I'm looking to buy a 1997 dodge ram 4x4 extended cab this week. Everything's good on it. The oil is changed regularly no transmission or engine problems. New brakes front and back and new tires. My only worry is it has 210,000 miles. Is that a bad thing on this year of truck?

 

Depends on how much of the engine and tranny are original. Water pump, timing set, oil pump, etc.

That's a lot of miles, but I have one truck with over 280,000 that I would not hesitate taking off across country if I had to. But I know its history from when it was new, and it is a 96 (my daily driver).

 

If you havent already, Take it for a good long test drive. Make sure it gets up to operating temperature.

Drive the **** out of it, brake hard, brake gentle. Accelerate hard, accelerate smooth. Make sure the tranny shifts smoothly. Obviously no check lights, well aside from the gas hahah I can pretty much guarantee that that wil be on

Try to find a place to test the four wheel drive. It shifts better into 4x4 if you're rolling

Listen for ticks and weird engine noise.

If you've already done all this, good for you. If not, then do it.

210,000 miles is a lot. But a lot of the members here have trucks that many would consider to have high mileage. Mine included. Properly maintained these trucks will last for a very long time. That's not to say they're perfect by any means.

What do you plan to use it for? Daily driver? Hauling? Towing? If so how often and how much? Weekend toy? That's a big factor

I firmly believe that these trucks last longer and peform better if they been driven hard and regularly maintained

 

And of course, that many miles ought to drive the price down, so it may be a good buy if all checks out.

 

Thanks guys. It's a 1500 I forgot to mention that. But no I'm going to take it for a test drive when I go to look into buying it. The guy said he is the second owner and never had any problems. I'm 17 and this would be my 2nd truck. I'm paying $2500.

 

$2500 seems a bit steep unless it's flawless cosmetically and mechanically sound. My truck has 223,000 miles on it. Other than fuel cost I wouldn't hesitate to drive it across the country. Before I did the modifications to it, as a totally factory 1500 it had 210,000 on the original engine AND transmission. The ONLY issue I had when it was a little truck was the rear end howled from a shot pinion bearing. I think I agree with hambone, I've seen more issues with older trucks with less miles than older trucks with a butt-load of miles.

 

I paid $2500 for mine with just over 142k+.

 

Yours is newer, less miles, and from the pic looks spotless. I only paid $450 for mine, but it was rusting, and has 198k on it at the time of purchase (interior was mint though). Granted I realize that's not a typical price for a truck.

 

It was/is fairly spotless. Front end wasn't so much, PO had a run in with a cow and a dog. It then got fixed after I was in a 3 car accident (I was the 3rd to get hit)

But to the PO, as others have said just give it a REAL good test drive, go from there. I know it's not a Dodge but my mom bought a '97 F250 5.4L with 186k+ and the ONLY work we had to do was replace the front wheel bearings. It was a great truck.

So don't let mileage alone scare you.

 

Again, I agree. If a vehicle has been taken care of and maintained mileage doesn't always = junk. The girl a bought my fiberglass cap from has 346,000 miles on her Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 and it ran just as well as mine. A solid test drive will tell all.