C Schomer
Buckeye, Az.
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Joined: 12/26/2000
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The early 03s had some vibrations and door wind leaks but all that was fixed in warranty. The 4x4s take more front end maintenance than the 2wds. A friend has an 03 drw 6spd 4x4 128k miles and he had the u joints replaced last year. I put on a lift pump on the frame before the oem pump quit. I preferred on the frame so it's easier to get to. The early 03s have a steel alternator bracket that can crack. Mine is fine but I will weld and reinforce it if it ever cracks. The hvac damper doors break on the 03+ trucks and air won't come out where it's supposed to. There are kits for them too. Put on a better muffler. It looks like 3.5 x 3.5 on the outside but my oem was shrunk down to 3" on both ends, inside the case and I could hear the hissing when I towed. It sounded like a smashed tailpipe. I couldn't be happier with my 03. I get 22 mpg empty. The TPS went out last year and I fixed it myself for $169. I'm not as scared of the electronics as I used to be. Craig
03Dodge QC HO CTD Dually NV5600 4.10 Rear/WD A2K turbo, Diablo Predator/Puck, Quad BF, 4" exh, PRXB Pacbrake, Rancho 9000s, FS Airbags, Onboard air/in-cab controls, Custom hauler bed. 98 Sunnybrook 30RLFS 5er WHOEVER INVENTED WORK DIDN'T HAVE AN RV!
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JIMNLIN
out here
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Joined: 09/14/2003
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As many miles as you have I would imagine if any of the problems mentioned has ever shown up, the truck has already been fixed if it needed anything. IMO don't over think the issue.
I would join a couple of the many Dodge/Cummins webs and if a problem every pops up then ask questions on a fix. Some one some where has had the problem and has a fix.
The 3rd gen '03 and up Dodge trucks have the AAM 11.5" 9350 RAWR rear axle which has been bullet proof.
Change the fluids in everything. Your gonna' be pulling equipment trailers and heavy loads. Dodge has given their blessing for using a 75w-140 synthetic in the AAM axle for heavy haulers. The Cummins also has a very easy valve gap check due at 150k miles.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers
'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 gvwr two slides
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mudmaker
Iowa
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Joined: 10/15/2006
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I like your post Mr. Schomer. I did notice a wind leak around the drivers door when I drove it home. Probably not something that warranty would ever touch now.
It has a Banks exhaust with muffler on it already but for some reason it ends right behind the muffler. I suppose someone tried experimenting to gain mileage or hp. Looks like a 3 inch pipe.
Glen and Loretta
Marc, Jake, and Kirsten
Coachmen Chaparral 276RLS
08 Saturn Vue
04 GMC 2500HD Sierra CC 4x4
03 Dodge 3500 DRW quad 5.9HO
Yamaha EF2400is gen
2 official rallys!
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45Ricochet
North Idaho
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Joined: 09/04/2009
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JPhelps wrote:But if the lift pump fails, and even the in tank ones do,, the tank has to be dropped to fix it.
Sorry I lost the link, but the failure rate for the in tank pump was less than 1 percent, after getting the much needed diesel fuel bath 
06 Dodge 3500 CC LB Laramie 4x4 Dually 5.9 Cummins 325/610 48RE Jacobs brake Smarty Jr
GVWR 12,200 Payload 4580
06 Grand Junction 34' High profile 15500 GVWR 3200 pin Mor/ryde 5500 Onan genny Dual A/C
27' Hallett 502, 500HP
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