Dodge trucks...your thoughts

mileshigh

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 2, 2005
Location
Charlotte NC
Ok looking to buy as a gas 1998-01 dodge 1500 truck, now my dad has always told me never own a dodge because thats what his dad told him....So what are peoples thoughts on them? Good and bad. Ive own both ford and chevys but never a dodge. Let me know your experiences with dodge from quality to gas mileage to how it drives( ie turn radius and ride quality". Thanks
 
blah blah blah says the Dodge haters. Yeah, they may have tranny and some electrical issues, but I'd own one without a doubt.
 
Diesels are great the gas engines are soso v10 pulls good but you better have deep pockets . The auto trans are JUNK but if you have one rebuilt and drop the money on it they do really good. If i had my choice diesel and a 6 speed then you wouldnt have any problems. just my 2cents.
 
I had a 2000 ext cab 4x4 1500 with the 360. I loved that truck, BUT the transmission sucked, and they never did get it right. It went through 4 trannys in 6 months, and the last one only lasted about another 13 months after that. I had a long arm lift, and it rode smoother than any factory height new truck that I test drove back in 06 when i was in the market for a new one.
gas mileage, about 10 in town, and if you keep your foot off the pedal, and keep it below 70mph, 18 mpg is "possible", but 15 mpg is more common
 
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 with the hemi. I love this truck. My only complaint is the gas mileage. I overwork my truck, towing loads up to 12k. 1/2 tons were never meant to do what I do with mine. I've overheated the transmission once. I then purchased a programmer and haven't had an issue since. Even got better fuel mileage. Better..not good.. :)

I would buy another Dodge in a heartbeat, except it'd be a 3500. I, too, would go with the diesel and 6 speed.
 
99' 1500 quad 4X4. 360cui. Motor sounded like a diesel by 35,000 miles and smoke like hell. Tranny sucked bad. Also had a 97' 2wheel drive with a 318. That one ran like a bat outa hell and no problems at all when sold at 41,000.
 
Ok so transmission issues...what kind of problems? slipping? not shifting? leaking?
I knew that dodge has a reputation of having awful gas mileage.
 
Their auto trannys are junk if used....street driving they seem to do ok.

My biggest complaint with the only one I have had is the damn interior fell apart.
at 80k miles the dash was cracked in at least 10 spots, the radio crapped out with less than 40k on it. The speedometer worked intermittently. The intermittent wipers didnt work at all and the headlight dimmer broke.

basically it was a late 80s chevy in an 01 package.
 
alright trucks. the gas mileage isn't great. my dash fell apart in mine. i have a 2001 quad cab 4x4 with 96,500 miles on it. just had my dash replaced and dodge helped with some of the cost. after 3 years of calling and complaining. love the room in it. has a vacuum leak in it now, but that i believe is just normal, not due to being a dodge. just wish it had better gas mileage. not to be off topic, but i will make you a good deal on mine! :popcorn:
 
2001 Dodge Ram 318 C.I. auto tranny. i loved it. Its the only vehicle i wish i could get back. a saturn coupe tried to eat it whole.
 
BigRedB2 said:
2001 Dodge Ram 318 C.I. auto tranny. i loved it. Its the only vehicle i wish i could get back. a saturn coupe tried to eat it whole.
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Stupid Saturn..
I've always loved Dodges.
Great trucks.
 
04 1500 5.7 Yea its a HEMI, I like the truck it has 108k on it and I've never had any issues with it. Tranny shifts good, I've towed a few things, nothing supper heavy. 28ft tag-a-long camper to Boone, just have to keep it out of overdrive when its hilly. I average 15.8 on the info thing on the mirror. I'll make you a good deal on mine too. I'm gonna need a diesel.
 
I have an 01 ctd and I love the motor......hate the truck. My dash is about to cave in,seats were done for,trans feels like its never going to shift, plastic is broke under the arm rest on the drivers side door.
With that being said.....I would never buy a gas dodge. My dad had a 97 with the 360.....it had good power but he put 2 transmissions, a transfercase, a rear end.....and the headlight switch caught on fire. He drove the truck like a sissy and towed a small tractor every now and then.
 
No fawking way I'd own a Dodge w/o a CTD under the hood.
 
mileshigh said:
now my dad has always told me never own a dodge because thats what his dad told him....
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I find humor in this, because your old man and his old man were around when Dodges were built to last.

My old man has an 01, and the ONLY issue has been the transmission. He went through 4 in the first 30k, the 4th one is still going but he recently had to have a sensor replaced because it kept shifting in and out of OD. His dash is fine, seats show wear but no holes, no issues with the motor, tcase, axles, anything. The mileage sucks, but if you want good gas mileage get a Honda.

Duane
 
Mines an '03 CTD with the 6 speed manual that I bought new. It has right at 156,00 miles on the ticker. Have to say it's been the best and most trouble free vehicle I've ever owned. Sure there are little things going on now that it's 7 years old, but I don't regret ever buying the truck for a second.
 
07 Dodge Dakota v8 2wd.

gets 50 mpg
can tow 50,000 pounds
interior is milled out of a solid block of titanuim
seats are calfskin leather
it seats 40 and has enough torque to pull the empire state building and the statue of liberty over a 35% uphill grade



or really its just a great truck for daily driving. Havent had it long enough to say anything but its comfy and it gets me from a to be while hauling a few things here and there.
 
I drove a newer model Dodge with a 360 under the hood, thing was stout. Wouldn't mind doing some light/medium towing with it. Wouldn't mind hauling a jeep from CLT to URE with it.

I've always heard the auto trans were crap.

However I think with any truck of that age, it all depends on the previous owner. No one takes care of their vehicles anymore so it'll be tough to find a truck that isn't all shot to hell.

I think if you get a manual trans with the 360, it'll do well.
 
I have a 95 ctd and the interior is pretty much killed. Drivers seat completely worn out and several cracks in the dash. Fuel guage doesn't work and only the passy side speakers work. As far as driving goes I love the thing.
 
Webbinator said:
Mines an '03 CTD with the 6 speed manual that I bought new. It has right at 156,00 miles on the ticker. Have to say it's been the best and most trouble free vehicle I've ever owned. Sure there are little things going on now that it's 7 years old, but I don't regret ever buying the truck for a second.
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We should trade for a week.

If you look on DTR at all the problems that "might" go wrong on an 03, pretty sure mine's had all of them. HVAC system doors all broke, A/C freezes up, the power lumbar broke, the clearance lights leaked, front u-joints, ball joints, tie rod, all junk. It needs a PS return line because Chrysler installed it incorrectly. Worst part is, damn near everything was because of some stupid VE.

I still like the truck a lot, but that's got fawking nothing to do with Dodge.
 
I like my 01 2500 , it's a conventional cab long-bed 4x4 with the Cummins and a 5-speed manual ...Dana 60 front, Dana 80 rear! It's a truck, not a car, it pulls like a tractor, and gets damn good mileage for a 3/4 ton.
 
I had a 98 2500 v10 around 100k drove like a champ plenty of back to back in front of the house on pavement trans fluid looked like oil never had a problem with the truck. had a 96 1500 with 360 bought it with trans out rebuilt it and with 240k and 35s only had to replace water pump. have a 05 1500 with the hemi pulls better than the v10 other then payload of course wish it was a 2500 only thing so far it has 75k. have 87 89 and 76 also
forgot i put p/s pump on the 05
 
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