Figured I would make this since so many people ask.

Things you should consider then buying a 2nd generation dodge ram 1500-2500 V6 and v8

Plenum gasket
tranny if its an auto
CAD system(if 4wd)
heater core and evap core
maintenance log
rear end


add other things guys? Mod's if you don't like this go ahead and remove/edit

 

oil pressure

 

Vac system leaks.

 

I think there have been other attempts at this.

 

-Fuel Pumps
-Leaf Spring sag
-T-case snap rings
-plenum gasket
-Vac lines
-CAD system
-transmissions
-heads
-oil pressure/ pick up tube
-rear main seal
-water pump
-timing cover gaskets
-tensioner pulleys
-IAC's
-Rear ends (typically LSD's)
-Front End (wheel bearings, ball joints)
-Leaks at drop pitman arm
-loose steering



lol thats the complete list i would check/ inspect before buying

 

+1... People don't use the search button, even if it was a sticky in the FAQ.

Edit: However, I will add one thing to check before buying, "your bank account",

 

Ah if this has been attempted in the past then guess its not worth it lol. Was hoping this would stop people from posting, what are the common problems with these trucks? lol. but maybe people will search and see this..

 

There are a lot of things to look at, but my thread (the first attempt) was how to get into the weeds.

Everyone knows to look at the tranny and transfer case. But for trucks as old as these you need to :

1. Get the truck on a lift
2. Check suspension components with wheels off the ground.
3. Check driveshaft U-joints with wheels off the ground
4. Check for any oil leaks in the tranny and TC. if they have a skid plate, it will HIDE LEAKS.
5. Drive the truck to operating temp. See how the tranny shifts. Drive it for a good 20 minutes.
6. THe tranny should be smooth. When cruising at around 65 MPH, there should not be any RPM surging (within a few hundred). But finding a truck with a perfect trranny is hard since they are 10 years old or older!

I think people know TO CHECK for the tranny, but they do not know EXACTLY what to look for.

That knowledge is the best. It will not let the seller get away with "All Dodges do that." All dodges have wild vents after a while, that one got me on my first truck.

Make sure that they have a service history. Even receipts of oil and a filter. Heck, I would crack a valvecover to see what is in there (with what i know now).

ask if he ever used engine restore. I would walk away right there.

Finding a really good 2ndgen is like finding a needle in a haystack. They are old trucks, and you need someone that maintains them well. Also, someone who does NOT do off roading would help. Getting a 2ndgen from Grandpa is the best.

 

Amen! I was looking for months before I found mine, and in an area where Dodge Rams are thick as fleas. And for all of that, the transmission that shifted perfectly during the test drive got sloppy on the shift into overdrive within a few thousand miles so I replaced it before it failed completely. I was planning to throw a PATC Mega Viper at it anyway so it wasn't a big deal, but I'd hoped to get a bit further down the road before doing it.

I'd go so far as to say that one would do well to pass on a truck that's been modified in any way other than obviously beneficial things like an aftermarket plenum belly pan, transfer case saver, track bar upgrade, beefy aftermarket automatic transmission, and so on. Aside from those kinds of things I want to see a one owner vehicle in factory original configuration from stem to stern and with maintenance records. Or on a new car dealer's lot, since new car dealers wholesale out those vehicles that might tarnish their image and cost them a new car sale later.

I always look for signs of owner maintenance. It's not that there's no such thing as an owner who knows what the heck he's doing, but that it's not as common as one might hope it would be. If I see hillbilly engineering, rounded bolt heads, scroungy wiring, or any other signs of less than meticulous work on the vehicle, I'm gone.

I'd also pass on a truck showing signs that it's done a lot of towing. Things like sagging leaf springs, wear on the receiver hitch, or a weak spring on the trailer lighting connector are good reasons to take a stroll. If buying from a private party, I'd ask, "So, how's the thing do when towing?" and if the owner regales me with stories of hauling his 8000 pound trailer all over the continent I'd walk away. This is something to watch out for if you're buying from a grandpa.

And for all of that you're still buying a used truck and it'd be foolish to expect it to be anything more than a used truck. If you keep it for very long at all it's going to dip into your bank account, no matter the badge.

 

No problem with it, other than it should be in the general discussion section, not the technical (main) section. Easy to fix.