Hello everyone. I am a new member, and plan on buying a second generation Ram 1500 in the approaching year. My question is, what year would you recommend, and what things should I look out for? My requirements are that it has to be club cab with short box, have 4X4, 5 speed, cloth interior, AC, 5.9 magnum V8, and be no older than 1998. I'm sure all of you have learned the pros and cons of the various years of Rams. I would very much appreciate any insight that you might be able to yield in my search. Thank you!

 

Get a heavy 3/4 ton (2500 model). The axles are Dana 60's, which will last a lot longer with fewer problems. And the 5-speed changes from a New Venture 3550 model to the 4500 model. Basically goes from a light duty aluminum model for the 1500 up to a super heavy duty cast iron model with carbon fiber syncros on the heavy 2500. It'll last a lot longer with fewer problems.

 

My best advise would be to look for one with a big blue bowtie on the grill, with a 5.7 or 5.3 built by GM unless you have an excess of money to spend on $2.00 gas!

 

When my Ram was stock I got 15-16 mpg on the highway, which isn't bad for a heavy 3/4 ton. I still get 12-13 mpg pulling a loaded car trailer. That ain't bad with a gas motor. With the manual trans the only part of the drivetrain Dodge builds is the motor. The 5.9L is strong and dependible. The trans and t-case are built by New Venture Gear, and the axles are built by Dana (if you go with a 2500). All heavy duty, all very strong.

 

Thanks everyone for your insight. I did not realize there was such a difference between the 1500 and the 2500. I had originally thought about getting a diesel, but they are quite a bit more expensive than the gasoline models. besides, I don't need to tow anything regularly, and diesel fuel took a huge hike last month.

 

snafu-if your getting 12-13 mpg's pulling a heavy load,with a 2500 no less,and im pretty sure im gettin 10 with a 318,with a 1500.what am i doing wrong?mine has 71k mi on it and i filled her up for the 1st time when i got her and drove(light footed)highway majority))250 miles before i got scared i was gonna run out.im pretty sure i couldve driven another 10 mi had i not passed those 2 cars(passing gear).i had a dak before this with the 360 and was getting 9-10.
any thoughts?
thanx

 

BigDiesel, that sounds almost exactly like what I'm looking for. I've found that most 2nd gen. Rams with the 5spd (which are very few and far between) have very few options (no pdl, pw, etc.) and the only ones I've seen have the 318. I suspect because that was to keep them as cheap as possible from the factory so they would sell better as work trucks. Have you found anything yet?

 

I have a 360 in my 2000 1500 4wd and i'm gettting 11.1 mpg on the highway...and that is relativialy light footed