats what it was and dismissed it because I really was concentrating on the sound and feel of everything as the truck was going down the road. Anyway, I was researching the black Edge box I found under the hood and noticed the unit I saw on the dash was also from Edge and part of the system. Looks as though it may be a program on the fly system?? Interesting...reminds me of a power commander system for motorcycles.