New to the site and need some help deciding on a truck... bad!!
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From: Northern Iowa
Not to just double-whammy this subject, but after looking again I realized the 4wd one has a plow. I would look past it at once knowing this. Truth is the owner can tell you anything he wants, but plowing is very hard on ANY truck. It's a huge amount of shock loading and stress on the frame as well as the driveline and transmission. No way I would purchase a truck that I knew had a plow. Just my $.02
But it does have a nice paint job! ...
But it does have a nice paint job! ...
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: New Holland, PA
Originally posted by Intercooler
Congrats on TOM! Did you go to the dyno day at Kauffmans? Were you the guy working on getting the turbo apart on the table? I was there and spoke to you if it was you.
Congrats on TOM! Did you go to the dyno day at Kauffmans? Were you the guy working on getting the turbo apart on the table? I was there and spoke to you if it was you.
I kinda thought that if you'd been to a dyno day in the area recently it was probably Spring Fling.
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Originally posted by 96_12V
Intercooler,
I have been away for while so I just saw this thread. If you check my sig you will see that I drive a 2 year newer version of the '94, with the 215 rather than the 185bhp Cummins. The mileage is current as of now.
Let me put it this way - If I had the option of purchasing a truck that is nearly identical, in better body condition, with 185,000 less miles than 96_12V has, I would do it in a heartbeat!! I have not wanted, nor needed 4wd, I prefer the better handeling of the 2wd truck, and with a manual, and 400# in the bed, it's never been a problem in snow at all, in Chicago or northern Wisconsin.
Now for the kicker - resale value! KBB.com is where you really shoud check this out - you will basically not depreciate that $4500 Cummins engine option during the life of the truck. The V-10, on the other hand, will likely value for LESS than a V-8 due to it's complexity and difficulty obtaining replacement parts.
All this said, I would strongly suggest buying the '94 Cummins. Looks like it's been very well cared for, and you have 200,000+ miles left on that one. Actully $7-8,000 is a steal for that truck. Last fall I called a guy in Ohio who listed his '95 2wd, 5-speed regular cab Cummins for $5000 on Autotrader.com. Turns out he was a feed dealer who used it for statewide delivery, had purchased it new, and with 454,000 miles on it, sold it in three days for the full price!
Jump on that Cummins! Good luck!
Intercooler,
I have been away for while so I just saw this thread. If you check my sig you will see that I drive a 2 year newer version of the '94, with the 215 rather than the 185bhp Cummins. The mileage is current as of now.
Let me put it this way - If I had the option of purchasing a truck that is nearly identical, in better body condition, with 185,000 less miles than 96_12V has, I would do it in a heartbeat!! I have not wanted, nor needed 4wd, I prefer the better handeling of the 2wd truck, and with a manual, and 400# in the bed, it's never been a problem in snow at all, in Chicago or northern Wisconsin.
Now for the kicker - resale value! KBB.com is where you really shoud check this out - you will basically not depreciate that $4500 Cummins engine option during the life of the truck. The V-10, on the other hand, will likely value for LESS than a V-8 due to it's complexity and difficulty obtaining replacement parts.
All this said, I would strongly suggest buying the '94 Cummins. Looks like it's been very well cared for, and you have 200,000+ miles left on that one. Actully $7-8,000 is a steal for that truck. Last fall I called a guy in Ohio who listed his '95 2wd, 5-speed regular cab Cummins for $5000 on Autotrader.com. Turns out he was a feed dealer who used it for statewide delivery, had purchased it new, and with 454,000 miles on it, sold it in three days for the full price!
Jump on that Cummins! Good luck!
I spoke with the V-10 owner today some more and he owns a Service Center. He did the brakes and the brake lines since the Dodge trucks are known to rust. I can't understand why a 54k mile truck would have a rip on the outer edge of the driver's seat. Is that something normal in Dodge trucks? That truck books for $9200 and he will take $8500 for it but it needs the header, seat and headliner fixed.
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From: Central MA
Originally posted by Intercooler
I can't understand why a 54k mile truck would have a rip on the outer edge of the driver's seat. Is that something normal in Dodge trucks? That truck books for $9200 and he will take $8500 for it but it needs the header, seat and headliner fixed.
I can't understand why a 54k mile truck would have a rip on the outer edge of the driver's seat. Is that something normal in Dodge trucks? That truck books for $9200 and he will take $8500 for it but it needs the header, seat and headliner fixed.
The plug wire reroute that was mentioned earlier is TSB 18-48-98.
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From: Northern Iowa
Intercooler,
Sorry you missed the diesel - sounds like a great truck, someone got a good one. But there will be others. Why a rip in the seat at 54k? Becuase it only has 54k as it's been used for short trips around town and lots of in and out of the vechile. My truck has no rips in the seats, it;s primairly a longer-run vechile, with some in town short trips.
If you're serious about finding a diesel, I would jump on www.autotrader.com and do and advanced search for a '94 - '98 Ddoge diesel with a manual trans (if you need that) and look around the country for one. There seem to be quite a few of them in Texas, and no rust really down there. Just do a carfax on anything you think seriously about.
I passed a dealer in Kentucky last week that had over 30 diesel pickups in stock. I was running late, otherwise I would have stopped, perhaps someone knows of such a place on this board? Keep on searching, don't give up!
Sorry you missed the diesel - sounds like a great truck, someone got a good one. But there will be others. Why a rip in the seat at 54k? Becuase it only has 54k as it's been used for short trips around town and lots of in and out of the vechile. My truck has no rips in the seats, it;s primairly a longer-run vechile, with some in town short trips.
If you're serious about finding a diesel, I would jump on www.autotrader.com and do and advanced search for a '94 - '98 Ddoge diesel with a manual trans (if you need that) and look around the country for one. There seem to be quite a few of them in Texas, and no rust really down there. Just do a carfax on anything you think seriously about.
I passed a dealer in Kentucky last week that had over 30 diesel pickups in stock. I was running late, otherwise I would have stopped, perhaps someone knows of such a place on this board? Keep on searching, don't give up!
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I'm back! Maybe I am looking at the mileage thing wrong trying to find one in my range. What is totally safe mileage to have on one when looking? Cars it's 50k-70k and it doesn't bother me a bit. What on a diesel = the same.
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From: Northern Iowa
Intercooler,
Glad to see you're back. Thought you had bought the v-10 and left us?!
As for mileage, it's honestly quite secondary on the Cummins-powered rigs to Condition. If it's been well-maintained, and the owner has records to prove it, it's worth more than a low-mile rig that has been used hard and put away wet. Given a 12V engine, I would not sneer at 250k. Make sure the brakes are in good shape, new rotors cost $129 EACH. Check for squeaks, rattles, crash damage, rust (under the doors, primarily on the botton edge of the door itself) and modifications. Ball joints, and the Tracbar on the 4wd units, tend to need replaced at this age no matter the mileage.
When I looked for my truck I wanted to find one that had never had a fifth-wheel, or a snow plow attached. Both indicate hard use. CarFax anything you're serious about, and look in Texas (as mentioned before) as they tend to be high-mile, rust free, well cared for rigs. Good luck!
Glad to see you're back. Thought you had bought the v-10 and left us?!
As for mileage, it's honestly quite secondary on the Cummins-powered rigs to Condition. If it's been well-maintained, and the owner has records to prove it, it's worth more than a low-mile rig that has been used hard and put away wet. Given a 12V engine, I would not sneer at 250k. Make sure the brakes are in good shape, new rotors cost $129 EACH. Check for squeaks, rattles, crash damage, rust (under the doors, primarily on the botton edge of the door itself) and modifications. Ball joints, and the Tracbar on the 4wd units, tend to need replaced at this age no matter the mileage.
When I looked for my truck I wanted to find one that had never had a fifth-wheel, or a snow plow attached. Both indicate hard use. CarFax anything you're serious about, and look in Texas (as mentioned before) as they tend to be high-mile, rust free, well cared for rigs. Good luck!
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From: Kerrville eastern new mexico, west texas
We have more of diesels down here then you can shake a stick at. The one i bought before my 03 had 147k miles on it when i bought and left with 260k 2 years later and i buy them to work. had tranny problems but that was of because of what i tow and the mods it had. never touched the motor and only replaced the lift pump once.
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From: East Central OK
Try http://www.autotrader.com/
I bought my '92 down in TX w/ 169K miles on it from the original owner and have 227K on it now. If the truck has primarily highway miles on it, anything under 200K is reasonably low mileage for a Cummins IMHO. I expect at least another 200K out of mine.
I bought my '92 down in TX w/ 169K miles on it from the original owner and have 227K on it now. If the truck has primarily highway miles on it, anything under 200K is reasonably low mileage for a Cummins IMHO. I expect at least another 200K out of mine.
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Originally posted by 12valve@heart
Try http://www.autotrader.com/
I bought my '92 down in TX w/ 169K miles on it from the original owner and have 227K on it now. If the truck has primarily highway miles on it, anything under 200K is reasonably low mileage for a Cummins IMHO. I expect at least another 200K out of mine.
Try http://www.autotrader.com/
I bought my '92 down in TX w/ 169K miles on it from the original owner and have 227K on it now. If the truck has primarily highway miles on it, anything under 200K is reasonably low mileage for a Cummins IMHO. I expect at least another 200K out of mine.
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Shame it wasn't closer: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=31831
Also about 2k too high for me.
Also about 2k too high for me.
