opinion on 2006 ram 2500 or 3500
Both are mega cabs. Both have 5.9 i6 both 4x4 regular box one 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 dec...
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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!!!
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!!!
