I really appreciate your comment. I do tow every so often as well as good amount of landscaping material and equipment. Last year I want to say that I put on 22K miles on. I have looked at the Ram 1500 03-08 but quite a few of my friends/co-workers has had problem like no other with theirs. My cousin with his Hemi is on its 3rd water pump, 2ed alternator, replaced one of the head gaskets, and has been having electrical problems. His is probably a lemon but its hard to just to buy one of those when I saw first hand how many problems he had with it.

I did love my dakota but with it terrible gas mileage, and the difficulty of finding aftermarket markets that don't cost an arm and a leg I wanted something different. I don't know how the most I could ever get out of that truck was 17mpg on the Hwy. Thats terrible, and in the city it was always around 11mpg. For a mid-size truck thats not very good.

I was looking to possibly get car but I honestly don't feel safe as well as it not being that useful. I drove a car for about 2 months over the summer and hated that I had a lack of space to put things.

Overall I would be happy with a 03-08 Ram or a Diesel. It just a matter of what I can get a better deal on.

 

Do some asking around in both the Ram and the CTD diesel section, the 5.9 CTD is probably one of the two best pickup truck engines ever produced (the Ford 7.3 being the other). Sadly the newer diesels all suffer from issues due to emission compliance. Just wanted you to know how high maintenance can run on a diesel - any diesel.

As a rule, the 3rd Gen Rams are super reliable and I can't find but two or three water pump issues in the whole section going back almost four years. I've never had so much as a glitch from my truck in almost eight years now ( a few minor things mostly caused by my modding addiction, but that's about it). I've done some real heavy pulling (7000 lbs. +) and some pretty hard work with it around the farm. Very few common issues aside from the LSDs (which have plagued Rams ever since they went to AAM axles way back in '94) and weak valve springs specifically in the '03s. Unlike the 2nd Gens, the transmission is pretty stout, probably the only good to come out of Daimler (Mercedes) ownership. Unlike the 4.7, you NEVER hear of head gasket issues with the Hemi. I suspect your cousin may be a bit hard on his truck or really lacking in the maintenance department. Of course an alternator can go at any time in any vehicle. A guy I hunt with sometimes has an '02 4.7 QC 4x4 with 260k miles on it, original engine, original tranny and I'm pretty sure original water pump. Matter of fact the only major issues I know of is it blew the stock radiator at about 170k miles - cause I helped him swap it out and he's gone through his share of tie rod ends and ball joints, but just like Daks, the front ends of IFS Rams isn't exactly like a tank, although aftermarket, greasable components make them pretty reliable.

But buying used is ALWAYS a crap shoot, you could get a great one or a lemon. Just do your homework and be sure to check it out thoroughly before pulling the trigger no matter what you decide to get...

 

Yeah He isn't the easiest on his truck. He got a great job right out of high school making some serious money and kinda just throws it around. I mean how many 20yr olds do you know that have a car, a motorcycle and their own house? Once again I appreciate your incite and will be sure to let all you know what I end up getting. Its people like yourself that make this forum as good as it really is. Thank you

 

Well your cousin is very lucky. A diesel would be an awesome truck I have wanted one since ever but they aren't in my budget size they are expensive here. Isnice to have you back

 

Alright I may be back on this forum for good. My sister and I are having a conversation about the future of my truck...

 

+1 to what Hammer said on diesels. They're very expensive to maintain. I know you haven't had a lot of issues with your Ram Hammer, but we have 5 work trucks at work, 3 being F-150s and 2 being Rams and it seems like the Rams are always need stuff fixed. All the trucks have 150k+ on them and one of the Fords is now at 341k on a 4.6L. My father's 08 F150 has 150k on it and he hasn't touched a single thing on it other than brakes and tires. That truck takes a lot of abuse to. A lot of short trips, trips on rough dirt roads, stopping and going. It's been an absolute champ.

The Rams however I can't say the same for. I love Dodge's (hence why I own one) but they just haven't held up like our Fords. Shocks are junk on them from the factory. Both have 4.7's and they feel gutless compared to the 4.6 the Ford's have. We've had water pump issues, the front ends just fall apart (ball joints have been done a few times at 212k on one and 220k on the other). This is just my experience with them but it's been pretty hands down which ones have been more reliable. The 99 F-150 with 341k is still the original motor and trans and no work done to either.