Can I ask about a Dodge Truck?

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rod7515

rod7515

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Im thinking about buying a used truck because next year I hope to need one to tow the trailer and car to the drags. I hate borrowing things and even tho many have volunteered to tow for me its time to think about one for myself. With this said I am looking at what I need. I wont use this truck for more then about 1500 miles per year. I have a company vehicle so I rarely drive a second vehicle. I will haul my tractor a few times a years but that is less then 1000 lbs so no big deal. I am guessing my car trailer and the 66 dart to weigh around 4500 pounds or less together total when loaded.
I dont plan on buying anything to new and of the ones I have looked at I like the 2005 Hemi and Daytona models. I found one locally that is a 2005 5.7 Hemi that is in the pricing I would spend. It is a short bed with 4x4, I looked up the towing capacity and from what I have read it should handle my trailer very well. Was wondering if anyone else is using a shortbed and how well does it do. Also what type of problems do these trucks end up with. He is saying it needs or will shortly need a power steering pump. I dont see that as a big deal but will I need to replace a rack because of contamination or maybe they dont use a rack but old style box? How about radiators and heater cores? I know Dodge trucks eat ball joints and hub assemblies. He says the trans was rebuilt about 5k miles ago. This truck has about 125k on it but doesnt look like any rust. I havent seen it in person yet but thinking about making a trip this week to take a look. Its about an hour away. Here is an address to the craigslist listing: 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 HEMI SLT 4x4
I see the wheel wells have a trim around them, do these years still end up with rust in this areas like most of the ones with the trims. Is the price acceptable in your opinion? Give me your thoughts. Im in no hurry but I do want to find a nice one.
Thanks and look forward to your thoughts. Oh and one last thing, I am not locked into a Dodge product!!
Rod
 
Just test drive them well. There is an issue with the front end "Death Wobble" on the Dodge Rams and some of them can't be fixed... Take them all on the highway for a test drive to be sure it doesn't have it...

Watch this video after 20 seconds:

 
While i own a Hemi, towing would suck gas badly. Get your a Cummins, can't beat it. Especially when I get higher mileage towing a 15k lbs tractor with my Cummins (15 highway) than my hemi unloaded (13.5 highway). Un loaded , I average 21 with the cummins. 4x4 6 speed.
 
Dodge has a recall out to fix that, got the notice a few months back.
krazykuda said:
Just test drive them well. There is an issue with the front end "Death Wobble" on the Dodge Rams and some of them can't be fixed... Take them all on the highway for a test drive to be sure it doesn't have it...

Watch this video after 20 seconds:

Click to expand...
 
dukeboy_318 said:
Dodge has a recall out to fix that, got the notice a few months back.
Click to expand...

The ones that they can't fix on recall, they have been forced to buy back... But I would not want to get involved with one of the ones with the wobble...
 
Death wobble is nothing new.Had Ford Chevy and Dodge trucks have trouble with it. I haven't found one I couldn't cure of it, though there is no one definitive cure for it.
 
krazykuda said:
The ones that they can't fix on recall, they have been forced to buy back... But I would not want to get involved with one of the ones with the wobble...
Click to expand...
Yep. They bought back my uncles 2005. I've personally never experienced it with any of the ones I've had, but I'm also religious with ball.joint and tie rod changes. I upgrade all.mine to grease able heavy duty aftermarket ones where possible. Not sure what causes it though
 
Many here will praise the Hemi, mostly due to people swapping them into A bodies. That said, they are not the most reliable engine in a truck. Lots of lifter problems as well as piston issues. they didnt coin the term "hemi tick" for the lifters being quiet. They do eat ps pumps, my buddys has both hemi tick and ps pump howl at 140K. My 03 Ram diesel doesnt have any issues at 160K. The death wobble is mostly bs, it can be cured if you have a brain. Most that have it have huge tires. If you want a good truck for occasional use, look for an 02-03 with a 5.9 in it. Last forever, easy to squeeze a few more ponies out of it and no hemi tick or other bs. They are also super cheap, less than $7K on west coast compared to hemi at $10-12K. Just my $.02 after 35 years as a professional wrench.
 
I have an '05 Ram 1500 SLT, 5.7 auto with 125k miles. Tows a 3800 boat and trailer (with brakes) easily.
I don't believe the '05 - 1500s are on the "death wobble" recall list.
Issues I believe you may or may not experience on an '05:
hemi "tick"
box wheel well and cab corner rust
corporate 9.25" LS failures
loose pinion nut (recall)
rack and pinion
air bag (recalls) I just got a second one for the passenger side
heat door flapper breakage

More info here................

3rd Gen Ram Tech - DodgeForum.com
 
Always remember the last words of my grandfather...

He said, "A truck"....
 
The hemi trucks are not a bad truck, hell I would rather have 1 of them than 3 Chebbys BUT I still stand by the opinion of 02-03 5.9 gas truck for occasional use truck is still the best bang for your buck. You would have to put "Hemi" badges on it for all the kids to think you are cool....:realcrazy:
 
magnummopar said:
Many here will praise the Hemi, mostly due to people swapping them into A bodies. That said, they are not the most reliable engine in a truck. Lots of lifter problems as well as piston issues. they didnt coin the term "hemi tick" for the lifters being quiet. They do eat ps pumps, my buddys has both hemi tick and ps pump howl at 140K. My 03 Ram diesel doesnt have any issues at 160K. The death wobble is mostly bs, it can be cured if you have a brain. Most that have it have huge tires. If you want a good truck for occasional use, look for an 02-03 with a 5.9 in it. Last forever, easy to squeeze a few more ponies out of it and no hemi tick or other bs. They are also super cheap, less than $7K on west coast compared to hemi at $10-12K. Just my $.02 after 35 years as a professional wrench.
Click to expand...
the piston/lifter issues seem to be limited to the VVT series Hemis with auto, the manual transmission ones and non-vvt engines dont seem to have the issue. There was also a timing chain recall on the VVT engines a while back
 
dukeboy_318 said:
the piston/lifter issues seem to be limited to the VVT series Hemis with auto, the manual transmission ones and non-vvt engines dont seem to have the issue. There was also a timing chain recall on the VVT engines a while back
Click to expand...
in answer to one of the original questions, my experience w/ towing is that a short wheelbase p/u is way more menuverable( backing and etc.), but a heaver truck is more stable and handles the weight better.
 
Hey Rod I drive an 07 5.7 4X4 crew cab and I love it, I have 162,000 miles on it now. I bought it because that was the year that I retired from there and at that time I thought it was built pretty good. I have replaced my radiator, power steering hoses "rotted out", wheel hub's it's just normal wear and up keep. As far as towing it's great and as far as rust you can best believe there is rust under those wheel flairs at the top of the wheel wells on the rear box, they all rust there. I have absolutely no complaints about mine what so ever.
Bob
 
They don't ALL rust above the wheel wells. Depends what part of the country you live in. My 07 2500 4x4 CTD has zero rust anywhere! I live in FL. Oh yeah, it has 235 K miles.
 
Consider yourself one of and I mean one and only one of the lucky ones. I have seen them with rust above the box wheel wells on models as new as a 2011 Dodge Rams. Up here in Michigan where most of the 1500 are made I think they start there rust before they even leave the plant. At least now they make a patch panel for them so you don't have to replace the whole box side, that is if you are like me and can't stand to look at rust. And as far as your zero rust 07 2500 goes I'm sure there is some starting somewhere that you just don't see yet, one day you will give it a bath and WALA! your off the no rust list.
 
I don't know about that. I've lived here 61 years so I pretty familiar with how sheet metal rusts around here. It goes on the lift every 5000 miles for oil and filter change, tire rotation and inspection overall. However I have had to work on the rusted crap that gets runs through the auctions here from up north! Several sellers have been banned down here from bring rust buckets by the truck load.
 
66 CUDA said:
............. I think they start there rust before they even leave the plant. At least now they make a patch panel for them so you don't have to replace the whole box side, that is if you are like me and can't stand to look at rust. ............
Click to expand...
Interesting Dodge was only putting a partial plastic liner in the wells. I had to order the full wheel well plastic online. Too late for the rust though. NOTHING is forever.
A lot of folks just cut out the rust, seal it, and add the wide well flares. Some others just paint them with brush in bed liner.
 
Back when I was working at Warren Truck WTAP the only trucks that received the full plastic liners in the rear were the 4X4's all the 4X2's weather it was a 1500 or a 2500 were getting the partial liners in the rear, they all received full liners in the front.
 
Just wanted to say thanks to all that threw some information out for me to see. Im going to start a serious search for one that will work for my needs. I'll let you know when I find the right one. I have until spring to find the right deal.
Thanks Again
Rod
 
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