I know some of y'all are salesmen so I thought I'd try to get some input. I have a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 with the 5.9L Cummins. Interior is immaculate, body and paint are immaculate with the exception of a dent on the tailgate (going to need a new one). The truck has 70K miles, never been in a wreck..blah blah blah. 20" MBR Black on Chrome wheels, 33" Nitto Terra Grapplers with probably 95% tread left (new in November). I have been told that it's one of the cleanest diesels people have ever seen (engine stays clean; no grease, no leaks under the hood). I know the market pretty much stinks on trades right now. So I'll most likely have to sell it on my own. Now..to what I'm looking for.

I'm looking for either an '08 or '09 2500 or 3500. I'd love to find one of the few 08's that still had the 5.9L in them, not super crazy about the 6.7L, but if the deal was right, I'd make due. Color doesn't matter, transmission doesn't matter. Is it plausible to get one down into the 450-500 a month range with the way the truck market is right now? Who do y'all recommend dealing with? The help will be greatly appreciated!

It is a buyers market now. According to the paper today Dodge and Ford both are supposed to start giving employees pricing on trucks from the 1/2 tons to the 1 tons.

Try Randall Noe Doge in Terrell, TX. They sell by volume, not price. They are the ones that have the good weekly deals in the paper. They got me in a 2500 4x4 Cummins when Ford would barely come off their price.

The 5.9 is way better so try and get that engine if you can. All the new diesels are horrible compared to the older ones.

Is there a reason you want ti get rid of your old truck? Have you had any injector failure out of your old one?

I know your wanting a new truck, but If I were you I would keep what I have, or find a well taken care of 5.9, even better if it is an 03-04.5. I think they have they have MOST of the re-gen. issues worked out of the 6.7's BUT, everytime you crank a 6.7 it needs to be run up to operating temp for AT LEAST 30min. to preform a re-gen. if needed. I've herd of re-gen's lasting for over 50 miles, and it has to be done, if you don't let it ge-gen, you'll be in the shop either paying them to clean the DPF, or buying a new DPF...this failure IS NOT under warranty!!! (operator neglect) not to mention the fuel milage SUCKS!!!!

I have talked to a couple of guys running 6.7's with welding beds, they are averaging 3-8 mpg's!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your better off keeping your current truck, or finding another clean 5.9.

One other thing, on ANY Cummins, you need to be running a 2 miron fuel filter!!!! Dodge's filter (from the factory) is only a 10 micron. Dodges are having a lot of problems with injector failures due to contaminated fuel. Long story short, Dodge nor Cummins will not warranty this failure, and the insurance company will deny the claim, leaving you with a $7,000 repair bill for 6 new injectors and a complete fuel system flush.

Cummins requires their engines to run a 2 miron filter, when Dodge bought the engine's from Cummins, they did not purchase their (Cummins') filtration system. Dodges filtration system is only a 10 micron system. Now Cummins will not warrranty any injector failures do to fuel contamination.

poor boy, no, I have had zero problems with the truck other than having to get a new water pump at 65K miles. I bought the truck June of last year with only 40K on it. As of today I have 78K on it. Obviously I do A LOT of driving and probably about 15K of those miles I was pulling a 3 horse slant with full LQ. The truck is holding up like a dream. No problems with the injectors what so ever.

After I've really done my homework on the 6.7s I think I'm just going to keep what I've got. I'm getting 26-27mpg light and around 19-21 heavy pulling the trailer..Can't really complain. It was one of those whims where I thought I wanted the new body style dually. Don't need it though...Can pull all I'll ever need to pull with the truck I've got.

I hear ya, I went through the same spell, thought I had to have a new 6.7. I test drove a couple, they have TONS of power, and that exhaust brake is awsome, but like I said the milage sucked. I'm like you, I've seen 27mpg out of my truck (03 1-ton) so, I'll just run the wheels off of this one.

not shure the mileage loss is worth the new one

cboone, what programmer are you running?

i have a 2007 with a 5.9L diesel that is 4x4 rhino lined and has the billet grill in it towing package and everything that i will sell. since i have owned this truck you can eat off the floor or it and the wheels have never even really gotten brake dust on them. i wash the truck everytime the windsheild gets dirty. to see more pics of the truck or call me 214-886-2175.

ps this truck pulls excellent.

Bully Dog Triple Dog

You back in Nac yet?

no, not yet, bout 20 more days or so. you like the bullydog?

Yeah, only dislike I have is that it makes the cruise control get screwy sometimes. Other than that I like it. I think it's probably the best one out there, now I just need to update so I can see what kind of boost i'm getting and what the EGTs are hangin at.

Cboone
I see you mentioned you are getting great mpg. I have a 03 5.9 that is only getting 16 at best. Does not matter if I am towing my boat or not... Is your truck stock? Any of you guys out there have any suggestion for me? You ford guys out there be nice please
James

OK,
Where are some factors that play a huge role in your fuel economy:
2wd or 4wd?
starndard or automatic tranny?
How do you drive it?
How many miles are on it?, if it is over 100k, have you had the overhead run (valves adjusted)?

I am in a 2003 single wheel 1-ton
SWB, 2wd, 6speed
This truck very seldom see's over 2000 rpm's

Empty, I've seen mpg's as good as 27, but it has to be COLD outside to be that good, normally its 23-25

loaded, depending on how heavy I am, anywhere from 13-17

No you are right inline with what the people here in the real world are getting. Go to the dodge cummins website and look for yourself. My brother, dad and I all get between 15-17mpg. We've all taken our trucks back to the Dodge dealer to get them reflashed because of the terrible gas mileage. Dealer said our trucks are right on par where they are suppose to be. No DIESEL GETS OVER 20MPG anymore PERIOD!!!! People that report they are getting gas mileage like that are likely going by the computer. Put a chip in there and the computer is even further off.

Gotta be careful what people claim on the internet.

I hand calculate mine. Haven't ever relied on the computer. No I am not stock. 15-17 is what most year models get. However the TRUE 2004s, not the 2003, the 2004.5, the true 2004s are an anomally when it comes to fuel mileage. I try to keep it under 2 grand which usally in turn makes me drive like a grandpa. Now that is consistently warmer, my mileage has gone down to around 22-23. If I drive the truck harder than normal I do get 15-17. It really comes down to how you drive. Plus the aftermarket stuff does make a difference.

http://www.dieseltruckresource.com

If you want to know mileage on your truck go there. All the info you'll ever need on the Cummins.

CBoone, those guys know there stuff.

No doubt they do, however I prefer cumminsforum.com

Just because one truck is getting exceptional mileage doesn't mean the exact same thing is going to perform exactly the same. I just got very lucky.