Thoughts 2nd gen "Dodge ram 3500"
 

Not in the market nor least interested in anything but "2nd generation 2002 dodge 3500 ram 5.9 diesel dually".
I think there awesome and the best looking truck around...always wanted one and searching for the right one.
I know the 53 block was something to steer clear of, but believe that was 2000 model year...not sure though.
Can some one with knowledge enlighten me to the good and bad?....got my heart set, but don't mind honest
& unbiased thoughts....

If u absolutely have to have a second gen, I would find a low mileage one,swap in a deleted common rail 6.7 to ditch the VP44, and find a good source for dashes because they crack in the second gens.

Honestly the third gen trucks are light years better than the second gens.

I have owned 02 ,04.5 ,10 and 14s. I use them for work and always one for personal. They averaged 275k before being sold. Some were run stock. Most of them were done with various states of tune. The best truck to date has been a 02 with injectors , tuner,exhaust and intake. I miss that truck everyday. The VP44s are fine. Just keep a good fuel supply to it.

I have a 2000 that just turned over 100k and at 80k I put a programmer exhaust and an intake on it which totally woke the thing up and other than the brakes being a little small for the truck I love it...endless amounts of power comfortable and sounds amazing flyin down the road.....great truck in my opinion....I only use it for towing the boat and other trailers etc...its my work horse

Stewart

53 blocks come mostly in 98-99 automatics, but check whatever you buy because they can be in anything. I had one that cracked with 100k miles, although I was pushing quite a bit of power through it. Put a good lift pump on it and you wont have to worry about the VP44.
If you buy an auto I would suggest Goerend Transmission when you need a rebuild. I went through 4 "built" trannies in 20k miles and that was the only one that would hold the power. Customer service was great as well.
Duallys come with the DHD transfer case and Dana 80 rearend so your good there.

Last time I called Dave goerend they were only selling parts.

Appreciate all for the responses, thanks!.....presently have a '02 dodge 2500 gasser Which I guess would have been alright for the 27' Magnum, but now my 35' Cigarette needs muscle in front of it
which the 2500 lacks. Can't afford new and forget about leases altogether so now I'm combining my overall interest for the '02 ram 3500 diesel and my low $$ affordability and found this.........
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2002-Dodge-...222768?vxp=mtr and there's another '02 but automatic (low miles) https://www.ebay.com/itm/2002-Dodge-...8AAOSwdx1aArna
What's your thoughts on both? and are they fair or unfairly priced?...........thkx for opinions!

The older manual trans is rough. Ratios just are right. Few years later the better 6 speed was available
i like the 24k truck. I'd walk in test it out and throw down about 19k. If it's clean and runs good. The 1st truck has about 2k in fuel pump with labor installed. Lift pumps can be had for 65$ for stock replacement. You can check the pressure with a simple gauge. With a 6 foot hose on it. You have to check its pressure on a wide open pull and make sure it's not going negative pressure. 1-2 pounds at wide open is fine. 6 is awesome.

Hey 6, Are you saying the manual truck has about 2K in optional fuel pumps?...does that enhance it's performance? ...forgive me I'm not knowledgeable about the diesels so I'm a little lost ....I too like the second truck but find it a bit high in price.
would you say, if the first truck checks out with good pressure would 15K be a good price?........can't do this blindly would need a good mechanic with me before any deal (or diesel LOL!!)

The pump does nothing for performance. It's reliable and 2 filters. The 1st filter is actually a hydraulic filter. And it's adjustable if your running big horsepower. They can suck a lot of fuel. The original pumps are ok but fail every now and then. And are a real pain to get at. It's tight where they are. I have a gauge you are more than welcome to borrow to check the trucks out. It takes 1 minute to hook up. See pressure ant idle. Stick it under the wiper blade and take it for a rider. The injector upgrade is fairly cheap and take a beginner mechanic less than 2 hours to change out. This is the best option combined with a power puck tuner. You will have plenty of power and very reliable motor with no worries of melting a piston.

Not sure about your part of the country, but those prices seem high. I picked up a regular cab 2wd 2008 with 85,000 miles on it in like new condition for 18 out the door in 2011.

Class6 is giving you some solid advice if you do stick with the second gen.

Go west young man you will find it.

The pickings for a decent truck would certainly steer me in the direction South or SW......I have a N.H. rust bucket presently. Class6 thanks for the offer!
I like the automatic 3500 I posted up earlier, it's a FL. truck & rust free but 24K ???........I have all winter and Texas trucks seem to have an ever ending
amount of clean trucks, but where are all the 2nd gen dodge 3500 rams?......I will travel cause I don't think a clean one is lurking under my nose (In the NE)

While in general I'm a big proponent of buying used, especially from the south (I live up north too), I would be very careful about buying any used vehicle right now. After the hurricanes that hit, I'd be worried more than a few used vehicles were submerged coming out of Texas and maybe even Florida.

I got as zipcode in North Florida and did 500 mi search found a couple on autotrader

Class 6 is giving you great advice. Look for rust free and Fluid Film the underneath before winter. The brakes are decent on the 02 and up. VP44 just install a good lift pump with extra filtration and you should be fine. Auto trannies are cheap to rebuild and you can build them up to hold whatever power you want. You will probably want a heavier than factory hitch because the oe stuff is fairly light duty. Good Luck! I am extremely happy with my rust free southern 06 5.9 ... You will love the power, it's really like having a big rig engine in a light duty pickup.

yup go mine in Louisiana about 3 years ago for 14k had 130000 mi on it. 2wd 2500 2008 dodge ram 6.7 liter. 2008 is basically when they increased engine size to 6.7 liters. Had no rust anywhere and still had crayon markings on differential plus tags on brake lines. I flew down and drove back. Correct me if I'm wrong 360hp 650ft lbs torque. I pull a 40ft boat with it. At around 150000 mi I had to replace upper and lower control arms. The lower ball joints and bushings were beat. The uppers were still good but replaced anyway. Have 174 k on it now with no engine issues . Runs like a champ . Look for the 6.7 liter

What is a fass lift pump & what purpose does it serve?...and a VP44 is that a standard item on the 5.9 cummins?.....just trying to familiarize myself with all things diesel.
If my search finds a (more than likely) truck out west or south I'll likely do the same fly out and drive home..........I know class 6 gives some good advice, but what
immediate top list of things to check for (in say) an almost 16 year old diesel truck like the one above listed for 24K?....I was thinking, I love the '02 3500's and wasn't
prepared to pay that much........When you think a new dodge ram diesel 3500 can go for over 60K..you would think (at least I would) that a 16 yr. old truck certainly
would not be 1/3rd the price of a new one......I guess they hold there value?...........Also, what's the best rear ratio for towing a 13K boat..4:10...3:55 ???..can you
explain the differences?

3:73 rear is best in that truck. 2nd would be the 3:55. You don't need the 4 series gear ratio. It has plenty of torque

What about my first question about the fass and VP44?.............Also right of the bat what would be the top things to check for in a used truck with the 5.9 ?
I contacted the Fl. truck people and they're pretty firm on the price ..... they know what they have, but I still think it's way high for 2002....thanks I'm learning!

The FASS is just a good lift/fuel pump setup with filters mounted on the unit. It is adjustable with in a range depending on the delivery requirements needed. So it's just a good pump. Remote mounted for easy service. the Bosch VP44 is the injection pump that came on the motor. And it's a good pump. And if it hasn't crapped out by now. It probably won't.

I own a excavation co. I own and take care of nothing but Diesel engines everyday. That same motor I have had in service and personal trucks, Equipment , generators and pumps. It's a dependable motor with basic maintenance. Parts are fairly cheap compared to the newer 6.7. The 6.7s have a pump and rail system with more electronics to add to the misery of ownership. IMO the 5.9l 24V is a great motor. What to look for on the truck 1st. Would be rust. Body repair and color you like. And does it need tires. If you really want to check that motor. Go to a caterpillar dealer and get a oil sample kit and send it out for analysis it takes about three days and I could tell you a lot

Do the late model steering linkage upgrade [ knuckle to knuckle link ] & Rehead steering box , nice upgrade .

We have a 1998 Dodge 3500 4x4 Dual wheel extra cab 5.9 12 valve diesel. White with blue interior with 80,000 miles. Super clean I would part with.
We just bought a 2015 Ford f 350 4x4 dual wheel crew cab king ranch to use for poker runs.

Hey Lucky how can I get some more info and pics on the '98?........Scippy

Here are a couple, don't have many. However, it's a 1996 though, not a 1998.

2nd.

Lucky sent you a pm.....thnx, Scippy

Did u send it to Jr or me?

Old truck
 

Old truck

ooopps! ...

PM sent to you

Unicorn!

The FASS system (fuel air separation system) also filters the fuel way better than the stock filter - very important for injector life. I own an 03 QC short bed 4wd laramie heavy duty with the 4.10 gears, bought it new and has been a great truck. I have about 43k on it now, use it mostly to tow and plow but have been driving it to florida with stuff for our house.

dcb......thanks for the breakdown & meaning of the FASS !......I'm not shy to admit I know very little about the diesel engine......what does the QC stand for? Also, I'm curious what it cost you back then in'03?
I thought I would easily pickup an '02 3500 dually diesel in good condition w/ relatively low miles for under 15K finding that to be not the case........now if were a gas engine 3500 dually? ....most likely yes!

A little more than what your looking for but NICE and you can get through the car wash with it.

https://m.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=465200330&zip=32060 &endYear=2012&vehicleStyleCodes=TRUCKS&pageLayout= list&fuelTypeGroup=DSL&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&star tYear=2006&listingTypes=used&maxMileage=150000&sea rchRadius=500&mmt=%5BCHEV%5BCH3500PU%5B%5D%5D%5B%5 DDODGE%5BRAM3502WD%5B%5D%5D%5B%5DRAM%5BRM3500%5B%5 D%5D%5B%5D%5D

6 speed automatic 800 ft lbs torque😃oh yeah.

https://www.mountairytoyota.com/inventory/used-2012-ram-3500-2wd-crew-cab-169-st-rwd-crew-cab-pickup-3c63d2gl6cg129574

19900 not getting the link to stick sorry but it will get you there

Scippy, I am guessing..QC = Quad Cab

Ken

Yes QC quad cab, if I remember correctly, list on the truck was 43 or 44k - I ended up paying 39 out the door. I had no trade in and paid cash. Prices on used diesels are extreme, a friend just paid 25 for an 06 GMC diesel with 150k.