Well looks like next week I will finally be owning my own diesel truck. I've been driving diesels for about 5 years at a aspahlt company driving flatbeds and dumptrucks and have driven a 6.0L 03 F350 company truck for about 6 months straight now. Right now im set to buy an 04 2500 Cummins 4wd LWB. Im went with the auto because i didn't like the 6 speed very much. I have never driven an auto before besides test driving. At work we have the ford and a 96 3500 cummins flatbed, both manuals. I know i'm going to need this forum alot to get information on matinence and upgrades. I believe this truck has the 600 cummins in it so i can't wait to pick her up next week. Has there been any problems so far? The 6.0 PSD runs good but it has had some bucking and smoking a few times. Plus im not happy with the gearing of the 6 speed in it, the L to 1st is a odd shift and you really have to give it some gas starting in 1st or it will stall. When did the 600 cummins come out? My dealer said something about the Autos not being available much longer or maybe it was the 6 speeds, something about regearing them. I know the 6 speed i drove flew threw the RPMs, i was felt like i was shifting a 10 speed.

Welcome to the forum!

Interesting you drove the Ford and are buying a Dodge. The 600 came out halfway through the 2004 model year. I believe all trucks built on 1-14-04 and on have it.

Maintenance on the 600 is easy. Oil changes, because it has no Cooled EGR is set at 15,000 mile intervals.

Only two grease fittings.... at the tie rod ends.

Change your differential lube relatively early on... within 5000 miles.

Before you accept delivery I recommend you insist on taking it for a test drive up to 70-75 mph. Feel for a roughness... vibration. If it has it, you may have a hardtime getting it fixed. Chrysler claims to be working on a fix but has a lot of people PO'd right now. Not all of them have it. The ones that do are mostly 4x4 crew sb's.

Most newer designs have some driveline afterdesign work by the manufacturer. My Dmax had to have a new driveshaft early on for launch shudder.Edited by: hoot

Well i drove 2 03 Dmaxs and was about dead set to buy one, until i found a brand new dodge for $2000 more than the used trucks. Plus one of the Dmaxs i drove had a few problems and had 30k miles on it.

GOOD CHOICE!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

Very good choice in deadhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif