I'm remodeling my home and need a low-cost truck to haul an occasional load of dirt (maybe some rock), materials from Home Depot (including 4x8 material), a canoe to the river ... that kind of thing.

I found a 1982 Ram 150 with a 225 Slant 6 3-speed ... 102,000 miles, body is good, paint is bad, one rust spot in bed, shifts smoothly, doesen't appear to leak or use oil.

I have 2 concerns ... the cost and whether or not it is powerful enough to carry a heavy load. In test driving it, it is obvious it is not a powerful truck.

The owner is asking $1800 but will take $1500. Too much money?

Not equipped for what I need?

Thanks for your input.

Bill

 

Moved to 1st gen section.

 

The scant-6 is definately not a war horse @ 95hp. I'd hold out for at least a 318. If it's an auto trans make sure it's a 727 or 518OD. The 904/500 is too weak for heavy service. A 360 3/4 ton is what I'd look for. If you don't think it will rot the seat of your britches to sit in one, a Ford or Chevy V-8 would be better for heavy work than the 225 scant 6 IMO.

You have my sympathy if you're remodeling lol. Been working on this place for 5 1/2 yrs now. Still have 800ft or so of fences to build, new roof,concrete for the back porch and screen it in,new front porch,more siding to replace,a bedroom to build..............

 

The 6 is not powerful enough. I got a 85 w150 with the 318 8 foot bed. when im hauling stuf(wood,coal,dirt) it does well but if you got any biger hills to go up forget it cause the truck will go until it stalls out. maybe its just my truck but it does have 147,000 hard miles on her. the 318 or 360 will be pretty good for you. Beware mpg is not the greatest I average about 13 on mine

 

your lucky to get 13 IMExperience.

i posted a long thing btu it didnt go. slant 6 is to small for anything more than a half scoop of dirt and some wall studs (and even then, wood adds up). No chance with rocks or interlock. Luckily, the economy and gas prices have dropped the cost of igger motors down. shoudl be able to match the price of a 6 for the 318 or 360

 

I have a '91 D150 longbed with a 318 and a 3 speed 904 tranny I used for construction in Tennessee for 2 years. Drove it 80 miles everyday hauling gear and only had to replace the radiator and a power steering line. It had 152,000 miles when I got it, now its pushing 200,000. I also loaded it up and drove it the 1300 miles to New Mexico. Go with a 318 or 360 but find yourself a truck someone has taken care of.

 

I own a slant six and she hauls whatever I put in the back of it. I haul about 7,800lbs in the back of mine every weekend for about a five hour trip. Mind you it is no Nascar racer but it will get the job done and with a hell of alot less gas consumed.

 

I had a 76 with the leaning tower of power and hauled everything,full loads with it to the point of cracking the frame,not a powerhouse but kept on going.

 

the slant 6 is a good motor and will do fine for what u want as long as youre not looking to win a race. i hauled lots of concrete, dirt , rock, etc always overloading and just chugged along.

 

I would go with nothing smaller than a 318. Mine have no met anything yet that it couldn't over come yet and it has 178000 on the origenal eng.