Time for a different Truck...need help

It's time for me to get a different truck. I've been looking at used 2002-2008 Ram 1500's. How are the Hemi's holding up? What about the 4.7? My last Dodge was a 5.2 Magnum and was the best truck I've ever owned.Right now my 2003 Chevy is the biggest pile of junk I've ever owned! Time to get back into a Dodge! Most used trucks in this range have over 100,000 miles so I'm just looking for some firsthand experience from someone who owns one.

I've owned a 4.7 and would stay away from them then I know of a Hemi with little over 100k that dropped a valve just two days after new ownertook delivery. So I don't know what to think, I traded my Dodge for an Expedition last go around, 75k later no regrets.

I would spend a little more and try to find a nice magnum truck with a stick shift. IMO they are a better truck long-term than the 02+ stuff.

4.7’s don’t have the best reputation, I’d avoid them unless it was a killer deal. I’ve heard that running ones are scarce in junkyards as well if you need to replace it.

The 5.7's are the better choice and they go just as far, if not, further than the Magnums. If you haven't driven one yet, wait until you do: it's an eye-opener and will make you kick yourself that much harder for owning that Blunder Motor truck.

The Transmissions are bullet-proof: worlds better than the junk 4 speed automatics.

Year-wise, look for an '06 or newer: they made a ton of changes to the trucks and they are way quieter in the cab and the quality is better too. Drive an '02 to '05 and then find an '06 or later and you'll tell the difference right away.

There are only 2, unavoidable downfalls:

TIP Module is an issue with these trucks, you'll have to Google and read about it.

They rust badly.

If you want a regular cab sport 4x4 with 11,000 miles on it, PM Me.

I agree about the 5.7. They make decent power for a truck with spark plugs. The dropping valve seat is only an issue in the early models. Don't hear much about it after 2007.

06-08 The door sealing improved along the A pillar and green house.

02-05 interior IMO was the best. The downfall being the dashboard cap will fail and a new one will cost ~$200~

06 refresh cheapened up the interior. Better door sealing though.


If Quad cab the rear door wiring @ the B pillar will fail unless the doors are never used. Routing and bend radius at the pillar to door interface leaves a-lot to be desired.

And of course the blend doors...

^^ yes dashboard will collapse but I believe Chrysler will replace that free of charge.

There were infamous auto transmission issues in those years. Maybe someone else can narrow the years.

Yes, there were also dropping valve seat issues as well in earlier 5.7's, but still good engine. Don't know what year that was resolved. In Chargers it was '09 with the Eagle Heads.

Please provide documented proof of "infamous transmission issues" with the 545RFE series of transmission.

I didn't say major issues. I said issues. I know one was in the valve body, and very common. Solenoid possibly. I am certain it was a common issue. Sorry, this is a forum, not litigation.

545rfe's do not like being kicked down into passing gear (2nd) with full power. Really gets dicey when you up the hp as well. For a stock truck with normal driving they'll last a long time. Don't believe take a look at hemitruckclub.com, all kinds of documentation there.

Drop valve seats are if you over heat them.

Can get rusty over the rear wheel wells and cab corners

I have an 05 with 120K miles on it and all I've had to do is a front crank seal

The steel end cap/cover plate on the valve body can come loose from the cycling of the accumulator pistons. IF caught early enough it can be fixed with some blue loctite and a inch pounds torque wrench before the plate gets bent up.

Otherwise Sonnax offers a fix in the form of a LINK new plate.

Of course if your going that far then you might as well do the accumulator piston sleeve kits as well and be done with it LINK .

02-03 has the black connector solenoid pack, if replacing it chrysler requires the CAM plate to be replaced as well.

Overall the RFE has proven to be a decent unit, plenty of them out there and most of the glitches have been found by now and remedied. Any retard with a heavy foot will find a weakness.

Plenty of retards on hemitruckclub then. Guys are burning them up doing normal performance driving, they especially seem susceptible to kicking it down to 2nd gear (like when you're going to pass someone like a retard) and killing themselves. It's not like they're doing neutral drops with them.

For guys doing performance mods, the remedy is to put in a 46 RH/RE (after the deficiencies have been fixed). Theirs been a few companies try and build an RFE that'll take mods/performance driving but no ones seemed to be able to get one to live yet.

As I stated, in a normal truck driven normally the RFE seems to be really good, start givin er to much and you run a risk of smoking the trans. Again, don't believe me, hemitruckclub is full of horror stories

Transmissions don’t seem to be a problem unless you drive like a jerk, as far as I can tell.

I would go with the newest truck you can fit into your budget. My 05 Hemi has only 111k miles, but the bed and tailgate are literally disintegrating before my eyes.

The truck is 13 years old, but was stored, after being thoroughly cleaned, for at least six of those winters.

Good truck otherwise, with minimal problems.

It doesn’t ride as well as my 17, and doesn’t come anywhere close to the fuel economy on the new truck. The newer truck is faster, too, despite having 3.20 gears compared to the 3.92 of the 05.

finn, are you trying to say that the smoky burnouts, laying down those really cool J hooks on the pavement doing the reverse to drive with a wide open throttle, pulling the enclosed car trailer with the trans in double OD, and never changing the fluid may be leading to the premature failure of my transmission?

That's all ok.

It's the neutral drop shifts that I'm talking about.

That and the case cracking jumps while getting air over railroad crossings.