Dodge truck owners - any good????

[TR Custom Parts]

Might be looking for a new (to me anyway) truck. Thinking about a Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi with quad cab and short bed, might settle for a regular cab if the right truck comes along. 4WD is a must. Any of you guys out there own one and if so, how do you like it? Looking to get a 2005 and up.

 

[Mike E]

I daily drive my 07 1500 hemi quad cab 2wd and I think it's great. It gets 15-16 mpg city empty. I've goten as much as 20mpg highway empty. I've towed a few cars with it and it gets ~13mpg highway towing an open car trailer at 70mph. It handles suprisingly well for a truck (the 20" wheels and tires help).

My only gripe about the truck is how the trans shifts. It's throttle by wire and they cut the throttle during each shift to soften the the load on the trans. It took a while to get used to it. It also lugs the motor a lot more than I think it should when downshifting.

With an open diff, my 2wd does quite well in the little bit of snow we get here in TN.

 

[whitehot84]

I have a quad cab 03 hemi and I love it. 150,000 miles and still runs like new. It will pull anything you want to and rides like a car.

 

[INEEDAGN]

If you go drive a new body style 09-up you will be in love. 08-earlier are good, 09-later are just flat stunning. the only consistent gripe we get at work with the 08-earlier is that they are prone to wind leaks when driving in a strong cross wind because the tops of the doors stick up above the cab. multi displacement came only in later years i think 05 and up maybe 06. If you can get that it really helps the highway mileage. I personally don't like the ride of the ones equipped with 20's and 17" tires are cheaper/more readily available and also you can get 8 and 10 ply tires in 17" but the trucks don't look as good that way. hope this helps.

 

[krom]

I like my 03 R/C Hemi, tows my car to the track. Best truck I have ever owned, just passed 7 years of ownership.

 

[qwks6]

I have an '08 manual, the truck is in the shop as I type. Been in there over a week and they haven't done anything to it. I have hated the way the stealership has treated me on a transmission issue I have had for about 10K miles. Finally, after tons of griping and talking to many people and multiple trips I got them to let me take a tech out with me for a drive. Looks like they'll be swapping out the tranny, finally. This is a problem that developed at about 12K and is probably a freak event, as most of what I read has nothing but good things to say about that manual. However, the dealership and warranty issues have really bothered me. Like I said, it may be localized and unique, but you asked... So I told the dealership that when my bmw had a long crank and they had no codes, they took the car and swapped out the fuel pump, gave me a loaner, and got it done in a day. Their response was, "we're not BMW." All I could say was, "that's for sure." I'll probably see that truck next week some time. Luckily I don't need it much so I manage, and it's very useful. If I were to buy a new truck it'd probably be something else though.

 

[Boost231]

can only speek for the cummins diesel. i wont buy a truck in less its diesel

 

[Rivical]

My long term experience with Dodge's is auto transmission failures. With one so new you should be in the clear for some time though. Couple weeks ago I swapped an old 727 into a '94 2WD cuz the 718 went out, for the third time, showing 161K. He didn't say when the others' went out, just that he was tired of the headaches and wanted something stronger. He could pay for a ODtrans or pay for gas, whatever floats his boat. A friend stopped by just tonite too with a new to him '97 4x4 needing tranny work. It's got 142K showing.

By comparison, I've got 216K on my highest mileage Ford 4x4 with an auto trans and it's still goin strong.

 

[boostingirl]

buy a ford!,your fuel mpg is going to suck driving that hemi,i get 22.7+ in my ford

 

[GregInAtl]

Here is my 05, I love it....4"/6" drop on OEM 20" and went w/ a quietflow muffler for deep tone and not much noise, I have the much controversial jet chip, and get 20 mpg on the highway...... I love this truck and I have had the others. I did have to put air lift on the back to pull my boat because of the height, but no prob now!! Did I mention it was $9K when I got it all orig last year?!

 

[charlief1]

Might be looking for a new (to me anyway) truck. Thinking about a Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi with quad cab and short bed, might settle for a regular cab if the right truck comes along. 4WD is a must. Any of you guys out there own one and if so, how do you like it? Looking to get a 2005 and up.

The biggest issue I've found is ground faults Mark. For some reason the Dodge PU's have them. I've gotten to replace radiators and heater cores because of this. There's a real electrolysis issue and it eats the cooling system up as well as the head gaskets. The hemi also has some issues with the heads so make sure that you do all the maintenance for it or you will have problems with it.

 

[GNWANTED]

My last Dodge truck was an 06 quad cab 4x4 hemi. Loved it never had an issue changed oil that is about it. Had over 60,000 miles. With some minor work I was getting over 23 mpg around 60 mph, not that it matters it is a truck. Just traded it in on a new 2010 crew cab 4x4 hemi, love the extra room of the c-cab ride is better but truck does hang alot lower when trailering the GN cause of the new rear sup.

 

[NASSTY]

No!!! Dodge truck owners are no good. :tongue:
J/K :biggrin: I am a Ford truck owner so they probably say the same about me.

 

[INEEDAGN]

No!!! Dodge truck owners are no good. :tongue:
J/K :biggrin: I am a Ford truck owner so they probably say the same about me.

I about spit mountain dew all over the keboard when I read that!

As a dodge truck owner, I will say that I have no problem with ford truck owners, it's the chevy owners I usually don't like.

 

[powerwagon05]

Dodge p/u

I'm on my fourth dodge all 2500 series, 05 powerwagon now 91,000 its been flawless just normal maintenance, plugs, oil,brake pads etc.all have been well used when I'm done with them and two of three I got rid of still going strong,one was crashed.my opinion. Great trucks,excellent hauling/towing.

 

[GNBRETT]

Those Hemi's drink gas. Older ones had some tranny issues. Best looken truck out there tho imo.

 

[83turbomon]

I about spit mountain dew all over the keboard when I read that!

As a dodge truck owner, I will say that I have no problem with ford truck owners, it's the chevy owners I usually don't like.

Easy now.....

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Here's one I really like, haven't seen in person yet though. Torn on whether to get a regular cab or quad cab. 4x4 and a Hemi are a must. I would say about 95% of the time I am the only one in my current vehicle BUT with a newer truck we might tend to use it more. It is just me, the wife and 14 year old son. Might be a bit tight for him sitting in the middle of reg cab.

 

[GNWANTED]

Here's one I really like, haven't seen in person yet though. Torn on whether to get a regular cab or quad cab. 4x4 and a Hemi are a must. I would say about 95% of the time I am the only one in my current vehicle BUT with anewer truck we might tend to use it more. It is just me, the wife and 14 year old son. Might be a bit tight for him sitting in the middle of reg cab.

get the q-cab it is nice to have the extra room.

 

[GregInAtl]

Quad is the way to go, and they are barely anymore expensive. BTW, the 4.7 isn't that bad for a entry level V8. It wont win any races, but is better on gas and is notoriously long running w/ minimal service needs. I drove both and honestly didnt notice much gain w/ the hemi, mainly on the sticker price.