Hey guys, im new to the site but i want to trade my 1997 gas 5.9 1500 (70,550 miles on it) in on a newer CTD. The configuration im looking at is the extended cab short bed 4x4, in either the 2001 or 2002 model with around 30-50k miles. Im looking to spend in the neighborhood of$18,000-23,000, is there anything i should look for specifically when looking for this truck? Will it be hard to find a truck like this at this price? Should i consider a CTD with more than 50K without worry that it has been "used and abused?" Thanks guys, i know its alot of questions but im 100% new to the diesel scene, so i welcome all advice!! OH and naturally i plan to bomb the Heck out of it!!

 

Welcome aboard RamFan (aren't we all???).

I'd put this in one of the 24V forums - thats where lots of those guys look first.

I think it'll be hard to find a low mileage/barely driven CTD (not impossible mind you); these trucks were purchased to work. I wouldn't be afraid to buy a higher mileage used truck, but you need to see the maintenance records before buying. Used and abused are not synonomous. I'd personally stay away from a highly modified truck unless I knew the person who did it and know of its history.

I can't remember when, but the early 2nd gens came with drum brakes in the back, and the newer versions came with disk brakes. Given a choice I'd go with disks.

BTW, if you get hit by the snow, you might want to consider a 4x4, the 4x2 trucks can be less than spectacular in the snow - especially duallys.

 

Welcome!

you will find this site to be your best source of info for dodge diesels! hell its my homepage now! At work, at school, and at home.. 77 thousand on a 360? thats not too bad considerin its an 8 year old truck. good engine, great truck, A bombed cummins YEAH THATS WHERE ITS AT!! Shame my stock clutch is holdin me back, savin pennies for the southbend, only 78,886 to go! Anyways, yes go with a 4x4, specially if u see snow, a huntin lease, or sandy or muddy conditions, and the 24V forum might help you more.. MCummings can help you, he does a hell of a job with the diesels here in laredo, PM him for advise or recomendations..

TxDiesel007

 

If you are in Libertyville, I am in Wheaton, I would be happy after the New Year's to assist you in the Chicago area looking around. I have found that Tessone Motors in Lockport tends to have several of these, they are fairly straight shooters, as well. I have looked for several of these trucks in the past. Do a search on these forums, there are lots of details out there for finding a good one. You might also want to consider an earlier 12V model, as the P-7100 Injection pumps are nealry bulletproof and they generally tend to be more relaible.

Whatever you go with, you won't miss the fuel mileage of the 360 V-8. What mileage can you achieve with it?

 

Rock on! Thanks alot guys, ive definately started the search! I will post this in the 24V forum as well. Yeah, the 360 i have now gets BARELY 14 mpg highway(and it is 2wd), i got 14.4 1 time. Next year im going to be commuting to school everyday which is about an hour away so id love the better gas mileage! And i do hunt, and we do get a fair amount of snow a year and my 2wd has kept me from hunting on a few occaisions and like TxDielsel007 said a 4x4 would be a much more appropriate mode of transportation in the snow. Actually a guy came into my work a few months back and turned me on to the whole diesel trend, and talked about the p-7100 pump, just as you are 96_12V. My dad buys all of his cars through Shepherd chevrolet up here in Lake Bluff--not to say that im not looking elsewhere--so he usually does pretty good price wise, i was just concerned of the availibility of the truck im looking for. Thanks again!

 

why not buy a 98 12v. cheaper to bomb more power available and has te interior and 4 doors just like the 24v

 

heres a few 98 12v with low miles (rare trucks)all of htem are 12v exept the one with the picture its 24v

 

Well i thought about buying a 12V but id really like something with lower miles that would be a good daily driver, plus up here they use salt on the roads in winter so the body life on these trucks arent what they are down south. I saw the trucks of yours in ur profile...very tough! are those the ones you are referring to in ur post?

 

http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/r...=used&x=41&y=0


sorry link didn't work hopefully this one worked
those in my profile are both 12v a 95 and 98. i also owned a 99 24v had it for 6months and got rid of it after finding out what i can do to a 12v and the reliability of there pumps. if your going to get crazy bombing it get a 12v i've never regreted getting rid of my 24v

 

Sorry, I didn't ID myself earlier. It's Randy and I do live in Wheaton in the western suburbs. The key to finding a good one of these is flexability and patience. Miles are really not a problem on these trucks. Automatic transmissions are, and the VP-type injection pump on the 24 Valve engines can be. Good luck as you start the search. I would say don't buy the first thing you see, drive many of them, and evaluate hard if 4WD is really for you, about a 3-4 mpg penalty, and I have not had it nor have I needed it in 3+ years of owning my '96. Good luck and merry Christmas!

 

Finding one at that price range with low miles can be had it just takes alot of looking. I just bought an 02 for my wife with 24000 mi on it for a midge over 24000. My brotherinlaw bought a 97 this summer with 70000 on it for around 17000 which I thought was high at the time but now I realize it was a decent buy cause it is a real nice truck. Look for what the truck has done, does it have a ball in the bed. That doesn't mean its been killed but if it does also look at the brakes to see if they have been replaced, could have pulled a heavy load all its life. Look for mud caked underneath where a pressure washer couldn't get to it. I looked at a real nice 01 before I bought this one, was real interested till I looked under neath. It had mud caked up inside the frame rails, I ran not walked away from it. They are high for low mile trucks but there alot higher for the new ones and I really like the 2nd generation trucks. I've seen one around here that pulls dog food everyday and had 670000 on it the last time I saw it. There is enough info on these sights to tell you every problem on these trucks. Good Luck