Just wanted to say hi, obviously new to Dodges, I recently purchased my father's truck, its a:
2005 Ram 1500
Molten Red
Quad cab 4.7L
104,000 miles
Whole new Head Gaskets (x2)
New misc. top end gaskets
New head bolts
New Ignitor Coils (x2)
New Thermostat
New Fan Clutch
New Brake Pads (x4)
New Rotors (x4)
New Front Wheel Studs
New oil/tranny/power Steering changes w/filters
Radiator Flush/ Napa Extended life anti-freeze

All of this was done by myself within the last few days, for ~$400.
Is it just me or are dodges designed to fall apart after they hit 100k miles?
I should have known though, its a dodge.

Dodge: Verb- to use evasive methods; prevaricate; To AVOID!!!!

But I can't complain I only paid $1.00 for it, seriously..

It would have cost me at least $2500-3000 for the dealer to do the same thing, or at least thats what I hear, any thoughts?

 

first off welcome to DF! second, that truck looks purple not red! And most everything you mentioned is normal maintenance on ANY vehicle regardless the make!

Good buy on the truck and it will give you plenty of good service!

 

dude, if youre just gunna bash the truck, go to a furd or cheby forum...
most of that stuff you mentioned was maintenance stuff that should be done at 100K, it kinda sounds like the truck was neglected... ive never heard of front wheel studs needing replaced, sounds like someone didnt have the wheels on tight...

enjoy the truck, it will serve you well but if your just gunna rip on it go somewhere else, we dont need that here

 

Well, the title say's " molten red" whatever that means, it looks maroon to me, as for all the "normal maintenance", it's just that everything thing kinda went to crap after hitting 100k miles, where as my toyota 4runner made it 165k miles before it needed a head gasket, my friends toyota (same motor) made it to 180k miles without anything major.. I dont hate dodge, it just seems that dodge took some shortcuts with its manufacturing and engineering, for example; the oem head gaskets were thin steel with two thin gasket material sandwiched, then riveted together, this really isnt such a great idea to me when you have a steel engine block and aluminum head, because the dissimilar metals expand and contract at different rates, and over time the head rubs the gasket material down to the steel core, causing the jacket water to pour into the combustion chamber, making the engine stumble, misfire, and hard starts..
Well I expect to get at least 50k miles before any thing major is needed, I will cross my fingers and set some money aside for anything that comes up...

 

that truck will be fine! there is nothing wrong with having maintenance items

 

Should have stayed on your own two feet, but than you would have ate more than 401.00 worth of Food!!!!!

 

thats exactly why the HG's go... obviously you know a thing or two about a motor. why is it that people always refer to the "amazing bulletproof toyota"? my family (including myself) have owned toyotas, they are nice vehicles but i had to put a new motor in mine ('95 Tacoma 4 cyl) after 100K... it was grandpa owned up till 90K, and i babied the **** out of it but the wrist pin bearings still went to hell... my old man had an '87 22r 4 cyl that he replaced the timing chain in 4 times! and the 98 tacoma he has now has a rust recall on the frame... but toyota has offered a buyback +10% if it rusts (something i cant see dodge doing)
either way, they all have their flaws, some worse than others. treat her nice but not too nice and she will return the favor

 

Calm down, my intent was not to bash dodge's, i love my truck, my father had the oil changed every 3k miles at the dealership (i have the receipts to prove it), the engine is in great shape the cylinder walls look great as do the cams, so the truck was not neglected, my father never drove it hard. As for the wheel studs, the idiot down at the tire shop crossthreaded some of the lugnuts, and i made them change all of them, for free...

 

its all good guys!!! easy on the noob there cheap lol

 

Welcome!!