Newbie here looking to buy my first Dodge truck and was curious of what the good, bad, and what to look for.

Truck info-
2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad cab
5.7 Hemi with 160,000 miles
2 wheel drive
leather power seats
KN air intake
other than that all stock

Thanks,
gam

 

Given that you are okay with the mileage and don't apparently care for 4x4, the only real possible bad thing could be if it has a limited slip (anti-spin) rear axle. There should be a sticker in the glove box that indicates it. The factory ones are know to have faulty c-clips that fail and cause the rear end to blow. Was never recalled that I'm aware of. Two ways to look at it though - either it has it and has been taken care of or it has it and made it 160k with no failure. Or it's not equipped and there's no worries.

Does it have service history? That's a lot of miles and years to wonder about if not.

 

I really have no need for 4x4 and I have had some experience with a c-clip rear, I had once owned a Jeep TJ that had the Dana 35 c-clip rear, nothing like driving down the road and having a rear tire and shaft pass you. I know of no service record on the truck and the miles on it is what worries me more.

 

The miles would worry me too. I would rather have one with 150k and excellent service history than one with 100k and no service history. Unlike myself, people who take good care of their vehicles tend to keep records of it as well. Not that there aren't exceptions but at some point, with no history, you have to make assumptions one way or the other. At least with a history, you know what's been done and what needs to be done. With no history, you have to assume you need to do *******ly everything.

 

if you can get it for the right price, and are willing to drop probably close to $1000 bucks right away to freshen everything up and start from a good place, I don't see any reason not to do it. You should also probably have 1500-2 grand in reserve in case something goes wrong like the tranny or rear end. Again, for the right price, thats the best 3rd gen model year and engine imo.

 

Not that he's biased or anything. LOL

ewing's reply goes along with mine I think. If you don't know what's been done, you have to assume nothing has and may spend money "freshening" things that have already been done but that beats the alternative. Sure, for the right price that leaves some cash in your pocket, take the chance if the truck seems clean and runs well. Or, keep an open mind and be willing to use that extra cash to pay more for one that has less miles and/or a good service history.

 

And the price is what keeps me thinking about it, he wants 7400 for it, do you think that's a good price.

 

maybe a teeeensy bit...haha. But seriously, sweet spot of not weak lifters and no mds.


To the OP, thats not a terrible price, but you are not getting any special deal either. It depends partly on what part of the country you are in, near me, there are lots of trucks 2004-2006 2wd hemis with around 125,000 miles for about 8 grand, so you are not getting a super deal, but not getting totally ripped off either I would say.

 

Well I went ahead and bought the truck this past weekend. I was able to talk him down to 5000 cash. So far I haven't found anything wrong with but was thinking of going ahead and taking it to have the tranny serviced and all the fluids changed. I'm sure that I will find some things wrong or that needs attention.

 

hard to go wrong for 5 grand.