I just traded in my 2004.5 (LLY) GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT 4x2 for a 2005 Ram 2500 4x4(Cummins of course!). I won't dwell on my GMC for too long, it was my first diesel experience, but I was totally put out about GM's lack of quality control on a $45k truck. I bought a diesel to last 200-300k miles and I didn't get the impression it was going to hold up...So here I am, the good news is the Dodge dealer gave me for trade-in what I owed on the GMC.
I don't plan any mods right now, though I may go for a programmer at some point. Probably go for some Bilsteins in a bit, OE shocks are never good. So for the Dodge experts, any good tips?

What sort of quality control issues did you have? What impression did you get that it was not going to hold up? Just curious...

The first QC issue was a silver dollar size spot on the door where the paint was not applied. I didn't see it on delivery, but I had it at the dealer body shop for another warranty repair (can't remember what it was) and the body shop manager saw it. Radio died, passenger window quit, alternator 2x, rattles from the front end they could never get rid of (the intermediate shaft was updated, that helped for a while). Basically it was a bunch of little stuff all the time. I had just over 35k on it and in a week or so all of these items would be on my dime, so when the Dodge dealer offered me my payoff, I jumped on it. I miss some of the amenities of my GMC (rear air/audio for the kids), but that was the stuff that caused the most trouble.

Welcome to the wonderfull world of the power house cummins you wont be dissapointed. my neighbor is diehard Chevy soon to be Chevy DM and he still trys not to smile when he rides in my Cummins. he just wont admit that the Cummins and D max motors are of the same quality and the cummins in my openion is so much better. as far as the rest of the truck goes in my openion the dodge is so much more comfortable Sooner or lator He will learn Not Tobe so Barand predijuce. hope you have lots of fun with your truck Matt

Welcome to the goat farm. You will not be dissapointed. Lets keep the Dmax people on their toes. Sliced bread was invented a long time ago and it's still the best thing.

My point in all of this is simple ..... simplicity and durability. Power is nice... got it. Competing for hp at this stage of the game beings the pickup trucks themselves can't really haul more than with the power available... I vote for reliability, strength and good mileage. The rest of the truck has past my test.

I don't pee on Ford or Dodge. They are nice trucks when you get the good ones. Dodge put out some reliabilty plagued trucks over the years but the third gen is a marked improvement. I don't mind doing balljoints prematurely if that ever happens to me... over injectors or other engine issues in a sophisticated design like the Dmax or 6.0 PSD. Again.. very nice running trucks. I just like the stoutness and basics of the Dodge.

My dodge is doing great........I sure do miss my GM drivers seat however. Hopefully my new one being installed friday solves my problems.

I just got back from pulling 10 % and lower grades in the white mountains and was impressed. Yes, I also pulled the same load with my d-max and banks kit (answering in advance).

Overall I like my dodge better but like I have always said if we could pick what we like from all 3 manufacturers we could have the perfect truck.

Good luck to all diesel owners no matter what the brand.........have fun!

oh I see hoot is online...chucka chucka choo choo........here comes the train horn....LOL OH WAIT.........Its a cummins.........LOL

gtguy......I am sure if you work your cummins you'll love it..........just give it 20k to break in before passing judgements.

I'm not a brand loyalty guy, the best truck I've owned in the last 10 years was a 1995 Ford Ranger Supercab 4.0L...Totally bombproof. Then I had a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, good truck, bad brakes. Then my first diesel with the 2004.5 GMC and now back to Dodge which had been so far so good, only about 300 miles on it. The most notable difference is it drives smaller than it is. Nice ride and handling, could use some Bilsteins though. Good power, VERY quiet inside, nice rumble outside. Rear seats are not in the same league as my GMC, those were great for a truck, but my 2 and 5 year old love the Dodge backseats(???). Infinity system w/Sirius seems to be on par with Bose and XM. Mileage thus far has been ~15.5 around town, better than my DMAX ever got and the Dodge is a 4x4, that should get better.

Hoot, where did you get the fender liners???

Dealer... about $100 for the pair as a kit. Everything included including instructions...something you almost never see from GM.

That's right Hoot, The dodges are "basic" if you like it that way. But if your smarter than my neighbor and like comfort and longer lasting body you'd own a GM. He had Fords and somehow changed his brain to Doodges. Can't learn and spell either. Also I don't not try to smile when I ride in his truck. That is a "you think your so badass grin"about my neighbor. I can't believe he hasn't gotten a ticket for what he calls smoke or reckless driving yet, That we know of.

Welcome to the goat farm. You will not be dissapointed. Lets keep the Dmax people on their toes. Sliced bread was invented a long time ago and it's still the best thing.

My point in all of this is simple ..... simplicity and durability. Power is nice... got it. Competing for hp at this stage of the game beings the pickup trucks themselves can't really haul more than with the power available... I vote for reliability, strength and good mileage. The rest of the truck has past my test.

I don't pee on Ford or Dodge. They are nice trucks when you get the good ones. Dodge put out some reliabilty plagued trucks over the years but the third gen is a marked improvement. I don't mind doing balljoints prematurely if that ever happens to me... over injectors or other engine issues in a sophisticated design like the Dmax or 6.0 PSD. Again.. very nice running trucks. I just like the stoutness and basics of the Dodge.

Dealer... about $100 for the pair as a kit. Everything included including instructions...something you almost never see from GM.

Everything I have every seen From GM Accessories Have had detail instructions Nerf Barf ,Mud Flaps ETC Don't cut them down to bad Hoot :confused: And as far as opinions on Spending your dime to fix it. Get ready for the same with the Sheep farmer Mobile A friend of mine Just bought a 05 QC Cummins auto Nice truck. But Better than the other brand's MAtter of Opinion;) I drove thru local Dodge Dealer and they had 3 trucks in the service bays So they all break down Right Just drive what you want and let it go . Turbo6600

Everything I have every seen From GM Accessories Have had detail instructions Nerf Barf ,Mud Flaps ETC Don't cut them down to bad Hoot :confused: And as far as opinions on Spending your dime to fix it. Get ready for the same with the Sheep farmer Mobile A friend of mine Just bought a 05 QC Cummins auto Nice truck. But Better than the other brand's MAtter of Opinion;) I drove thru local Dodge Dealer and they had 3 trucks in the service bays So they all break down Right Just drive what you want and let it go . Turbo6600

OK I'll take that back. I didn't buy many GM accessories for the GMC I had but over the years I recall parts with very little if no instructions. Poor statement on my part. What I have really like about the Dodge accessories is they are made to practically fall on. Mounting holes for most accessories are already on the truck. The bug shield can be installed in 1 minute... literally.

Yes we all break down.. not saying that at all. Yes opinions are opinions. I am not jumping up and down saying the Dodge is better than all the rest. It's right there with the rest... but it's got a lot of miles behind it and has been tweeked by Cummins over the years, giving it by far the best developed design.... in my opinion. Still simple but turned contemporary with the advances of todays technologies. Still a little crude... heavy.. under the hood you see one big hunk of iron.

That's right Hoot, The dodges are "basic" if you like it that way. But if your smarter than my neighbor and like comfort and longer lasting body you'd own a GM. He had Fords and somehow changed his brain to Doodges. Can't learn and spell either. Also I don't not try to smile when I ride in his truck. That is a "you think your so badass grin"about my neighbor. I can't believe he hasn't gotten a ticket for what he calls smoke or reckless driving yet, That we know of.

Eazy cuz.... that's what I call poor stereotyping. Doesn't take much of a brain to do it.

I just made the swap with my 03 Chevrolet 3500 D/A to an 05 Dodge 3500 cummins 6 speed and like it alot. Only thing i dont have is onstar.

Sorry Hoot if that came out wrong. My Mom and dad drive Fords and I've always liked Chevs ever since I was little. I'd drive a Dodge before I'd drive a Ford. Everybody's got a different opinion. I just think the Chevy's are so much more comfortable,some people say there like driving cars. I don't care. My neighbor's truck is more comfortalbe than the older Dodges but still not as what I think is comfortable like a Chevy. Like ease of controls for my likings.

HEY HOOT I put a bugshield on my 05 cab-chassis in 59 seconds Yestersday beat ya :lol: Yeah I'll give you the cummins motor but that is IT:p: Turbo6600

Sorry Hoot if that came out wrong. My Mom and dad drive Fords and I've always liked Chevs ever since I was little. I'd drive a Dodge before I'd drive a Ford. Everybody's got a different opinion. I just think the Chevy's are so much more comfortable,some people say there like driving cars. I don't care. My neighbor's truck is more comfortalbe than the older Dodges but still not as what I think is comfortable like a Chevy. Like ease of controls for my likings.

That's cool and I agree the Chevy is real nice when talking comfort. The seats in my Dodge could be better but that's about it. I had more problems with my GMC interior as in climate control and defrost issues than with this Dodge... none. All works perfectly as you would expect. As long as there isn't a huge difference, I'll take perfection over comfort... including engines.

Turbo6600 you must have been on caffiene

i just got rid of my gmc3500 D/A crew cab long box LT dually this was the biggest rip off truck i ever owned, u pay 50000 for a truck that cannot tow what its rated for . gm forgot to put clear coat on it every time i washed and waxed it , it put scratches in it , the air conditioner never got colder than 75 , the rear end 3.73 junk the c frame flexes too much my gooseneck bent the frame . the duramax lost engine pressure , the brakes wore out in the rear the front at 50percent , the emergancy brake only worked 3 times so at 25000 i got rid of it got a dodge ram 3500 quad cab dually cummins 48re long box . what a huge differance the ram is put together soo much better . it has a better front end , a better rear end , a better motor , better brakes a better frame a better exhaust better tires and wheels and an air conditioner that works and it looks better even my wife likes it better. gmc professional grade ,lemon grade is more like it .

i just got rid of my gmc3500 D/A crew cab long box LT dually this was the biggest rip off truck i ever owned, u pay 50000 for a truck that cannot tow what its rated for . gm forgot to put clear coat on it every time i washed and waxed it , it put scratches in it , the air conditioner never got colder than 75 , the rear end 3.73 junk the c frame flexes too much my gooseneck bent the frame . the duramax lost engine pressure , the brakes wore out in the rear the front at 50percent , the emergancy brake only worked 3 times so at 25000 i got rid of it got a dodge ram 3500 quad cab dually cummins 48re long box . what a huge differance the ram is put together soo much better . it has a better front end , a better rear end 4.10, a better motor , better brakes a better frame a better exhaust better paint job , better tires and wheels and an air conditioner that works and it looks better even my wife likes it better. gmc professional grade ,lemon grade is more like it .the gmc techs remind me of the 3 stooges 2 hours to do an oil change , one hour to put a spin on tranny filter on one hour to look for the magnet they threw away , and two hours to change a fuel filter

1900 miles on the truck and it has been great! Some wind noise @~75mph, but I think its the antenna. A co-worker rode with me today (die hard GM guy, Ford is a 4-letter word to him) and said "This truck rides a lot better than your old one"):h. By the time I had my GM this long it had been in the shop 3 times and I had to get the dealership GM involved to get it fixed.