[nothaday]

I have a good lil 2wd dually, 03 6spd (160k) that has pretty much been babied with the typical 03 issues ...but also with the typical non issues. Climate control has been an issue from day one and yes - 9 yrs later, I'm finally fed up with my feet freezing .

The 12 Ram diesels are getting pretty heavily discounted, but I still see a ton of them on the lots. I go to GM/Ford lot and they have nothing but 13's...maybe its just the way they order them...i say that because the surplus of the 12 Rams give me pause at first.

I'm also at a point where I need a 4wd - but the diesel doesnt have to be it...so should I stick with the 03 and look for a lil half ton...or buck up and go all in on "something" new(ish) --- dually 4wd. The climate control issue is probably a broken blend door...ie removal of dash necessary.

My initial reservation on keeping the 03 much longer is I don't want to start dropping any serious $$ into it...only at a water pump, slave cylinder, and throttle position sensor as far as high dollar repairs....And I get the typical 19-20 mpg unloaded....

After searching the web, the MPG on the 12's is all over the place...what can i realistically expect out of a 12 3500 dually 4wd auto?

I would say I'm also half -way considering another brand...but I don't want to start that war.

Anybody else in this type of situation? All you hear about is how good the 5.9s are...

 

[VitaminDiesel]

Fuel economy of a 12' dually won't be anywhere near your 03' stock. Deleted it might be close if not the same. It depends on what gearing it has too. If you can wait and have to have a new truck, I'd get a 2013 Ram. Better emissions system and better features than the 12'. If your 03' has treated you well, why upgrade? Truck payments suck and insurance is generally higher. I'm contemplating selling my 2012 this spring and getting a clean, paid for 3rd gen 6spd to replace it. But hey, to each their own

 

[Dae]

ultimately the decision is up to you....

1st, let me say the reason there are so many '12 Ram HDs, on dealer lots, is because Ram hasn't switched production to the '13 model. 2013 models will start production this month.


2nd, Have you test driven a '12 yet. If you haven't, go do it now! I think that might make the decision easier for you.

3rd, mileage is all over the place because people drive differently, with different gears and different loads. Based on what I've read here, I think most of the dually 4x4s are getting a realistic hwy mpg of around 15, stock. 12-13 in the city..

4th, if you haven't looked at the '13 1500, go do so. When the '13 Ram HD will be released, it will have a similar interior to the '13 1500. The '13 3500 will also get a new frame, new front suspension and lots of other stuff that's supposed to allow it to get better MPGs than the current 4 Gen Cummins Rams.

Me, I'm waiting for a '13....

 

[white6speed]

I had an 05 then traded it in on an 11 liked the truck hated the milage and all the money I was going to have to spend to delete it so I went and got an 06 and love it!!!

 

[Jdmuscle]

The surplus of the 12s is due to the fact that RAM built the 12MY for a long time... GM came out with the 13MY a long time ago since their 14MY is an all new truck.

As for the Fords.... they had some interior upgrades and they came out with the 13MY almost two to three months ago.

13MY RAM HDs are available to be ordered but you won't see it till probably another few months.

 

[nothaday]

Fuel economy of a 12' dually won't be anywhere near your 03' stock. Deleted it might be close if not the same. It depends on what gearing it has too. If you can wait and have to have a new truck, I'd get a 2013 Ram. Better emissions system and better features than the 12'. If your 03' has treated you well, why upgrade? Truck payments suck and insurance is generally higher. I'm contemplating selling my 2012 this spring and getting a clean, paid for 3rd gen 6spd to replace it. But hey, to each their own

interesting about the 13MY...and needing something 4wd that is dependable for work puposes (no off roading...the 2wd just isnt fun in the snow)---

one of the few possible "reasons" for selling is one that noone on this forum has probably ever brought up... the 03s dont have headrests for the back seat. Kids are out of their booster seats and you cant imagine the number of times that their heads are starting to hit that back glass....

 

[MoparProud]

Best of both worlds, keep the '03 and buy a '12 or '13. That's what I'd do...

 

[RJH/SH]

??

DONT DO IT. I got rid of my 04 and bought a 12 , i wish i could wake up from this mpg nightmare and wake up and see my 04 in the drive way again. I went from 22mpg on my 04 to maybe 14mpg on my 12. I actually posted the same exact question but i didnt take the advise i was given

 

[Dae]

DONT DO IT. I got rid of my 04 and bought a 12 , i wish i could wake up from this mpg nightmare and wake up and see my 04 in the drive way again. I went from 22mpg on my 04 to maybe 14mpg on my 12. I actually posted the same exact question but i didnt take the advise i was given

MPG and oil change interval comments, by current owners, is the reason one of the primary reasons, if not the top reason, I'm waiting for the '13.

Ram does MPG testing and they've already said the '13 get 10% better. 10% or even 1.4 miles doesn't sound like much, but if you consider the cost of fuel, it adds up quick.

I also compared oil change costs based on 20k miles a year... Doing them myself, I figure around $60 each. With the current trucks the interval is up to 7500 miles, for '13s it's up to 15000 miles. I figured EVIC would tell me to change about 2/3s into the max interval

20,000/5000 = 4 oil changes... 4 * $60 = $240
20,000/10000 = 2 oil changes... 2 * $60 = $120.

Based on MPG and oil changes along, I don't see how one can come up ahead with a deleted '12 compared to a stock '13... A deleted '12 looks to be comparable to a stock '13, in terms of cost of ownership (COO). When one figures in the cost to delete, will a deleted truck ever out perform a stock '13 in COO? Then when you add in that other changes to the '13, I feel a '13 owner is going to come out way ahead.

I could be wrong, but here's hoping!!

 

[nothaday]

Leaning towards testing the market on the 03 and seeing what is out there in an 05 or 06 ...thx