First of all--in Our Search Mother & "I" have read many Pros & Cons on The--CHEVY--GMC--DODGE & FORDs & heres what We have found Out? & WE don*t want to start a Verbual WAR on any Make just INFO WE have gathered by chatting w/ owners of All of the above! Forget all the Older model GMs--as their Diesel engines are just a Modifyed Gas Engine--& WE have heard Horror Stories even on GMs New Dura-Max--now to the DODGES & FORDS!--the DODGES Auto tranny is very WEAK--as WE have seen Diesel DODGES w/ less than 100,000 miles have to re=place Trannies--A scarry item in searching for a Diesel pick up! & the Diesel FORDS! Were told the Engine parts Cost more than Cummins--So were now at a Catch 21 Situation--for as RETIRESS WE can*t Afford to BUY a Bad One!--WE have given UP on the Older models as WE couldn*t find a Good One Locally--soWE raised our Sights up to the Later yrs of the 12 Valve Cummins--& WE by Chance found ONE late one night in a local Dealers Lot--a Super Clean 94 4X4 streight as you will find any where! NICE TRUCK!--first thing next morning I was There!--inquiring about It--a Reg CAB 94 4X4--w/ 129,000 miles on it--bed liner--pipe running boards--bush guard--viser w/lights--& trailer Hitch--just Serviced & turned up by Cummins-- & a New Auto Tranny w/ 13,000 miles-- needs only new Tires--just under $9,000 dollars--is it a Good DEAL? Bad Deal?or NO! DEAL? whats Your Opinion?--Ole JIM & Linda

 

You might check autotraderonline.com or eBay motors for price comparisons . I wouldn't shy away from a Dodge automatic . I know of plenty of RV haulers with over 100,000 miles and no problems . Stay away from Fords . They do have more problems and parts and service are more expensive . This also comes from feedback from RV hauling Ford owners . The majority of them were unhappy with their truck . Duramax owners seem pretty satisfied and the Duramax is improving . It depends on your needs .Dodge is a better work truck . Chevy gives a more comfortable ride .

 

That price may be a LITTLE high, but they vary a lot based on local markets, and how many trucks are avalliable in any given area.

As far as your trannt concerns, since the tranny is newly rebuilt you could put in a new Valve Body, and maybe even a torque convertor (by one of the big aftermarket makers) and greatly improve the durability and function of your transmission. A valve body can be had for under $500.

 

sounds like your in the same boat as me.i picked up a 36 ft 5th wheel about 2 months ago.i actually bought the trailer before i had a truck.i looked high and low around here.all i found were trucks that were beat to a pulp and overpriced.i finally found a 94 gmc 4x4 crewcab dually(gasser) for a price i couldn't pass up.figure i'll drive it til i find a diesel.here are a couple of my observations.1 what will you be pulling,if it's a 5th wheel over 30 ft i'd suggest a dually,they're more stable.2 ext or crew cabs are the only way to go,especially a crew,the long wheelbase makes for a nice ride.3 i myself could do without the 4x4,it's just more stuff to worry about 4.visors look nice but howl in the wind.fords are not as bad as some people make em out to be,some people just hate fords and thats that.believe me i'm one of em,but they do make probably the best built pickup,but they don't ride like a gm.i actually ran into a ford last week that i'm seriously considering.it's a 94 pre power stroke.they are alot easier to work on and they made a heck of alot of em.i'ts just about what i want. crew cab dually right at 100,000 miles,only drawback is it has an automatic,i prefer a stick myself.clutch's are alot cheaper then a trans rebuild.but around here if you want nice you take what you can find.you talk about the scarry dodge trannies that die before 100,000 yet the truck your looking at the trans was replaced at what (116,000)needs tires,does it also need a full front end rebuild??if your interested in it take it to your mechanic and have him give it the once over,or better yet just go back and look it over again,if you drove it go drive it again..i never buy stuff at first sight.you would be amazed at the stuff you can miss in your haste to buy "just what you want".come back with a clear head,you might find it's been wrecked and repainted,you never know.

 

If it is what you want/need and you can afford it go for it
Just sold a 99 2wd with 250k miles for 10k .


It is all a matter of perspective

 

Old Jim is back! He is making slightly more sense this time? I recall last time he was here he was pretty controvertial.

 

Buying an older truck involves inherant risk. If you're budgeting about 15 - 20% of the pruchase price for needed repairs in the first year of ownership, you're likely on track. You need to be aware that repairs to a rig such as this are going to be higher than a normal, light-duty car or truck. 12-quart oil changes speak for themselves. So do $129/each from brake rotors from CarQuest - without installation. So I guess what I'm saying is - this vechile, like most others will have problems. And it's going to cost you more than some others would to repair and maintain. That said, there are advantages to these, which is why most of us are here. Good luck!

 

Thanks GUYS as our Search has turned into--a Full BLOWN Pro & Con Confussion--We really appricate the INFO--I was just Thinking how Nice it must Be! to have enough MONEY to GO & Order Exactally what You want in a Truck Brand NEW right down to those little extras such a seat fabric--Well We can all DREAM can*t WE!--Ours is going to be a Daily Driver that Will haul a twin axled car trailer every once in a while--& WE did look for a Plain Jane 2 wheel drive! WE found a few Dualeys but NO single rears & WE jacked UP our Budget as all the inexspnsive Diesel Trucks WE looked at--WEll I don*t desire to get Negitive! So YOU all get my Message? as I wouldn*t take some Home as a Gift! enough Said! & the OLE Car trading Rule--still stands!--if Its YOURS? it Ain*t Worth Crap!--but--If its the Dealers?--Uhuuh--its worth its weight in GOLD! So what ELSE is NEW?--so Its back to ??-- DONO??--WE suppose? WE could SELL our House? & BUY that BIG BAD NEW DODGE DUALEY WE fell in LOVE with! may-be?? Next Time??--Thanks again GUYS!--Ole JIM--

 

"WE found a few Dualeys but NO single rears"

They are hard to find, unless you call Dave Smith up in Idaho. Seems he cornered the market on 3500 SRW's. I drove one a few years back....it bounced too much and didn't handle the sway too well. I shelved that idea, along with a few others. I picked up a '00 Dodge V10 flatbed at an auction last month. Only had 185,000 miles on it. Runs good, gonna use it on the farm for jumping ditches.

 

A 94 with only 129,000 miles on it? I find that hard to believe for a 12 year old truck.
* Better check the lower ball joints for wear - that's a $600 repair.
* Serviced by Cummins or a local Dodge dealer? Big difference.
* Tires? Don't be cheap - you need "E" rated whichever brand you like. I use 235/85/16 Kelly CSR's because they are commercial weight tires. I can get 65,000 miles out of a set of four, rotating every other oil change.
* Buy your 12v filters from Geno's Garage in Ga. They sell Fleetguard, which is made by Cummins. Don't buy Fram anything for your truck.