Fears of buying a high mileage Cummins
 

I am looking to purchase a Dodge Cummins Ram and I am having a hard time locating a low mileage vehicle at a reasonable price.

What are the potential problems with purchasing a high mileage truck. By "high" I mean 150,000 miles. I am looking at trucks under 100,000 miles currently.
Please give me your recommendations......Thanks

Everything except the engine can be worn to a point of replacement.

My advice is to stop considering 150k to be the cutoff point for low or moderate mileage. As you are finding out, that is not the case. These trucks generally were bought to be driven, and that's normally what happens. Worry about condition, not mileage in other words. Mine has 270k on it and runs great when I'm not tearing something up with the power.

So many variables. You can't always go strictly by mileage. I'd rather have a truck with 150,000 highway miles than one that was beat on in the oil patch or a ranch by multiple drivers for 80,000 miles and then cleaned up/detailed for resale.

I kind of went through this myself. Kept thinking about buying a brand new 05 or 06 truck for reliability reasons. But I kept thinking about how I really wanted to use the truck. I also liked the greater simplicity and reliability of the 12v engine. I knew I would always be uncomfortable with the potential damage from using a $40,000 new truck that I was still making payments on to haul gravel/dirt/ cement block or knock around offroad on brushy, overgrown logging roads. I ended up paying cash for my 1997 2500 with 180,000 highway miles and in pretty clean overall condition. I don't think the thing is anyway worn out and now I have a truck that I am not afraid to use as a truck. Couldn't be happier with my decision. Yeah, a truck with a few miles on it is likely going to have some issues crop up from time to time. I guess you need to assess how you are going to use the truck, what your mechanical abilities are, how inclined you are to work on the truck, and the overall condition of the actual truck itself.

I understand your fears. I'm currently looking at a truck with 170k on it. Price is great, but is it great because it has been beaten to death? I wish it was closer so I could go look. We'll see though.

Panrtera,

Ask aorund, see if you can get someone to take a look at it for you...I was lucky and found someone to look at a truck in WV for me...Really great considering I am a newb over here.
This site has been a great help........

Looking forward to being around for a long time....

With a high mileage truck, you wont need to worry too much about the engine being worn out. It's everything around the engine (the rest of the truck). And of course it seems like every vehicle now has all "highway miles". So I would try to get a lower mileage truck. A few years ago I looked at a 99 with well over 100k miles on it. The owner was a big guy, and the driver's side seat showed the wear. It was wasted. The pedals were also worn down. I did buy used, but I went with 11k miles on a 2003 and I'm glad I did.
Used 2003 and up are not too expensive.

Unfortunately used 2003 and up vehicles are way out of my price range....but thanks for the info....

I bought mine with 270k and I have put another 15k on it. I've replaced a few general maint. items (brakes, shocks, belt, etc.), but I haven't had what I consider to be a major problem. One thing I forgot was the APPS that I had to replace. You have to go into it knowing that there might be some items that need replacement. I think I got a great deal on my truck and I bet I could sell it today for what I paid for it. My engine is still in great shape. My trans isn't liking me right now (thanks to Smarty and Jammers). I say go for it! Just sheck the truck out real good.

Brad

What price range ar eyou looking at? What options too? I've seen 2003's for low 20's with 4x4, crew cab, etc.

Low 20's is a bit much... I am looking the high 17's low 18's.......

They are out there. Just hard to find.......

My dad just bought a 2001 1 Ton with 330,000 documented miles on it. It looked like it only had 60,000 on it. The guy that had it prior logged everything down to mileage on each tank of fuel. It was used for towing a 5th wheel 85% of it's life. I will bet money the truck will have 390 on it by year end. My father owns a 1990 1 ton that has 340,000 on it, one 1997 2500 with 395,000 on it. The 1997 is an auto and the tranny hung in there until 300,000. That truck weighs 13,000 sitting. He hauls lotsa fuel and tools. There is no one in the planet that abuses a vehicle like my dad so these trucks are pretty tough.

If the truck drives good, is rattle free, has some documentation to support maintenance efforts and looks ok consider it. If you play your cards right you can get in one cheap.

Make sure the truck has been stock throughout it's life. Mods hurt the lifeline a tick.

one4

These motors are "detuned" medium duty diesels, unlike the light duty diesels in the other two brands. They are good for at least 800,000 miles, (with proper maintenance) with a valve job around 400,000. You'll replace everything on the truck before you'll wear out the motor.
Don't worry about the motor, worry about the auto trans, or clutch, or front suspension, or any one of a dozen other minor glitches.
When you find one that interests you, give us the details, we'll tell what we think, and what to look for.

i know where there is a 96 ext cab dually 5spd in pretty good shape i think he wants 8k for it. going to need a few things but better to buy cheaper fix it and now what u have for sure. sold my 97 14 months ago just bought it back 155k i love it rather drive it than my 06 4x4 or 05 dually.

bought my 1st gen with 337 on clock now have 430 on it and am not afraid to drive it. paint looks like poop but i take care of rest of truck really good