Both are mega cabs. Both have 5.9 i6 both 4x4 regular boxone has 86000 miles asking 30 and 131000 miles asking 27.what should I look for? I am a complete "V" to the diesel.any help in me deciding which one to trade in for would help

What do you want to tow? Biggest problem that year Dodges had was from ends. They tended to wobble a lot. But a complete front end rebuild should cure the problem.

Which one is which?2500 with 86000 miles or 2500 with 131000 miles?3500 with 86000 miles or 3500 with 131000 miles?And they are about $10,000 overpriced.....shop around!

2500 131000 Laramie 3500 86000 slt10,000 over priced! Really?

Prices seem a little high. If they are mint condition, then $25k tops (depending on options). I bought mine 2yrs ago (see sig) with 62k on it, mint interior and exterior, and included spray in bed liner, painted tonneau cover, stainless step bars, 4 bald tires, for $24k.The difference between the 25 and 35 is on the 35 you get the rear overloads (that engage after the rear is compressed ~3"). Common problems are the ball joints and panhard bar bushings; the 'death wobble', the loose steering, the sloppy automatic (blame the high stall torque converter and super slushy valve body), the inadequate filtering on the fuel system, the always spinning front drive shaft, and since you are looking at '06+ they are the first year of the TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) that likes to flake out and not power important stuff (like your A/C compressor clutch, trailer lights, and turn signals to name a few). I've heard the '06+ interior was not as comfortable as the '03-05...The good...2006 was the first year of the 'new' ECM that is EFI-Live capable. Was also the first year that you could lock out overdrive AND have a functional Tow Haul mode.There is the '08.5 steering upgrade. You can also buy some somewhat expensive ball joints and then never worry about them again. panhard bar bushings are easy to replace. The death wobble seems to be with people that run lifts and larger tires, or their front ends are already worn out. I've experienced it only once on my dad's '01 (and it had around 230k miles on it when it did it, and hasn't since). The sloppy automatic is somewhat remedied by running with T/H engaged (even empty) because it locks the torque converter at lower speeds.$200 gets you a nice 2 micron fuel filter and mount (and they are easy to change) so that the injectors last longer.Not much you can do for the driveshaft, just make sure you grease it every oil change!!!TIPM 'usually' fails because someone screwed something up when they were dinking around and shorted/overloaded a circuit. But I have read about random and uncalled-for failures, and the TIPM is an expensive replacement.With all that said, I love my '05. If I could have found me a used megacab when I bought mine, I would have gotten it!!!

"You can never have too much truck" unknown, but he said it a lot. Donn's question is crucial; what are you towing? You might easily get by with the3/4 now, but will you ever upgrade your trailer or fiver?

opinion on 2006 ram 2500 or 3500 | Good Sam Community

alboy
Explorer
Oct 13, 2013
Maybe adjusting the Bands is no different than changing your oil, its what the MFg recommends, if you havn,t done it ,you should.My wife even remarked how nice the truck shifted,after i just did the adjustment recently.I think from the factory they are set up sloppy,play with it a bit and you would be shocked at how well they perform for a trans thats basically missing a gear.
pronstar
Explorer
Oct 13, 2013
45Ricochet wrote:

LMAO
I'll go grab some tools and you tell me what to torque down correctly :W Boy when was the last time we heard the " fall apart around them" comment 3rd gen owners? Guess I'll just keep filling her up and hope for the best :B

If I had a nickel...lol

Still waiting for mine to fall apart.
Heck, I'm still waiting for my first interior squeak or rattle.

If I can get 125k miles out of my tranny, I'll be happy.
I do know its a weak point so I try not to abuse it.
But the rest of the truck has been fantastic.
FishOnOne
Nomad
Oct 13, 2013
Hybridhunter wrote:
ib516 wrote:
....

The 5.9L Cummins is the most reliable powerplant ever put under the hood of a pickup - you won't have trouble there.

That may or may not be true. We had a 2004 at work, it chewed the injectors and intake heater around 120K miles. It was on it's second major front end by the.

The Cummins Ram is one option, it's no Paradigm of reliability,
With regards to longevity, they are very good though. But the truck tends to fall apart around them.

What is not mentioned here is the 5.9 is backed by one of the worst auto tranny's. Anytime someone talks about adjusting the tranny bands I just roll my :R
FishOnOne
Nomad
Oct 13, 2013
45Ricochet wrote:
Hybridhunter wrote:

The Cummins Ram is one option, it's no Paradigm of reliability,
With regards to longevity, they are very good though. But the truck tends to fall apart around them.

LMAO
I'll go grab some tools and you tell me what to torque down correctly :W Boy when was the last time we heard the " fall apart around them" comment 3rd gen owners? Guess I'll just keep filling her up and hope for the best :B

Had to replace the drivers seat in the 05 because the back rest part of the seat would not stay up and would just flop down onto the rear seat. Not sure if the tech torqued it down during installation! :h
panamacamper1
Explorer
Oct 12, 2013
Well, both trucks were really nice but they were both lifted three inches and the 2500 had 35s on. I wasn't ready for the overwhelming size of a mega cab with a 3 inch lift.
I always here not to tow with something lifted and all I could think about was man I will def get poor miles to the gallon with this thing. Plus it was as is. That was another scary thought. So my quest continues for a 06/07 2500 mega 5.9
Wish me luck.
dadwolf2
Explorer
Oct 12, 2013
The Dodge cummins with the 5.9 is getting premium resale value. I recently has a letter from my dealer offering me $24k for my 2005 sight unseen that I quickly turned down. The solid front axle has a reputation of the dreaded "death wobble" but I've never experienced it. Sometimes I think you can suffer from forum fear. Only difference that year between the 2500 and 3500 is one leaf on the rear spring pack.
45Ricochet
Explorer
Oct 12, 2013
Hybridhunter wrote:

The Cummins Ram is one option, it's no Paradigm of reliability,
With regards to longevity, they are very good though. But the truck tends to fall apart around them.

LMAO
I'll go grab some tools and you tell me what to torque down correctly :W Boy when was the last time we heard the " fall apart around them" comment 3rd gen owners? Guess I'll just keep filling her up and hope for the best :B
Hybridhunter
Explorer
Oct 11, 2013
ib516 wrote:
....

The 5.9L Cummins is the most reliable powerplant ever put under the hood of a pickup - you won't have trouble there.

That may or may not be true. We had a 2004 at work, it chewed the injectors and intake heater around 120K miles. It was on it's second major front end by the.

The Cummins Ram is one option, it's no Paradigm of reliability,
With regards to longevity, they are very good though. But the truck tends to fall apart around them.
ib516
Explorer II
Oct 11, 2013
The Megas are about 300# heavier than an otherwise identical quad cab, so the tow rating is lower by that amount.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Oct 11, 2013
Just remember the Mega cab has a lower tow rating based on being quite it heavier than the quad cab. What they ask for used Dodges and what they actually sell for might be quite different. Ask your friendly banker what they will load on those trucks and then slide that under the nose of the selling dealer.

I watch the local adds here in the Seattle area and the same high price trucks are listed week after week.

Chris