Anybody drive a Dodge?

[bbailey]

Thinking of getting a newer style Dodge Ram Quad cab 2500 4x4 for running around and doing some smaller jobs. The family may be getting bigger soon also with a new addition. So I was wondering what you guys thought of the trucks if you own one and how they have been for you. Post some pics if you got them!:waving:

[dvmcmrhp52]

The 2500 has the hemi, not a vehicle for "running" around with as you've suggested. Filling that 35 gallon tank can be a bit rough if your not used to it and at about 15 mpg highway it likes to drink.


Good trucks though.

[DodgeTruckMan731]

or you could always go with a cummings.

[ChadsLawn]

Yup I drive a Dodge... a 1990 Dodge Dakota 2wd 3.9v6..Best truck Ive ever owned.

[lawnmaniac883]

I drive a dodge, 2004.5 2500 CTD ( cummins turbo diesel )

Damn good truck, 18mpg city and 22 mpg highway.

[wriken]

here's mine
CTD 610

[lwcmattlifter]

I've got no complaints with my 01 2500 CTD. I'll probably buy another Dodge unless Ford makes some big changes but that's a whole other story.

[tal320]

You'll want ear plugs to go with that Dodge, kind they use when standing in front of the jets at the airport.

Drive it and then drive Chevy/GMC with Duramax and Allison. Real power, MPG and value. 2007 added the new sound barrier to make it almost sound like a 6.2L gas. The next gen. coming early spring will be better yet.

[gardenkeeper88]

2003 Dodge 2500 qud cab 4x4 cummins diesel here. Always drove chevy/GMC before. 15mpg city not when pulling trailer, and up to 27mpg highway. LOVE it. :clapping: Granted the allison transmission is the best. Comfort is sooooo much better in the dodge than the GMC. GMC is more of a work truck interior. Sorry Ford NO way.

[ECS]

Have a 2000 quad cab 4x4 cummins diesel. Love it. Never had a problem with it. Just about ready to hit 62k and almost all of it has been under a load, lawn trailer, horse trailer, cab over camper, plowing. When camping it goes with the camper and horse trailer.

[tal320]

Have you seen the new Chevy/GMC on the web or ad's. New interior looks good, two to choose from.

[lawnmaniac883]

You'll want ear plugs to go with that Dodge, kind they use when standing in front of the jets at the airport.

Drive it and then drive Chevy/GMC with Duramax and Allison. Real power, MPG and value. 2007 added the new sound barrier to make it almost sound like a 6.2L gas. The next gen. coming early spring will be better yet.


The new third generation dodges are much quieter, maybe if you pulled your head out of your @## you would notice that.:hammerhead:

[bbailey]

Not looking at a diesel, looking at a hemi. Gas mileage is not an issue as fuel expense can be written off. Going to go drive one tomorrow. Will update after driving. Thanks for the replys so far.

[sildoc]

Not looking at a diesel, looking at a hemi. Gas mileage is not an issue as fuel expense can be written off. Going to go drive one tomorrow. Will update after driving. Thanks for the replys so far.
Drive the cummins also. You might reconsider. Over all in the end you will be happier and come out way ahead than with the hemi. I have a buddy that bought the hemi right after I bought the cummins. exact same truck all around minus color and engine. I get 3 mpg better in town towing a trailer than he with out the trailer and when we go camping haulling almost the same weight I get up to 8 mpg better than he. remember you can write off the pament also.
Now the other perks of diesel. Better resale, less people at the diesel pump, more power, just as quiet.
draw back is that diesel is 11 cents more than reg gas here. Make it up in better mpg.

[Wayward]

I have a '92 Dodge D250 diesel with about 400,000 miles (the odometer quite at 257,000). The engine has never been worked on except to adjust the valves; the only thing I've replaced is the alternator. It will get 20 mpg on the highway at 70 mph. I'm considering buying a new one before they start adding the '07 emissions to them.

[jt5019]

I have a 2000 dodge 2500 4x4 gasser but not a hemi. The truck has been pretty realiable for me i really like it. My buddy has a 2005 with the hemi and he loves it i dont think hes had any issues at all with it.

[jt5019]

Here is our two trucks i actually prefer the Dodge over the brand new chevy

[gardenkeeper88]

Have you seen the new Chevy/GMC on the web or ad's. New interior looks good, two to choose from.

No I haven't. Glad to know they worked on the inside. I have a 99 GMC gas and it is a great truck. But after owning the dodge, Between what I have and testdove in 2004 I like my dodge. When I add my 3rd. I will still look at both GM and dodge.

[DBL]

we have three dodges i drive and 03 cummins quad cab 4x4 6spd and i love driving it everyday we also have a 98 ram 2500 and 91 ram 2500 gas and all three have plows great trucks cant go wrong

[lawnmaniac883]

I would not buy one of those hemi's man. Premium gas required and you only get like 12 city 18 highway...put a trailer behind one and you will be disapointed.

[DBL]

I would not buy one of those hemi's man. Premium gas required and you only get like 12 city 18 highway...put a trailer behind one and you will be disapointed.

i never heard about any premium gas being required

[dvmcmrhp52]

i never heard about any premium gas being required




89 octane.

[dvmcmrhp52]

put a trailer behind one and you will be disapointed.



Disappointed in what?

Do you own one?

[ATL Lawn]

yea, 03 Dodge Ram 1500, love it, just hate the gas mileage.

http://atlanta-sod.com/gallery/Image132.jpg

[lawnmaniac883]

Disappointed in what?

Do you own one?


Dissapointed in mileage, friggin drops down to like 9mpg with a trailer in tow, dont own one, too much fuel for me.

[Emerscape]

I had a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab Slt with the Hemi.. ive got pictures on the site somewhere with it. I used it for everything, towing a skidsteers and mini excavators and plowing in the winter. Was running 35" BFG All Terrains and was averaging 12 mpg and about 9 mpg plowing (with a 2k lb pallet of salt in the back) and towing. Yeah the gas sucked but i wasnt lightfooted about it. Always had power when I needed it and was dependable. I used a hypertech programmer so that I could run regular gas and it added some low end power for towing and plowing. If you cant afford a diesel, or don't want a diesel then its a great truck, much more power than the chevy 6.0 and the ford 5.4. Personally I would have bought a diesel but I couldn't afford it and I was very happy with the hemi

[MacLawns]

Drive the cummins also. You might reconsider. Over all in the end you will be happier and come out way ahead than with the hemi. I have a buddy that bought the hemi right after I bought the cummins. exact same truck all around minus color and engine. I get 3 mpg better in town towing a trailer than he with out the trailer and when we go camping haulling almost the same weight I get up to 8 mpg better than he. remember you can write off the pament also.
Now the other perks of diesel. Better resale, less people at the diesel pump, more power, just as quiet.
draw back is that diesel is 11 cents more than reg gas here. Make it up in better mpg.

So you're saying the MPG difference is not really a consideration with the higher cost of deisel fuel plus finding deisel pump harder, and you're paying around $5k more on the sticker.

Write off or not, your still paying more. If you're not towing at the top end of capacity weight, you won't need the extra torque of a deisel, and you'll save $5k plus interest.

[sildoc]

So you're saying the MPG difference is not really a consideration with the higher cost of deisel fuel plus finding deisel pump harder, and you're paying around $5k more on the sticker.

Write off or not, your still paying more. If you're not towing at the top end of capacity weight, you won't need the extra torque of a deisel, and you'll save $5k plus interest.

Well lets see since diesel was recently 50cents per gallon cheaper than unleaded I made up some of the 5 k there. Then I only have to change oil every 7000 instead of 3000 extra 200 a year saved there. My diesel will last longer than a gasser. My diesel will be worth more than a gasser in resale value roughly 2000 or more of same vehicle in like condition.
Now on to the time element. I can get out in traffic with a load quicker and up to speed with no problem. I have a 460 gasser and the cummins blows it away. I save time not paying an employee to sit at a stop sign.
I am not sure about your area but out of 50-70 stations around they have diesel at 2/3 of them.

Drive a diesel for any length of time and it is hard to go back to a gas rig.

[task125]

I have a 2006 Mega cab (man van)3500 4x4 diesel,I will never buy a gas truck again.Love it

[MacLawns]

Well lets see since diesel was recently 50cents per gallon cheaper than unleaded I made up some of the 5 k there. Then I only have to change oil every 7000 instead of 3000 extra 200 a year saved there. My diesel will last longer than a gasser. My diesel will be worth more than a gasser in resale value roughly 2000 or more of same vehicle in like condition.
Now on to the time element. I can get out in traffic with a load quicker and up to speed with no problem. I have a 460 gasser and the cummins blows it away. I save time not paying an employee to sit at a stop sign.
I am not sure about your area but out of 50-70 stations around they have diesel at 2/3 of them.

Drive a diesel for any length of time and it is hard to go back to a gas rig.


well, now you are changing numbers on me. you originally said diesel was 11cents MORE. now your saying it is 50 cents cheaper. around here the costs are within 5cents of each other either way. ;)

next you say your diesel will last forever then you go on to say that resale is higher. resale means nothing if you keep it forever. I have a feeling that diesel engine that lasts "forever" would probably be 2-3 years more than the rest of the truck:)

also, you say your deisel "blows it away" vs. a 460 gasser. what truck do you have that has a 460? to the best of my knowledge the 460 wasn't an optional engine configuration from dodge when I bought one two weeks ago. Have you driven a newer dodge Hemi? (dogde hemi #2 btw)

I'm not saying a diesel doesn't have higher torque potential. I'm saying that unless you are regularly towing 3-5 tons or more, you won't need that torque. I have regularly towed a toro walkbehind (600lbs?) a Scag zero turn (1100lbs?) two lawn boys (120lbs?) several trimmers/blowers etc. on racks(150lbs?) plus 20 some gallons of gas(130lbs) all on a 1,300 lb trailer. for conservative grand total of 3,390 lbs give or take a few hundred lbs. this IMHO is a typical setup for a lawn crew. My 07 ram 2500 hemi barely knows it is there. I also have straight plowed apprx. 8" of snow in 100 yard stretches, and my hemi had no problem. I can't speculate on more snow in longer stretches because haven't done it. Yes, I know once you have all that diesel power, you might not want to go back to a meek little "gasser" If you don't need that much power to begin with why spend the extra $5k-$6K up front plus interest(unless you are paying cash. I know I can't)

P.S. Please don't interpret this as me being an a-hole. I am just trying to be a friendly neighborhood lawnsite member and help anyone trying to make that decision on what truck to buy.

[MacLawns]

Well lets see since diesel was recently 50cents per gallon cheaper than unleaded I made up some of the 5 k there. Then I only have to change oil every 7000 instead of 3000 extra 200 a year saved there. My diesel will last longer than a gasser. My diesel will be worth more than a gasser in resale value roughly 2000 or more of same vehicle in like condition.
Now on to the time element. I can get out in traffic with a load quicker and up to speed with no problem. I have a 460 gasser and the cummins blows it away. I save time not paying an employee to sit at a stop sign.
I am not sure about your area but out of 50-70 stations around they have diesel at 2/3 of them.

Drive a diesel for any length of time and it is hard to go back to a gas rig.


well, now you are changing numbers on me. you originally said diesel was 11cents MORE. now your saying it is 50 cents cheaper. around here the costs are within 5cents of each other either way. Also, here maybe 1 in 10 gas stations has deisel.

next you say your diesel will last forever then you go on to say that resale is higher. resale means nothing if you keep it forever. I have a feeling that a diesel engine that lasts "forever" would probably be 2-3 years more than the rest of the truck;)

also, you say your deisel "blows it away" vs. a 460 gasser. what truck do you have that has a 460? to the best of my knowledge the 460 wasn't an optional engine configuration from dodge when I bought one two weeks ago. Have you driven a newer dodge Hemi? (dogde hemi #2 btw)

I'm not saying a diesel doesn't have higher torque potential. I'm saying that unless you are regularly towing 3-5 tons or more, you won't need that torque. I have regularly towed a toro walkbehind (600lbs?) a Scag zero turn (1100lbs?) two lawn boys (120lbs?) several trimmers/blowers etc. on racks(150lbs?) plus 20 some gallons of gas(130lbs) all on a 1,300 lb trailer. for conservative grand total of 3,390 lbs give or take a few hundred lbs. this IMHO is a typical setup for a lawn crew. My 07 ram 2500 hemi barely knows it is there. I also have straight plowed apprx. 8" of snow in 100 yard stretches, and my hemi had no problem. I can't speculate on more snow in longer stretches because haven't done it. Yes, I know once you have all that diesel power, you might not want to go back to a meek little "gasser" If you don't need that much power to begin with why spend the extra $5k-$6K up front plus interest(unless you are paying cash. I know I can't)

P.S. Please don't interpret this as me being an a-hole. I am just trying to be a friendly neighborhood lawnsite member and help anyone trying to make that decision on what truck to buy.

[MacLawns]

didn't mean to post that twice

[sildoc]

well, now you are changing numbers on me. you originally said diesel was 11cents MORE. now your saying it is 50 cents cheaper. around here the costs are within 5cents of each other either way. Also, here maybe 1 in 10 gas stations has deisel.

next you say your diesel will last forever then you go on to say that resale is higher. resale means nothing if you keep it forever. I have a feeling that a diesel engine that lasts "forever" would probably be 2-3 years more than the rest of the truck;)

also, you say your deisel "blows it away" vs. a 460 gasser. what truck do you have that has a 460? to the best of my knowledge the 460 wasn't an optional engine configuration from dodge when I bought one two weeks ago. Have you driven a newer dodge Hemi? (dogde hemi #2 btw)

I'm not saying a diesel doesn't have higher torque potential. I'm saying that unless you are regularly towing 3-5 tons or more, you won't need that torque. I have regularly towed a toro walkbehind (600lbs?) a Scag zero turn (1100lbs?) two lawn boys (120lbs?) several trimmers/blowers etc. on racks(150lbs?) plus 20 some gallons of gas(130lbs) all on a 1,300 lb trailer. for conservative grand total of 3,390 lbs give or take a few hundred lbs. this IMHO is a typical setup for a lawn crew. My 07 ram 2500 hemi barely knows it is there. I also have straight plowed apprx. 8" of snow in 100 yard stretches, and my hemi had no problem. I can't speculate on more snow in longer stretches because haven't done it. Yes, I know once you have all that diesel power, you might not want to go back to a meek little "gasser" If you don't need that much power to begin with why spend the extra $5k-$6K up front plus interest(unless you are paying cash. I know I can't)

P.S. Please don't interpret this as me being an a-hole. I am just trying to be a friendly neighborhood lawnsite member and help anyone trying to make that decision on what truck to buy.

460 is in my main work truck and it is a ford. I have the same set up as you but with a brimar dump insert in the bed that usually has from 1000-4000 lbs in it pending the time of day.

The difference in gas prices were from my first post to my most recent post. Note the months that have passed from my first post. Yes fuel fluxuates that much.

For me I have had less problems with the diesels than I have with gassers. More to go wrong on a gasser and has worked best for me.

I am in no way saying that the gasser is a bad choice it is just that I am growing in leaps and bounds and buy for the future. This is especially the case when you are talking vehicles that loose value quick. There are times I carry the dump full of mulch and a dump trailer with 5 - 7 yards of topsoil. You can definitely tell the difference between the gasser and diesel at that time and getting out in traffic is a bear when you don't have the power.

I still say the resale value offsets the whole deal. I say I keep it forever but in a vehicle what is forever? Obviously at a couple hundred thousand miles I am going to be needing another tax write off and that is when a good vehicle are going to start costing money to keep going.
In my case I don't finance much of a vehicle, usually pay 2/3 of the vehicle so interest is not much.
Also when I bought my quad cab in 06 the diesel was only 3500 more than the hemi. hemi was 29999 and I paid 33445 for my cummins. that and the cummins has a heavier transmision than the hemi.

In the end this still results in the ford, chevy, dodge debate just using engines to replace models.
cheers.

[MacLawns]

I agree with you, Sildoc. It all comes down to what you need the truck to do, what the money situation is, and personal preference. Both Sildoc and I have thought out all of these questions and have come up with different answers. Just because they are different, doesn't mean one is wrong and the other is right. If you are looking for a quick, clear-cut answer, you're not going to find one here, or anywhere for that matter. maybe the best way to figure it out is to see whose situation more closely relates to your own and add a grain of salt. Me, I am one man operation that does very little landscaping and a lot of mowing. I like being solo, less headache. I wouldn't even consider doing 5-7 tons of topsoil and 5-7 yards of mulch in one day. anyway....

thank you sildoc, for conversing

Good luck, BBailey

[sildoc]

Me, I am one man operation that does very little landscaping and a lot of mowing. I like being solo, less headache. I wouldn't even consider doing 5-7 tons of topsoil and 5-7 yards of mulch in one day. anyway....

thank you sildoc, for conversing

Good luck, BBailey

don't cut yourself short. I do it by myself in a day. It just depends on how far you have to go with it and access. Dumps spread easy only need a bit of final prep which takes longer than the spreading. i only really hired a guy this year to keep up with work and it is looking towards hiring another next year. I am young but know I don't want to be doing the grunt work the rest of my life.

[mudwisr2]

2000 Dodge 3500 6spd flatbed. Not the fastest truck on the road (4.10 gears) but it will pull a house down! I get +/-14mpg loaded. I rarely drive it without a trailer behind it. Good truck. Next addition will be 3/4 ton cummins personal truck.

[jrush]

I have a 03' 1500 quad cab and love it. No probs to speak of and I work it like a 3500. I know a Dodge tech and he said stay away from the Hemi's when they first came out, alot of probs. Gas mileage still sucks. It has the 7-70 powertrain, wish they would've kept that for more than 2 years.

[scott_lawnco]

We have 2 2006's with the cummins. Both 4x4 and quad cab in matching silver. Previously owned a 2003 and 2001 with the cummins and wouldnt trade them for nothing. Diesel all the way.

[kandklandscape]

knock on wood, 95 dodge ram 4x4 1500 we use the piss outta this truck got it at 140k now has 207k 2 years later we beat the hell outta it, 5.9l gasser orig head gaskets orig motor.... tranny bad 2 times. but motor is running fine.... uses quart a oil every 5k not to bad eh

[jrush]

should'nt have replied to this post earlier,
trani went today.

[J&R Landscaping]

should'nt have replied to this post earlier,
trani went today.

How many miles on the clock?

[newdude]

well, i've been looking at diesels and both the cummins and d-max are very excelent. The d-max and i belive the new 6.7 cummins get very similar milage so that shouldn't be to much of a problem. I have heard a ford in a parking lot (6.4) and it sounded like a gasser. It is all up to you. drive'm and see which one you like.

[tinman]

Thinking of getting a newer style Dodge Ram Quad cab 2500 4x4 for running around and doing some smaller jobs. The family may be getting bigger soon also with a new addition. So I was wondering what you guys thought of the trucks if you own one and how they have been for you. Post some pics if you got them!:waving:

I got a 2007 quad cab 1500 in 2007 in April... I love it. I don't use it for work yet so I don't drive it much yet. Rides & drives like a car.

[Herrick]

I drive a 98 ram QC 4x4... it's been beat by previous owners and I'm reaping the rewards at the moment... already replaced the 5.2 with a 5.9, and getting ready to tear into the trany now that it finally overheated on me. I still love the truck, and plan on building the trans so I won't have any more problems while I own the truck.

[MacLawns]

The 2500 has the hemi, not a vehicle for "running" around with as you've suggested. Filling that 35 gallon tank can be a bit rough if your not used to it and at about 15 mpg highway it likes to drink.


Good trucks though.

I have an 07 ram 2500 reg cab. I would be ecstatic if I got 15mpg. the 3/4 ton dodge is much heavier than the 1/2 ton plus quad cab. with trailer i am getting about 8 mpg with the hemi. without trailer, maybe 10mpg. I don't do much highway time, so couldn't tell you about that.

[jrush]

I would literally kill for 15 mpg. Unfortunetly 9 seems to be more the norm.

[jasonlandscape]

heres my cummins, yeeeaah!!! anyone seen me?

http://a259.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/6/l_665d99c21214669b75433ab874d6d1ba.jpg

[jrush]

Nice!!!!!!

[lamarbur]

I have a new 07 6.7, 3500 QC with their new 6spd auto,, Nearing 2000 miles now and on the clock, 17.5,, Both times I hauled my tractor is dropped substantially. I couldn't monitor the fuel use towing because of out quick up and down hills, but would venture to guess I dropped down to 10 anyway,.

[scott_lawnco]

Damn! I get about 8-8.5 mpg on average! That sucks!

[tbambersvc]

Besides doing my front end this spring, I have 0 complaints about my 04.5 2500 with the Cummins.