Intro
July 2015 I bought a one owner 2000 Ram 3500. V-10 Auto 2wd Laramie.
Well equipped

It had 79k mile Now has 81k.
It was a true one owner from new by a little OL who only used it pull a small horse trailer a few days a week and maybe on weekends. It was super cared for, well maintained. I could find nothing wrong with it other then rear tires. Front tires new
Everything worked

I got it for a good price but not real cheap

I needed a truck that would pull my horse trailer est weight 10k

I have not weighed the combined rig yet.

I did the basic maintenance. Air filter - using a K&N
Oil change to Synthetic
Rad flush
New battery
4 new rear tires
Changed plugs and wires
Had to charge the AC but its works OK now

The transmission is a 47RE ? Codes from the build sheet are DGB DGP DHA. I have not found a reference to decode them.
Trans fluid is red smells new.
I will be dropping the pan soon. I will install a pan drain plug, new filter and temp sensor. I really want to know the operating temp.

Rear is LS 4:10
Only issue is 2wd. I installed a mild off-road set of rear tires to help get though rough stuff and hope I dont get stuck.

It pulls great but appears to get hot pulling the 7% 3 mile grade to home. The temp gauge had no real numbers other then 210* It goes almost 3/4 of the way. I am installing a temp gauge in the upper radiator hose next week to see how hot it gets to.
Runs great NO ping pulling the grade.
I installed new plugs one range hotter then stock Auto lite ASP 5224
Replaced stk wires with Belden lifetime 7700911

I do get a slight surge miss on the pull under moderate throttle at about 2500-2800 RPM. I will address that on tech thread.

When I haul I run 87 or 93 octane gas. Not sure it helps but might keep it from pinging on the long hard pulls.

When we go any place we have to drop off the 'mountain' then have to pull back up to get home. No other way around. Big pull with maybe 17k? combined weight.

Changed to rear end oil - Removed cover and did the clean out of the rear. Filled with 75w140 LS. Appears to work fine


Sort of a long post -sorry
Is there section or thread that addresses the V10 issues. Or another forum. Not looking for problems but would like to know what might go wrong with the V-10. Want to be pro-active.

I have posted a few times on the tech section

Appreciate any advice or guidance

MY BIO OLD guy 76 Retired computer systems geek - analyst
OCD very techie type - details details etc.
Thanks
RR

 

2nd gen ram tech section is prolly as good as its going to get. I know there is a V-10 Club... but, no idea how active it is. (as I don't own one, much as I would love to. )

Welcome to DF! (again. )

 

Welcome!

 

Thanks Nice to be here

HY Yes V10 is nice but 8-9mpg hauling not so.. gotta pay to get the pull power.
Had a V10 Ford a few years back. Same issue.
So far I like the older Ram- does the job