Hey guys!
I just wanted to take a minute and introduce myself to the forums and make my first post. I have always been a big fan of mopars and have had a 1982 D150 2wd and a 1997 dodge ram 2 wheel drive in the past. Most of the time up until know I have driven Fords but in September I will be buying a 2nd generation Dodge ram 4x4. Since that is still a few months off I figured I would join this site and see if you guys could tell me what should I look for when I am buying a 2nd gen Ram. are there things I should look for? what are things that should be upgraded to keep from having problems in the future? What is the issue with the dashes I keep seeing a lot of them with cracked dashes?
Thanks everyone for allowing me to be part of the forums and for answering my questions.

 

Dash is an issue. See LMC truck website. Not that a bad a deal to replace. Replace heater core while dash is out.

Make sure trans fluid is good and clean. Check plenum gasket.

 

Thanks for the reply! Is there a year that was better than the previous year or were they all pretty much a good year? what mpg does the 5.2 get verse the 5.9 when they are offered in a 4x4? My 1997 2wd dodge ram I had about 4 years ago was awesome in every way with the exception of being able to successfully get stuck in wet grass or even dry grass. I loved the interior and everything else about it. The 5.2 was awesome on the gas as well and it would whoop the 5.0 ford I had all day long when it come to towing or throttle response.
Thanks again for the reply!

 

Seems all years of 2nd gen dash is an issue based on probably sun exposure. Transmission depends on how well it was maintained and/or abused. The 46RE is not the strongest transmission design, but it is correctable if it has to be rebuilt. Check out MonteC's transmission thread for more info.

Mileage varies. Mine used to get 11 mpg, but I now get almost 14 mpg after a lot of work on it and fixing neglected items and repairing abused items. Don't know about the 4x4. Depends on driving, condition of truck, etc. as well as gears. Mine is the standard 3.55 and I use it as a sometimes DD in city and highway mixed driving.

I tow a car trailer occasionally and mileage suffers, but it pulls well.

 

Thanks for the reply. Ill look into that thread you mentioned

 

these trucks get terrible mpg. its quite laughable. but i love my ram. my dash is cracked on the driver side below the inspection stickers almost all the way up to the gauge cluster. its a pain in the *** but not huge issue. they are super easy to work on and maintain yourself.

 

You cant kill the dang things, they keep on going as long as you keep filling that gas tank up.

And boy do they LOVE to DRINK the gas

 

My 4x4, in current configuration, gets just under 14 highway, and that's at 70mph.

In town I get 7.

 

+1 on the gas-drinking lol......I'm getting around 13 right now combined, and still have yet to replace my plenum plate, governor pressure solenoid and sensor. Enjoy the truck Country

 

If you come across a 2000 or 2001 off road edition ram in good condition, ****** it up! They came with 4.10 gears and sit approx 1.5 inches higher than stock rams. I may be a bit biased, but I reallllly like mine!