I need advice! I have a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 Cummings HO with 206,000 miles on it… love it but I was looking for another one with less miles and 2 very important to me options (anti spin Diff and the tow mirrors) I found a 2004 Dodge ram 2500 Cummings HO with my limited slip, tow mirrors and it is blue! Only 81,000 miles! Auto, leather… super nice… kind of.. Problem is rust.. It is a North Carolina truck (always has been) it is the type of rust you get when you get mud on your truck and never wash it off. It was owned by a person that ran/owned a nursery (plants not babies). If you can imagine getting mud on your truck and leaving it there underneath where the mud would lay is rusty… more then surface rust…. Anyways it’s 20k deer and has a beautiful fresh paintjob. (clean carfax) they say it was just scratched up and would not buff out… is it worth it? Or should I run? I pull a 13000 pound boat with my 04 now and we are pulling all the way to panama city beach in April… want a reliable ram that won’t cause me a lot of problems with rust!......
HELP Worth it or not?!?
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1,701 Posts
If it's getting rusty now, just think what it will look like in a year, 2 years, 5 years.
After thinking that over, feel free to run.
After thinking that over, feel free to run.
I hate rust. The worst rust is the kind you didn't see when looking over the truck. And for 20k, you can buy a lot of mods for your truck. You can get a new engine if you like. But me personally I run like hell away from rusty trucks.
PLUS you're going to be putting it near salt water. That'll just accelerate the rust already on it.
PLUS you're going to be putting it near salt water. That'll just accelerate the rust already on it.
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535 Posts
Personally I would run. Rust is not dealt with easily, and I certainly wouldn't sink 20 g's into a truck with more then surface rust.
You can get a hell of a paint job for $20,000
When there's more than surface rust that you can see, there's likely structural rust you can't see. He wants WAY too much for the Ram. even with so few miles on the motor, all I had to hear was rust to know it's not worth 20grand.
You want tow mirrors, That's maybe 500 to 1000(if ya wanna get fancy). Limited Slip diff, maybe 5-6 grand(haven't priced one lately). You can get your engine rebuilt and still be way ahead of the game.
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32,816 Posts
One thing about a diesel engine, they really don't get old
they can be rebuilt a time or two, maybe more
then you take them to a machine shop, they take out the piston sleeves & replace them with new sleeves & basically you have a brand new engine
a million miles on diesel engines is normal.
just replace or modify the rear end & the tow mirrors & keep on trucking
they can be rebuilt a time or two, maybe more
then you take them to a machine shop, they take out the piston sleeves & replace them with new sleeves & basically you have a brand new engine
a million miles on diesel engines is normal.
just replace or modify the rear end & the tow mirrors & keep on trucking
this is the truck.... I guess I have a problem taking in needy things and making them better... still can shake it... I purely believe all of your concerns and truth is I probably want/wanted to be talked out of it... but shes so petty and there is not a thing wrong with her besides the rust.....!
Help!:158:
Help!:158:
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I give in!! :smiley_thumbs_up: Thanks for all the replies.. I have told the dealer I was not going to buy… After reading all of the responses I went outside and took a look at the underneath of my 04 with 206000 miles and it looks like showroom new compared to the truck in question. So I will get busy with the mods that I have been wanting to do and keep it! Last night I found and bought a set of Newer Style H2 wheels, I may have a junk yard willing to pull out a limited slip from an axle they have, and the lowest priced ebay OEM heated mirrors happen to be my dodge dealer here in hickory…. So instead worrying about my “high mileage” dodge that I only owe 11k on and trying to double my payment then I will start the modding…
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15,719 Posts
great decision. limited slip should be easy to have added. i would check out arb and auburn.
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1,058 Posts
My truck had rust in the rockers when I bought it and over the rear wheels. It cost me 3k to get it fixed. I can see where the cab corner is starting to bubble also. I'll get that fixed sometime in the next year. I have crawled all over the underside of the truck, and don't really see any other problems, but I figure every few years, something else will pop out. Its just a common problem in my area with all the road salt they use.
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