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2003 Dodge Dually #1374976
01/24/13 12:27 PM
01/24/13 12:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 122
Oil City, PA. 16301 USA
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JR-Bull Offline OP
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JR-Bull  Offline OP
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Oil City, PA. 16301 USA
I am thinking of buying a 2003 Dodge Dually with a 5.7 Hemi engine and automatic transmission ! I guess I need some in-put on the bad and good , every-thing I have read is good ( I do-not need a Diesel only towing 5 or 6 times to the strip ) and I will be using it for around town ! Thanks for all your help !!!! Thanks Dave.........

Re: 2003 Dodge Dually [Re: JR-Bull] #1374977
01/24/13 12:34 PM
01/24/13 12:34 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 631
Casco, MI
Savoy1964 Offline
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Casco, MI
Look for rust in wheel wells and under tailgate.


2003 Dodge 3500 Diesel

1964 Plymouth Savoy White 2dr sdn. 512 stroked, Dominator, New Best 9.75 @ 138.50mph
2019 Challenger Scat Pack 1320 White Knuckle-K&N Cold air filter, Billit Oil catch can, drag radials stock 11.911 @ 114mph
Re: 2003 Dodge Dually [Re: Savoy1964] #1374978
01/24/13 05:20 PM
01/24/13 05:20 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 775
Big Wonderful Wyoming!
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toomanymopars Offline
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Big Wonderful Wyoming!
Expect it to get only around 12 mpg and that is downhill with a tailwind. Also, every one that I have been around that is worked hard, uses oil.

Hemis are for 1/2 tons, Challengers, and Chargers...not much of an engine for a dually if you are going to pull with it.

Re: 2003 Dodge Dually [Re: toomanymopars] #1374979
01/24/13 07:48 PM
01/24/13 07:48 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1 Offline
Too Many Posts
Challenger 1  Offline
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Cincinnati, Ohio
Quote:

Expect it to get only around 12 mpg and that is downhill with a tailwind. Also, every one that I have been around that is worked hard, uses oil.

Hemis are for 1/2 tons, Challengers, and Chargers... not much of an engine for a dually if you are going to pull with it .






A dually with only 345" motor in it?

No thanks, my 99 454 dually will out pull our 05 hemi durango 2-1 at least. The hemi engine don't have near the torque that my 454 has.

I know you said mostly around town, but 5-6 times a year to the track is pretty many trips in my mind.

I would think a truck like that would be really cheap in cost to buy?

Does Dodge make V-10 now for a truck like this if one didn't want to pay for crappy diesel?

Last edited by Challenger 1; 01/24/13 07:53 PM.
Re: 2003 Dodge Dually [Re: JR-Bull] #1374980
01/25/13 06:57 AM
01/25/13 06:57 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,699
Newport, Mi
Evil Spirit Offline
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Newport, Mi
I guess it depends on being able to safely tow your car to the track without making the daily driver part un-necessarily expensive. I never saw the logic in buying twice the truck you need 90% of the time just to take a car to the track a few times a year. A good example is I used to own a 2001 Dakota - extended cab, 5 speed V-6, 3.55 gears. Great daily driver, and towed my 2800LB Spirit on an open trailer the 30 mi to Milan 10-15 times a year and the 90 mi to Norwalk 2-3 times a year just fine. Both hauls were flat tows, and I wasn't in a hurry to get there. In my situation, it would have been ignorant to buy a bigger more expensive truck - the Dakota was great 90% of the time, and adequate the rest(towing). Now mind you, I put heavier load range tires on the truck, my trailer had brakes on both axles, and I used an equalizing hitch.

So I think you need to decide how much truck you really need - do you tow a light car/trailer on flat land, which the Hemi/dually is MORE than enough, or an enclosed trailer, heavy car, golf cart, etc.,in hilly country, which is more in the V10-Cummins territory.


Free advice and worth every penny...
Factory trained Slinky rewinder.........
Re: 2003 Dodge Dually [Re: JR-Bull] #1374981
01/25/13 10:07 PM
01/25/13 10:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,976
Chilliwack B.C. Canada
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RUNCHARGER Offline
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Chilliwack B.C. Canada
If you aren't going to drive it alot and it's cheap (which it should be) why not? You'll have the safety of the dually (nothing better for towing) and no diesel hassles for everyday driving.
Buying a Peterbilt to tow a car to the strip once in awhile is just as stupid as buying a Mazda for the same purpose.

Sheldon

Re: 2003 Dodge Dually [Re: RUNCHARGER] #1374982
01/26/13 09:05 PM
01/26/13 09:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 452
Coeur d Alene, Idaho
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jimbob101 Offline
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Coeur d Alene, Idaho
The cost to operate and maintain that gas engine will be a lot cheaper than running that diesel pickup.

I don't think 5-6times to the track is a lot and you aren't driving 300 miles one way to the track I'm guessing. You arent gonna be happy with the mileage but what's the hurry? I don't the newer cummins are gonna be much better in mileage.

I see a lot of diesels driving around with big tires and lifts hauling air as a daily driver not towing anything, that is an expensive daily commuter in my opinion!

I use a '92 cummins as a tow rig and very occasionally as a driver but it's the most expensive to run with the cost of fuel, parts, maintenence etc. I always recommend you better be saving up some $$ once you buy a cummins trk, cuz it's gonna cost ya!







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