Cummins dudes...

[Automan2164]

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:

[Incommando]

TONS of trouble out of a '95 with a way-too-weak-for this-application NV4500. Along about '98 (I'd research this before buying) they upgraded the mainshaft/retanier. Unless the tranny in any truck you are looking at has been (A) replaced by an upgraded unit, (B) been upgraded, © is new enough to have a better factory tranny I would not buy a NV4500 equipped CTD. Just my 2 cents.

[Automan2164]

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

[jons87mj]

Id go with the 6 speed thats what I'm running in my 2002 quad cab 3500 has great gear ratios for pullin and high way driving :yes: (only if it was 4wd insted of a sport truck :rant: )

[shelbyluvv]

Yep, stay away from the early 5 speeds. Everyone knows that the Dodge auto is crap. I replaced mine in my 07 at 68K. I like the 24 valve but I would not turn down a 12 valve if the price is right.

 

I think that 01 you are going to look at is over priced. I bought my 07 with 68K for $18,000. I took out an extended warranty and it covered the trans replacement. My 07 is a 5.9 not that 6.7 turd. Not DPF or EGR problems.

[Automan2164]

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:

[SubSonic]

 

Wasn't easy to walk away from that one though.

Rob :fs2:

 

Is that a respray, or a garage kept truck with an extremely anal owner... the latter being my guess judging from the paperwork?

 

I know I could never bring my self to ever buy another car from a used car lot...but definitely the best of luck to you.

[Automan2164]

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

[SubSonic]

 

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 by dealer, you are referring to new car dealer with used cars and not a used car lot? That makes sense, and I'd probably be more comfortable with than your standard bubba lot.

 

As always, if you have the time the right one will come along, but if you rush it you run the risk of ending up with something that isn't quite up to snuff.

 

Am I correct in assuming your looking in Harvard Illinois? 4X4, M/T, Cummins, etc.

[Pete M]

all I can add is: don't buy from the rust belt.

[Automan2164]

Am I correct in assuming your looking in Harvard Illinois? 4X4, M/T, Cummins, etc.

 

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

[SubSonic]

Not at the moment, but I'll keep an eye out.

 

Nothing that really jumps out as killer deal at this second.

Lot's of high mileage, autos, and chipped stuff... but here's some CL stuff in your area.

 

Might be out of price range...: 2002, 110K

http://madison.craigslist.org/cto/2499551784.html

 

Looked very promising @ 90K and $13, but it was chipped, yadda, yadda, meh :ack:

http://madison.craigslist.org/cto/2523004715.html

 

Then I realized Madison was quite far from Harvard, and why CL directed me there when low search results occurred in Rockford, is a curiosity of it's own.

 

But I'll keep an eye out for you, hopefully, a more relevant one at that. But if I find anything worth mentioning, I'll just PM it as to not clog up the Cummins thread, if that's Kosher with ya...

[Automan2164]

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:

[SubSonic]

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.

Thanks for the help. Might keep me from overlooking some.

Rob :cheers:

 

Yeah, me too. But I am sure we would both rather be the "juvenile owner" then deal with someone else's crap. Been there before. I like stock. Very stock. I'll keep looking anyway, like you said, just to ensure you don't miss anything. But if you're like me when you happen to be in the market, you don't miss much. I seem to get consumed by the thought of any new toy.

[Sir Sam]

Convert the red one to 4x4?

[tbrand]

How hard could it be?

[shelbyluvv]

It is a ton of work. The 2WD Rams have A arms and coils. Where the 4WD trucks are set up very similar to an MJ. It is very time and labor intensive to make one 4WD. Not to mention the price of the axle, drive shafts, trans, and transfer are crazy exspensive.

[Automan2164]

...price of the axle, drive shafts, trans, and transfer are crazy exspensive.

 

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

[Sir Sam]

It is a ton of work. The 2WD Rams have A arms and coils. Where the 4WD trucks are set up very similar to an MJ. It is very time and labor intensive to make one 4WD. Not to mention the price of the axle, drive shafts, trans, and transfer are crazy exspensive.

 

Ya but dodge D60s are all over the junkyards(IE cheap), toss in a divorced transfer case and some custom shafts and I think you have a 4wd.

[shelbyluvv]

I like http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines.com ... forums.asp of course Cummins forum as well.

[xjrev10]

My 2 cents..

 

I bought a 2001 Reg Cab 4x4 with a auto about 3 years ago with 140k. Paid 11k out the door off the lot. Never had any problems till about 180k when the lift pump went and left me on the road. This last winter I had the trans rebuild with a custom valvebody, triple disk converter, billet input and billet flex plate. Made a world of difference in the trucks ability to put power to the ground. Also had RV275 injectors and a Quadzilla Adrenline. The thing would literally smoke the tires off without even trying. Also I used to get 25mpg driving to work 40 miles one way. 65 half way and 55 the rest of the way. NO BULLCRAP.

 

Got a hair up my @$$ one day and stopped into the dodge dealer to see what they had. The regular cab was getting to me. (no room for my junk) I wanted a quad cab short box 4x4. They had a 2008 on the lot. I wasnt even going to drive it but I had some time so I figured what the hell. So I had dropped about 6k into my 2001 a couple months earler, jumped in the 2008, it ripped STOCK just as much as my mildly modded 01 if not more. Long story short, I got 10k ON TRADE (remember at the beginning of my rambling I paid 11k for the truck), and I drove the 08 home.

 

I absolutely LOVE the power, the 6 speed auto, the exhaust brake and SHE likes the heated leather....

 

Couple things to look for on the 24 valve trucks:

Service records- the VP pumps are good to about 150k. IMO any truck with over 150k on the VP is on borrowed time. Those are about 1500 bucks so if you look at a truck with higher miles be sure to include that into your buying price.

FYI: These trucks are VERY popular to mod. IT also isnt that easy to see if the truck has been modded in its past if the previous owner removed everything and put it back to stock.

First thing that should be done in buying one of these trucks is installed a Airdog or FASS 150/150 to get rid of the problematic factory Carter lift pump.

 

I would not be scared of an auto. They are best for pulling becasue you don't use your boost shifting. Also the towing capacity is more on the auto trucks. Look around a bit and I bet you could find a 98.5-02 truck with a Goerend automatic (reasearch these a little) for what you are willing to spend.

 

This got a little long but I have come to realize I love my Cummins almost as much as my MJs..

 

The 2001:

 

 

The 2008:

 

 

Bottom line for me is that I look at a diesel powered truck an investment. Take care of it, it will treat you good and someday you will happy to see how much its still worth ofter 5-6 years!! Just remember the maitenance costs are quite a bit more and parts a bit more then parts for a gas truck.

 

midwestdieselconnection.com

dieseltrucksite.com

[Automan2164]

Couple things to look for on the 24 valve trucks:

Service records- the VP pumps are good to about 150k. IMO any truck with over 150k on the VP is on borrowed time. Those are about 1500 bucks so if you look at a truck with higher miles be sure to include that into your buying price.

 

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

[jimoshel]

Maybe you could get a gas buggy and drop a diesel in? :hmm:

[SubSonic]

I love my Cummins almost as much as my MJs..

 

Well, as they say... (on a huge full rear window, uh, sticker--if you can even call it that-- here in DFW)...

 

"Cummins better than Strokin'!"

 

 

I just wish I'd got a picture of that in massive text across the back of that dually...

[xjrev10]

Couple things to look for on the 24 valve trucks:

Service records- the VP pumps are good to about 150k. IMO any truck with over 150k on the VP is on borrowed time. Those are about 1500 bucks so if you look at a truck with higher miles be sure to include that into your buying price.

 

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

Nope. I knew i was on borrowed time with my truck being the left pump already took a crap. Fuel is the VPs lube. You have no way of knowing buying a used the truck the condition of the pump or how it was treated huh a week before you make your purchase. The one in my 01 had already took one gasp of air and I didnt have anyway of knowing if it was the stocker (original) or not. Everything tech related I've listed above is what Josh at Jag's Diesel (check out midwestdieselconnection) told me when I brought my truck there to have the work done too it. It was an eye opener for me and yes deep down I got a little spooked.

 

Btw if you can find one, look for a 02.5 H.O. and it will not have a CAD! :thumbsup: