I have not owned a Dodge for years and years.

I need a decent 4 x 4 work truck.

I found a 2005 1500 reg cab 4 x 4 with a hemi that I am thinking of making an offer on.

Here in VT, everything rusts ... bad.

This truck looks great and in the listing stay "new bumper, new bed, cab corners, rocker panels ...."

My guess is that it was wrecked. Insurance paid for the bumper and bed ... he had the body done at the same time.

Anyway, two questions ...

1) the odometer reads 53K miles. Does the electronic odometer have 5 or 6 digits? In other words, is this really 53K or could it be 153K miles?

2) the owner wrote me and said it needs all lines and cables (brake lines, e-stop cables, transmission cooler lines ... everything). Up here 9 times out of 10 when you replace the lines you replace the caliper because the bleeder rusts in and breaks off. A quick check shows me that for all new brake parts (rotors, pads, calipers, e-stop cables, transmission cooler lines, ....) I am looking at about $1250 in parts. I am thinking I will buy a double flair tool and make the lines (did this once before about 10 years ago for a dune buggy). Is it reasonable to think I can do this? Any other thinks that might give me problems ...anything with the abs system (never had a car with abs)?

Thanks .... Mike

 

Odometer is 6 digits, but, that does not necessarily imply it hasn't been changed out......

I hope you are getting the truck DIRT cheap, considering all the work it needs. Get the VIN, run a carfax report on it. See if the mileage on the report agrees with the odometer.

 

Hmmm .... what do you guys consider dirt cheap?

He is asking $4K or best offer.

I looked up the Kelley value .... about even in fair condition $5,500 to $7.700 ($6,600 mid) for private sale.

I was thinking if I could get it for say $3K .. put $1500 - $2K into it ... I would have a decent truck ... or am I dreaming?

Thanks .... Mike

PS ... my present truck is an 86 F150 with a straight 6 ... looks like sh#t but it passed it's yearly inspection again! I got it for $1K 5 years ago and it even has a plow. Engine is tired ... sounds like it has marbles in in it (bottom end going). I can't seem to find a decent used engine (well not for a decent price).

 

3K would be good, assuming the carfax checks out, and it doesn't have 3 billion miles on it..... Have you seen the truck in person yet?

 

Going over tomorrow.

They guy did send me about a dozen pictures ... as I said, body is amazing but from his description, everything under is rusted.

I will try to put up a few pics later ... in the middle of doing some cement work on the workshop, just giving it 15 min to set. Been building a house for 5 years ... finally time for the workshop!

Thanks .... Mike

 

I wouldn't say it was wrecked by what was replaced, that is EXACTLY the list of stuff that rotted right off the truck. That generation is really bad with bumpers and wheel wells, I know because I bought a 04 brand new and watched it deteriorate.

Here is a link to when I replaced the bumper on that truck.
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...ust-out-2.html

I have a shot of the inside of bed side of the same truck here:
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...ml#post3439820

I take pretty good care of my vehicles, but Dodge did not take the same care in designing the body panels so they didn't turn to dust when used in the rust belt.

For the brake lines, I replaced all the lines on my 2000 2500 Ram with pre-bent ones from sstubes.com.... just bought standard steel lines, pretty affordable, saved me a lot of headache, and looked completely factory - including the armored parts. If you're going to make your own, suggest you check into NickelCopper tubing - its pretty easy to work with and won't corrode. Your local parts store chain will have 25 ft lengths or longer in stock.

 

WOW ... I love the idea of buying per bent lines!

I just checked ... short bed only ... darn.

It would have been much easier then bending my own.

Here are the pictures ... hard to see but there is a good dent in the front bumper.

Here is link (very boring) to a video of my plowing with my 33 year old F150. My wife is paralyzed from the shoulders down as the result of a diving accident when she was 12. We take the wheelchair van (dodge caravan ... that is why I am usually on this forum), if we go anywhere together. I just need a truck to drive locally.

 

Well, that would get you everything you would need except the one long line going front to back - which now that I think about it, I bought that one pre-bent from a Dodge dealer (not SStube) for the 2000 3/4 ton.

Pics don't show any concerns. My nephew had a 3rd gen 1/2 ton in VA that when they put it on a lift the frame sagged due to rust damage. Check the the frame, make sure its solid.