Hi everyone! Looking for buying advice on a nice truck im seriously thinking about buying.
I know nothing about them other than the brief online research ive been doing so hopefully one of you has one or had one.

Its a 98 Ram 3500 4x4 Dually V10 automatic.
Just turned 200k. Really clean inside and out.
Not a whole lot of maintenance records were kept but some. He rarely drove it empty, always just sat or was pulling his 35ft 5th wheel camper on weekends and vacations.
He is the original owner. He said it actually gets better mpg loaded than empty, 12mpg.

Any information or tips will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

I don't think the V-10 will get 12 on its best day, and certainly not while towing. Of course, it doesn't need the right tires to pull the house off the foundation...... The truck is a monster. It will tow/haul anything you can hook to it, the V-10 is the smoothest running engine I have experienced. I pull a 12 foot dump trailer with 8000 lbs of dirt/stone, and can barely tell its there. (trailer brakes are a requirement.) Mine (in my sig) doesn't even get 10mpg empty....... 140K miles on it. (might be time for O2 sensors......) I regularly see them with north of 250K miles, original engine and trans. That's one of the reasons that was my 'target' truck, when I was looking. I didn't need a one ton though.

Problem is, some of the electronic parts are becoming fun to find. (OEM, the aftermarket sensors don't always work as well as advertised. A common issue on these trucks.) If you need a heavy duty truck, it's certainly a good choice, Just keep up on the maintenance, and you'll hit 300K without an issue.

 

I had the chance to get a V10 2500 for $650 but didn't because of the parts are getting harder to find. That and you can't build them up as Viper parts won't fit the truck V10. I do hear they are a good running motor

 

I mainly want it for a small landscaping business i want to start up (moonlight&#128513 this spring but don't want a nickel and dime truck.
I figured mpg was going to be horrible. The not being able to find parts thing has me worried though .

 

Not sure what all thoes numbers are on my last post?

 

The forums being stupid. It happens.

So far.... I have been able to find everything I need for mine. That said, moving to a 3rd gen with the hemi would eliminate the parts availability issue..... without sacrificing much in the way of torque. V-10 is nominally 300 horsepower, 450 lbs/ft torque. 1st Gen hemi (as found in third gen rams) is 350hp, 375tq. Better gas mileage too..... and also, MUCH more robust aftermarket support.

 

He's asking 3k for it so not alot. He bought a new 2500 Ram diesel. He said he had the trans filter relocated to the firewall?

 

Probably an additional filter, the one in the trans is highly likely to still be there. Not a bad plan, better filtering, more fluid capacity, etc.

If its in really good shape, runs nice, drives nice, and everything works as it should, that is actually a good price.

 

I think I'll probaly get it. Even if it only lasts for the summer it will have paid for itself. Do thoes have a 6spd automatic?

 

Nope. 47RE 4 speed auto. Don't tow in overdrive, that'll smoke the trans right quick. Being a one-ton though, it *might* be the 48RE..... pretty much the same trans, just a tad bit beefier.