Ok so here goes. I got looking at my 04' tonight and it turns out that it needs a bit of work. The control arm bushings are completely shot, the rear crank seal is starting to leak, the right rear axle seal is leaking, the tranny is getting weaker, it needs shocks and a few other seals/gaskets around the tranny and transfer case. Basically the truck is starting to show its age at 238,000kms. Not only that but the payment and insurance (20 year old guy driving a fairly new truck with a lien on it=$$$) is a bit of a burden. I make pretty good money for a person my age but it seems that this truck is preventing me from enjoying and saving said wage.

So what do I do? I plan on fixing the current issues with it but whats gonna let go next thats going to be a big bill? My 93' although doesn't ride as smooth and is nowhere near as comfy, its paid for and needs some work but its a solid, reliable truck with cheaper insurance and fuel bill.

I'm thinking of maybe fixing and selling my 04' in the spring, running my 93' for a while and save some money and find a nice clean, low kms 96 or 97 ext cab 4x4 CTD OR a clean, low kms 01/02 CTD (although the VP44 scares me, not a fan of having something go dead in the middle of nowhere)

Thoughts? I love the 04' but its getting to be a burden and frustration financially

 

You know, for all the scary words about the VP44's lack of reliability, my original made 420K and was still going when I exchanged the motor. You could always do what Tate did and swap a P7100 on there. There's something to be said about the dead-nuts reliability of a mechanical pumped truck. As long as you can get clean fuel and air to it and find a way to crank it, it'll run.

My brother has an '03-compared to my '01, I like the extra few convenience options, the larger back seat, the better brakes and steering and the lack of engine noise. Don't like the extra stuff to go wrong on the CR engine (injectors, FCA, etc.) and the extra electrical stuff. Dad has a '92-while those trucks are comparatively primitive, they are eons tougher than the newer body style. It all comes down to personal preference. There are lots of times I'd like a newer truck-my cross-shift at work has a Mega Cab that I drool over from time to time-but I haven't had a vehicle payment now for almost 3 years and I sure don't miss that.

Jason

 

I have 276000 on my truck and never had a VP failure that left me dead at the side of the road, but saying that I just helped a buddy fix his dead VP, as his truck was dead on the side of the road. He had fuel supply problems with his truck during that cold snap. I would fix your ride up and get another 200k out it, but of course thats boring. New trucks are nice as well, as they smell nice inside. Older 1st gen trucks just rock for unique original styling. The 3rd gen have the best cab going for room for passagers. I still like the 2nd gen cab, as I travel tons by myself. Makes feel like I just jumped into a race baha truck. Lots of choices out there. Lately I even like that thristy hemi, its starts decently without plugging and darn dependable, but thristy. I want dodge to bring back a 4th gen power wagon CTD. That way you can have a decent work truck right from the factory.

 

Having all those seals leak is pretty uncommon, just happens. As far as other things go, they are just things they are going to wear out on any truck can't do anything about it. I hear you on being young with the truck payment, I hate it. But I look at it this way, put in tons of hours for a bit and throw any money you can at it to get rid of it. This summer I will have my 6 year loan paid for in 3

The repairs suck but just part of it. My 04 only has 135,000km on it but have been a few repairs that have added up a bit. The way I see it, a $800ish truck payment will do a lot of repairs, not to mention higher insurance on a newer truck etc. Plus you have to start again on the mods! I know that is my biggest expense.....I don't want to know how much of my income last year went to it

However to get rid of having to many repairs on my 04 getting up there in km, I am buying a older 1500 for a daily driver to keep the miles off my expensive rig. If I put insurance on it threw my parents it's only 300/year, like $2000 to buy the truck, not that big of investment. Just an idea.

 

238000Km,that is a lot of driving in 5 years, double than most.If any of you young guys out there---what is insurance running for male/single/couple of years driving experience/no demerits/under 25/bank loan----if you don't mind me asking on these newer trucks(ballpark).---mine is 787.00year on my 07 dually(full coverage)---but i"m boring(married14 years/no demerits/accidents/24 driving years experience.Believe this or not but my "BOMBED" 2001 that sits in the garage most of the time with 54000Km is 948.00 with full coverage but is classed as "pleasure vehicle"Go figure but my 07 is driven more and is cheaper to fix/insure than the 01 as it is classed as a safer vehicle to drive that is why the cheaper rate group---from what i have been told by my broker.DW

 

I actually liked the interior of my '01 better than my '03 but I needed the big backseat of the '03 for car seats plus it is quieter.

Any 2nd gen truck is WAY better than any 1st gen truck for comfort. Since you don't NEED a big back seat if I were you I would buy a 2nd gen truck and the money saved on purchase and monthly expenses would go along way to buying some performance mods.

 

I'm 20 driving 4 years 1 minor ticket (doesn't affect rate) and I pay 275/month full coverage, $3300 or so. It is insane, ING raised my rate this year for no fing reason, the gov't regulated comphensive dropped, so they raised my collision a ton to make up for it. My bro only pays 180/month I believe for his 2010 ram 1500, same record 1 ticket just 2 more years driving experience.

 

Back in 1988 when i bought a brand new Suzuki samari i was paying 2200.00 then.Before all these rate cuts/caps a few years ago----some of these young fellas i see driving Range Rovers/Lexus must have Mommy/Daddy with deep pockets or are working to drive.ING dropped my 3 vehicle rates(2 dodges/08 Sentra)----but raised my house insurance to the roof(no claims ever).500k house is running 900.00/year now.

 

I pay a reducilious low house insurance(they will pay up to 1 million to replace my house should it be destroyed) anyway little known fact is if you have a monitored alarm system they cut premiums usually by the amount of the alarm or better, that can be 300-400 cheaper, and if you have replaced a hotwater tank tell them as it drops the premiums 60-80$ again, my house(tax assesment at 300,000) insurance is less than 250$ at Canadian direct

I switched to them 8 or more yrs ago and at the time my rates (car too) dropped by more than 1/2.
only problem was the wait times when calling them, I'm sure that has improved as I have not called them in quite a while

 

When I turned 16, I had a 97 ranger. This was 2001, so it was relatively new. I was paying $4k a year. No tickets, drivers ed completed. I was paying more in insurance per month than I was for the truck. When I bought my first dodge, it was about $1200 a year. When I bought the second one, it is $2200 a year for both.

Anyhow, to the original topic. Luke, I'd fix up your '93 to the point of it being comfortable as a daily driver for a while. Park the '04, take it off insurance and then fix what needs to fixed to ditch it. Then you can save your cash for whatever it is you are looking for. A house, I'd presume. You can find a 2nd gen for pretty cheap, have it paid off in half a years time for what your '04 is costing you.

 

Multi-vehicle insurance...For years my rates where pretty low...The more vehicles I insured the lower the rate...How stupid it sounds I saved more money having 3 vehicles insured than having only one insured..Costs me $1000 to insure 4 vehicles....But 3 have year round collectors insurance...

 

I was quoted $25k per year for commerical coverage that would work both for Canada and USA, for one vehicle (my 2002 truck).Needless to say, found another insurance plan.

As for the all blow seals, I wonder if you have a vent plugged somewhere. Most of those little parts are cheap and can be done at home. I went thru four front main seals on the 02 CTD, before I got it fixed. I even made a adjustment to my rad shroud for quick removal.

When was the last time you serviced the transmission? You could just need a quick band adjustment and filter replacement.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I ordered the parts through a buddy's girlfriend (forgot that she works at a 4x4 shop) so I'll be saving a bit of cash there. This truck was an oilfield truck in its previous life and I bought it with 184,000kms on it, 2 years ago. Currently I pay $285 a month for insurance. Thats with one ticket on my record (BS ticket, cop didn't even show up, got it a month later in the mail).

I just serviced the trans last summer. I drained the pain, cleaned the magnet, replaced the filter and gasket and then filled it up with synthetic ATF. But I didn't do any band adjustments.

For now I'm gonna fix it and run it till spring and probably do what Tate suggested: park it, take the insurance off of it and run my 93 for a while. At least I'd be saving a little bit of cash there.