my 03 hemi is a short bed 6 foot bed but now I need a long bed for the work I do.I found a 04 ram 1500 4x4 with only 74k on her for sale in good shape with an 8 foot bed for under 7 grand but its not a hemi its a 4.7 and I know theyhave issues cause I had one before and the head gasket went bad.I have a few guys that want to buy my truck since its in decent shape and only has about 89k on it mines an slt.The long bed 4.7 isn't and I don't mind but how d I go about checking the 4.7 to see if it has issues?Or you think I should just buy another hemi?Im not saying all 4.7s are bad but I know they are known to have issues .Has anyone had a ram with a 4.7 with lots of miles with no issues with the engine?

 

Hi swamper, My truck has a tad under 100 000 km. No issue whatsoever with the major components: axles, TC, auto transmission AND 4.7 L engine. The truck was at the dealership last week for warranty extension work (replacement of the fill up tube for the gas tank -- without charge). Dealership wanted to buy my truck (no trade for a new car involved). Over here (Eastern Canada), the 4 X 4s are the market.


You didn't say what work you will do or where you are located. I read in these pages that the 4.7 L does not support overheating very well. I pull a little over 4000 pounds on a long distance (125 km each way) every once in a while. No problem.


This is the first truck I've never had to push. Does everything I care for. I stay within specs. Again, I'm not using it for business full time.


I suggest checking the specs if you need to haul/tow. My son-in-law has a 2008 too, but with the HEMI. He pulls a much bigger trailer, a boat with an inboard V-8 engine, etc.


Hope this helps a bit.

 

140000 on the clock with mine and i have no problems what so ever.if you just keep on the maintenance 4.7s will last a long time

 

thanks for the info since the truck I was looking at is used and an 04 theres no warranty its sold as is so I don't want to get ripped off.Funny the guy the dealership bought the truck from I use to know from around town but he moved and sold the truck to them for some reason.So I don't know how he took care of it I guess that's a gamble when u buy a used truck with no warranty.Maybe they will let a shop check it out for me first if not ill walk away from it then.its a regular cab truck 2 door and that's what I like im told most guys want 4 door trucks but me I like 2 door trucks and there getting hard to find.so thanks for the info guys it helps.guess ill go take it for a test drive and see how it goes.I wont pull a trailer with it I just need the longer bed.But if I ever did pull a trailer it would be a smaller once.

 

forgot to ask did you guys buy youre trucks new or used?

 

bought mine used. it only had 30,000 on it

 

Swamper: I bought my truck new. The deal was just too good to pass. My favourite repair shop performs mechanical inspections for 85 dollars. I also suggest a verification by a transmission shop. You can use the results to negociate a rebate if need be.


Bed length: I know exactly what you mean. My next truck will definitely be a two door, 8 ft bed.


rtmtrrdr has a point: keeping up with the maintenance. Little things add up. Over here, a lot of motorists neglect their vehicles, prefering to get a new one and... a new loan...

 

that's the thing when you buy used anything here over 6 years old is sold as is.buying new is the way to go for sure but for me the payments are to high. thanks for the info.