So I currently run around in a 2005 Ram 1500. Love it! But as my daughter progresses in her horse hobby, I find myself needing a bigger truck. While I would love a 3rd gen 5.9 Cummins, I cant afford that. My Aunt has a 2002 Ram 2500 SLT 4x4 w/ the Cummins H.O., 6 speed, extended cab and 8' bed; that shes willing to sell me for $10k. It has around 160k miles on it.
Its in ok condition. Needs AC worked on and a windshield.
Does anyone have any thing positive or negative that they could share with me about making the switch?

 

I'd sayjump on it. Biggest problem is front end suspension and that's cheap enough to replace. But she ain't giving you much of a family discount. We picked up a '01 F350 dually, 7.3 Powerstroke with 155k miles and aside from a tear in the middle seat compartment leather was in excellent condition for our little lawn care side business last year AT A DEALER SHIP for an even $10,000...

 

I paid $9900 for my 01 HO. Sounds like a good deal if you know the long time owner and know they maintained it well. The biggest thing to remember is to get a fuel psi gauge on it, keep an eye on fuel pressure. Injection pump failures are common with the vp44, not a hard job but expensive. If you have good fuel pressure (and perhaps an aftermarket lift pump to fuel it) you should have no injection pump issues.

Otherwise, there is nothing bad about them different from any other second gen.

 

Around here a low mile HO in decent shape is a $15-20k truck, judging by asking prices.

 

Thank everyone. I'm still very undecided. My wife has a hard time driving it due to the 6 speed and 4:10 gears.
It also needs AC work, a windshield, paint job, 3rd Gen tow mirrors.
It would be our primary horse hauler, but not sure if it's worth it or just stick to the bumper pulls. Ug...

 

If its clean (rust free) and well maintained, 10k is a fair price, if its worth it is your decision, no one can decide that but you. Mirrors are $200 for 4th gen tow mirrors (the ones you want) and 20 minutes to install. A windshield is ~$300 from safelite. A/c can get expensive/time consuming depending what it needs. I did my evaporator on my truck (pull the dash, heater core too while you're in there) in an afternoon but to pay, its a $800-$1000 job, to be honest its not hard, but time consuming.