I am looking at buying a truck just to have around.
Found what looks to be a good deal for my uses. Would be a 3rd vehicle so MPG is not a worry.
2004 Dodge Ram Quad Cab HemiSport
New Tires, brakes, PS rack, water pump, pulleys and belts, battery and front brake lines.
No typical cab corner or bed side rust.
115k
What should I be on the look out for?
besides bad gas mileage they are great trucks. I own an 02 and had a 04 and never had any problems with either.
:tup: Good info. I really like the styling…it will only be a working “truck” a few times a year…mostly for home improvement projects etc.
Why the hell didn’t you buy mine?
check the engine block near the oil filter for oil leaks … those motors in this area are known for the block rotting through
I will check that out…is it visible from the top side or do I need to get under it?
Why bother if you only plan on using it “a few times a year”? Just have a buddy help you out who already has a truck rather than spending money for something to sit in your driveway and depreciate?
Borrowing trucks is just a pita. I don’t know how I ever lived without mine. It’s nice if you need to go get a load of something. You don’t have to schedule it with a friend. You just jump in your truck and go.
As far as the Ram goes, they are great trucks. Most rot on them is pretty noticeable. Tailgate, bed, and cab corners like you mentioned. Definitely crawl under it though.
Really? That is a pretty bad problem.
This just sounds like a waste of money for the intended use.
The cheapest model I could price out with a hemi on KBB came in between $6300 and $7500.
Uhaul rents full sized pickups for $20/day + .59/mile. Say 30 miles each time you use it so round it to $40 per rental.
$7000/ $40 rental = renting 175 times before you break even.
But wait, you also have to add insurance and registration for your Ram. That’s at least $500 a year by itself so you’ll need another 12.5 rentals per year just to cover that cost.
Yeah, this sounds like a great way to piss away money. How about you just give me half of what you were going to spend on this truck, I’ll take you out back and kick you in the nuts, and we’ll call it even.
That’s crazy I’ve never heard of a block rotting through, that shits pretty thick
Aside from the complete lack of convenience, that’s not a bad point.
Buy a trailer. Tow it with what ever you have now. I’ve towed my snowmobile trailer to pick up a load of lumber with the GTO lol.
http://buffalo.craigslist.org/sno/4149845904.html
^ slap some removable plywood sides on there for when you want to haul dirt/mulch and you’ve got all the utility of an 8’ bed truck for $650, no insurance and way less registration costs.
You forgot the inevitable problems a Dodge with 120k+ on it are going to have.
Problem with borrowing a truck is; 90% of the people who have them don’t want the bed getting dirty or scratched. I actually met up with someone to sell them a handheld power ice auger and he didn’t want to put it in the bed of his truck cause he didn’t want to anything to leak or for it to get scratched. Get a 3/4 ton chevy express. Tons of old cheap work vans and they are tanks. The extended wheel base can haul more lumber, scrap, or whatever than an 8ft bed truck ever will. And say you pick up some drywall and it is raining, it will stay dry. Rainy days are exactly the days you want to get some dry walling done, but it’s fucking raining so you can’t pick it up if you haven’t already. And they tow 10,000lbs with a 6.0. Plus they are great for kidnapping people. All wins.
If you really need shit that has to be dumped by a front loader use a trailer. But if you need to tow more than 10,000lbs then I guess a truck is a better fit.
Wow…all of the people with all of their opinions about everything other than the truck itself.
I have 1 car I put less than 1k per year on, I have another car I put less than 5k on and I have my SUV daily that I put 40k per year on.
With a truck, I can if need be…help myself…help my friends…tow whatever I want…go to home depot/garden center and get whatever I want without the hassle of going to borrow a truck or rent one from someone that doesnt have a tow hitch and then pay to wash it after it gets covered in dirt/mulch/stone etc.
I would be getting rid of the car I put less than 1k on to get into a truck that I would probably put closer to 5k on as it has more use options than a 2nd summer car.
Having borrowed trucks from multiple people all last year while doing house projects was 1. Not enjoyable and 2. Too often for me to feel like its just a random favor so getting my own is justified regardless of the $ involved just to not have to bother people or wait on their schedule.
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Make sure the bed is big nothing worst than having a truck for doing things and the bed always seems to be too small. I am not a dodge fan so i have no real input on the trucks itself. Just something to think about.
I’ve seen problems with 4th gear bands in the transmission causing it to slip out of gear on the highway repeatedly. LOTS of ball joint problems, water pumps, A/C compressors, Climate control heads, differentials, and transmission cooler lines. I see a ton of pickup trucks in my shop because we service everything and I can safely say that the Ram is probably the last truck I would own but that’s just my personal preference. Good luck with your purchase.