Which Cummins do you have?
| Engine | Ram model years | What it means for owners |
|---|---|---|
| 5.9 12-valve | 1989 to mid-1998 | Mechanical Bosch injection pump; no engine computer running the fuel system. |
| 5.9 24-valve (ISB) | mid-1998 to 2002 | Electronic Bosch VP44 injection pump fed by an in-tank or frame-mounted lift pump. |
| 5.9 common rail | 2003 to 2007 | High-pressure common-rail injection with electronic injectors. |
| 6.7 Cummins | mid-2007 on | Common rail plus diesel particulate filter; later trucks add DEF (urea) aftertreatment. |
Years from Cummins, MotorTrend and DieselHub. Changeover years were split mid-year; confirm with your engine dataplate and VIN.
Each engine family changes how you live with the truck. A 12-valve owner thinks about the mechanical pump and old wiring. A 24-valve owner watches fuel supply to the VP44. Common-rail owners keep fuel very clean. 6.7 owners also look after the emissions system. Pick yours for the details:
Need specs, engine ID or recall lookups? That is a different job. Our sister site Cumminsboard's engine guides cover specs and identification. This handbook sticks to ownership.
Chassis generations, for parts and lifts
| Group | Model years | Front suspension |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd gen | 1994 to 2002 | Solid axle, coil springs, 4 control arms + track bar (5-link) |
| 3rd gen | 2003 to 2009 | Solid axle, coil, 5-link |
| 4th gen | 2010 to 2012 | Solid axle, coil, 5-link |
| "4.5" and 5th gen | 2013/2014 on | Solid axle, coil, 3-link radius arms + track bar (2013 on the 3500, 2014 on the 2500) |
Generation labels follow the Dodge Off Road store; suspension layouts from Torque King, Carli and Ram's 2013 Heavy Duty press kit.
Suspension and steering parts follow the chassis generation, not the engine. A 2003 5.9 common rail and a 2009 6.7 both ride on a 3rd gen chassis. Shop by year: 2nd gen, 3rd gen, 4th gen and 5th gen parts at Dodge Off Road.
Where to start
- Maintenance by category: what to check, worded around your owner's manual.
- Towing setups: hitches, gooseneck and fifth wheel, air bags and braking.
- Lift, suspension and steering: track bars, long arms and steering kits.
- First mods, and what to avoid.
- Buying a used Cummins.
Questions
Is a 2003 Ram a 5.9 or 6.7?
The 2003 to early 2007 trucks have the 5.9 common rail. The 6.7 arrived partway through the 2007 model year, so check the engine dataplate.
Why do suspension parts list a different generation than my engine?
Suspension and steering follow the chassis. A 5.9 common rail and an early 6.7 can share the same 3rd gen chassis.
Where this comes from
- Cummins: Follow the liter, evolution of the 5.9L to the 6.7L pickup engine
- MotorTrend: 5.9-liter Cummins history and specs
- DieselHub: 5.9L and 6.7L Cummins FAQ
- Torque King IDN-121: 1994-2013 Dodge Ram 5-link coil spring identification
- Carli Suspension: 1994-1998 Dodge extended control arms
- Stellantis media: 2013 Ram Heavy Duty press kit
Last reviewed 2026-10-19. General information only: your owner's manual and service information come first.