Your thoughts on a 06 Dodge 2500

[troyt]

Looking at a 2006 Dodge 2500, Crew Cab, Big Horn, 4X4 5.9 Cummins (corrected) w/auto trans & 84k mls. Anyone have any thoughts?

[Whiskeyjack]

I bought an '07 dodge 2500 with 5.9 cummins and have 2 buddies with an '05 and '03 cummins. Everyone one of us doesn't regret buying them. Been a great truck to me and has 179,000 kms on her. I had to replace #6 injector and front end ( ex rig truck). But worth every penny once we pulled the new 28bhg home with it.

[Whiskeyjack]

Not to mention.....easy to work on!

[wagon52]

I have an '06 3500 Cummins. Love the truck for sure! Although the transmissions have been known to be a weak link. There are things you can do to beef up the tranny. If you're looking at it from a dealer I would HIGHLY recommend an extended warranty. Mine has 84k on it now and have had no major issues.

[rkswyo]

The 5.9 is a good motor. They are good pullers. I traded a 2005 5.9 for a 2008 6.7 and regretted it. That is until I deleted the DPF and added a programmer. Runs great now and mileage improved by 5 1/2 mpg.

[mike1poles]

Cummins makes an excellent diesel. I have a 2007, 2 WD, 3500 crew cab with 6.7, 6 speed auto. Our Cedar Creek crosses the scales at 16,617. That said, when towing I put it in tow and 5th gear, runs 1800 RPM at 60 MPH and have only found one grade that it downshifted, (6% for 15 Miles), it does not downshift even on Eagle Mountian, TN. The 5.9 can be changed to be equal to 6.7 very easily, know several who have done it. The only draw back is the 2006 does not have an exhaust brake, (unless it was an aftermarket add-on). I would NEVER tow again without it. Saved alot of brake linings and heart problems, many a time. We have been up and down some pretty good grades. One last note, our avg MPG towing, is 12-14.5, depending on grades, etc. All in all, I love the engine and truck.

Hope this helps, God bless
Mike

[JFM-jr]

Originally Posted by troyt

Looking at a 2006 Dodge 2500, Crew Cab, Big Horn, 4X4 5.9 Cummings w/auto trans & 84k mls. Anyone have any thoughts?

There is no G in Cummins and they are workhorses. Someday im gonna be driving one just awesome trucks for pulling heavy stuff.

[troyt]

Originally Posted by JFM-jr

There is no G in Cummins

Thanks. Spell checker got me.

[JFM-jr]

LOL yeah well your not the only one to add the G lots of folks do. I will say the mispelled version sure sounds like it's having a good time tho

[wagon52]

I've got a Smarty Jr. programmer on mine and took off the converter and muffler and replaced it with an aftermarket exhaust with a resonator so I could hear in the cab. Everything I've read advises to put a set of gauges on it to monitor EGT, boost and most importantly trans temp. I wouldn't trade my truck for the world. I've only pulled the new TT a couple times but I can hardly tell its behind me. Definitely a work horse.

[JFM-jr]

Originally Posted by wagon52

I've got a Smarty Jr. programmer on mine and took off the converter and muffler and replaced it with an aftermarket exhaust with a resonator so I could hear in the cab. Everything I've read advises to put a set of gauges on it to monitor EGT, boost and most importantly trans temp. I wouldn't trade my truck for the world. I've only pulled the new TT a couple times but I can hardly tell its behind me. Definitely a work horse.

This is another nice thing about the Diesel ease of adding ALOT of torque thru simple handheld programmers. Most simply increse the fueling and boost threshold mapping in the ECU. Try adding 80 ft lbs of torque to a gas motor without turning a single wrench it will never happen. Youd need to do heads and cam swap in addtion to exhuast and intake manifold on a gas motor and then youd be lucky. Literally plug the handheld into the OBD port it reflashes the ECU in minutes and you have another wheelbarrow load of torque added to a Cummins motor.

[troyt]

Thanks for all your comments. I bought the truck and now I'm excited to take it on a trip. I'll do some research on tunes and tips to achieve better MPG and torque.

[wagon52]

Originally Posted by troyt

Thanks for all your comments. I bought the truck and now I'm excited to take it on a trip. I'll do some research on tunes and tips to achieve better MPG and torque.

Congratulations!! Check out http://www.cumminsforum.com/ there is a lot of good info in that forum.