I am looking at getting into a newer truck, been looking at 2002-2008 range Ram 1500 trucks.

Some have the 4.7 Magnum, some are 5.7 Hemi.

So looking for the pros and cons of each. And any other common mechanical issues in the 02 to 08 year ranges.

I greatly prefer the 5.7 just because it can take more abuse, it's far more robust than the 4.7 but the early ones do have issues with the valve seats falling out (most with issues have been fixed or scrapped by now) and all years have issues with the exhaust manifold bolts breaking.

The 4.7 is a nice smooth lightweight, cheapened up modern engine and I feel it would have been a better choice for a car than a truck. It was supposed to be the replacement for the 318 and in this one regard I feel it was a failure.

I'd suggest check out the cost and complexity of timing chain replacement alone, if that doesn't sway your opinion then it will not matter to you.....and get either one.

I'm in for the cheaper timing chain replacement.

Also this will be primarily a long drive commuter. Driving between Omaha, and Charlotte. 1200 mile trip or so every 4 weeks.

I leased a new 2008 Ram with the 4.7 & it was a great engine with very adequate power. I even bought the truck off lease, but traded it in (for more $$ than I bought it for) 2 years later on a 2012 Challenger. I think it has 29,000 miles on it when I traded it. That said, I didn't have it long enough for any problems to have started.

I had a 4.7 in my 2010 and now have a 5.7 in my 2015. The 4.7 just didn't have enough torque/power and the 5.7 with MDS actually gets a little better gas mileage even though the 2010 was 2wd and the 2015 is 4wd.

Hands down, the 5.7 wins on several levels.

A good way to see what engines (or transmissions) have held up over time is to call some local salvage yards and check price and availability on both choices. You'll notice a trend very quickly.

Just purchased a 2009 1500 w/5.7. Very pleased so far. Hauling 3000 lbs I don't even know anything is back there. 6000 lbs you know its there, but does the job well.

Never had a 4.7, I cannot compare.

Not to stir the pot, but if you are not hauling over 3500 lbs, a minivan is a better utility vehicle, IMO.

Fairly common subject in the trucks/Jeep section.
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2327102/1.html

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2389281/1.html

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2237625/1.html

...and countless more if you do a search in the "subject" for "4.7."

There will be no minivan in my collection. Ever. Ever. Ever.

Well, your call. I have both. If one had to go, it would be the truck.

My family has used Mopar minivans in our business for many years. We use them to tow cars over 100 miles. We also haul car parts at the same time. 20mpg, comfortable, dependable, very affordable and we get 250,000 miles and more out of them. The 3.3/3.8 engines are just about bulletproof. We have 3 in service now.

I don't see how either of those are a sensible choice for making a monthly 1400 mile trip!

is there a cut off year where the valve seats became not a prob?

2009, with the introduction of the Eagle head. I believe the valve seat problems with the earlier heads are blown way out of proportion, no epidemic of failures considering the number built and the number of miles put on them.

i used to think : "no minivan for me !". that is until back in the super early 90's we started to attend the used car auctions to buy and flip those things. it soon became apparent the shortcomings of those things were a somewhat easy fix [at least to us], and the transmission problems were a somewhat common problem, but fixable solution[s] were able to be done after you had some apart.
they soon proved to be a very good compromise between car/truck transportation, with long distance travel pretty comfortable. since then i have owned several personally, ranging from MY 93 to MY 2002. all have lasted 200K plus with absolutely NO engine/transmission problems, until the bodies fell off the floor pan. the 95 i owned lasted 315k plus, with the original 3.3 never apart for any reason whatsoever, and the transmission replaced with a factory rebuilt installed at 65k. the currant "bus" used every day now, is a 99 with 162k on it, and the body is still perfect. it came from arizona, however, so to insure a long live in this "salt belt", i have had it oiled every november. the brake lines still look like new, and the floor pan paint is still factory "perfect".
all my personal "buses" have hauled tons of parts to swap meets, and complete drivetrains when necessary. at those times, heavy cardboard [and plastic sheet when necessary] protects the carpet. i'll own a "bus" till i croak. best of all worlds in my opinion. your mileage will vary.

I would not own any truck with a 273 in it, not enough power or torque! I would also stay away from 2003-2005 Hemi trucks, heard to many horror stories, 2006-up seem to be much better, though they never did fix or even recall the exhaust manifold stud breaking issue, it recently happened on my 2015 5.7 Ram, they want me to pay $200 to have it repaired, though they said it may not be repairable...

I have a 5.7 in a 2007 Magnum R/T. Since is has a 173,000 miles on it I have been apprehensive about dropping a valve seat.

From what I can tell overheating the engine is probably the #1 cause of the eventual seat failure.

I have driven mine since new so I know it has never overheated.

Since you are buying used, probably best to stick to years with the Eagle heads.

The newer model you can get the better they gas mileage should be, every year they seem to introduce something that helps with the gas mileage.

You probably should make VVT and MDS a requirement.

My budget range on this is limited to about 5K so the newer model year choices are limited.

The reason for no minivan, is because I will need to use this as a truck to transport some larger but relatively light weight items in the bed during my trips. And because I would not be comfortable in the minivan. I have tried them, didn't like them.

Ideally I would love a low mileage 92-93 CTD truck for the 20+ mpg, but we all know finding one under 200K miles, and not beat to hell for 5K and under will never happen.

I do have a line on a clean 1999 Ram 1500 with the 5.9 magnum. and at under 130K miles. That may be the better choice over the 4.7 or 5.7 if I am understanding the possible mechanical issues those engines have at the higher mileage range.

the 5.2 and 5.9 had tranny issues, the .7 engines have engine issues so thats about a wash, the 5.7 is the best .7 mopar engine and makes way more power than a 5.9 and gets way better MPG that would be an important factor with a routine 1400 mile trip.

Most if not all 5.7 issues can be avoided with routine maintance unlike the 2.7 3.7 4.7, 6.7 just dont overheat it and do keep good clean oil in it and no fram oil filters.

The 08 and later 4.7 is very different from the 07 and older 4.7 and I have never seen any issues with them and they have a lot more power than the older ones. An added bonus is at least in 08 you could get a 6 speed manual with it, that would be the ultimate 4.7 truck if there is such a thing. I have an 06 with the old 4.7 and the 6 speed and after going though and "bullet proofing" the 4.7 it is fun to drive and gets good MPG. I chickened out on the hemi swap because nobody knows if the trans will hold the power.

My old lady's 05 Ram had a 4.7

Zero issues with the engine

Now the tank purge valve...