Hi All,

I am looking at a 2003 2WD crew cab with manual trans (6sp). This truck is really clean, but has 150K miles on it. The dealer database has not maintenance history. It looks to be stock. Price is about 17K.

I am looking for a reliable daily driver, and want to know if I should buy or not. I am not new to diesels, and do all but the biggest work on my vehicles. I will be running a lot of Biodiesel.

What should I look out for, and what should I be prepared to fix soon? I know about the typical items -- lift pumps and u-joints.

Any advice would be great!

Bill

 

i wouldnt pay over 15k for it but the miles are not that bad

 

Hmm. Over 37,000 miles a year. Wonder what they were doing with it. If they havent put dealer plates on it you might be able to get the prior owners name from your DMV (its easy to do in Alaska). The person who owned it prior wouldnt have any reason to lie about its use since it has already been traded in.

 

price seems alittle high. i would not worry about the mileage if the truck has been taken care of- check color,etc of all the fluids!!

 

price seems high even for me and im in canada,2wd ones up here go pretty cheap and higher mile ones even cheaper,so a 2 wd high miler should be in 12-14k range.

 

Could've bought it in 2002, when the 03s first came out, thats only about 30k a year. Thats not unreasonable.

 

Had friends trade in 03s over a year ago both with 150k on them.Both trucks were clean and needed a maintance done to them but trucks had been maintained and were clean.One a 03 4x4 sb 6 speed the other a 2wd s/b auto(48re)Both were allowed about 15k and both trucks taken to the auction later same week.No clue to what they bought at auction but 15k was what was allowed on trade and this was well over a year(maybe two) ago.

 

it really depends on the condition of the truck, in and out, and how many are on the market to decide whats a fair price, doesn't seem that bad for me, and i don't use my truck for much, and out on almost 100,000kms a yr.

 

1980, checkout some things like the vent tube, is it blowing any oil, also look at the turbo. if its been a heavy tow rig, the compressor side of the turbo will be discolored, honey colored is fine, but more of a burnt color isnt good also carfax that sucker. later

 

I just bought mine about a month ago, i had been searching for about 3 or 4 months. lol I used autotrder. It helped me out alot. lol but as soon as you find one, that is good and you like it, jump on it or it will be sold. It happened to me more than once, just my 2 cents. lol
Trapper

 

BigBlue....CENTERVILLE TX????????? Man, i've been there a time or two... spent about 2 weeks in that hotel up by the interstate. Good mexican food down at the 4-way stop. DON'T tell me whats in it...hahahha.. And WHO is the girl that works at the catering company????

 

Dang these things keep their value eh? Glad i bought one !

I have no opinion other than saying when looking used I'd look gasser.

 

I just paid $14k for an 2004 that has 140,000 miles. After researching ownership it turned out to be owned by a man that my uncle knew. After finding out that there was nothing wrong with the truck prior to trade-in, I jumped on it. This all happened within a matter of 4 hours. The salesman said the truck had only been there a week and I was able to find the previous owners name on papers in the glove box and it had a dealer advertising tag on the front from the town where my uncle lived so I took a chance and started calling.

The previous owner traded up for a new Dodge and I steped into this one.

I feel pretty good so far. Pulled the camper to the lake this weeked with no issues.