Twenty years ago today, June 4, 2001, on my late dear Grandmother's birthday, I purchased my beloved Dodge Ram from Ed Henney at Feeny Dodge in Palatine, IL. It was a Monday that I went straight from work to the dealership. I had been searching for a Chevy Z71 but the few I found were beat up or over my budget. I saw the ad for this one in the flier and went to see it on Sunday but the dealer was closed. Once I looked it over I knew we were meant to be together: black, extended cab, short box, 4x4, V8, and stick! I told myself I would go after work Monday and if it was still there, she would be mine.

Can't believe it's been 20 years but we've had many good memories together. Around two dozen road trips across country, several moves towing my trailer from IL to WA to TX to MN back to WA, countless upgrades and repairs, and over six different girlfriends! She has been off-roading in WA mountains, on sand trails in New Mexico, bucked drifts in South Dakota, been to the top of Pike's Peak, and driven through 22 states. She still is my daily driver, though I have two Harleys to take up the slack on nice days. Poor girl is pretty tired and worn out, even after replacing parts, but she starts every single time and gets me anywhere I wanna go. She's had 5 sets of tires, 3 clutches, 2 dashes, 3 brakes, 3 hubs, five ujoint sets, 3 shock sets, 3 steering gears, 4 exhausts, and pretty much anything else that can fail or break. But the engine and drivetrain are completely stock and never replaced, save clutches, plenum kit, and timing set at 200k. She's now at over 272,000 miles with no plans of stopping. What a truck. I'll never get rid of her and can't replace her since they don't make trucks this way anymore and I could never afford one anyway. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

I have pictures spread through several old phones and computers, but here's a few I have available:

Original flier ad. Note the incorrect engine!

Original Monroney window sticker.

One of many moves.

Somewhere in South Dakota.

 

Dodge trucks are more reliable than girlfriends..... (don't let my wife see that....)

 

Nice truck man! I like the way it sits almost looks like a lift!! I wish I would have gotten that Durango in the ad lol. I have a bunch of my window stickers but need somebody to clean them up

 

Huh? It has a Skyjacker 3" lift since 2010. And 33s. Sits way higher than stock!

 

Sorry sometimes I ramble on. I was saying in the picture you posted of the ad for your truck, wish I would have gotten that Durango below it, I can't get on they isn't rotted. I was also saying I have window stickers for my trucks, but being in the glove box they got cruddy (ink rubbed off to the other side etc) and need someone to scan it clean them and reprint them lol.

I really like your truck and the stance with that lift is suiting to the truck! I'm in the process of getting new shocks for mine it's riding rough lol

 

I see. Yeah, I used to really want those Gen1 Durangos. Cool rigs. Thanks for the compliments! I think you can actually print window stickers using VIN on some website. Not sure where though.

 

I been trying to find the door but can't. Honestly I like the ride height of your truck. Seriously it's not too much, I think they should be that height from the factory! And it's rust free!!! How does it ride?

 

Rides fine, except the impossible steering. The skyjacker 3" was just the right height to make it look like a 2500. And the M95 shocks are very smooth. Rides much better when I haul or tow something, of course.

 

I might try them I was going to try Bilstein or Fox