Well, Sold my bikes, and ready to make my wrangler a rock queen, and looking to get a diesel as a daily driver/kit hauler.
Im on a budget of around 25k.
Im going to look at a 99 Ram 2500, 4 wheel drive. with 120k, wants like 15k.
I want something I can mod. and work on, but something reliable.
Has to be 4 Wheel drive, any suggestions.
Thanks

 

I went diesel for the first time, with my last truck. I'll not go back to gas . I even had good luck w/ gassers,as my last GMC 2500 350 has 330 K on it.

 

you should find a 96 - early 98 12v 5spd. Very easy to get lots of power out of, and reliable. The 98.5+ 24v's have a problem with the lift pump and Vp44. Any 12v (94-98) would be a good truck, but the 96-98 manuals had the 215 pump which gets more aggressive with free mods.

 

This isn't the first diesel I've driven, but the first I've owned. After having it as my daily driver I'll be staying diesel the rest of my life. It works great for my driving style. I'd love to buy a 12 valve as a project truck. When the right one comes along I'll be jumping on it.

 

I've put about 2000 miles on the truck in my sig.

Only downsides (although they don't bother me) it stinks, if I have the fresh air vent on and pull up to park it after running it for awhile you'll get a good ol'smell of what a "real" truck smells like... Diesel pumps are dirty. Don't wear $80 creme slacks and $75 shirt when you have to fill up I already figured this out the hard way. It's loud. It takes a sec to pick up power because it takes a sec for the turbo to pick up boost... I'm comparing this to my 1500 Hemi... And like I said all this stuff doesn't bother me.

The positives. It has gobs of power and I'll have well over 400hp and 700ft/lbs torque, ridding on nice 35's with a well designed lift kit for around 4000 dollars. I'm also getting about 20% better MPG over my Hemi in a 4 door 4x4 truck.

 

Yes, my MPG is much improved, And all the power you could ask for.

 

This truck is about 2000 lbs heavier but gets 4-5 mpg better than the old one. Has about twice the torque to boot.

 

u gotta love the sound of it to drive it daily to. I took my mom for a drive yesterday in mine and she said it sounded like a airplane, :-D lol

 

Also looking at the 3rd Gen.
Found a nice one at a reasonable price.
Like the whole baja scene, but not really big around here, would love to get into that.

 

Trust me. If you decide to switch, You'll wonder wy you waited so long, You will never go back.

 

Are you SURE that the noise just wasn't the planes at the airport? .

 

I was actually about to suggest a 3rd gen truck since your budget is 25k... Smoother power, cleaner power, better auto trans (48RE is build way better but still needs a torque converter), and nicer interiors. Starts a little easier too. I would say keep your eyes peeled for a 2003 to 2005 truck that is unmolested and you will be happy.

 

Around here if I was looking for a used truck I'd find someone wanting to get rid of his and offer trade in value on it. For a third gen that is a few years old and in good shape that should be 20ish or in the high teens on price. If someone offered me cash trade in or a little above that on a truck I was trying to get rid of I'd jump on it, that's how I got rid of my other truck.

Before I bought my new one my friend was trying to get rid of a 2003 3500 quad cab DRW 2wd Laramie CTD that was in ok shape with low miles and an enclosed race car trailer. I almost had him seperate the combo and take around 16K for the truck.. He changed his mind and I went and bought a new one.

 

Found a few nice 04's around 24-26k.
Im debating on the Auto or manual.
I'll just be towing at most a small boat, maybe a trailer with some bikes on her.
And Im also thinking down the road of wanting to do the Baja thing, you guys think manual?
Heres a link to one of the trucks Im looking at, actually 2, tell me what you guys think.
http://www.wattsautomotive.com/detai...&src=eBizEmail

HERES THE OTHER

http://www.onestopmotors.com/ad_deta...px?ad_id=16015

 

Also I was reading about thr 99's and the block 53.
Im looking at a 99 on wed, what should I look for, is there a Vin Plate on the block, or clues to let me stay away, and should I stay away from the 99.
Thanks Again.