My whole dash crumbled in my 97. I live in Arizona so the heat didnt help. Bezel, glove box, instrument panels all crumbled. Lol. Been trying to find a decent one in a pick and pull. But no luck at all.
@@boogiewoogie369 I never heard of this dash problem till I seen this video I live in northern Canada I’ve owned 5 of these second gen rams never had an issue I sent 4 to the crusher all with perfect dashes in them must be your hot dry climate
My old 96 ram gasser with the 5.9l had around 487k miles or so only rebuilt the trans once when the warranty was still good. Never hot rodded and always taken care of
@@zackshipman6417I wonder why they don't make them like that anymore? You would think over the years these companies would get even better. I was wrong now they just want a quick sell no quality.
Got a 95 1500 5.9L V8 with 277k miles on it, still starts up and runs like it only left the factory last year, and I love it. But the 12 valve Cummins is on a whole different level in terms of stout and power, there really just isn't a comparison. Both are great motors in their own rights.
The 1500 off road was a chrysler 9.25" rear axle with lsd, front dana 44 trussed axle, with 4.10 gear ratio, skid plates, and about a 2 inch factory lift.
Th failure rate of the transmissions came from lack of maintenance. If you did proper maintenance and kept your loads to the proper ratings, they were usually pretty reliable.
Not really. Chrysler has a long track record of terrible automatic transmissions. Plenty of other make's auto transmissions in their trucks lasted much longer with similar maintenance.... lack of maintenance or towing isn't magically unique to Dodge trucks.
@ronald filkins exactly this, the transmissions in these trucks is a 727 with a 4th gear added on. the two transmissions share a preponderance of parts and the 727 is legendary as a bulletproof, extremely stout auto.
@paul meixer I just sold my ‘98 quad cab last yr, over 23 yrs old. Never had a problem with the trans and hauled 4 different boats with it thru the yrs. my last boat was a ‘25 and the 5.9 pulled it with ease. But I ordered the HD service group when buying it new, it had a huge trans cooler, I think that’s why it lasted so long, heat is a killer for these trans
That's not true. My dad had a 94 with the automatic transmission. 5.9L diesel when they first came out. As I remember, it had the transmission replaced at least twice under warranty that I can remember.,before he got rid of it. The problem with the earlier ones is that they basically used a beefier version of a 5.9 Magnum transmission and they couldn't handle the diesel engine's torque. It didn't have much to do with poor maintenance.
I’m sure the Cummins probably wins out but I love my 5.9 magnum off road edition. For what I use it for, it’s an absolute beast. Still might have my eye out for a Cummins of this body style when I have money saved because I am an in-line 6 fanboy. Miss my 300 efi f150.
I have just over 200k on my 2001 1500 with the 5.2. Honestly I have had zero issues with it besides a water pump, the dash (of course), and a few vacuum check values for the air vent control. I've towed and gone all over the place with it. Only things I've needed to do otherwise are just general maintenance. I love my truck.
same , 2001 5.2 230k , water pump is prolly what's making the small whining noise in the front but it runs like a beast and has no problem hauling as much firewood or scrap metal as I can load it up with , super clean underneath (and I'm in NY so finding a truck at 230 with a solid frame and body with the most minor surface rust is like non existent especially since I got this for 1500 (the woman who owned it said the engine was knocking .... it is not not in the least , the only thing I've heard since I owning it that even remotely sounds like it is just some typical heat shield rattle , or maybe it's the steering box going bad but the steering and some new shocks are the first things I plan to put on it along with a new radio(it's pretty much entirely stock) and a good undercoating to get through my super salty winter up here oh and new headlights cause why not they're cheap , best thing about this is that we have a transmission for this ready to go if it does die , it was given to us as payment for work on another vehicle it's either brand new or a factory rebuild , it's sitting on a pallet in the shop storage still wrapped with the dodge paperwork taped to it , came from a kid who was trading/selling all the project pieces his grandfather had lying around after he passed so he could use he money to put into his Subaru (which was also one of the projects he and his grandfather were working on so definitely a win win)
@@ryanmichel1893 gotta say this truck really surprised me , i come from a family of all Chevy lovers on my mom/stepdad side and my dad was all about Ford (but he left me his 98 zr2 S10 after he passed and it's been having some weird electrical issues going on that wouldn't allow it pass inspection so this truck came around the shop and snagged it for 1500 right away I just can't get over how good of a vehicle it is turning out to be 8ve never really been into the truck modification thing but this baby makes me want to start and I'm prolly gonna give it a full update , as well as the S10
This is the best team! Tommy and Kase have their sh*t together. No nonsense, no "ahhhhhhhh" every other word, they have a head full of facts, a great sense of humor and sarcasm, just fun to watch! The rest of the TFL team is amazing as well, but in my opinion these two are the best in the industry.
@@billp5424 I was pretty impressed with the mileage when my truck was new. I previously owned a Z28 and it gave me the same mpg as this huge truck. What really impressed me was when I pulled an 18' U-Hall full of the contents of my sister's home. That truck got 16 mpg! When the dealer rebuilt the transmission, it's average mpg went down to 15. :(
I can buy 6 half-ton rams for $5,000 for the price of one 3/4-ton Cummins for $30,000. The price of diesel maintenance and repairs are way more than gas engines. Hell, the price of 3/4 ton maintenance/repairs is higher than 1/2 ton pickups. Sure, diesels can get a few more mpg’s and tow a little more, but I can’t justify paying an extra $25,000. These two pickups are apples and oranges. A better comparison would be a 3/4-ton V-10 to the 3/4-ton Cummins.
I’ve had decades of experience with these trucks as well as the offerings from the other 2 manufacturers and I’ve never come across a single faulty engine or transmission from Dodge. I have , however, come across a lot of bad drivers who seem to know exactly how to eat up a transmission or an engine. My ‘99 Durango 5.9 has more than 220,000 trouble free miles. Only ever had to do a water pump. Doesn’t burn oil, no transmission issues of any kind ever and it’s my tow-rig. Imagine that.
I have a 99 dakota with the 5.2, and an 01 ram with the 5.9 CTD, and I love them both. They are getting old now and replacing stuff fairly often, but the truck market is insane right now so I'm going to hold onto them forever.
The issue with the trans was the fluid. It was very specific to what the factory used. Most people didn't use the dealership to service it which led to a short life.
The dipsticks would always say something along the lines of "Use approved ATF+ or Mercon/Dexron blend". The problem is, many of those Mercon/Dexron blends are made to loose tolerances with varying viscosity and friction modifiers, so there was higher likelihood for clutches to prematurely fail. ATF+ on the other hand was a very strict tolerance and one that the clutches in those transmissions were designed for.
@@knote4958no factory ram transmission dipsticks were ever inscribed suggesting anything but ATF+3 and ATF+4. mercon fluid was a designation given to fluid intended for use in Ford transmissions built before 87-88. Dexron is actually trademarked by General Motors and designates fluids meeting their approval for use in General Motors transmissions. The 46/47/48RE family of Chrysler transmissions found in the first three generations of dodge rams were successors of what was originally torque flight designs. And none of them were ever supposed to use General Motors trans fluid or transmission fluid intended for use in ancient fords. Dodge never said that was ok, careless owners totally made that up desperately trying to pass the blame. 👌
I've had my 99 1500 5spd for 20 years and know just about everything about 2nd Gens so I was waiting to correct you on something. But alas, you did a great job researching! Only thing I didn't hear was the ORE (off road edition) also has 4.10 gears standard. And yes, 98 was Quad Cab but the Club ran from 1995 - 01. This was a game changer as Chevy only had the 3rd door on the passenger side. Dodge also had the most powerful engines in the 90s. Good video!
Good catch on the gear ratio, that's definitely a selling point of those. I really like those trucks, you can't find a nice one where I live in New England now, they're all rusted out. My dad had one and even 10 years ago he got rid of it bc of rust. I'm pretty sure the Chevy Vortec 5.7 made more HP, but it was close enough to not matter. I think it was only like 10 more.
@@trailrunnah8886 Yes, in later years, the 5.7 had 10 more hp but same torque as 5.9. The 5.2 was more than the 5.0, but the V10 and CTD were the top dogs. No one could catch those.
@@jeremyneufeld6541 yea, in 99 the Pi heads were used in the 5.4. I had a 97 with non Pi heads, only 10 less Hp than the 360 & equal torque. My truck still felt like it had more power than my dads 98 with the 360, I think mainly because the Triton had a much broader power band. The magnums power band was narrow, between 3-4k rpm
The rear end on the gas truck is a Chrysler Corporate axle. With LSD. And whoever took the original air box and intake out of the gasser replacing for the Air raid did it no service. Now it's just sucking in hot air under the hood. They actually do include Cold Air Intake from the factory with how it has a straight tube and goes sideways into the inner fender thus drawing in colder air. The after market cold air intake systems should have designed a replacement cold air intake that utilized the hole in the passenger side fender. Cheers
I’ve got a base 2wd 1500 from 1995. It’s got the 5.9 and it’s an automatic but I’m at 220000 trouble free miles. Practically zero rust just don’t ask about my paint
Just got a 96 short bed gasser 5.2, and have fallen in love! Just tuned it up, and did the "Hughes Engines" intake plenum fix and let me tell you it woke this little 318 up! she'll rev to 5,000 now and picked up a few mpgs as well! Plus it already had a rebuilt trans!
If I towed enough to justify it then an early 5.9 Cummins would be sweet. Really though the Magnum's kinda underrated, especially the 318: cheap to maintain, easy to work on, good power potential. Aside of the plenum gasket fault and the valve seat cracking issues there isn't much to go wrong on them, both these issues have been addressed by the aftermarket. The 318 and 360 will both make plenty of power with an aftermarket cam etc. Meanwhile you can still tow a reasonable load. The Magnum doesn't have the pulling power of the Cummins but as an affordable, reliable daily driver it's a great option. There really isn't a bad choice either way here, there's just the right choice for the load you have to pull.
@@trudeaumustgo1920 That truck was probably the only truck of the whole pimped out truck style that I've ever thought was cool. Isn't somebody suppose to be rebuilding it?
@@wildbill23c such bs lmao. No way to get 26 mpg even on a v6 magnum. And no the 318 is not better than the 360. The 360 is weak enough. No reason to go weaker
Lmao my Magnum V8 never needs to shift on the highway even with the bed loaded (probably why the auto transmission hasn't blown yet) so I personally think the extra torque in the Cummins is extreme overkill unless you're towing. I will say though, the Magnum V8 has no power at the top of the rev range
@@oldcroneysgarage9739 Google it they actually built one called the Holy Grail on the diesel Brothers little TV show on the Discovery Channel. I have never seen one in my lifetime but I've seen numerous pictures and videos on them on RUclips.
I have a 2005 Cummins crew cab. It has 196k on it now and it has been a good truck overall. The Powerplant has been solid, had to replace the water pump a couple of times and the AC had to be redone last year. The Cummins parts are definitely better than the Dodge parts. Glad to say the dash has not cracked at all.
Great video. I love my 97 Ram SS/T which got all of 10 extra horses than the stock 5.9lt Ram. However it's not my everyday driver as keeping gas in it would cost a small fortune every week.
Good comparison. I like my single cab, long bed 1999 2500 slt with my upgraded 47re trans. It absolutely amazed me how much better a built 47re is than the stock transmission. My fuel mileage took a huge jump upwards after I installed the upgraded transmission....mostly Goerend parts. With RV275 injectors and a low power DR Performance control box I have everything I need. Another great upgrade is to the injection pump, which seems to malfunction on these trucks anywhere from about 60k -125k. Mine went out at 125k, so I replaced it with a great upgraded pump from Blue Chip Diesel. Try their Special X pump if you can afford it.....WOW! Remove the old radiator fan and replace with electrics for a little hp gain. A 4" stainless exhaust rounds out the show. I thought of alcohol injection but I just don't need it. Stay away from wide and heavy tires to keep the suspension in order. A PSC steering box helps with wander, as so many of these trucks eventually did.
@@haroldbeauchamp3770 that could be the most asinine comment I’ve ever read. Go ahead and let your kids eat lead paint too. Don’t take my word for it, ask a vet. It can not only make them sick it can kill them. I think Tommy has a little more regard for his pet than you might.
I have an 2001 STD Cab 5.9 V8 2500. Utility body work Truck. Came with 3.55 gears, swapped to 4.10 Spicer. Have 210,000 on Original Trans. Been in the pan a few times with BW solenoid, OD Solenoid, OD Spring, to keep it alive. Did a clutch fan delete/electric fan swap. You guys covered a lot of the bases here, but one major problem you left out is how SEVERELY under-braked these trucks are. You can only fit very small caliper and rotor combos in them with stock wheels. So for anyone buying theses trucks Gas/Diesel for towing, you will definitely need the brake controller and encourage you to have a trailer equipped with trailer brakes as well.
on the 1500, the 5.9 (360) was the better choice and always made better mpg than the 5.2 (318). The dash redesign was in 1998 and you can tell by the different exterior mirrors.
so you're saying that if I come across the 5.9 I should buy it because I'm already impressed with the mpg I'm getting out of my 01 5.2 or maybe I'm mistake. and I have a 5.9 and just don't know it cause the previous owner did not provide the manual and it has none of the factory markings anywhere that I've seen , anyways for me to tell I'm not familiar with dodge vehicle as much as I am with Chevy and Ford
The transmissions are not an issue . I had a 97 with a 5.2 an 01 with a 5.9 a Grand Cherokee with a 4.7 and a Durango with a 4.7. Both rams I pulled weight sled's with a few times after almost 20 years of mopar I had no transmission problems. I swear it was urban legend that started in 1994 from some scared Ford or Chevy boys!
I've had 3 2nd gen Ram trucks. 99 00 and 01. All were the Cummins diesel but as far as the trucks go it can really be a love hate. I will say the great thing about them is that they ALL have the same problems haha. So if you had one and want to buy another, you know what your getting into. I still want another one. Just something about them. My dream truck is an 01-02 3500 4x4 extended cab dually of course no srw back then with the 8.0 V10 in Patriot Blue. it was on the cover of the first Truck trend magazine I ever bought. I've been in love ever since. Awesome video of these two Rams!
I got a 2001 Ram 2500 with the 24 valve Cummins and a 6 speed manual. Extended cab and 8 foot bed, so out is an extremely long truck. Has 110,000 miles on it. Absolutely love it.
Love ❤ my 24v quad cad with compounds. Yes the 47 rh re sucks stock but a few simple cheap, some free upgrades will make them handle the power very easily. Line pressure is huge. They are surprisingly easy for a transmission to work on also. One thing they didn't hit on is the steering. That's far worse than the automatic transmissions.
I have 4 Dodge trucks, one is a 96 one ton duelie Cummins w/auto transmission with lots of towing miles. Transmission is still original. The bands adjustments and service are done regularly. If you don't do band adjustments you will replace your transmission.
I have a 2001 1500 4x4 5spd with the 5.2l and with the 3.55 posi rear on a regular cab short bed on 32s, the only real mods that have been done to it are a chip tune, custom intake and exhaust, as well as some built internals on the engine, and I get 22mpg when I drive it nice, love my 318!
I’m super glad I found my unicorn of a 2nd gen, 2001 2500 24v with 5 speed manual but it’s 2wd, but the unicorn part was the fact that it had 37,410 miles when I bought it for 25k, and that was a steal to me, I’ve got 45,250 on it now and could still easily sell it for 35k
Case, I have a 94 2500 12v> been following your build since day 1. Mine wont be as original as yours. I have a single cab long bed 5 spd with 4:10 gears. Its a grandpa special too. You inspired me to get mine done. Maybe 1 day I can swing over for you to compare.
Bought a buddies old 99 2500 with the tow package and sport package with a v8 magnum quad cab and 8 foot bed. Best $1000 I've ever spent. This thing is a monster but I wish it had a Cummins in it
To be honest there both great engines. We had a 2001 dodge sport with a 318. Rusted out but we put it through allot. And it was still running before it was parked
I have a 2001 Ram 1500 Sport with the 5.2 v8 magnum that I got from a friend for $500. Its a rusty work truck used for snow plowing (i take the plow off in the warmer seasons) but i love it.
Very interesting, I recently purchased a 99 2500 4x4 w/5.9 Magnum as a low buck project. Wanted the 5.9 Cummins but couldn’t justify the going rates for a sub 150k truck, nor did I want the 300K and have to do a complete overhaul/inframe. Picked it up in Colorado Springs and now have it in Az. Love these trucks! Thanks for the good info videos!👍
I had a '97 12 valve, automatic, 2wd with a limited slip. I miss that truck. If it was 4wd I would still have it. Now have a '12 Ram 2500 hemi, auto, 4wd, crew cab also with a limited slip. Just installed a winch. I always install quick disconnect sway bar end links. You guys should really consider doing this. Disconnecting your sway bars will make both of those truck so much more off road capable. Solid axle trucks off road with sway bar still connected look like fish out of water. I think that would make for a good video. Install quick discos on both of these and test/compare before and after...
i've got 2 of the 1500 gassers, both the 5.2 and 5.9, in decent condition, and with the two trucks having suffered the hell that they've seen, i wouldnt personally own any thing else, and i would not sell either one of them, and having owned these gasser editions, i would absolutely love to own a diesel version, if nothing more than to just complete the set. they both haul and drag weight far better than the competition brand trucks from my experience, and for what they are, they still have the ability to out-perform modern "faster" vehicles with ease, the 5.9 outrunning a much lighter, much sportier 2008ish Mercury Mariner, and the 5.2 outrunning the much, much lighter and "quicker off the line" 2008 Honda Accord
Case's '94 is cool. 5-speed manual trans. My '01 Ram diesel also has the NV4500. It's a nice-shifting transmission, and I added a GearVendors overdrive to give the truck some serious legs on the highway. If you don't work the truck all the time, it holds up well. I used to deliver travel trailers with mine, and lost 5th gear twice while on the road, thousands of miles from home. I averaged an NV4500 replacement or rebuild every 75,000 miles over the 3 years and 284,000 miles I ran it.
I’ve owned both of these at the same time when I owned a small tree company. Fifth wheel on the gasser works just fine, the Cummins is just happier doing it all day long and the truck will rust apart before the engine goes. You can get 13,000 behind the gasser with no acceleration issues. I personally enjoyed daily driving the gas truck a whole lot more. Sold both of them a little while back.
I got a near twin to the black one. I have an 01 quad cab black 4x4 with 5.9 mag and auto. I bought the truck local and thought it would need a little work. First thing I did was flush out the cooling system. Then new timing chain, water pump and radiator. Made the truck very dependable. I have rebuilt the front axle and still need to rebuild/ replace the transfer case and rear axle. I am going the route of making this thing dependable, but I can fix most things that happen to it. I love my truck , and with the 3.91 gears seems to be a good mix of performance, without the engine screaming all the time
I really like both of these trucks! For my uses, the half-ton would probably be better. I'm a bit biased though, when I was a kid my dad had one of these, it was a 98 that he bought slightly used. By the way, the 98 that he had didn't have the little rear cab doors, you had to slide the front passenger seat forward and climb in the back. Wasn't too difficult, it was actually fairly company once you got back there. Also, the rear axle on the half ton is the Chrysler 9.25, which is fairly beefy for half ton, beefier than what you would get in the comparable GM of the time.
One of the issues with the automatic in these trucks is the fact that the design required a proper service/maintenance period of around 10-20,000 miles where both front and rear bands are adjusted which no one ever did. I purchased an 01 cummins with 80,000 miles on it, in the sand in 4hi the transmission slipped so bad that it wouldn't even spin a tire at full throttle. I assumed I was going to be rebuilding the transmission. However, after a simple service of changing the fluid and adjusting both bands. It no longer slipped It also lasted 220,000 miles with lots of both off road and trailer tow, before the 2nd gear band finally failed. In doing the rebuild the only clutch with any wear was the 2nd gear band. Granted I did install a low stall torque converter and shift kit during the rebuild and would say the improvement from those upgrades alone are well worth doing as soon as you buy one of these trucks.
Will TFL ever show the world the most reliable cheap fun you can buy? 5.2L 318 Magnum. Comes in Dakotas, Rams, Ram Vans, Jeeps etc each one of those motors known for 300,000+ miles easily, wish the bigger 5.9 V8 wasnt externally balanced cause it “would” be reliable like the babier 5.2. What do you guys think, 5.0 ford vs 5.2 dodge? The throwdown that needs to be done 302 or 318
My dad has a ram 5.2l with 246k miles. It still starts with no issue but I can tell it has its last moments coming up and I think it will be a project in the future cause for a new 318 engine I’m spending over 2-3k for a new motor but its unbelievable how it still always comes alive. A friend of mine has a 1998 dodge ram with 152k miles and it has the 5.9l the transmission was rebuild. He asking 1,500 for it and I am blessed to have that destiny of finding a 2nd gen ram with those low miles.
I have owned my 98 Ram 2500 for 21 years, she's still going. Your sport probably has 4:10 in it, That what was offered in the package. Dodge also put the NV4500 behind the 5.9 magnum in some 3500 and 2500. The Dana 60 that were offered came with different axle tube sizes between the diesel, V10 and the V8. The V10 was only offered with an auto. I believe Dodge also put the V10 in a Ram1500 but only 2WD and was one of the first SRT's
Thanks for a great 👍 video on these second gen Dodge Ram Trucks. I own a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 Sport club cab with the Magnum 8.0 liter V10 automatic. It has the two smaller "suicide style" opening rear doors and long bed with a factory cab hight rear cap. Presently it has only about 124,000 miles on the odometer and that 8.0 liter V10 is still very smooth. Thanks and keep up with more great videos about Dodge Ram trucks.
Our Dodge family includes a 97 SLT 4x4 Extended cab w/8’ bed w the Cummins Diesel engine/ auto trans 2500 and a 2002 SLT 4x4 , 4.7 engine (only thing I regret) 1500 w/ 4 door (1st year) and 6.5’ bed. Other than the horrible dashes they both still look basically brand new. And the 97 still pulls/hauls like Paul Bunyan. I get SO many compliments on it.
I had a 1995 Ram 1500 Regular Cab 8’ bed Laramie SLT 2WD with the 5.2L 318 CID engine. Was a solid truck. Three different family members worked it pretty hard before we sold it. Kase has a nice ride there.
Used to have a 98 1500 all the same thing except laramie. Just regular. You can hit that engine with a train and itll still run. Not even kidding one bit. Never had any problems with it in the 10 years i owned it and the day before i sold it, it was still running strong as it did when i first got it. Tranny was always good too, i believe if you can keep the trans cool in these trucks, they wont die as easily. I always had problems on another ram 5.9 i had with mud dobbers building nests in the trans lines somehow. Went through 2 transmissions before i figured that out lol and when they went, they went fast. Start slipping one day and its over. But the 318, never a single problem with the trans or engine.
I got the 5.9 magnum with 35 inch tires great truck has a little over 200,000 miles with original transmission and rebuilt transfer case. I’m happy with my 5.9
Dudes complaint was there was no room for his groceries with him and his boyfriend in the cab. Had to put them in the bed. And by the way that is nothing like a "big rig". Keep dreaming
Ive had a 99 v10 for the last 18 years and the only complaint is the 8 mpg .Its been super dependable and its really tight and quiet and i still drive it today.I also have a 06 diesel .
My grandfather has a 2001 Single Cab 1500 Sport model in red same wheels, interior as the black truck you guys have. It is what I learned to drive in at 14 years old and boy at that age it was like a monster truck haha miss that truck they’re fun and very comfortable to drive although definitely poor on fuel economy.
Little misinformation here but a good video! 1500s had a Dana 44 front and Chrysler 9.25 in the rear. 2500s all had a Dana 60 front 60, 70, or 80 Hybrid (not the same Dana used in the 3500s it had 70 outers). 3500s all Came with 60/80. They also made a 2500LD (light duty) but got rid of it in 98.5. the 2500 HD was too replace the 3500 single rear wheel. The off road package gave you the following: Limited slip rear (and some fronts), tow hooks, a little lift (2"), fuel tank skid plate, and decal on the tailgate. I'm a Dodge expert lol I own 15 second gens. One is currently getting a Hellcat drivetrain
Great video gentlemen I actually have a 2000 Dodge 2500 with the magnum 5.9 L V8 gasoline engine and you’re right it’s kind of a powerhouse. 2500 is definitely built like a tank. And when running at optimum efficiency, the fuel consumption is not that bad.
The black one. I loved my 2001 dodge ram 1500. It had the 318 auto. Trans went out replaces it with a jasper rebuilt trans and when I got rid of it I put 100000 miles on that trans and still in perfect shape
I can definitely say I do regret not buying an earlier model single cab 2nd gen. I was in a rush to get a truck 5-6 years ago and I ended up with an 01.5 quad cab 3/4 ton so the only plus that I like about mine is it has 4 wheel disc brakes instead of drums in the rear.
Great compsrsion Case and Tommy😀
Love your channel keep up the good work.
Case you’re the man!!
No
The dash delete just makes it easier to access the electronics behind the dash
My whole dash crumbled in my 97. I live in Arizona so the heat didnt help. Bezel, glove box, instrument panels all crumbled. Lol. Been trying to find a decent one in a pick and pull. But no luck at all.
@@boogiewoogie369 no point your gonna have electrical problems up the wazoo
honestly. dash cover makes it look better, then you just pull that off and BAM! everything is right there for you to mess with
Weight reduction, plus the convenience 😂
@@boogiewoogie369 I never heard of this dash problem till I seen this video I live in northern Canada I’ve owned 5 of these second gen rams never had an issue I sent 4 to the crusher all with perfect dashes in them must be your hot dry climate
12 valve Cummins all day long....They were like mini Semi’s....I have several friends and one has over 500k miles on it!
Yes your grab that 2500 and run. In this case floor it!!!
My friends 24 valve has over 700K on the original engine. It hasn’t been messed it at all. And original trans. And it’s an automatic XD
@@rykerredman6691 Wow!!!
My old 96 ram gasser with the 5.9l had around 487k miles or so only rebuilt the trans once when the warranty was still good. Never hot rodded and always taken care of
@@zackshipman6417I wonder why they don't make them like that anymore? You would think over the years these companies would get even better. I was wrong now they just want a quick sell no quality.
Got a 95 1500 5.9L V8 with 277k miles on it, still starts up and runs like it only left the factory last year, and I love it. But the 12 valve Cummins is on a whole different level in terms of stout and power, there really just isn't a comparison. Both are great motors in their own rights.
Wouldn't think twice about it. The Cummins, especially with the manual.
15k for the cummins
Probably 4k for the gasser
@@trudeaumustgo1920 The question was which is better, not cheaper. 😉
@@willb3018 its all relative to the price.
me over here owning a 2500 with a 5.9 magnum in it and loving my 200 dollar beast
Can't beat the magnum v8 in terms of price!
I’m with you I’ll take old HD gassers all day!
@@erikgonzalez2278 What is it that you love about htem? I'm looking at a 2001 2500 gasser w/111,000 miles and I'm unsure if I should pull the trigger.
@@NDRN88 they are garbage. Spend a little more for the diesel.
@@garrettbuckley9244 A little more, like 12K more?
The 1500 off road was a chrysler 9.25" rear axle with lsd, front dana 44 trussed axle, with 4.10 gear ratio, skid plates, and about a 2 inch factory lift.
ORE 💪🏻
You beat me to it
God bless 🙏
And I've always wanted one lol with a 5 speed if they even made any with the.
Th failure rate of the transmissions came from lack of maintenance. If you did proper maintenance and kept your loads to the proper ratings, they were usually pretty reliable.
Not really. Chrysler has a long track record of terrible automatic transmissions. Plenty of other make's auto transmissions in their trucks lasted much longer with similar maintenance.... lack of maintenance or towing isn't magically unique to Dodge trucks.
@ronald filkins exactly this, the transmissions in these trucks is a 727 with a 4th gear added on. the two transmissions share a preponderance of parts and the 727 is legendary as a bulletproof, extremely stout auto.
@paul meixer
I just sold my ‘98 quad cab last yr, over 23 yrs old. Never had a problem with the trans and hauled 4 different boats with it thru the yrs. my last boat was a ‘25 and the 5.9 pulled it with ease.
But I ordered the HD service group when buying it new, it had a huge trans cooler, I think that’s why it lasted so long, heat is a killer for these trans
My 95 ram 5.9 v8 has never had a transmission 190k and going strong I change the fluid and adjust the bands every 30k 🤷🏼
That's not true. My dad had a 94 with the automatic transmission. 5.9L diesel when they first came out. As I remember, it had the transmission replaced at least twice under warranty that I can remember.,before he got rid of it. The problem with the earlier ones is that they basically used a beefier version of a 5.9 Magnum transmission and they couldn't handle the diesel engine's torque. It didn't have much to do with poor maintenance.
I’m sure the Cummins probably wins out but I love my 5.9 magnum off road edition. For what I use it for, it’s an absolute beast. Still might have my eye out for a Cummins of this body style when I have money saved because I am an in-line 6 fanboy. Miss my 300 efi f150.
Those 300 inlines were insanely tough engines. Great torque too. All the old school farmers I know love them.
I have a 01 off-road it’s a great truck. just wish it got better gas mileage!
I have just over 200k on my 2001 1500 with the 5.2. Honestly I have had zero issues with it besides a water pump, the dash (of course), and a few vacuum check values for the air vent control. I've towed and gone all over the place with it. Only things I've needed to do otherwise are just general maintenance. I love my truck.
I have the same truck and I have had the exact same problems and I love the sucker too she just keeps on going 190k
same , 2001 5.2 230k , water pump is prolly what's making the small whining noise in the front but it runs like a beast and has no problem hauling as much firewood or scrap metal as I can load it up with , super clean underneath (and I'm in NY so finding a truck at 230 with a solid frame and body with the most minor surface rust is like non existent especially since I got this for 1500 (the woman who owned it said the engine was knocking .... it is not not in the least , the only thing I've heard since I
owning it that even remotely sounds like it is just some typical heat shield rattle , or maybe it's the steering box going bad but the steering and some new shocks are the first things I plan to put on it along with a new radio(it's pretty much entirely stock) and a good undercoating to get through my super salty winter up here oh and new headlights cause why not they're cheap , best thing about this is that we have a transmission for this ready to go if it does die , it was given to us as payment for work on another vehicle it's either brand new or a factory rebuild , it's sitting on a pallet in the shop storage still wrapped with the dodge paperwork taped to it , came from a kid who was trading/selling all the project pieces his grandfather had lying around after he passed so he could use he money to put into his Subaru (which was also one of the projects he and his grandfather were working on so definitely a win win)
@@ryanmichel1893 gotta say this truck really surprised me , i come from a family of all Chevy lovers on my mom/stepdad side and my dad was all about Ford (but he left me his 98 zr2 S10 after he passed and it's been having some weird electrical issues going on that wouldn't allow it pass inspection so this truck came around the shop and snagged it for 1500 right away I just can't get over how good of a vehicle it is turning out to be 8ve never really been into the truck modification thing but this baby makes me want to start and I'm prolly gonna give it a full update , as well as the S10
This is the best team!
Tommy and Kase have their sh*t together. No nonsense, no "ahhhhhhhh" every other word, they have a head full of facts, a great sense of humor and sarcasm, just fun to watch!
The rest of the TFL team is amazing as well, but in my opinion these two are the best in the industry.
I bought my 1996 Ram Club Cab 4X4 5.9L new and I still love it despite a transmission rebuild and bottom of the doors rust.
Auto or Stick?
@@TheStosselites Auto, it only had 70k miles on it and was properly maintained. The rebuilt one has lasted another 70k but it slips when cold.
The only criticism of the Magnum twins is their thirst for gasoline.
@@billp5424 I was pretty impressed with the mileage when my truck was new. I previously owned a Z28 and it gave me the same mpg as this huge truck. What really impressed me was when I pulled an 18' U-Hall full of the contents of my sister's home. That truck got 16 mpg! When the dealer rebuilt the transmission, it's average mpg went down to 15. :(
191k on my 97 5.9 2 wheel drive. Transmission still going strong.
I can buy 6 half-ton rams for $5,000 for the price of one 3/4-ton Cummins for $30,000. The price of diesel maintenance and repairs are way more than gas engines. Hell, the price of 3/4 ton maintenance/repairs is higher than 1/2 ton pickups. Sure, diesels can get a few more mpg’s and tow a little more, but I can’t justify paying an extra $25,000. These two pickups are apples and oranges. A better comparison would be a 3/4-ton V-10 to the 3/4-ton Cummins.
Is this even a question it’s Cummins all day
You probably never even seen a gas truck before
Although the ram was an impressive gasser
I would take a 5.2 V-8 any day
Dodges are garbage...
@@norsevikingsir4932 your intitled to your opinion but not everyone shares your dislike for Dodge. I have had many brands they all have issues.
I’ve had decades of experience with these trucks as well as the offerings from the other 2 manufacturers and I’ve never come across a single faulty engine or transmission from Dodge. I have , however, come across a lot of bad drivers who seem to know exactly how to eat up a transmission or an engine. My ‘99 Durango 5.9 has more than 220,000 trouble free miles. Only ever had to do a water pump. Doesn’t burn oil, no transmission issues of any kind ever and it’s my tow-rig. Imagine that.
The white one with the standard cab, eight foot bed and manual transmission for the win. Even without the diesel.
I have a 99 dakota with the 5.2, and an 01 ram with the 5.9 CTD, and I love them both. They are getting old now and replacing stuff fairly often, but the truck market is insane right now so I'm going to hold onto them forever.
The issue with the trans was the fluid. It was very specific to what the factory used. Most people didn't use the dealership to service it which led to a short life.
Yep. Always put in the right trans fluid.
The dipsticks would always say something along the lines of "Use approved ATF+ or Mercon/Dexron blend". The problem is, many of those Mercon/Dexron blends are made to loose tolerances with varying viscosity and friction modifiers, so there was higher likelihood for clutches to prematurely fail. ATF+ on the other hand was a very strict tolerance and one that the clutches in those transmissions were designed for.
@@knote4958no factory ram transmission dipsticks were ever inscribed suggesting anything but ATF+3 and ATF+4.
mercon fluid was a designation given to fluid intended for use in Ford transmissions built before 87-88.
Dexron is actually trademarked by General Motors and designates fluids meeting their approval for use in General Motors transmissions.
The 46/47/48RE family of Chrysler transmissions found in the first three generations of dodge rams were successors of what was originally torque flight designs.
And none of them were ever supposed to use General Motors trans fluid or transmission fluid intended for use in ancient fords.
Dodge never said that was ok, careless owners totally made that up desperately trying to pass the blame. 👌
I've had my 99 1500 5spd for 20 years and know just about everything about 2nd Gens so I was waiting to correct you on something. But alas, you did a great job researching! Only thing I didn't hear was the ORE (off road edition) also has 4.10 gears standard. And yes, 98 was Quad Cab but the Club ran from 1995 - 01. This was a game changer as Chevy only had the 3rd door on the passenger side. Dodge also had the most powerful engines in the 90s. Good video!
Good catch on the gear ratio, that's definitely a selling point of those. I really like those trucks, you can't find a nice one where I live in New England now, they're all rusted out. My dad had one and even 10 years ago he got rid of it bc of rust.
I'm pretty sure the Chevy Vortec 5.7 made more HP, but it was close enough to not matter. I think it was only like 10 more.
@@trailrunnah8886 Yes, in later years, the 5.7 had 10 more hp but same torque as 5.9. The 5.2 was more than the 5.0, but the V10 and CTD were the top dogs. No one could catch those.
The 5.4 2v with the Pi heads had more hp & torque than the 360 ( 260 & 350)
@@BrownBomber92181 Only after 1999. Until then the Magnum 5.9 still had more. Dodge still ruled the 90s and does also today.
@@jeremyneufeld6541 yea, in 99 the Pi heads were used in the 5.4. I had a 97 with non Pi heads, only 10 less Hp than the 360 & equal torque. My truck still felt like it had more power than my dads 98 with the 360, I think mainly because the Triton had a much broader power band. The magnums power band was narrow, between 3-4k rpm
The rear end on the gas truck is a Chrysler Corporate axle. With LSD. And whoever took the original air box and intake out of the gasser replacing for the Air raid did it no service. Now it's just sucking in hot air under the hood. They actually do include Cold Air Intake from the factory with how it has a straight tube and goes sideways into the inner fender thus drawing in colder air. The after market cold air intake systems should have designed a replacement cold air intake that utilized the hole in the passenger side fender. Cheers
I’ve got a base 2wd 1500 from 1995. It’s got the 5.9 and it’s an automatic but I’m at 220000 trouble free miles. Practically zero rust just don’t ask about my paint
Just got a 96 short bed gasser 5.2, and have fallen in love! Just tuned it up, and did the "Hughes Engines" intake plenum fix and let me tell you it woke this little 318 up! she'll rev to 5,000 now and picked up a few mpgs as well! Plus it already had a rebuilt trans!
Good engines, but like the Chevy Vortec's they have weak a%$ cylinder heads, crack like crazy between the valves. (Speakin on aluminum heads here)
If I towed enough to justify it then an early 5.9 Cummins would be sweet. Really though the Magnum's kinda underrated, especially the 318: cheap to maintain, easy to work on, good power potential. Aside of the plenum gasket fault and the valve seat cracking issues there isn't much to go wrong on them, both these issues have been addressed by the aftermarket. The 318 and 360 will both make plenty of power with an aftermarket cam etc. Meanwhile you can still tow a reasonable load. The Magnum doesn't have the pulling power of the Cummins but as an affordable, reliable daily driver it's a great option. There really isn't a bad choice either way here, there's just the right choice for the load you have to pull.
I’m just going to say it...Case has the coolest ride in all of RUclips!
Not even close
@@shitloveaduck whistlin diesels anylift ford was way way nicer
@@trudeaumustgo1920 That truck was probably the only truck of the whole pimped out truck style that I've ever thought was cool. Isn't somebody suppose to be rebuilding it?
Still daily driving my 97 club cab with a modded 5.2 and manual transmission and loving it.
What mods do you have?
318 and 360 are a duo, similar to the Chevy 305 and 350
Don't forget the legendary 3.9 😂
The 3.9s are tough motors!
The 318 is a better engine than the 305.....Actually I should say 307 amiright? I remember it being a 307 not 305.
318 is freakin bulletproof.
@@wildbill23c such bs lmao. No way to get 26 mpg even on a v6 magnum. And no the 318 is not better than the 360. The 360 is weak enough. No reason to go weaker
I own a 99 Dodge Ram 1500 5.2L and I love it. While the auto transmissions are trash I plan on swapping it to a 5 speed manual.
Lmao my Magnum V8 never needs to shift on the highway even with the bed loaded (probably why the auto transmission hasn't blown yet) so I personally think the extra torque in the Cummins is extreme overkill unless you're towing. I will say though, the Magnum V8 has no power at the top of the rev range
Dodge is the the best in the pickup game
Actually, you COULD get the full “crew cab” four doors in the 2nd generation Dodge, but it’s about as rare as a manual transmission Porsche Cayenne.
They exist yes but it was a conversion not factory
@@slumpnmyrump4986 Government order packages existed.
@@LukeEdward interesting 🤔
@@oldcroneysgarage9739 Google it they actually built one called the Holy Grail on the diesel Brothers little TV show on the Discovery Channel. I have never seen one in my lifetime but I've seen numerous pictures and videos on them on RUclips.
The Holy Grail..
I have a 2005 Cummins crew cab. It has 196k on it now and it has been a good truck overall. The Powerplant has been solid, had to replace the water pump a couple of times and the AC had to be redone last year. The Cummins parts are definitely better than the Dodge parts. Glad to say the dash has not cracked at all.
Great video.
I love my 97 Ram SS/T which got all of 10 extra horses than the stock 5.9lt Ram.
However it's not my everyday driver as keeping gas in it would cost a small fortune every week.
I had the v10 back in the day. Fun truck
If you would have added Viper stickers it would have probably made 10 more rear wheel horses.
Love the vids! I think the gen 2 was the last of the big 3’s solid front axle 1/2 tons which is a shame.
I got the 2nd gen /01 crew cab with 4 doors , 4x4 with the 5.9 engine. Great condition. Only paid 2900 for it here in Ohio. Just got it last week.
Good comparison. I like my single cab, long bed 1999 2500 slt with my upgraded 47re trans. It absolutely amazed me how much better a built 47re is than the stock transmission. My fuel mileage took a huge jump upwards after I installed the upgraded transmission....mostly Goerend parts. With RV275 injectors and a low power DR Performance control box I have everything I need. Another great upgrade is to the injection pump, which seems to malfunction on these trucks anywhere from about 60k -125k. Mine went out at 125k, so I replaced it with a great upgraded pump from Blue Chip Diesel. Try their Special X pump if you can afford it.....WOW! Remove the old radiator fan and replace with electrics for a little hp gain. A 4" stainless exhaust rounds out the show. I thought of alcohol injection but I just don't need it. Stay away from wide and heavy tires to keep the suspension in order. A PSC steering box helps with wander, as so many of these trucks eventually did.
Having had both, give me the 12v Cummins. I had a 98 12v for 14 years and almost 300k miles.
Don’t let Blaze lick that salt off trucks. It will make him sick. Nice vid guys👍🏼
My dogs have been doing this for years. You do you, and we'll do us..
@@haroldbeauchamp3770 that could be the most asinine comment I’ve ever read. Go ahead and let your kids eat lead paint too. Don’t take my word for it, ask a vet. It can not only make them sick it can kill them. I think Tommy has a little more regard for his pet than you might.
@@fritty9927 He was licking egg off the front of the truck as it turns out
@@TFLclassics 👍🏼
Mag chloride???
The rear axle in the 1500 is a 9.25 axle.
every time i hear "vintage" on vehicles that came out when i was on my teens makes me cringe lol
Wait till you hear someone call something vintage that you owned in your 30's.
Right, it just didn't sound right, that was just a few years ago.
I'd say 1st gen cummins could fall into that category. Especially since they're hard to find
Chew on this: folks born in 2000 will be legal drinking age this year.
I still think the 90's was 10 years ago lol
I have a 1998 2500 clubcab short bed sport 12 valve .. And a 1997 2500 clubcab SLT long bed 12 valve ... Love them both ..
Same man, both with nv4500s
I have an 2001 STD Cab 5.9 V8 2500. Utility body work Truck. Came with 3.55 gears, swapped to 4.10 Spicer. Have 210,000 on Original Trans. Been in the pan a few times with BW solenoid, OD Solenoid, OD Spring, to keep it alive. Did a clutch fan delete/electric fan swap. You guys covered a lot of the bases here, but one major problem you left out is how SEVERELY under-braked these trucks are. You can only fit very small caliper and rotor combos in them with stock wheels. So for anyone buying theses trucks Gas/Diesel for towing, you will definitely need the brake controller and encourage you to have a trailer equipped with trailer brakes as well.
on the 1500, the 5.9 (360) was the better choice and always made better mpg than the 5.2 (318). The dash redesign was in 1998 and you can tell by the different exterior mirrors.
so you're saying that if I come across the 5.9 I should buy it because I'm already impressed with the mpg I'm getting out of my 01 5.2 or maybe I'm mistake. and I have a 5.9 and just don't know it cause the previous owner did not provide the manual and it has none of the factory markings anywhere that I've seen , anyways for me to tell I'm not familiar with dodge vehicle as much as I am with Chevy and Ford
The transmissions are not an issue . I had a 97 with a 5.2 an 01 with a 5.9 a Grand Cherokee with a 4.7 and a Durango with a 4.7. Both rams I pulled weight sled's with a few times after almost 20 years of mopar I had no transmission problems. I swear it was urban legend that started in 1994 from some scared Ford or Chevy boys!
No, it isn't. Chrysler has quite a long history of poor automatic transmissions.
Yeah, my dad had a 1996 Dodge 2500 4x4 extended cab V10 which didn’t have the 2 extra side doors. But it was a powerhouse.
Nice Vid Guys!
I’ve got a 99 1500 5.9 sb
Slt Laramie . Had 15 yrs now. These Trucks Are BEASTS!
I've had 3 2nd gen Ram trucks. 99 00 and 01. All were the Cummins diesel but as far as the trucks go it can really be a love hate. I will say the great thing about them is that they ALL have the same problems haha. So if you had one and want to buy another, you know what your getting into. I still want another one. Just something about them. My dream truck is an 01-02 3500 4x4 extended cab dually of course no srw back then with the 8.0 V10 in Patriot Blue. it was on the cover of the first Truck trend magazine I ever bought. I've been in love ever since.
Awesome video of these two Rams!
Watched the video and still saying Cummins. That is a nice truck Case. I look forward to the Yak Ranch videos with these trucks.
Take Kase’s truck up the Ike!
that dog might be liking sweet coolant...
I got a 2001 Ram 2500 with the 24 valve Cummins and a 6 speed manual. Extended cab and 8 foot bed, so out is an extremely long truck. Has 110,000 miles on it. Absolutely love it.
One problem with magnums: all get 10 mpg average
Love ❤ my 24v quad cad with compounds. Yes the 47 rh re sucks stock but a few simple cheap, some free upgrades will make them handle the power very easily. Line pressure is huge. They are surprisingly easy for a transmission to work on also. One thing they didn't hit on is the steering. That's far worse than the automatic transmissions.
I have 4 Dodge trucks, one is a 96 one ton duelie Cummins w/auto transmission with lots of towing miles. Transmission is still original. The bands adjustments and service are done regularly. If you don't do band adjustments you will replace your transmission.
I have a 2001 1500 4x4 5spd with the 5.2l and with the 3.55 posi rear on a regular cab short bed on 32s, the only real mods that have been done to it are a chip tune, custom intake and exhaust, as well as some built internals on the engine, and I get 22mpg when I drive it nice, love my 318!
Trucks aside I love having blaze in the videos. He reminds of my my childhood dog, blaze, who was a rough collie with black fur instead of gold
Probably a 9.25 in the 1500, it's what chrysler used for 1500 durango and dakota I know of.
I love the 2nd Gen content you all should get with Power Driven Diesel
5.9L Cummins is the greatest of all time ☺️
HELL YEAH BRUH
I’m super glad I found my unicorn of a 2nd gen, 2001 2500 24v with 5 speed manual but it’s 2wd, but the unicorn part was the fact that it had 37,410 miles when I bought it for 25k, and that was a steal to me, I’ve got 45,250 on it now and could still easily sell it for 35k
Case, I have a 94 2500 12v> been following your build since day 1. Mine wont be as original as yours. I have a single cab long bed 5 spd with 4:10 gears. Its a grandpa special too. You inspired me to get mine done. Maybe 1 day I can swing over for you to compare.
Bought a buddies old 99 2500 with the tow package and sport package with a v8 magnum quad cab and 8 foot bed. Best $1000 I've ever spent. This thing is a monster but I wish it had a Cummins in it
To be honest there both great engines. We had a 2001 dodge sport with a 318. Rusted out but we put it through allot. And it was still running before it was parked
I have a 2001 Ram 1500 Sport with the 5.2 v8 magnum that I got from a friend for $500. Its a rusty work truck used for snow plowing (i take the plow off in the warmer seasons) but i love it.
Very interesting, I recently purchased a 99 2500 4x4 w/5.9 Magnum as a low buck project. Wanted the 5.9 Cummins but couldn’t justify the going rates for a sub 150k truck, nor did I want the 300K and have to do a complete overhaul/inframe. Picked it up in Colorado Springs and now have it in Az. Love these trucks! Thanks for the good info videos!👍
Auto trans problems is correct, InLaw went through 3 trans in his 2004 2500 Ram. I like this comparison.
I had a '97 12 valve, automatic, 2wd with a limited slip. I miss that truck. If it was 4wd I would still have it. Now have a '12 Ram 2500 hemi, auto, 4wd, crew cab also with a limited slip. Just installed a winch. I always install quick disconnect sway bar end links. You guys should really consider doing this. Disconnecting your sway bars will make both of those truck so much more off road capable. Solid axle trucks off road with sway bar still connected look like fish out of water. I think that would make for a good video. Install quick discos on both of these and test/compare before and after...
I love my 318 1500 wish I had a gen one with the 318 in it too
318 is a great engine, i have the same truck. She ain't much to look at but she just keeps on going...
I am pretty sure they did make a crew cab 2500 because they had one on Diesel Brothers. They called it the Holy Grail build.
I have a 2001 2500 V10 5 speed. Great truck!
There's one in the area that I've been drooling over. The gas mileage is my concern.
@@mariuss.6607 pfffff gas mileage. Its rated in smiles per gallon
Aftermarket trans cooler goes on all my dodge trucks I learned my lesson with my first truck lol
i've got 2 of the 1500 gassers, both the 5.2 and 5.9, in decent condition, and with the two trucks having suffered the hell that they've seen, i wouldnt personally own any thing else, and i would not sell either one of them, and having owned these gasser editions, i would absolutely love to own a diesel version, if nothing more than to just complete the set. they both haul and drag weight far better than the competition brand trucks from my experience, and for what they are, they still have the ability to out-perform modern "faster" vehicles with ease, the 5.9 outrunning a much lighter, much sportier 2008ish Mercury Mariner, and the 5.2 outrunning the much, much lighter and "quicker off the line" 2008 Honda Accord
Case's '94 is cool. 5-speed manual trans. My '01 Ram diesel also has the NV4500. It's a nice-shifting transmission, and I added a GearVendors overdrive to give the truck some serious legs on the highway. If you don't work the truck all the time, it holds up well. I used to deliver travel trailers with mine, and lost 5th gear twice while on the road, thousands of miles from home. I averaged an NV4500 replacement or rebuild every 75,000 miles over the 3 years and 284,000 miles I ran it.
I’ve owned both of these at the same time when I owned a small tree company. Fifth wheel on the gasser works just fine, the Cummins is just happier doing it all day long and the truck will rust apart before the engine goes. You can get 13,000 behind the gasser with no acceleration issues. I personally enjoyed daily driving the gas truck a whole lot more. Sold both of them a little while back.
I got a near twin to the black one. I have an 01 quad cab black 4x4 with 5.9 mag and auto. I bought the truck local and thought it would need a little work. First thing I did was flush out the cooling system. Then new timing chain, water pump and radiator. Made the truck very dependable. I have rebuilt the front axle and still need to rebuild/ replace the transfer case and rear axle. I am going the route of making this thing dependable, but I can fix most things that happen to it. I love my truck , and with the 3.91 gears seems to be a good mix of performance, without the engine screaming all the time
I really like both of these trucks! For my uses, the half-ton would probably be better. I'm a bit biased though, when I was a kid my dad had one of these, it was a 98 that he bought slightly used. By the way, the 98 that he had didn't have the little rear cab doors, you had to slide the front passenger seat forward and climb in the back. Wasn't too difficult, it was actually fairly company once you got back there.
Also, the rear axle on the half ton is the Chrysler 9.25, which is fairly beefy for half ton, beefier than what you would get in the comparable GM of the time.
Cummins all the way 12Valve 24valve all great platforms and definitely Standard Nv4500 nv5600 g56 just can’t beat them
One of the issues with the automatic in these trucks is the fact that the design required a proper service/maintenance period of around 10-20,000 miles where both front and rear bands are adjusted which no one ever did. I purchased an 01 cummins with 80,000 miles on it, in the sand in 4hi the transmission slipped so bad that it wouldn't even spin a tire at full throttle. I assumed I was going to be rebuilding the transmission. However, after a simple service of changing the fluid and adjusting both bands. It no longer slipped It also lasted 220,000 miles with lots of both off road and trailer tow, before the 2nd gear band finally failed. In doing the rebuild the only clutch with any wear was the 2nd gear band. Granted I did install a low stall torque converter and shift kit during the rebuild and would say the improvement from those upgrades alone are well worth doing as soon as you buy one of these trucks.
Will TFL ever show the world the most reliable cheap fun you can buy? 5.2L 318 Magnum. Comes in Dakotas, Rams, Ram Vans, Jeeps etc each one of those motors known for 300,000+ miles easily, wish the bigger 5.9 V8 wasnt externally balanced cause it “would” be reliable like the babier 5.2. What do you guys think, 5.0 ford vs 5.2 dodge? The throwdown that needs to be done 302 or 318
My dad has a ram 5.2l with 246k miles. It still starts with no issue but I can tell it has its last moments coming up and I think it will be a project in the future cause for a new 318 engine I’m spending over 2-3k for a new motor but its unbelievable how it still always comes alive. A friend of mine has a 1998 dodge ram with 152k miles and it has the 5.9l the transmission was rebuild. He asking 1,500 for it and I am blessed to have that destiny of finding a 2nd gen ram with those low miles.
5.9L in the Grand Cherokee is the best way to experience the Magnum power
Or dakota rt
Made me giggle seeing the awesome mix vol 1 and 2 from guardians of the galaxy in the cassette holder. Good music
I have owned my 98 Ram 2500 for 21 years, she's still going. Your sport probably has 4:10 in it, That what was offered in the package. Dodge also put the NV4500 behind the 5.9 magnum in some 3500 and 2500. The Dana 60 that were offered came with different axle tube sizes between the diesel, V10 and the V8. The V10 was only offered with an auto. I believe Dodge also put the V10 in a Ram1500 but only 2WD and was one of the first SRT's
Thanks for a great 👍 video on these second gen Dodge Ram Trucks.
I own a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 Sport club cab with the Magnum 8.0 liter V10 automatic. It has the two smaller "suicide style" opening rear doors and long bed with a factory cab hight rear cap. Presently it has only about 124,000 miles on the odometer and that 8.0 liter V10 is still very smooth.
Thanks and keep up with more great videos about Dodge Ram trucks.
I’ve got one of each. 98 1500 with NV3500 and 96 3500 with the NV4500. Both a pleasure to drive
Our Dodge family includes a 97 SLT 4x4 Extended cab w/8’ bed w the Cummins Diesel engine/ auto trans 2500 and a 2002 SLT 4x4 , 4.7 engine (only thing I regret) 1500 w/ 4 door (1st year) and 6.5’ bed. Other than the horrible dashes they both still look basically brand new. And the 97 still pulls/hauls like Paul Bunyan. I get SO many compliments on it.
Cummins engines are awesome, and I like diesel trucks so much
I had a 1995 Ram 1500 Regular Cab 8’ bed Laramie SLT 2WD with the 5.2L 318 CID engine. Was a solid truck. Three different family members worked it pretty hard before we sold it. Kase has a nice ride there.
Used to have a 98 1500 all the same thing except laramie. Just regular. You can hit that engine with a train and itll still run. Not even kidding one bit. Never had any problems with it in the 10 years i owned it and the day before i sold it, it was still running strong as it did when i first got it. Tranny was always good too, i believe if you can keep the trans cool in these trucks, they wont die as easily. I always had problems on another ram 5.9 i had with mud dobbers building nests in the trans lines somehow. Went through 2 transmissions before i figured that out lol and when they went, they went fast. Start slipping one day and its over. But the 318, never a single problem with the trans or engine.
I got the 5.9 magnum with 35 inch tires great truck has a little over 200,000 miles with original transmission and rebuilt transfer case. I’m happy with my 5.9
Dudes complaint was there was no room for his groceries with him and his boyfriend in the cab. Had to put them in the bed. And by the way that is nothing like a "big rig". Keep dreaming
Ive had a 99 v10 for the last 18 years and the only complaint is the 8 mpg .Its been super dependable and its really tight and quiet and i still drive it today.I also have a 06 diesel .
My boy has the half ton and my dad has the 1 ton dually with the Cummins. I love the Cummins. Such a good motor.
I have a 5.2 Magnum V8 1996 ram 1500 4 wheel drive super sport and I went on a 600 mile trip and only used two tanks of gas
That's a little worse than average lol
If it has the 26 gallon tank it should be getting about 315miles to a tank. Especially being a 2wd
My grandfather has a 2001 Single Cab 1500 Sport model in red same wheels, interior as the black truck you guys have. It is what I learned to drive in at 14 years old and boy at that age it was like a monster truck haha miss that truck they’re fun and very comfortable to drive although definitely poor on fuel economy.
Little misinformation here but a good video! 1500s had a Dana 44 front and Chrysler 9.25 in the rear. 2500s all had a Dana 60 front 60, 70, or 80 Hybrid (not the same Dana used in the 3500s it had 70 outers). 3500s all Came with 60/80. They also made a 2500LD (light duty) but got rid of it in 98.5. the 2500 HD was too replace the 3500 single rear wheel.
The off road package gave you the following: Limited slip rear (and some fronts), tow hooks, a little lift (2"), fuel tank skid plate, and decal on the tailgate. I'm a Dodge expert lol
I own 15 second gens. One is currently getting a Hellcat drivetrain
Love the video and info on the comparisons - great pickups! Also, the dog is licking the salt cuz well, animals like salt too! Haha
Probably salt from road treatment.
Great video gentlemen I actually have a 2000 Dodge 2500 with the magnum 5.9 L V8 gasoline engine and you’re right it’s kind of a powerhouse. 2500 is definitely built like a tank. And when running at optimum efficiency, the fuel consumption is not that bad.
The black one. I loved my 2001 dodge ram 1500. It had the 318 auto. Trans went out replaces it with a jasper rebuilt trans and when I got rid of it I put 100000 miles on that trans and still in perfect shape
I'd take a 3500 srw with the 8.0L V10.👍
Haha
Hmmm
Hell no, not worth the fuel and little power compared to a tuned cummins that can get over 20 mpg and wayyy more torque
@@danielfish101 but you do get the unique factor of it
Too bad. 3500 was dually only
I can definitely say I do regret not buying an earlier model single cab 2nd gen. I was in a rush to get a truck 5-6 years ago and I ended up with an 01.5 quad cab 3/4 ton so the only plus that I like about mine is it has 4 wheel disc brakes instead of drums in the rear.
I got a 97 1500 with the 360 v8. Its got 435k miles on it. And I love the thing. Wouldn't change it for any other truck.