Any Dodge Ram fans out there ?

Kestrel in CT · Apr 24, 2009

Any one know of any tranny/engine problems with 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 p/u ?

I have a chance to buy one with 75K miles, auto V8 5.2 liter, 4x4, very clean with Fisher plow . Everything appears to work for $7,000.

I know noting about these trucks. My last Dodge was a 1950 Coronet with fluid drive. I imagine they've improved things a bit since then.

But just figured I check with you experts out there first......
Thanks !

Roger in Iowa · Apr 24, 2009

Check out the blue book at kbb.com

Seems a little high. Plows are rough on everything!

mike · Apr 24, 2009

I like my 98 dodge 1/2 ton 4x4 but it is the most expensive maintinence truck I have ever owned.. The front end is the weak point on my truck and very expensive to work on.
that said it has 288,000 on it and is driven daily

Mathias NY · Apr 24, 2009

I have a '97 Ram 1500 with 220k miles. I've had it for 7 years and been very happy with it. The 5.2L is a fairly bullet proof engine. The $7k seems a bit high. The milage seems pretty low for a vehicle that age, so it might need a bunch of work once you start driving it, just because a lot of components age weather or not they get used. Snow plows in general can be a sign of more serious drive-train and rust problems. Without knowing the history it's hard to tell what it might need. Good luck.

Mike M · Apr 24, 2009

Well I have one. A 1996 Ram 2500 4x4 ext. cab 360 gas auto. It has 180,000 miles and still going. Original tranny too , but it does act up sometimes it wants to stay in 2 nd gear and not upshift. Very intermitant.
That one should have alot of life left in it at those low miles. Mine has been a VERY good truck.
Resale isn't good on trucks right now. That price may be on the high side ? Check book values out. If they were to trade it in NO ONE is going to give more then LOWEST book price if even that.

Bigdaddy4430 · Apr 24, 2009

I got a 96 Dodge 1500,its the 1st Dodge ive ever owned and ill tell ya what Ill never own anything but a Dodge.

dhermesc · Apr 24, 2009

Don't know about Dodge, but anything that has a snow plow on would make me run the other way. Those things are very hard on pickups - especially half tons.

newfarmer9 · Apr 24, 2009

Agreed, plows are extremely hard on any type of truck, but especially 1/2 tons. Also, as said before Dodge's have a weak front end and are also a little more costly to repair than other makes, in my experience at work. Remember, too, that it is a 10-year old truck. Taking everything into account, $7000 seems high, see if the owner will budge at all on the price.

Nebraska Cowman · Apr 24, 2009

I have a 99 Ford Super Duty I'd take a lot less than that for. 140.000 miles but its a western Nebraska truck and NO rust anywhere.

Roger in Iowa · Apr 24, 2009

This one still has the solid front end, not independent. Do they have trouble? My '01 hasn't had trouble. No plow either!

'02 started IFS.

david - or · Apr 24, 2009

The weight of that snowplow is going to be hard on the front end. The track bar ends tend to wear out and the steering wobbles. Look at Lukeslink dot com for a discussion of this.

The heavy loads at low speeds of plowing snow are hard on the automatic transmission.

I own a 1995 Dodge 2500 with the Cummins Diesel. It has 270K miles on it, gets 20 mpg empty on the highway, pulls like a locomotive. I got it cheap ($1500) due to what turned out to be a broken snap ring in the transfer case. (A $6.00 fix). I like the truck but I know it has its weak points.

I think $7K is way too much money for the one you are looking at. A friend of mine just recently bought a 2004 Ford F150 4x4 with 20000 miles from a dealer for $10K.

Chris in SK · Apr 24, 2009

I have a 99 Ram 5.2l auto 4WD, and its been a good truck. 200,000 miles... I’ve put the last 100k on it… mostly on rough gravel / grid roads, and it tows what ever I hang it on, but starting to look a little ragged now. Very few problems but I have put money into the front end. Beware, if the front end is loose or shot… you can easily sink $1,000 - $2,000 just in parts. The front axle is strong, but it is a harsh ride on rough roads compared to a truck with independent front end.
Chris

Kestrel in CT · Apr 24, 2009

Thanks for all the input. The Fisher plow looks brand new and is of the non-commercial model(Homesteader ?). I suspect it was used for personal use but I'll think I'll throw him a lower number..see what happens.

mj · Apr 24, 2009

(quoted from post at 10:46:18 04/24/09) I have a 99 Ford Super Duty I'd take a lot less than that for. 140.000 miles but its a western Nebraska truck and NO rust anywhere.

As they say - 'One man's junk is another's treasure' - I was a Ford fan, then had GM in the 70s, 80s & 90s - went to Dodge in 2000 and never looked back! 8)

Traditional Farmer · Apr 24, 2009

I'd never buy any truck with a snow plow on it unless it was REALLY CHEAP.Tears up the front end and the salt rusts it out

kopeck · Apr 24, 2009

My father has an '98 2500 360 Auto that has a Fisher plow on it. The transmission went on it last year with about 60k. Not sure how common it is but his neighbor (pretty much the same truck but with a V10) lost his as well a few months eailer (it had more miles then dad's though).

Both are plow trucks, I don't think there's anything you can do to a pickup that's harder then plowing.

Dad's truck has been OK, not great not bad either. He also had some rust fixed last year on the read fenders.

K

Hoss In ME · Apr 24, 2009

Id rather have the 1950 Coronet. Hoss

Anonymous-0 · Apr 24, 2009

2 1996 1/2 tons 318 engines 5 speed man trans 218,000 and 254,000 both with 8 ft. western plows both have been bullet proof.both have oem clutches yet only repairs all new u joints and new ball joints at about 120,000 going to redo them this summer. o ya the radio in both gave up at 150,000 need them tunes good thing for EBAY.

bill mart · Apr 24, 2009

google transmission problems 1999 dodge ram, 134,000 hits.Had major problems on my 1999 rams transmission at 70,000 miles.Fortunity it was under warrenty.

John B. · Apr 24, 2009

Dodge was notorious for trannys in the 1990's.
If you ever have to replace the water pump on it spend the extra $40-$50 and time to put a timing chain and sprockets in it. You'll be glad you did. I've done quite a few like this. I've seen the chains really loose at 70k miles.

What sold me on doing this is another man put a water pump on his ram and a week later he took it back off to replace the chain and sprockets because they went out. It cost him double the labor and time.

To me it's just cheap insurance to do both when doing the pump.

Kestrel in CT · Apr 25, 2009

Thanks Bill....that's quite a google search ! I'll think I'll pass on this truck. I'm sure many problems are simply related to driver abuse, heavy use, but I don't feel lucky this time, not knowing the previous owner history.

Of course, my wife took the extra cash and bought new windows for the house while I mulled over the truck. Can't win.

Any Dodge Ram fans out there ?

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Similar threads