Ive been pulling a very heavy boat for sometime with my 5.2 Dodge Ram. I found a 1999 Cummins With 52K actual miles for a good buy. It has all service records and new tires on it, it is a manual tranny, 4 x 4, power everything. I have never owned one of these trucks and hear the maintenance is very expensive. I do believe in servicing my vehicles. Is this worth the time, effort and money versus my 5.2? I can keep it, but dont need both. Now, this part really has me thinking the guy is wrong about one thing. He says he gets 23MPG??? Is that possible? MY dodge right now is only averaging 11.9 mpg's thats town and highway not towing anything. Only God knows what I get with that boat behind me. I also think in the long run the maintenance will be more repairing my Ram I have now..This new boat is quite a load for that old truck. She pulls it with no problems but you know its back there. So, having said all that..Should I or do I need the diesel? THe guy is asking 16.5 for the truck and its in super shape with very low miles. As far as service? up keep? filters? all that? how much more is that? He also mentioned the truck is due for a 50K service? which runs around 1000 bucks. Does that make sense? I have to go look at the truck again in the AM. I hope I hear back from enough of you pros to tell me what your out looks are..Thanks

Ronnie

 

Geeze $1000 for 50k service that sucks... i never knew this and i just bought a CTD....I would be interested on this subject to know if this is really true and if i could do the service myself...

 

Sounds like a great deal to me. It IS possible to get that sort of mileage out of it, especially with a few mods and easy driving. Towing a boat would most likely only drop your mileage down to 15-18 depending on speed. There is a common problem with the fuel pumps from 98.5-02, but if you add some diesel additive, it will help lubricate the pump AND give you better mileage. Upkeep isn't as bad as some people make it out to be. It's not like you have to go to the shop every month, but stuff like 10 Qts of oil every change can make it seem worse. I went diesel about a year ago for towing my toys, and will never even consider a gasser anymore. A sound choice if you ask me. Good luck

 

I have a 99 with an auto trans and 4:10's I get between 18 and 20 driving easy. If he is going to have a dealer do the 50k service I bet they do charge $1000. All they will do is change gear oil, trany and transef case lube, motor oil and filter, fuel filter, grease front end and drive shafts, replace serpintine belt and air filter. All this you could do on your own and save mucho money. As far as maintainence is concerned, I get a gallon of oil for 7 or 8 bucks it takes 9 or 10 qts depending on how long it drains. A oil filter is 12 bucks. Thats 50 to 55 dollars a year for oil changes. A fuel filter is $22 and I do that every 15,000 miles. For a gasser you have plugs and wires every other year, EGR valves, cap and rotor, coil? maybe plus oil filter and fuel filter. For me it a few bucks either way but my kids still eat when its time to do an oil change. Trannies dont blow up on that year, there is bad info out there. The TC gets hot from being overloaded by the diesel that in turn allows the tranny fluid to loose lubrictating proporties which tends to burn up the friction material in the tranny itself. This happens to people who tow heavy and moddified motors. My truck is stock and the tranny and TC are rated for 450ftlbs of torque, my motor produces 420ftlbs while close if you stay within your numbers you should not have to many problems. Change the fluid and filter regularly and take care of it and it will last. I have 125,000 on mine and will do a TC and valve body upgrade in Oct. The one your looking at has 140,000miles I bought mine with 103,560. The motor was just broken in. You will get better mileage with the CTD, plus they are a blast to own and drive.

 

The one Im looking at has less than 55K actual.. He has no mods on it, and he did go over that 50K service. I think the mileage is 52K and some change. The color is sweet too, that dark green.. I love that scheme. I know me though. I will get in there and see how everything works and what I can do myself. Im no mechanic, thats a fact..But do love to tinker. If I turn the deal down. I will post it..I need to look at it a bit more. The truck looks brand new. IT does have a goose neck hitch in the back..I would have to get that thing out of there.All I would ever need is a class three reese hitch.
This is what sucks. I just put a 2500 buck stereo in my truck, brand new drop hitch, new tires. I spent well over 3k on service not including that raido system. Tires, battery, plugs, wires, cap/rotor, cad, new flow master 40, 8 new injectors, new CPU, crank sensor, O2, freon,
Shes Clean and runs great, guess I will sell her so stay tunned..Thanks for all the help
Ronnie

 

I have been pulling with a 99 2500 CTD and getting about 13.5 miles to the gallon at 65 MPH.

Only complant so far is one of my last loads pushed me thrugh a stop light.

 

Mat. . .that aint no load

 

You are correct, that was not a load. Twice I looked up and thought "who is that aXXhole shoved up my rear"


Few weeks ago I had a 6X12 enclosed filled to the gills and some stuff in the bed. Truck pulled it fine, But the load was just a hair to the rear without enough weight in the bed, Road was damp, Front left locked and pointed me at the right side ditch, I let up and run the light.

Next load I put an extra 1k or so of weight in the bed and did not have a problem.


I have yet to have to much weight for the truck to pull but the brakes have felt a bit squishey, No trailer brakes.