Tell me about the Ram 1500.

[Kevin B.]

Specifically in the '98 to '01 range, because that seems to be what's popping up in my price range. I see a 5.2 V8 in most of them, an engine I know nothing about. What's the real world MPG on that motor, and how many miles is too many? Any reliability issues? Could it tow 5000-6000 pounds over US6 if it had to? How about the transmissions, any common problems to look for in the auto or manual?

 

[Cascadia]

I know the late 90's to early 2000's with the 5.9 motor had a lot of transmission problems. I'm sure they've all been rebuilt at least once by now. I remember getting around 13-15 around town but not totally positive. It was 13 years ago.

 

[Greg]

The only reason to buy a Dodge pickup is for the Cummins (and even that is a gamble)... otherwise, find something else IMO. Poor build quality, interiors fall apart way too early, etc.

 

[jeeper]

Transmissions are completely junk (as in most chrysler products)

What is your price range?
Looking for ext cab/4 door?

 

[TRD270]

Frontend and brakes are garbage in this era as well. Motors aren't real power houses either, I'm sure they would pull the load but you'll be pushing them. If I was buying a gasser from then I would look for a Chev or Ford

 

[Kevin B.]

Transmissions are completely junk (as in most chrysler products)

What is your price range?
Looking for ext cab/4 door?

The Minister of the Treasury has advised me my budget is $4000 .

It doesn't have to be four door, but it does need a usable back seat (my boys are both growing like weeds!). I started out looking at F150s and F250s because that's what I know, but I when I told KSL to give me every pickup under $4000 with four doors, all these Ram 1500s popped up. I guess now I know why they're under $4000. Thanks for the input, everybody, I'll cross them off the list.

 

[jeeper]

The Minister of the Treasury has advised me my budget is $4000 .

It doesn't have to be four door, but it does need a usable back seat (my boys are both growing like weeds!). I started out looking at F150s and F250s because that's what I know, but I when I told KSL to give me every pickup under $4000 with four doors, all these Ram 1500s popped up. I guess now I know why they're under $4000. Thanks for the input, everybody, I'll cross them off the list.

My experience is that most people don't fill out the Ksl form fully, so searching by number a doors wont net the best results. fyi.

 

[BCGPER]

You can easily get into a ford or Chev extended cab in that price range. Chev's in that era were 3 door, so your search automatically eliminated those.

I'm With Greg, the Dodge truck as a whole is junk.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TurboMinivan]

Specifically in the '98 to '01 range

That spread represents the tail end of that generation Ram 1500. The redesigned 2002+ was a quantum improvement in nearly every way, especially when the old school 5.9L was replaced with the 5.7L Hemi. The new 545RFE was likewise a vast improvement over the former transmission.

 

[Seven]

I own a 98 quad cab 1500. I have 130,000 on it and the original transmission. First off I love the look of the quadcab 2nd gen dodges and I got a killer deal on mine. However if I had to replace it I don't think I would be looking for another one unless another killer deal showed up. I Pull a 24 foot camper and atv in bed a couple times a year(estimate 5-6K load) and it pulls but I do sometimes hang out with the semi's on the big hills. I actually will be doing us6 to moab in about 2weeks. Several places I know I max out at 35 MPH going up the steep parts. I have the 5.2. I have lifted it and put 255/85/16 on it. So that probably doesn't help the power. unsure if the 5.9 would really help that much.

Engine= gas mileage of big block and power of V6
Transmission = known to have problems
Transfer case = Mine has the 231(Same as Jeeps) I have rebuilt that stupid thing about 7 times. Some had 241 and might be slightly stronger
Axles = actually pretty good and has Solid axle up front. Only common problems is the axle seals on fronts
steering= I have replaced everything on front end (ball joints, TRE, Track bar, Tie Rod, Etc.
Inside = other than stupid cupholder the inside has held up ok.

Most everything has been easy to work on.

 

[BoostedRNR]

I've had a few friends own these years of Dodge's. 3 of them with the 5.9 struggled to get 13mpg's, driving downhill with a tail wind. I did have one buddy that owned a 5.2 with a 5-speed. It was lifted with 35's on it and it would out tow the auto 5.9's, while getting better mileage.

If it were me, I would choose a Chev. I've worked on them all and the Chevy's are cheaper and easier to work on, minus the ifs front.

 

[STAG]

My moms '99 Durango has the 5.9, she gets 11.2 mpg, (only city though, no hwy). No transmission issues, but cyl 1 will throw a misfire code every now and then. 175kish miles. A few window motors have gone out, but other than that not too many issues.

I know a Ram and Durango aren't the same, but they are siblings in my eyes.

 

[lenny]

I have a Dakota with the 5.2 in it, I actually love the engine in that truck, maybe because it's a smaller truck. But the engine has lots of power for that size. I have 113k on it and it is rock solid.

 

[Kiel]

We don't have a transmission we haven't done in any automatic dodge truck or durango from 98 to 01 and we have a lot. The engines seem to be pretty decent, but it seems like one over heat from a customer and they are done, the good news are there are lots of used engines out there haha

 

[Toad]

Are you daily driving this truck? Or just a weeekend tow/work truck? If thats what you are doing look for a 90s era 3/4 ton ford or chev with big block 454/460. Gas mileage will probably be better when you are towing it and you wont be working it till a inch of its life.

 

[Kevin B.]

Are you daily driving this truck? Or just a weeekend tow/work truck?

I haven't had a proper pickup for a while, and I need one. It'll be a utility truck - random towing and hauling, helping friends move , and the occasional trip into the boonies when we don't feel like shoehorning into one of the 4Runners.

I'm going to look at moabxjeepers' 7.5 F250 in the morning. I like these trucks, I don't know why I was looking at anything else.

 

[flexyfool]

Are you daily driving this truck? Or just a weeekend tow/work truck? If thats what you are doing look for a 90s era 3/4 ton ford or chev with big block 454/460. Gas mileage will probably be better when you are towing it and you wont be working it till a inch of its life.

X2. You get a lot of truck for the money. Mileage will be bad around town, but it will reliably and safely pull your load at speed.

 

[flexyfool]

That spread represents the tail end of that generation Ram 1500. The redesigned 2002+ was a quantum improvement in nearly every way, especially when the old school 5.9L was replaced with the 5.7L Hemi. The new 545RFE was likewise a vast improvement over the former transmission.

X2. With those years you get into the newer 1/2 tons that are more like old-school 3/4 tons.

 

[jr4x]

I had an 01 1500 4x4 offroad sport model with a 5.9 with 4.10 gears and was good to me for the 5 years I had it. It got 14 MPG empty and 8 mpg towing 6,000 lbs. With the 4.10's it towed fine, way better than the 5.3 in the silverado I had at the same time. Never broke down on me but the interior degraded very quickly.

I sold the 01 dodge when I got a good deal on a super low mileage 93 crew cab f-350 with a 7.5L. I would not go back the other way. I get 12 mpg empty with the 460 8~9 towing 6,000 lbs and the truck is cheap and easy to work on. Every body's first remark about the 460 is "doesnt that get bad gas mileage?" The way I look at it is this. I dont have a truck payment so my payment goes in the gas tank. If I dont use the truck, no payment that month. If you get liablity only insurance it wont cost much to own it. Be aware the 87-91 brick nose fuel injected ones with high miles are known to have computer issues that are pretty hard to fix. The 92-97 ones dont have that as far as I know.

 

[TRD270]

Be aware the 87-91 brick nose fuel injected ones with high miles are known to have computer issues that are pretty hard to fix.

Kevin's already owned one of those