02-05 Dodge Ram Pros/Cons

[BlownSVT]

Not all in your year range but we had an 01, 04, and 07. None of which had any major issues mechanically. the 04 IMO was a big step up from the 01. The 04 and 07 were similar except the 04 had suede inserts on the front seat where the 07 was all leather and had heated seats. Both were the larime edition. We traded in the 04 on the 07 with about 80k on it and until that point there were no major mechanical issues just the typical oil changes and brakes/tires. IMO they are a real nice 1/2 ton trucks. Towed the car/boat/snowmobiles just fine. I should mention all had the bigger motors.

[Joe M]

My father in law has a Blue one FS.

107k miles i think.

New Trans w/warranty.

Might not be in that range. i think its an 01


He wants 3500 ish

[Bagd72]

I had a 04 1500 with the Hemi. I bought it new and in the 65,000 miles I owned it I did the following

Front brakes at 50,000
Rear brakes at 65,000
Outer tie rods at 63,000
Front 02 sensors at ~ 60,000
EGR at ~ 60,000

Mileage city only was 12-13 and freeway only 17 max. Combined usually around 15. Truck worked good for what is was I pulled 8000 lb frequently with no issues.

Now bought a 04 2500 Cummins and love it.

I also had a 02 Dakota with the 4.7 and mileage was darn near the same as the Hemi. I would recommend getting a 04+ with the Hemi if you can swing it, or a Cummins of course, but be prepared for the hefty price tag.

[Max Power]

I have a 2wd 03 half ton with the 4.7 5-speed. It only has 44k on it, so I guess I can't comment on long term mechanical issues. The 4.7 seems fine by most standards. with a cat back, superchips and air intake I have pulled near 20 mpg highway if I baby it. I have also pulled boats with it without problem.

The 360 was not all that much more powerful than the 4.7 and was an absolute gas hog, as Foster's said. It was at the end of its run, and it was an engine designed 40 years earlier. It was time for it to go. I would get a hemi or a 4.7.

The only probs I have had so far is the occasional cylinder misfire CEL, and a wire behind the dash at a connector broke.

I think the standard cab trucks are among the better looking trucks ever made, but that is subjective. Resale isn't that great, so used ones can be a deal.

[mark5]

I,VE had all brands new & used & currently have a 04 hemi ouad cab sport that still has orig brakes at 56k and has had NO issues what so ever just like my daytona that I sold . I dont think the 4.7 would be the best choice i havent had any probs with them but have seen some that knock. By the way I also really liked my new fords v-10 superdutys. but would any body like to buy my POS 2002 chev SO CALLED HD 2500 its just like my new 99 chev the most problems ive ever had with a truck. The dodge is a good choice.

[TRDon]

I like mine. I have the hemi and I have gotten as little as 14.5 and as much as 16.5 all combined. The interior is nice and the ride is sweet, but mine is a 5 link coil spring rear. I havent towed yet, but you wont se so hell with that comment. I would be willing to bet the hemi and the 4.7 get real similar mileage so do yourself the resale favor and buy that. There is something to be said about having the hemi badge that moves a truck into the 15s pretty easily where the 4.7 cant even do that in the dakota.

I spoke with a few people on here about thier hemi experience and they all said that they were very good and reliable. The newer transmissions are not plagued with rebuilds at 40k like early 2000s. Hope this helps EssJay

[Turbohwagon]

IN B4 ACRULAZY.

[siberianmist]

Sell ya mine , the 2010 looks bad ass and I think I saw one with my name all over it .

the 2010 is hot, but i have child support to pay so thats out of my range.

is yours a crew cab? what year?

[TRDon]

I just bought a 2010.

http://www.tcstangs.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97947

Check here for pictars.

[sinSStr]

would any body like to buy my POS 2002 chev SO CALLED HD 2500 its just like my new 99 chev the most problems ive ever had with a truck. The dodge is a good choice.

You should prolly just give me the LQ4 out of it and call it a day.

[Nichols92]

the 2010 is hot, but i have child support to pay so thats out of my range.

is yours a crew cab? what year?

.Mines a 2006 quad cab. Didnt want the mega cab, no kids and no use for that big of a cab.

[Scotty07]

fuck 4.7's

If either lady in your avatar is named 4.7, I am in!!

[ACRucrazy]

I have owned
02 reg cab 2wd 4.7
03 reg cab 2wd Hemi
04 quad cab 4wd Hemi (current daily driver)

If you get one, get the Hemi, period. The 4.7 is a great motor, however its too small for the Ram. I had an 01 Dakota with the 4.7 and its awesome in the Dak IMO. I sold it with 296k miles on it and it got 16ish mpg ran like a top.

Back to the Ram.
Dont get one with the 5.9 gas motor. Its a good motor, however dated and a gas hog. Resale on any Ram besides the Hemi or Cummis is dirt. The Hemi quad cab 4wd will get same/better mileage than that of a 4.7.

03 Hemi's had some different programming, different layout of the engine bay accys and different steering wheel amont other things. I suggest an 04/05.

Common issues, 02 sensors (did my front 2 already) and ball joints. If you get one with 17" wheels it comes with 3.55s , if the ram has 20's it has 3.92s. I hate my 3.55s. I want to put in 4.10s.

Mileage, I averaged about 13ish in the winter, but during the summer it bumps up to 15-16 with a highest of 16.9mpg. I never got that in my 4.7 Dakota.

Seriously though, resale of the 5.9 and 4.7 is pretty hard, you have to get a smokin price and would have to give it away when the time comes to sell it. The deals are out there if you look. I picked up my 04 Laramie (leather.. ohhh ahhh) from the original owner for under 9.5k.

If I were to get something besides the Hemi, id probably go with the 4.7, but the 4.7 in any ram with 4 doors or 4wd is just not enough. I was in the same situation as you. I tried convincing myself to save a few bucks and buy the 4.7 because it wasnt bad in my 2wd reg cab, but after driving a 4dr 4wd with one for a half hr I changed my mind real quick. And that was when I still owened my 4.7 Dak.

Do you want a 4dr? 4wd?

Pros? I like the looks of the 02-05, good prices IMO, Tows GREAT with a Hemi. Awesome power, TONS of room! Love the inside of these trucks, IMO I feel they are better quality than GM's. (I spent 8 years every day of my life inside and outside of all kinds of different vehicles and I dont believe the GMs hold up nearly as well as the Dodges inside. Sure GMs may "look" or "feel" better when new, but they are not as solid inside after some wear)

Cons- Hemi- 16 spark plugs, kinda a PITA, the first time you do them. 7? 7.5? quarts of oil. Mobile 1 gets spendy. Poor gas mileage (compared to GMs) As I found out (thanks to Chrisnuts!) 02 sensors are more common than not, but not a big deal really and ball joints. I need to do mine, but I am putting them off forsure. There have been some reports of broken valvesprings, but I dont think its all that common. (sure it may be common to the mechanics that have to fix them? I dunno)


I took my truck after 2 weeks of having it out to PA and back through the mountains with something like 3 motors, 12 wheels, 16 tires, boxes of boxes of parts and a trailer with a peon on it. I worked it pretty good in the mountains and it impressed me the whole way. All 11mpg of it!

Best Pro of all, you know someone who can remove the entire dash of one of these trucks in under 2 hrs. You know, for those times you want to take your dash board out...

[ACRucrazy]

IN B4 ACRULAZY.

I will cut you.

[Turbohwagon]

I will cut you.

Yeah, but it will take you 2-3 months to get around to it.