Automan2164

Hey, while on the subject of things that irritate me... AfvwmxJDOqU Rob :headpop:

I think most were... I catch a 1 every once and awhile, but not often. Rob

Found another, somewhat closer. Talked to the owner for about 20 minutes today, see what happens: http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.js ... f=national Rob

Yep, boards would hit the bricks if I brought it home. I was looking at the underside of that truck and thinking about how friggen clean it is. Haha. Don, you live a pampered life there south of the rust belt. That thing would qualify for rust free up here. So... No one near there eh? Rob :dunno:

The rollbar in that thing is just what it needed. Did you grab that visor? Rob

Such a debby downer. I just picked what I thought was the biggest major city close by. I am over an hour from Chicago, but you would have no idea where I am at in IL if I said Harvard, IL. So when people ask, I say an hour Northwest from Chicago. Rob

Anyone near Huntsville, AL and willing to look at a truck for me? I am kind taking a liking to this Cummins down there, and thinking of driving it back... The miles are decent on the truck, its a southern truck, and it has all of the things I am looking for. The running boards scream old man, and the truck looks really clean. Here's the link: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c ... dard=false Ideally, I need to call the dealer and ask some questions, but I wanted to just toss out there that I might be interested, and ask if anyone was close enough to go over there and oogle it for me. Rob :cheers:

Its a shame you don't have the factory lightbar accessory for putting 4 lights on a factory roll bar... Its one of the few things I think I forgot to show you... Rob

Got your text. Finally... :D Enjoy! :cheers: Rob

I have State Farm. I've been really happy with them, but it could just be my agent. He receptionist has always taken care of me, and given me good advice. Coming from a good friend who has a body shop, the worst companies for paying insurance claims are 21st century and Farmers. He said State Farm can be difficult too. They like to not pay, and cut corners with cheap Chinese parts. I'll continue this later, have to get back to work. Rob

As far as I know, they were just tied into the foglight switch. No extra switch for them. Rob

Thanks for the advice. I am really set on finding an HO 6 speed 4x4 with the info I have found. About the VP... I was reading that the LP has more bearing on the life of the VP. But you are saying that the VP is pretty much toast after 150K? Have you done one yourself? Rob

From what I am reading on the cumminsforum.com site, the 6 speed weighs 650 lbs, and a used one fetches about $3500. Yowza. Bo, you have any good sites for general CTD info? Rob

Yep. I've seen all of those. The 3500 would be a bit much for me. Might want to remove those from your search. That one in Fox Lake is tempting, but the power adders, the headlights/tails make me think it was juvenile owned. Although I am most likely still in that age bracket, it isn't for me. As for distance, no worries. I am opening my search up to a 150 mile radius. Thanks for the help. Might keep me from overlooking some. Rob :cheers:

Yessir. I have a favorites tab with the cars.com, and autotrader.com search with the keywords diesel, manual, and 4x4 saved. I'll check those every night, and I can do a CL search every once and awhile on the cell when I have some downtime. Have one you can send me? Rob

Original paint, meticulous owner. It showed. There was a rock chip or two, but that was about it. This truck is exactly what I want to find in 4x4. I think I am going to end up going either the dealer or private owner. The "used car lots" just don't have the quality I am looking for. That is where we used to send the rejects from the Ford dealer. We would hold on to only the nicest, maintained used ones. I just looked at a "used car lot" one today... Not only did it have twice the miles, one less gear, and a farm truck, they were asking $15K and change. The steering was loose and vague, it needed tires, the windshield was cracked... Felt way underpowered as compared to the 2wd... Could have been the HO vs Non-HO Cummins though. A dealer just can't put out the crap that the little lots can and keep their reputation. I'll pay a bit more, but the extra piece of mind and cleanliness of a dealer used will be worth it in my book. Rob

So... I came home tonight with plans of hitting some dealers. Took a shower, and decided I would tire kick a '01 1500 with the 5.9L, and it looked mint in the lot on Sunday... Gone by the time I got there. Called on some other trucks with astronomical miles, and severely overpriced. Decided to pass. It was then that the heavens sang. Found a listing for a 2001 Ram 2500, H.O. Cummins, 6 Speed, Bright Red, Extended cab, Longbox, 100K miles. $12000. I couldn't call fast enough... Talked to the dealer, it was a one owner truck, guy traded it in on a new one. Off I went. Hour drive, I was excited for sure. Get there and I see this. I knew the stance right away. 2WD. Insert Price is Right loosing tunes. Oh well... I was there, so I took it for a spin. Oh. My. God. So smooth, so straight, so perfect. The thing felt like it wanted to just pull a house down if I dropped the hammer. No sewer pipe exhaust, no tuners, no gauges... Just stock. I asked questions, sat down, and was even more enticed. The previous owner left a page long report of all maintenance, upkeep, mileage, towing history, driving history, and even his contact info for the new owner... This was my type of PO. I just couldn't do it though... I am on call for plow repair in the winter for the city, and I just absolutely need the 4x4 for winter call outs... At least I know the truck I want is feasible in my price range, just have to find one that's 4x4. Wasn't easy to walk away from that one though. Rob :fs2:

Whoa, wait a tic, got a better pic of the rear pumpkin on that thing? Rob

Thanks. This is the kinda input I was looking for on the Cummins forum, but have yet to get a reply. Stuff like this gives me extra things to search on, and zero in on the details I am searching for. Keep 'em coming. Rob :D

I am tired of asking to borrow people's pickups to tow vehicles and things around. I posted up on the Cumminsforum, but have yet to get a response. Seeing as I know we have a few Cummins Ram aficionado's here... Here's the deal. This is what I am looking for: '95-'02 CTD Club / Quad cab Manual Trans - 4x4 Longbed - SRW I used to have a '97 CTD Auto that the trans grenaded at 298K. I had to get out of it because I couldn't afford the trans. I want to get back into one, but since I have been out of the racket for a bit, I need some refreshers. What should I be looking for when buying one? Problem areas that usually spring up? Is the 6 speed better than the 5? Were they offered at the same time? As far as miles go... I know high mileage doesn't mean much, but when is too much too much, even with a good owner? I am going to try to stay away from the modded trucks with programmers/exhaust/add-ons because not many people know enough about what they are doing and I want to start fresh. I might go look at this one after work tomorrow. http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c ... dard=false Opinions? Advice? Tips? Let me have them. Thanks in advance, Rob :bowdown:

I think Hornbrod or WHowey has a PDF of the accessories manual, I got the breakdown for the winch from someone... I bet the brush guard would be on an exploded diagram somewhere... Rob

He bought it from the $700 guy. Rob

Can't say anyone close would have one... Have any buddies that would do some parts store runs for beer? Rob

Buy it. Learn how to work on a vehicle by having a side project like this. Its cheap enough that if you get in over your head, you might break even selling it as an unfinished project. Rob

FWIW, next time try a big glass pickle jar. My instructors in tech school used to pull a vacuum on a glass pickle jar with a metal lid. Pretty cool to see water boil at room temperature. I can't remember what they used for the port though... Maybe a metal valve stem in the lid? Rob