Thinking about buying Dodge Ram 1500....thoughts?

[tbst]

Thinking about picking up a 1998 5 spd 1500 4x4 with 180k on it and a 5.2L engine. Would only use it once a month or so to move stuff around like firewood, dressers, mattresses, etc.

I know the notorious transmission problems on them, which is why I am looking at the 5 spd. Also the four wheel drive actuator is garbage, we used to have one at work and always had problems.

Price is about $1500.

What do you guys think for my sporadic needs?

 

[JohnsD90]

I was gonna say my buddy has a late 90's 3500 dumper truck with the 5.2 and 5 speed, and the transmission only works on a couple of gears, but the truck has had a very hard life. He loves the truck, its a shame you can't get the V8's in stick anymore, the cummins is the last motor you get with a stick, and its a real shame that the Allison is only available on the Duramax.

My buddy also has a 96 F150 I6 5 speed, he picked it up for a grand, i love that truck, he does everything in it, the frame it solid but the quarter have a little corrosion.

 

[LittleCaesar]

tbst,

Is this to replace your 01 4runner?

The old 318. A pretty solid workhorse engine. I have worked on five, two in the last year. I know the auto trannys rarely see over 150,000 miles before they grenade and have to be rebuilt. I cannot comment on the 5spd.

Four things: the diffs can go on these rear axles, the IAC (located behind the throttle body against the firewall) can get seriously gummed up and stall (held on by two torx screws), the PCI board located against the passenger side firewall dies due to heat and only the junkyard or dealer has a replacement, and there are a number of check valves that operate the AC and heat that can fail; these are easy to spot. My friend's son has 268,XXX miles on his 99, with only a transmission needed at 155XXX along with regular maintenance.

JohnsD90 is correct that the 300I6 by Ford is a great engine. Slow, but torque all day. A real truck. Piston heads the size of softballs.

 

[tbst]

No no no not to replace the Runner. But hopefully to move the Runner across PA and then have a truck around for stuff. Like getting a new transmission/engine for it. Or getting firewood. Stuff like that.

I just don't want to buy something that is going to be a complete pile of garbage.

 

[rebelbowtie]

i've had two second gen rams a 99 and a 2001, both were among the hardest working trucks i have ever owned. the 5 speed is a new venture unit and its pretty solid, just dont try and shift it like a sports car. i drove both of them into the ground and neither one complained, except for the 99 which i had to rebuild the valve body at 90,000 miles.

i sold it to my cousin at 150,000 about 3 years ago and he still has it today and its still running strong. the 318 will never let you down, slow as balls but can tow a house.

 

[LittleCaesar]

My friend's son calls his Ram the Duralast truck; everyone at Autozone knows his name. Parts are widely available and cheap, it isn't as finicky as the 4runner to use OEM parts.
Buy it.

Good luck with the 4runner then at the airport.

 

[tbst]

Thanks guys!

Yeah I think if I can get it for $1500 I will pick it up. We used to have one at a YMCA camp I worked at and it was a beast for how much we put it through. Plowing, towing 12000 lbs no joke, off roading, etc.

 

[rebelbowtie]

even if its a pile, i'd buy it for $1500

 

[034RUNNER]

Go for it. We had a 2000 it was a great truck but has some stupid problems, yet not the infamous tranny issue. It started to rust and kept breaking wheel sensors.

 

[Millerad1651]

I had a 2001 for 5 years...loved that truck. Never had a tranny problem, just regular maintenance upkeep. The dash falls apart, but you can get a cover for $20. Also, you'll be lucky to get 12 mpg...but if you are going to use it sparingly, that doesn't matter too much. $1500 sounds like a good deal for a beat around truck.

 

[Kung]

I had a 2002 Ram 1500; after the 17th time in the shop in 16 months I traded it in on a Ford. Enough said. LOL

 

[JohnsD90]

My friend's son calls his Ram the Duralast truck; everyone at Autozone knows his name. Parts are widely available and cheap, it isn't as finicky as the 4runner to use OEM parts.
Buy it.

Good luck with the 4runner then at the airport.

OEM parts on a 4runner, lol, i go to advance.

 

[tbst]

I had a 2002 Ram 1500; after the 17th time in the shop in 16 months I traded it in on a Ford. Enough said. LOL

What where the main problems?

 

[Kung]

What where the main problems?

Sorry for the delay...just saw this.

#2 injector threw a code multiple times (5x or so)
Valve body
Exhaust manifold - replaced 2x, threw a code 3x or so (didn't know it could do that)
Visor (no biggie)
Alternator (again no biggie)
And other minor stuff.

In all honesty it wasn't really that it was that big of a lemon; even when the valve body went kablooie, it was driveable - it just would not go out of 2nd.

However, when the local Dodge dealerships have a TERRIBLE reputation, you're kind of stuck. The 2nd or 3rd time I essentially tried to get them to realize "Look, guys...if it's continually breaking, then either it's a piece of junk, or there's some other underlying problem."

No dice...they just continued to fix it, wouldn't do any research. Being as the warranty was getting ready to run out @ that time, I calculated the amount I would have spent per month over the 6 previous months equaled the truck payment (had it not been under warranty). I could have done a lemon law claim, as it definitely met the requirements; but it wasn't worth the hassle or money.

So I traded it in on a 2004 F150 STX. I still have that truck, and the list of problems I've had with it are below:

- front and back glass replaced due to leak (bad batch from the glass supplier, and it warped them slightly)
- had to reprogram ECU around 105K (replaced battery, and it somehow goofed up the computer - basically simulated a sticking throttle body)
- left rear taillight went at 146K (lol)

And that's it. And it's been a daily driver for 8 years now. It's got the 4.6L V8, and it gets like 19 to 21 MPG. For the older V8 to get that kind of mileage is flat out amazing - no one else I know gets better than about 18, and that is *IF* they drive it like Miss Daisy. Mine's 1/2 highway, 1/2 city.