All fluids changed and replaced with MOPAR Syn, Trans rebuild by independantseveral upgrades, trans temp gauge, new head liner, water pump, belt, hoses, K/N filter, rear u joints, battery, tires, alighn (still pulls right), hitch recall work, aux tranny cooler, welded dash cracks, intake pan gasket (TSB) done by dealer, front and rear brakes, dual exhaust. Truck has 130 K on it. Developed coolant leak, found timing chain cover gasket leaking on pass side.....replaced and did chain and gears while there.......
Is there ever an end to this stuff ??? There just has to be a point where I can make 12-18 months and not have to attend to sh*t.
1999 1500QC SLT Laramie, 4x4, short bed, tow package, 5.9.

 

welded dash cracks?

 

It looks like some of these were "elective surgeries". Others ( battery, tires, etc.) were normal maintenance. With that kind of mileage, I guess things are just going to wear out. I know you're not serious about going a year with doing nothing. You at least have to change oil. Of course driving habits and annual mileage are going to dictate the amount of maintenance items you have to perform. But, sometimes, (stuff) happens! I know that's not much help as an answer, but, if you break it down as mentioned above, and then factor in the mileage and what was actually screwed up on your ride you get a better feel for if the truck is just a money pit or not. I am curious though about the trans. temp. gauge. Did you do this or the tranny shop? Is it installed in the cooler line, or pan or...?
You know, on second thought, I think they're all Money Pits!
WC

 

- If your dash is just starting to crack, just a 3-4 inch hairline, take a portable solder iron and simply weld the crack. Works pretty darn good.
- Trans temp gauge, I did it when I installed the aux cooler. picked of the TC out line. Very easy job.

The track looks new, inside and out. I change the oil (Mobile 1 and mopar filter) every 3K miles. It has 135K babied miles. In my opinion nothing was elective.....yes, most was routine maintenance. I guess a 650.00 shop charge every 6-10 months is nort bad compared to a 600.00 new truck payment every month !!!!

 

My truck is a 97 with 123k on it and the last think I fixed was over a year ago and it was axle u-joints....did them myself for cheap. Everything else works awesome

 

thats a bummer man, if you had to fix all that out of necissity. My last car was like that. I had it for 28 months and it was only operable 14 of them. 50/50 on a Ford aint badI guess? With my ram though, 180k and the only thing iv HAD to replace was the idle air control. (aside from general maint.). Granted Iv done a few things, but nothing iv absolutely had to do, mostly because I want my truck perfect.

 

If your truck pulls to the right make sure you still have that shim behind the passenger side front wheel if its not there it will pull no matter how many times you align it.

 

Please expand.....what shim. This is a 4x4.