Should I keep fixing my truck
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Should I keep fixing my truck
Hello,
I got a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 with the 318 about 3 years ago.I love my truck but over the last year and a half I have replaced the transmission, radiator, water pump, alternator, most of the evap system, new exhaust system, among numerous smaller repairs. Most of which I have done myself so it was not too expensive aside from the transmission. Today my transfer case went out on me and the part alone is making me question whether I should get it fixed. I wanted to get some thoughts on if it would be worth it to get it fixed since I already invested so much into it or just to move on to a newer truck.
Also I go camping and off the beaten path a lot in nowhere Canada. I need it to be reliable, I love the fact that I can make most repairs anywhere but am concerned if I move to a newer model it may be more difficult to work on as I have no experience in vechicles newer than 2001.
Thanks for your help,
Austin
I got a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 with the 318 about 3 years ago.I love my truck but over the last year and a half I have replaced the transmission, radiator, water pump, alternator, most of the evap system, new exhaust system, among numerous smaller repairs. Most of which I have done myself so it was not too expensive aside from the transmission. Today my transfer case went out on me and the part alone is making me question whether I should get it fixed. I wanted to get some thoughts on if it would be worth it to get it fixed since I already invested so much into it or just to move on to a newer truck.
Also I go camping and off the beaten path a lot in nowhere Canada. I need it to be reliable, I love the fact that I can make most repairs anywhere but am concerned if I move to a newer model it may be more difficult to work on as I have no experience in vechicles newer than 2001.
Thanks for your help,
Austin
There is a huge advantage in knowing your vehicle. Not just 25 miles from nowhere but even in the middle of a city. If the truck meets your needs you should keep it as long as it isn't suffering from irreparable rust rot. Consider buying another one, and rebuilding the engine in anticipation for an engine swap. It really depends on the type of person you are. I also have a '97 1500 that is new to me but it seems to be a very straight forward and easy to repair vehicle. Better the devil you know...
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From: Clayton MI
There is a huge advantage in knowing your vehicle. Not just 25 miles from nowhere but even in the middle of a city. If the truck meets your needs you should keep it as long as it isn't suffering from irreparable rust rot. Consider buying another one, and rebuilding the engine in anticipation for an engine swap. It really depends on the type of person you are. I also have a '97 1500 that is new to me but it seems to be a very straight forward and easy to repair vehicle. Better the devil you know...
I don't buy new. In fact, I think I have only owned two vehicles that were actually built in the same decade that I owned them...... I generally end up spending a fair pile of cash shortly after purchase, just to address the issues that I see. After driving it for a couple months, most problems have been dealt with. Then, it's just maintenance for the next several years.... when it starts breaking down faster than I can fix it, or, if repairs are going to be more than what I would spend on a replacement, (plus the initial round of repairs.....) I will consider replacing it.
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Thankyou for the insight. It has no frame rust just a bit of surface rust on the driver side door. I guess it’s been the last year and a half that has worried me, I paid 4000 for the truck a few years back but have put about 5000 in it in the last year and a half or so. It has never left me stranded through. No matter what has been wrong with it, it has gotten me back home so I have an attachment to it.
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Joined: Feb 2018
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From: Southern Illinois
I say keep and repair it, unless as previously mentioned, it's a real rust bucket.
All vehicles will cost you, buy a newer one and make payments or pay as you go and make repairs.
At least you know what you have now, purchase another one and start all over fixing someone elses
problems.
Shop the junk yards, pick-a-part yards, ebay, craigslist, ect. for replacement parts.
All vehicles will cost you, buy a newer one and make payments or pay as you go and make repairs.
At least you know what you have now, purchase another one and start all over fixing someone elses
problems.
Shop the junk yards, pick-a-part yards, ebay, craigslist, ect. for replacement parts.
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Labor of love. IMO that is the biggest reason you would drive something as old as a 2nd gen, otherwise it doesn't make a lot of sense. At least where I live, they are practically extinct.
My favorite hobby is wrenching, I typically enjoy the path and not the end result. Even I get mentally worn out at times thinking of the next thing(s) I have to address (I think I am pickier than most). I am usually fixing or touching up something close to every weekend to stay on top of stuff, winter beats it to hell. As stated above there is however comfort in knowing where a machine is at, what has been done and what should be on your radar to monitor next. You can't predict everything that might catastrophically fail, but there's some (twisted) fun in that. To each their own.
My favorite hobby is wrenching, I typically enjoy the path and not the end result. Even I get mentally worn out at times thinking of the next thing(s) I have to address (I think I am pickier than most). I am usually fixing or touching up something close to every weekend to stay on top of stuff, winter beats it to hell. As stated above there is however comfort in knowing where a machine is at, what has been done and what should be on your radar to monitor next. You can't predict everything that might catastrophically fail, but there's some (twisted) fun in that. To each their own.
