hi i am new to dodge trucks but not new to dodge cars(07 caliber), and i have the oppurtunity to buy a 92 or 93 ram with a 318 and 220,000 miles, the transfer case was rebuilt recently and it has a new waterpump and starter, and i was wondering, how are these trucks, reliability wise, and how are they when they get high mileage on them? are tehre any special things to look for before i buy it??

 

14 year old vehicles will tend to have problems. no matter what has been fixed or replaced.

the brake system could fail, axle go out, any number of things.


take your time looking at it. drive it.

does it go straight with little to no effort?

are the tires worn unevenly?

does it shift easily?

start easily?

smell the oil ...see if it has burned or over heated

if auto, check the atf for odor and color

many things to look at.

I will not comment on the gas engines for I do not know. my cummins has 350K + and purrs nicely

 

Echoing Kev_n_AZ, vehicles that are 10 years old and older will always have something to be gone over, some small things, some big. Alot of it depends on how the vehicle was taken care of originally from new, frequency of oil changes, tires rotated, weird engine mods, etc.
Speaking from experience, I owned my 318 powered 87 W150 4x4 for 18 years and sold it recently with 213,000 miles on it. Bought it used off the lot in Aug of 89 with 26,000 on it. Never had any major problems with it. Extremely reliable. Engine ran great (still does), tranny, transfer cases and axles never needed overhauls with regular fluid and filter changes. Daily driver.
Every 40 or 50,000: brakes serviced, axle shaft u-joints replaced, new tires, engine tune-ups, Double roller timing chain at 125,000, radiator at 140,000, went through a few mufflers.
Check the front axle ball joints, axle seals, steering coupler, vacuum 4 wheel drive actuator and brake lines, those are areas that should be looked at on the 4x4's.
I live in the midwest and I replaced all the steel brake lines front to back with Stainless steel lines at around 150,000. Rust had done a number and I wanted to be safe.
The interiors (plastic trim, dash, headliner) tend to deteriorate as they age, depending on what climate the truck has lived in.
Still have a 318 powered 88 Ramcharger 4x4 with 133,000 miles, no major problems. Good motor!

 

lol I want your truck Kev

 

1988 d150 2wd 318 auto.
Got it in virginia(vdot truck) 8-06 with 63,000,minor rust,dings and dents but ran great.
Rear u joint is the only mechanical repair that has be'en needed.
I always do maintenance work when I buy a used vehicle like tuneup and fluid changes.

 

why thank you nofrag!


I havent got into the details of what Im still fixing from the previous owner(s) [:@]