Getting a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 v6 automatic. I have read endless pages on the pooly built trans in these things. From your experience, is this true? If so, around what milage should I expect it?

 

From my personal experience with a 1995 Dodge Dakota I owned before my Ram, which uses the same transmission as our Rams, yes, I can say it can be true.

I've read about it acting up as soon as 50,000 miles and I've read about it not acting up at all well past 150,000. I think it depends on what the previous owners did with it (any towing or hauling, heavy ranch/farm use, etc.) and how they treated it (regular maintenance, if one of the owners was a young kid that "hot rodded" it, like racing or burn outs, and etc.). It also helps to have a good transmission cooler.

EDIT: That V6 is under powered in a Ram, but one thing should be certain... you'll get better MPG than most of us V8s.

 

It was owned by an older man who only went to work and back in it. Its at 107,000 miles right now.
What about towing? I own a small landscape management company and I tow around 850lbs.
Also, What is a transmission cooler that you would recommend? Is heat the main cause of these going out?

 

I'll let more experienced mechanics on here handle the "cause" of them going out, but heat is definitely one of them I believe.

850 lbs should not be a problem. The 3.9L V6 in a 2001 Ram 1500 should be able to tow up to 3500 lbs without a problem, and the 1998 was not that different from a 2001.

As far as transmission cooler, again I will let other more experienced people answer that. Some here have added the coolers themselves, many of which are better than the factory ones.

 

Well, I was just reading a website that said a trans went bag because the cooler hose got lodged and wasnt cooling. Would it just be cheaper and just as effective to get a trans thermostat and monitor it?

 

It couldn't hurt. Many guys here have done that very thing. At the very least, you'd most likely know when something abnormal was happening and be able to catch it early.

There are all sorts of mounting options for extra gauges. You can put one on your steering column, you can add them to your front pillar, etc. etc.

 

your really gonna want that v8 man, but welcome to the family.

 

I doubt it.
The truck weighs pretty much the same so the small V6 has to work harder and burns more fuel. The V6 also has a light duty trans, the 42RE

I hate the 3.9! No power, and they shake and vibrate even when well tuned.
Don't buy it if fuel economy is your primary goal.

 

Im not getting it for fuel efficiency. Im getting it because I know the man took care of it and he only wants $2,400.00 for it with 106,000 miles. No matter what it is, it will still be more fuel efficient then my 1989 Bronco II @ 12mpg
So you would recommend putting a thermostat on the trans? What temps should it NOT reach?

 

just put a tranny cooler on it, thats all you really have to do.