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Hi, everyone! Been a long time since I've been active on a car/truck forum (active on another vBulletin forum presently), but wanted to do the customary hello post/thread.
Searched for the better part of three years before landing one of these 2nd gens. Been a Dodge/Mopar guy for a long time and always loved this era of Ram. Had a 1:24 scale model of one--black with silver lower, 4x4, likely 2500, single cab long bed--growing up. Many a Dodge in the family growing up, and many a Dodge (truck) always around me, so between that and Twister, I was pretty determined to find one of these, particularly in the single cab / long bed configuration (As God Intended (TM) ). Tall order for a clean one with all its base and clear coats for a reasonable price, especially post-2020. Had to be a manual for all the enthusiast and mistrust of Chrysler automatics (save for the 727) reasons, 4x4 for that capability. Would have thought it would be easier to find a regular cab truck when the whole world wants and drives crew cabs, but what do I know?
Anyways, got my dream truck at the start of this year and have been chipping away at it, going through things, and it's been great. Absolutely timeless design, and dead nuts simple and durable as set up--exactly what I was looking for. Bought with 83k miles after the previous owner only did 1k over 7 years, now has nearly 4k more on it(!). Had standard vinyl seats, and as of a week ago, now finally has cloth seats. Agate/dark grey interior. Dash was perfect in January, now is cracking.. Added 2nd gen tow mirrors, replaced the front bumper cap and lower air dam (removed an ugly brush guard), replaced the cat and hole-y muffler, 20 year old tires for 265/75R16 KO2's, and a bunch of other small stuff. 245 hp is NOT fast, and the widely-spaced gears are not friendly to the engine, but the 5.9/360 is just a happy, albeit thirsty, camper. Doesn't leak a drop of oil, stays cool in traffic, lugs well, and shifts well. Would like to put an LSD in the rear sooner rather than later. All in good time.
Last edited by TheOther5.9; Jun 26, 2023 at 07:44 PM.
Honestly, all but the hood and roof were original. The dealership that briefly had the truck (a trade-in) paid to have those painted and well, they didn't pay a lot. It was enough to match the paint really well and get a decent clear coat, but not enough to keep fisheyes out of the clear coat nor keep me from seeing the paintgun spray lines. They basically did a cosmetic reconditioning of sorts and nothing mechanical. There was a huge mouse house in my air intake, right at the filter, that not only nearly blocked air getting into the engine, but dislodged the air filter from its place inside the box. I picked up some pep after that.
Honestly, all but the hood and roof were original. The dealership that briefly had the truck (a trade-in) paid to have those painted and well, they didn't pay a lot. It was enough to match the paint really well and get a decent clear coat, but not enough to keep fisheyes out of the clear coat nor keep me from seeing the paintgun spray lines. They basically did a cosmetic reconditioning of sorts and nothing mechanical. There was a huge mouse house in my air intake, right at the filter, that not only nearly blocked air getting into the engine, but dislodged the air filter from its place inside the box. I picked up some pep after that.
To be fair, I've seen mice build a nest within a couple of days. My Dakota has faded paint over most of the truck but the hood and roof is pretty well gone. Then again, I do "Farmer Chic" paint jobs with a roller and brush. They come out pretty decent. They also don' get cut off in traffic either.
One thing about your search, different parts of the country buy different option set ups. Where are you located?
Last edited by ol' grouch; Jun 27, 2023 at 09:51 AM.
Reason: i kant spel wurth a durn
To be fair, I've seen mice build a nest within a couple of days. My Dakota has faded paint over most of the truck but the hood and roof is pretty well gone. Then again, I do "Farmer Chic" paint jobs with a roller and brush. They come out pretty decent. They also don' get cut off in traffic either.
One thing about your search, different parts of the country buy different option set ups. Where are you located?
Lol on not getting cut off in traffic. As one comedian put it, "I look uninsured."
Regarding region-based option setups, I see that a lot with vehicle color, and I imagine there's more of that, especially mechanically. "PDX extended" for me means outskirts of the Portland metro area. PDX is the airport code for Portland International Airport and is used conversationally around here/the northwest (like other places and references would, I assume). Anyway, 4WD is a big deal here, worth a few grand in asking price. I can't tell if we got the majority of available 1999-2001/2 Quad Cab Cummins 4x4 trucks or those were the only things that lasted/were worth keeping around, but dang do we have a TON of them.
Lol on not getting cut off in traffic. As one comedian put it, "I look uninsured."
Regarding region-based option setups, I see that a lot with vehicle color, and I imagine there's more of that, especially mechanically. "PDX extended" for me means outskirts of the Portland metro area. PDX is the airport code for Portland International Airport and is used conversationally around here/the northwest (like other places and references would, I assume). Anyway, 4WD is a big deal here, worth a few grand in asking price. I can't tell if we got the majority of available 1999-2001/2 Quad Cab Cummins 4x4 trucks or those were the only things that lasted/were worth keeping around, but dang do we have a TON of them.
I'm assuming you're in Portland Oregon, not Maine. Your truck is a more modern version of the old Power Wagons. They get used a lot in the timber industry. We use a lot of 4X4's here but just north of me the rust belt starts so they dissolve. My '96 is pretty solid, but it's not common for them to be like that here.
I'm assuming you're in Portland Oregon, not Maine. Your truck is a more modern version of the old Power Wagons. They get used a lot in the timber industry. We use a lot of 4X4's here but just north of me the rust belt starts so they dissolve. My '96 is pretty solid, but it's not common for them to be like that here.
Yes, Portland, Oregon. Rust belt kills me as a denizen of the west coast and Pacific Northwest primarily. That and the NE are I where vehicles go to die an extremely early death. It's probably my #1 reason to not move or find work there. Humidity and harsh winters are not too far behind. Otherwise, I have no problem with it or the people--never had a bad time whenever I've gone there.
Finally got a Ram!!
). Tall order for a clean one with all its base and clear coats for a reasonable price, especially post-2020. Had to be a manual for all the enthusiast and mistrust of Chrysler automatics (save for the 727) reasons, 4x4 for that capability. Would have thought it would be easier to find a regular cab truck when the whole world wants and drives crew cabs, but what do I know?
Added 2nd gen tow mirrors, replaced the front bumper cap and lower air dam (removed an ugly brush guard), replaced the cat and hole-y muffler, 20 year old tires for 265/75R16 KO2's, and a bunch of other small stuff. 245 hp is NOT fast, and the widely-spaced gears are not friendly to the engine, but the 5.9/360 is just a happy, albeit thirsty, camper. Doesn't leak a drop of oil, stays cool in traffic, lugs well, and shifts well. Would like to put an LSD in the rear sooner rather than later. All in good time.
