Which Year CTD?

BamaTJ · Nov 30, 2007

I know Kelly, Jason and some others know what years are best. Looking for an older CTD that will not cost me a fortune in repairs, get good mileage and be dependable to tow with 1-2 times a month. Probably use it to drive around town here and there. Do I need to look at 03's, or 01 and 02? When did they make significant body style or drivetrain changes? I need to know the history of what happened in what year. I am looking to spend about 15k on a truck.

Bones · Nov 30, 2007

Loved my 96 12V stock, 2WD auto, 250K miles. Got 22 unloaded on a 1000 mile trip and 15 towing my Toyota on a 18' trailer. All hand calced. I loved that truck.

BamaTJ · Nov 30, 2007

Cool thanks for the info, looks like they had a body style change in 03, but that is probably gonna be out of my price range. If I am just going to tow with it then it will be a DRW. Tow mileage is huge as is reliability.

And yeah the reason I posted this is because I made the mistake of telling my wife I spent $511 dollars in fuel for my truck in Nov

Although 500 of those miles were for work and were expensed which equated for about $270 off the total bill. This brings the suck and I don't want to sell my truck because it is decked out and I love riding in it, but the mileage cost brings the suck.

Bones · Nov 30, 2007

I understand. A dually reg cab work truck could be had pretty cheap I bet. 12V's are the **** and easy to work on. Kelly knows way more than I do.

Do you need Xcab? I think they had enough room. Paul and his cuz rode back there once from KsRocks I think.

Do you need 4x4?

P · Nov 30, 2007

Keep the truck ( its paid for isnt it ?) and get a beater lil commuter car for 1-2K

My .02

Bones · Nov 30, 2007

If it's paid for Paul nailed it. r

BamaTJ · Nov 30, 2007

I can't justify that guys, even though it is paid for. I cannot have a 40k truck sitting in the garage to drive 5 days a month. I cannot drive a beater to work because I am a consultant and have to drive clients and collegues around all the time, hence the 500 miles I logged this month for work. I love my truck, the cab is huge it has sirius, leather, line-x, B&W hitch, etc. I picked out all the options and made that truck exactly what I wanted. The KBB on it is right at 40k, I can't just leave it and not drive it out of principal. My wife's car costs me about $700 month and over $500 of that is the payment. I changed the oil and filter on my truck last month and put gas in it, total cost was $600. That is without a payment of any kind.

Bones · Nov 30, 2007

So a cheap old cummins to leave sit and go lease or buy a 4 door bimmer.

BamaTJ · Nov 30, 2007

Bones said:
I understand. A dually reg cab work truck could be had pretty cheap I bet. 12V's are the **** and easy to work on. Kelly knows way more than I do.

Do you need Xcab? I think they had enough room. Paul and his cuz rode back there once from KsRocks I think.

Do you need 4x4?

I would like to have an extended or crew cab depending on year (even though the dodge crew is not much bigger than an extended). What year did they stop making the 12v? I have to have 4x4, because the minute I get a 2wd I will need 4x4 for something. I think it is almost mandatory for towing to and from trails like we do.

Bones · Nov 30, 2007

Crew cab just started a couple years back

12V stopped in 98 or 99 I think. "Buddy" has an 00 or 01 and it's a 24V

BamaTJ · Nov 30, 2007

Cool I saw that "crew" cab started in 03. I really like the looks of the 03 trucks but the cost will be the deciding factor. Probably will be able to afford an 00-02 range truck which would be the older body style 24v trucks. Anybody have any info in terms of mileage and reliability of these trucks? Thanks for the info Bones!

Also which years have the crappy autos that I should stay away from? I was thinking of getting a manual anyways, but I want to know what years had the really bad trannies.

Bones · Nov 30, 2007

All R48?? are know to be bad. No idea if mine 48 was rebuilt/replaced, but I assume it had been at one point as it had a GN hitch. I never had any issues with it and actually it's the only auto I ever had that I liked. It was bone stock and I never ran it hard except for racing Miles to Disney on I-44 with out rigs.

Mechanos on PBB is my "buddy" in Kansas City. He has a 01? sport, Xcab (side doors open), 4x4, auto and he is bombed real well and his auto lasted to 85K i think. He rebuilt it himself with all DTS ****. No issues and that's bee quit a while. He tows less than you I bet though.

BamaTJ · Nov 30, 2007

Thanks bones, you know a lot about these trucks. Keep it coming. I am shopping around on prices of the 00-02 vs 03. A crew cab is appealing because I could haul two rigs and seat 4 somewhat comfortably which cuts down on fuel costs when the bill is split. Thanks for the help!

BamaTJ · Nov 30, 2007

I know, I know before anyone says it, I should of just kept the fawkin Dmax. I hate myself

Bones · Nov 30, 2007

If it makes you feel any better I wish I still had my 96 most of the time. It needed about $1500 in front end work and tires and I bought my 04 Tacoma double cab. I miss that one too. How it always works.

Personaly I THINK the Xcab to 03 is very close in size, just the sides didn't open in mine. So IMO that's not a big deal since I will not be the one crawlin back there. If I had kids and carseats, I'd rethink it.

It will sit a LOT, get one cheap with AC and rock it. This would be an impossible hobby for me to be in right now with gas prices.

jtb51b · Nov 30, 2007

The holy grail is a 98 12v 4x4 quad cab short box. Manual trannies are best in the older trucks. If your going 3rd gen an 03 HO with an auto has the 48re tranny and probably gets the best mileage of the 3rd gens. In all honesty tho, the older trucks are WAY better mileage getters than these new ones. I would avoid anything from 98.5-2002 like the plague. Search for VP44 and you'll see why. I might have a line on a holy grail truck if you want to hear about it, but be prepared they still get 13-15 grand for those if they are fairly low mileage.

Jason

blacksheep10 · Nov 30, 2007

the reason the early 98's are the holy grail is because they had the most power, the quad cab and the best engine of the 12valves. Awesome milage, cheap to upgrade and pull like crazy for at least 300K miles. they bring a pretty penny, though. If you can do without the 3rd doors, buy a 96/97. buy the stick. **** that auto.
RUN don't walk away from my truck. 98.5-02. bad pumps, bad lift pumps, etc etc etc.....well not my truck, but trucks like mine. I have a FASS lift pump, new 027 vp44, and all the other updates to it. a twin to mine for sale is for sale for a reason.

you can pick up a 150,xxx '03 HO (get the HO for the 6 speed) for about 15-18K, get a real nice truck, small chip gets it up to about 22-24 empty, pull like fuggin nuts and good for mid 200xxx to 300xxx miles. truck falls apart around the engine and tranny. I WILL buy an 03 or early 04 (305 horse truck, not 325, that's when the milage dropped off, jan 1, 2004, or model 2004.5)
In reality, you can MAYBE MAYBE find a 98 12v with a quad cab, or do without the doors and find a 96/97 with 150-200 on it and get it for 13K or find an 03 with 150+ on it for a couple grand more and have a nicer truck with WAY better interior amenities. Either are an amazing choice for longevity and milage. just change the oil and rock out.

BamaTJ · Nov 30, 2007

Why avoid the 98.5-02 trucks besides the lift pump issues. Greg (BigWoody has an 00) and he put a Vulan big line kit on it and has had no issues in 2 years. Thanks for all the info, I know you guys would have it. Why the 12v instead of the 24? The rear doors is a must have for me, especially towing two rigs. If you have lines or stumble across any deals on those 98 holy grail trucks or a high mileage 03 truck let me know. How much would I have to spend on the 99-02 24v to get them worry free?

jtb51b · Nov 30, 2007

Theres really no such thing as a worry free 99-02 CTD. You can lessen the risk of an injector pump failure with a FASS setup, a built vp44 and big lines but even then stuff happens. Really theres no way to predict when the vp44 will die on you, and when it does its costly..

Jason

BamaTJ · Nov 30, 2007

What the hell is a VP44? All I know is that my truck make me wants to punch babies and anything is better than that. I put the Bully Dog on it set to Crazy Larry and it still drags ass up hills. I did not get on it or anything because everything is stock on the truck, but I used CL because I heard it gets the best mileage if you drive it normal. Jason, at this point anything is better than what I have, VP44, Lift pumps and what not. Every time I drive my truck baby jesus cries. I just talked about all the stuff with my wife and it is almost comical. I mean 9mpg pulling 7k driving like an old fart, that is laughable. The guy at Benchmark says Cummins made these trucks to pull, not to get good mileage. He also said my truck was up to date on TSB and Updates, I plug in the Bully Dog and the first thing it says is that there is a TSB for Tranny Shifting and Battery Charging. What an assclown, I want to punch him also.