Bought a new diesel truck!

[JsJs24]

Some of you remember I had a 2003 Ford F-250 Powerstroke. Well, I sold it a while back and have been shopping for a couple months for another one. I was looking to get a 05 to 07 model due to the 6.0 liter that I like so much. However, things didn't go that way. I decided to buy a 2005 Dodge Cummins Quad Cab SLT 4x4. Even though I am a Ford fan when it comes to diesels, I have to admit this Dodge is awesome. I have never owned a Cummins but always thought about getting one. The deal was too good to turn down. I bought it from the original owner, with only 74,000 miles on it, and in excellent condition. It's red, which is a color I never thought I'd buy, but I love it. If anyone else on here has a Dodge tell me what you think about them. I never spent much time looking at them in the past, and only recently decided to at least consider them. I saw an add on Craigslist last week, went over and looked at it, drove it, loved it, and gave the guy $500 to hold it until I could transfer the funds into my account to buy it. I got it for $4,500 under Kelly's Blue Book private party value. I just couldn't pass that deal up. I'll post pictures of it tomorrow after I wash and wax it. But it's red, has the spray in bed liner, chrome Dodge nerf bars, chrome bug deflector, 35% tent all around with a strip on the windshield, and 33 inch BFG all terrain tires. The owner took exceptional care of it and it has been garage kept since he bought it brand new in mid 2005. The only thing I miss is the sound of my Ford 6.0 liter, but I'm hoping an after market exhaust will help. Any suggestions on good sounding exhaust systems for a Dodge Cummins? I had an MBRP on my Ford which sounded amazing. Thinking about going with the same for this truck.

[daved150]

Re: Bought a new diesel truck!

aw jsjs...tsk, tsk, tsk......you threw away a commited, fruitful, solid relationship for a fling with the neighbors ignored wife! i know the grass looked a shade greener but i feel you messed up my friend. when you realize all that you lost, the powerstroke will be there to take you back....NOT THAT IT SHOULD.....its just how she rolls!!!!

[jamescb77]

Re: Bought a new diesel truck!

You made the best decision one can make in the diesel game. Yes the ford does have a nice interior and good looks but over all the motor is junk. That dodge motor will never let you down. We have 2 cummins in our driveway and both of them run flawless with nearly 200k on them. The dodge downfall is the tranny. Save up enough to buy a nicely built tranny from a good builder like goerend or ats and you will never look back. An exhaust and a smarty will really make a difference on that truck but it will never sound like a 6.0. If you need any help choosing mods for the truck let me know i have a pretty good knowledge of the truck considering i have a twin turbo one that i have done all the work on sitting at the house. Please hurry and get a smarty though. you will thank me later.

[jipped genes]

Re: Bought a new diesel truck!

hey if i bought one new i would get a ford too. but if it was a good deal there is no reason not to get the dodge. i wouldn't buy a dodge car but their trucks are good (according to consumer reports)

[JsJs24]

Re: Bought a new diesel truck!

You made the best decision one can make in the diesel game. Yes the ford does have a nice interior and good looks but over all the motor is junk. That dodge motor will never let you down. We have 2 cummins in our driveway and both of them run flawless with nearly 200k on them. The dodge downfall is the tranny. Save up enough to buy a nicely built tranny from a good builder like goerend or ats and you will never look back. An exhaust and a smarty will really make a difference on that truck but it will never sound like a 6.0. If you need any help choosing mods for the truck let me know i have a pretty good knowledge of the truck considering i have a twin turbo one that i have done all the work on sitting at the house. Please hurry and get a smarty though. you will thank me later.

I'm gonna look into the Smarty tuners. Never heard of them though, but never owned a Cummins either.

[alluprbdy]

Re: Bought a new diesel truck!

my parents had an 05 a few years ago. Truck was a pos maybe just a fluke that they got a bad one. They traded it in around 75k bc it was nickel and dimming them to death

[JsJs24]

Re: Bought a new diesel truck!

aw jsjs...tsk, tsk, tsk......you threw away a commited, fruitful, solid relationship for a fling with the neighbors ignored wife! i know the grass looked a shade greener but i feel you messed up my friend. when you realize all that you lost, the powerstroke will be there to take you back....NOT THAT IT SHOULD.....its just how she rolls!!!!

I know what you're saying and it wasn't easy to change over. However, I am more than pleased thus far with the Cummins engine and Dodge truck. Everything I thought I didn't like about the Dodge are not as bad as I thought. I never cared for the interior of Dodges but to tell you the truth I actually am impressed with the comfort of the seats and looks of the inside in general. The ride quality is also much better than the Ford I owned, but that was an 03, which didn't have the coil over shock suspension like the 05 and up do. I am sure the next truck I buy down the road will be an 07 Ford Diesel, but for now I want to enjoy my Cummins Dodge.

[daved150]

Re: Bought a new diesel truck!

ok....me and ford will let this go this time, lol. i really hoep you enjoy the truck bro!! nothing better than a new ride!! (james77.....good try diknose, i aint biting!! lol)

[trip]

Re: Bought a new diesel truck!

lol, i'm surprised u were so in love with the last truck

i like em, almost bought one in 04 when my babeee got stolen, and the price was a steal

i did mucho research, and passed, due to a never ending decade long history of front end problems with all there trucks

too me it seemed there always 80% very good and 20% half assed

cummins is pure beauty, styling sharp, interior, personally i always liked em

just those little things

imho, you'll probably love it and have great luck, original owners who babeee there babee's is the only way i buy used, of course then it becomes a long slog to find a desperate seller, lol

[horsepwr]

Re: Bought a new diesel truck!

Congrats on the new ride Js!
I am a Blue Oval man as well, but, always heard good things about the Cummins.

trip's post does remind me of a problem that came out of several Dodge trucks that were on a project I worked on. The front ends would fall apart. When I got mine to the service dept in Kentucky. The tech was amazed I made it from Atlanta to Kentucky because the ball joints, literally, fell apart on the ground. My next one started falling apart before 40K. None of them were diesels though. They were pre-'05 models too.

I have never had any issues with the front end on a Ford. Nor even heard of a front-end issue with Ford trucks. Doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Which decade/model was that, trip?

[JsJs24]

Re: Bought a new diesel truck!

lol, i'm surprised u were so in love with the last truck

i like em, almost bought one in 04 when my babeee got stolen, and the price was a steal

i did mucho research, and passed, due to a never ending decade long history of front end problems with all there trucks

too me it seemed there always 80% very good and 20% half assed

cummins is pure beauty, styling sharp, interior, personally i always liked em

just those little things

imho, you'll probably love it and have great luck, original owners who babeee there babee's is the only way i buy used, of course then it becomes a long slog to find a desperate seller, lol

I did love my Ford but it had too many small dents and scratches on it. I wanted something in like new condition. I usually only keep a vehicle for about 2-3 years, so it was time for a new one. I owned the Ford for just over 2 years. This guy definitely took care of the truck. He hated to see it go too. He was getting ready for retirement this summer (school teacher 38 years). He had just sold his house, some of his furniture, and is moving to his townhouse in Palm Springs. He just didn't have any use for the truck any more and wanted to downsize to a car for cheaper fuel costs in retirement.

[JsJs24]

Re: Bought a new diesel truck!

Congrats on the new ride Js!
I am a Blue Oval man as well, but, always heard good things about the Cummins.

trip's post does remind me of a problem that came out of several Dodge trucks that were on a project I worked on. The front ends would fall apart. When I got mine to the service dept in Kentucky. The tech was amazed I made it from Atlanta to Kentucky because the ball joints, literally, fell apart on the ground. My next one started falling apart before 40K. None of them were diesels though. They were pre-'05 models too.

I have never had any issues with the front end on a Ford. Nor even heard of a front-end issue with Ford trucks. Doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Which decade/model was that, trip?

Well 05 is no different than 04 except for the engine (5.9 HO) as far as I know. It rides great though so no known problems on the rise as of now. My Ford had the ball joints go out right after I bought it. Ford uses crappy ball joints that don't have a zert fitting to lube them, which is probably why they go bad. I went with Moog after-market ones on it. If the Dodge gives me problems I will do the same. But this engine feels awesome. I'm not saying it's better than the 6.0 liter necessarily, but it sure drives as nice. The turbo does not have any lag whatsoever either, whereas the 6.0 liter did until I put a tune on it.

[ROAD WARRIOR]

Re: Bought a new diesel truck!

Good for you, broh! Nice to hear you bought an American ride, too!

[JsJs24]

Re: Bought a new diesel truck!

Good for you, broh! Nice to hear you bought an American ride, too!

Thanks. I always buy American trucks and only buy diesels. I see no sense in buying a gasoline considering I get as good or better fuel mileage than any of them and have way more power. This one has 610 torque and 325 hp stock.

[ROAD WARRIOR]

Re: Bought a new diesel truck!

Thanks. I always buy American trucks and only buy diesels. I see no sense in buying a gasoline considering I get as good or better fuel mileage than any of them and have way more power. This one has 610 torque and 325 hp stock.

Diesels are pretty dayum impressive. I've never owned a diesel vehicle, but after working on diesel locomotives for the last 22 years I've earned a lot of respect for the engineering and efficency that goes into them. And turbos are icing on the cake. lol