I purchased my 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup with the 5.9L Cummins turbo diesel engine used in 2005 with approximately 38K miles on it. I was looking for a way to consolidate my life into one vehicle that was capable of hauling, had decent mileage, comfortable, and had longevity. For the first two years of its life with me, I was driving approximately 2K business miles a month and was able to get on average 22mpg. The truck was comfortable, spacious, and versatile. There were several interior features like the center console and power plug ins that made working on a laptop convenient. The storage under the back seat was extremely handy for hauling basic gear but leaving the backseat open for passengers. The fold-out cargo racks under the back seat have been a life saver in using the back seat for secure storage. The back seat and the bed of the pickup are both easy and comfortable to sleep in when necessary. All said and done, it was a great truck to work out of in rural Minnesota in both winter and summer. The cost to own it was low at the time, and it accommodated my hunting and camping hobbies. In the intervening years, I have changed jobs, moved, and started a family, and the truck has been a capable vehicle to assist with all of those changes. It's easy for my wife to drive, it's confident in the snow, and I've suffered very few mechanical issues with it and put very little money to repairing the truck in the past 14 years. The Cummins engine has been rock solid with regular oil changes. The transmission is just starting to shift differently at 250K miles, and the body has required some maintenance to keep it whole. Given the cost of pickups currently and the relatively low cost to repair this one, I plan to keep and continue fixing this truck for the indefinite future.

This truck is from the "golden year" of Dodge Ram. It has the redesigned Cummins engine, but does not have all of the environmental and fuel efficiency gadgets of later model years that have caused so many problems. The engine is very quiet and has plenty of power. I have hauled horses and livestock all over the country. I have found this truck to be reliable and powerful.