What brand Diesel truck would you buy?

[alecvg]

The Dodge truck transmission thing has always confused me.
I work at the Dodge dealer in the service drive, I see 30 Ram trucks a day and hardly ever do I see major trans problems.

Really?  Huh.  I honestly know a lot of people who have had the trannies go out on their rams.  Although most of them were not stock, could that have anything to do with it?

[C-Money]

I would look at the Dodge with a manual 6 speed tranny. I would really not want a new diesel truck with all the urea crap and emissions stuff going on. I am happy with my Ford F-350 6 speed manual with the V-10 gas. 

[jackelope]

Somebody said earlier in this thread that if you're gonna add horsepower you gotta have a transmission that will handle it.
I see trucks that aren't stock a lot from engine mods, lift kits, programmers, etc. Still not too many transmissions grenade...at least not on the trucks that are coming to the dealer. We have our fair share of contractors, builders, etc...trucks that get used a little.

Malardman...I'd love to hear about your problems with Rairdons and your warranty, you ought to pm me and fill me in.

[DRobnsn]

Somebody said earlier in this thread that if you're gonna add horsepower you gotta have a transmission that will handle it.
I see trucks that aren't stock a lot from engine mods, lift kits, programmers, etc. Still not too many transmissions grenade...at least not on the trucks that are coming to the dealer. We have our fair share of contractors, builders, etc...trucks that get used a little.

Malardman...I'd love to hear about your problems with Rairdons and your warranty, you ought to pm me and fill me in.

I think I said something like that earlier, I know people get away with some mods and having a trans last. Third gen Dodges seem to have a more reliable trans when it comes to adding power. Almost everyone I know with a second gen trashed the stock one with very little mods. It also depends on how you drive it and if you pay attention to warning signs or just beat it and don't care or don't know what to look for. There are a ton of variables here.

Also I'm talking about more than just +100 hp. Anything more than that you will have problems if you use it. The trans might seem to work fine but its time is coming if you keep it up.

I'm in no way trying to start something with you. Just stating what I have seen.

Here is an example of what I mean. I'm sure some people have heard of source automotive if not they are a diesel performance shop in portland good people and great service if you ask me.

Anyway I was at the Portland 1/4 mile track last year, the owner of said shop was there with his 08 6.7l Mega cab with many,many mods including twin turbos but essentially the truck had a stock trans they figured the truck would make over 800hp to the ground but with the stock trans the truck would only run a best time somewhere in the low 14 sec E.T.

There was another 6.7L truck there about the same year but lifted and not a mega cab. The truck only had a few mods main one being an Edge Juice W/attitude adds somewhere around 150 hp could be more depending on program, this truck also had a stock trans but would run the almost the same E.T. as the other truck.

Why do they run the same when one makes twice the power, simple the power is being lost in the trans and not going to the ground. Slippage in the converter and clutch packs. The trans still works its just not going to forever in those conditions.

[high country]

I had to put a south bend in my dodge after I ran through the stocker...pay to play

[KimberRich]

My 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 CTD Laramie 6" Fabtech lift, 35" Toyo MT's 83,000mi..... Lets start, ball joints every 5-7K uppers and lowers, u-joints rear, Power seat motors, power window motor x2, wiper motor, headliner due to leaking, drivers seat heater, steering gear box due to pissing out fluid x2, front axle u-joints x2, one wheel bearing driver, 2 injectors, rear main seal, 2 tranny's need a 3rd now , heater core, front end recall upgrade, put in a aftermarket track bar by Carli suspension uses heim joints I'm sure there is more I'm forgeting and I'm in the process of SUING RAIRDONS DUE TO F-ING US ON OUR WARRANTY note all replacment parts are Mopar/Cummins Replacment parts. I love this truck but I hate it at the same time!!!!

Yikes that's a lot of problems.  But some of those things you've got to expect in a heavy duty lifted truck with that much power..  U joints, ball joints, axle u joints, and even the tranny and steering issues can be linked to changing drive angles and the added stress.  I've owned lifted diesel trucks and have experienced the same issue.  As for the other stuff..  That sucks and they should stand behind their product.  Hope you get your warranty issues figured out.

[KimberRich]

Just got rid of my '05 Crew Dmax in August.  My first diesel truck and only had 68k on it. Rode like a dream and ran good but had tons of other issues.. Power Mirrors stopped working, instrument cluster acted up all the time, cruise control stopped working, gas gauge was way off.. ran out of diesel with 1/3 tank showing, tranny started slipping, etc.

Bought a '05 F250 SD Lariat Crew.  Like it so far.  If it acts up I'll sell it and buy a Dodge then I can comment on each truck.  I'm sure this debate will still be going!!

[6x6in6]

I had to put a south bend in my dodge after I ran through the stocker...pay to play

Yup, mine lasted all the way until 35,000.  It now has the SB 3250 dual disk. 

[NWwildman]

I voted cummin i have a 99 with 260k and i have only rebuilt the front end once since i got it and never had transmission issues. I am run stacked  boxes,injectors,and s330 turbo  and i drive it like i stole it. It has been are great truck.

[thinkingman]

My 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 CTD Laramie 6" Fabtech lift, 35" Toyo MT's 83,000mi..... Lets start, ball joints every 5-7K uppers and lowers, u-joints rear, Power seat motors, power window motor x2, wiper motor, headliner due to leaking, drivers seat heater, steering gear box due to pissing out fluid x2, front axle u-joints x2, one wheel bearing driver, 2 injectors, rear main seal, 2 tranny's need a 3rd now , heater core, front end recall upgrade, put in a aftermarket track bar by Carli suspension uses heim joints I'm sure there is more I'm forgeting and I'm in the process of SUING RAIRDONS DUE TO F-ING US ON OUR WARRANTY note all replacment parts are Mopar/Cummins Replacment parts. I love this truck but I hate it at the same time!!!!

Yikes that's a lot of problems.  But some of those things you've got to expect in a heavy duty lifted truck with that much power..  U joints, ball joints, axle u joints, and even the tranny and steering issues can be linked to changing drive angles and the added stress.  I've owned lifted diesel trucks and have experienced the same issue.  As for the other stuff..  That sucks and they should stand behind their product.  Hope you get your warranty issues figured out.

I don't have a dog in this fight but nobody with a lift kit should complain about anything wearing out.
Lift kits just kill components.

[FC]

Lift kits just kill components.

Lift kits wear everything out on a truck MUCH faster due to all the altered angles, anyone who says or thinks otherwise is delusional. Not to mention most people who get their trucks lifted drive them like meatheads and constantly break *censored*. People who drive big diesel pickups and stomp on the gas from every stop pay transmission shops mortgages. Diesel truck owners all like to say that the truck is built for it yada yada, go jump in a tractor-trailer rig and just stomp on the gas from a stop, you'll twist that driveline out so fast you won't get your foot off the gas before it starts banging around under the truck!

[jackelope]

I just wrote up a 2008 Ram Dually with the 6.7L diesel that has 456k miles on it....... 

The guy hauls travel trailers all over the US and Canada.

[Caseyd]

I just wrote up a 2008 Ram Dually with the 6.7L diesel that has 456k miles on it....... 

The guy hauls travel trailers all over the US and Canada.

Hows that even possible 

Average of 60mph = 7,600 hours of driving per year = 20 hours per day (all 356 days) 

[KimberRich]

I just wrote up a 2008 Ram Dually with the 6.7L diesel that has 456k miles on it....... 

The guy hauls travel trailers all over the US and Canada.

Wow.  That's some driving right there.  You know what problems, if any, he's had?

[Caseyd]

I just wrote up a 2008 Ram Dually with the 6.7L diesel that has 456k miles on it....... 

The guy hauls travel trailers all over the US and Canada.

Wow.  That's some driving right there.  You know what problems, if any, he's had?

Yeah he wore a hole in the drivers seat