Hey gang,

I currently own an 04 1500 Quad Cab Hemi RAM 4x2 and, although I love this truck, am considering buying a Quad Cab 2500 CTD 4x4. I am wondering about buying used versus new and am looking for advise. I use my 1500 now to pull a 6000# boat to a local lake alot during the summers and we also go on ~1800 mile trips with it as well. We also rent a 29' camper a few times a year and take it for long trips as well. If this continues (which the wife says it will) I'd like to have a 2500 CTD under me for peace of mind.

Q: From what I've read, there were some transmission changes from 04 to 05 with the autos DC put behind the CTD, is there a good auto to stick with for the CTD or am I misinformed? I do want to stick with an auto I believe but could be convinced otherwise.

Q: Are there any changes in the 06 that make that a good choice over an 04 or 05? Just thinking about powertrain changes that I might not be aware of that could be good for me long term.

All other comments and suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

Mike

 

the auto (48RE) is the same, the only difference was the programming. it is the stick that was changed. there are a few 05's that are sporting the NV5600, however that is the accepted year of the change over to the G56.

personaly, if you find yourself a NV5600 with a 3.73 rear axel then youve found a good combination. NV5600 and 4.10's( what I have) give INSANE pulling power. but cuts into your fuel mileage. it is the same with the 48RE tranny. the 3.73's give good mileage and towing ability, but put 4.10's behind it and you can tear a house down while idleing. with the change over to the G56 manual the 4.10's were droped since the final drive ratio is rather high so the only axel that can be had with the G56 is the 3.73's, but it is the same as the NV5600 running 4.10's

since you do not to heavy I would say the auto of any year, and a 3.73 axel ratio would be your best friend. I know some guys with that combination that constantly stay in the 20's with fuel mileage.

in 04.5 the only engine that was used was the '600' however in 05 a different ECM programming was done which gave the '600' 10 more lb-ft of torque(which was just an answer to GM's duratrash '605'). in previous years you had SO and HO engine's. but that has been dropped since CARB has gotten ahold of all the engines by adding a kitty kat to the exhaust for "emissions". however most people rip the thing off.

from 04.5 to today the engine has the same power specs. 325hp (2900rpm) and 610lb-ft torque (1600rpm)

any year you get you will be happy with it

I just noticed you live in Dallas, I'm on the south side of Atl in Fayetteville

 

Drew,

Thanks a ton for the information! This is all good news, from what I've read the 3.73 gears mated to anything seem to work really well. I guess I'd only need the 4.10s if I was really towing a lot of weight all the time. The Hemi does fine with our setup, I'm just thinking about longevity of the truck overall.

What in the world is this thing you call a "kitty kat"? Sorry to sound stupid but my diesel experience is 20 years old from living on the farm up in Indiana.

Yep, I live out here in Dallas, thinking of moving up to the Cumming area in the spring if things work out and we sell this house.

Mike

 

what I am refereing to is the Catylitic converter. CARB (California Air Resource Board) has for years demanded crazy things for vehicles destened for California. in 04.5 DC started instaling Cat's so california could get the new '600' engine. it's just that DC started installing Cat's to all trucks. then on top of that the ECM actualy has three injection cycles for the injectors per rev. the first one is what makes the engine quiet. the second is the main fuel dump. the third is the one that is only there to keep the Cat hot. Many have been working on removing this third injection for only a fuel mileage standpoint.

if you are looking at this frfom a longevity stand point then your going the right way. The Cummins engine will go for many years. and not only can you tow heavy stuff with it easily, for a few hunders bucks you can add 140 extra HP

 

Ah, makes perfect sense now. I had no idea you could put (nor would you need one) a catylitic converter on a Diesel. Sounds like you stay pretty in touch with the mechanics behind this truck.

I've been reading up on the programmers available for the Cummins and for just a little $, you can really bump up the HP. That along with improved air intake should really help the CTD belch out some serious power.

How does this tranny hold up to the added stress of an additional 140+ HP? I know there are concerns about the longevity of the 45RFE mated to the Hemi with all the guys that are doing computer\exhaust\CAI mods.

Mike

 

with a little valve body work done the stock tranny can handle a 100hp module all day long. but when you start exceeding the 100hp mark is when things become interesting. the stock turbo can only supply enough air for 100hp over stock, however doing some machine work on the turbine houseing will help. but that is an 8 hour job with a grinder. the stock lift pump can only suply enough fuel for 100 extra hp, yet there are those that can draw the fuel pressure down to zero even with a 40hp bump. even with a low 40-100hp box the stock tranny can hold up easily as long as you dont hot-rod it all the time at 100-140hp.

Ive run into quite a few people that run 350-450hp daily drivers. the main thing they have done are some valve body work on the tranny, a new torque converter, and depending on how heavy the right foot is billet input and output shafts.

the 48RE is an amazing transmission just to be able to live behind the cummins. the fords 'torque shift' tranny would fall apart behind the cummins. GM's "Allison" (in name only) can survive behind the cummins, but it needs a good bit of work to do so.

the Cummins engine is a low reving engine compared to GM and Ford. I normaly shift around 2K. I do venture above that on occasion, but I think I have a slight fueling problem above 2500rpm since I have the feeling the engine stops pulling hard and only revs[:@] Ford and GM's engine are only starting to make power at 2K. When I was shoping around for my truck I drove Fords and GM's offering. both reved WAY high for what I liked. plus when you punched it from 40mph the tranny downshifted so it could put the engine in a better power band. the Dodge never shifted, the turbo just spooled up and you were off.

I rode an a 96 cummins a few weeks back that left a 50 yard landing strip. guy had to stop due to oncomeing traffic. I believe if he kept his foot into it he could have left 100 yards of rubber on the ground.

if I had to buy my truck over again I probably would have gone for the auto seeing as it is far better than what I first thought. but I am no way going to trade my 6 spd in. I like this truck too much

 

Drew, thank you for the clear and complete explanation and assistance here. I am more than ever ready to move up to the CTD, I can't wait! Now I only have to decide if I go used or new... The new ones are sooo expensive and the used ones are so hard to find.

[sm=thanx.gif]

Mike