hey all

I've been lurking here for some months and have seen you be kind and gentle and helpful and informative so I'm being brave and asking.....

I've been saving my pennies and am ready to buy my first truck and trailer. I have to admit I've never bought a used car before, much less a GIANT TRUCK (my first car was a hand me down from my dad, and while it was a truck, it was a cute little toyota SR5, I dont think that really counts as a "TRUCK" :). gads, I loved that truck....anyway, I digress....)

a friend of a friend has a 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 cummings diesel 2WD with 160K miles on it for sale. I did some internet digging and apparently the cummings diesel is Teh Bomb (tm), and this particular year got all green smileys for reliability, etc.

I have a date to test drive it this weekend.... is there anything in particular I should ask the guy? anyone have experience with these trucks? what kinds of things tend to go out (ie what should I ask him if he's replaced, etc?)

I already expect that I'll get in that thing and have a panic attack at how much bigger than my toyota it is, that I'll never be able to reach the pedals, that it wont fit on the road, etc. and then I'll get over it ;).

any words of advice regarding this particular truck? or on buying a used truck in general? I'm trying to track down a local diesel mechanic (the truck lives about 2 hrs away from my house) for a pre purchase inspection, and the guy selling the truck comes VERY highly recommended in terms of general handiness, devotion to his vehicles and being an all around outstanding human being.

thanks :)

--AM

WOW, depending on the price you found you a great first truck!

These trucks have the 12 Valve Cummins engines and are pretty much a million mile motor (if maintained).  What to ask first is has the dowel pin been fixed and find out it the lift pump replaced and ask if the injector pump has been changed or adjusted.  With only a 160-k miles more than likely not but not a big deal.

Try and sneak up and check the truck out when it is cold and has not been started in while.  First check the oil and coolant level to see if it is full and pretty clean looking. (oil is going to be black for sure but should be no dirt in it)  While doing this just look around for any leaks mainly around the drivers side front of the engine just under where you pulled the oil stick out from.  Then start it up and look for any smoke out of the tail pipe, a light haze is normal and should clear right up.  If this is an automatic truck check the fuild level and smell of it.  Make sure it does not smell burnt.  There is many more details about these trucks but since you are new to then it will just blow your mind.

After all of the above is checked and you are test driving it with the automatic you need to be on the hwy or a long road and get the truck around 50 to 55 range and hit the overdrive button off and see if the RPM's raises then turn it back on and the rpm's should drop.  When driving a steady speed with overdrive on you should be able to step on the gas peddal and the truck should down shift and go.  These trucks are not fast at all but you should have no problems picking up speed.

Sorry so long but there is alot to check on these older trucks and being a first timer it can be scary.  They are great trucks and parts are cheap for them.  The key to them is keep the oil, oil fliter, air filter and fuel filters CLEAN!

does the fact that its a dually help make up for the 2WD?

(seems about half the folks have 2WD and half have 4WD... we occasionally drive in pastures but mostly on paved and logging roads to established campgrounds. so far I've witnessed only one person got stuck and he was dumb about it (and had 4WD for all that it helped him ;))

yeah, 4WD would be nice...but is it a deal breaker?

(you guys rock, this is exactly the kind of info/discussion that lets me get a bit more confident about tossing down a wad of cash for kinda a pig in a poke...)

PS, realised I didnt answer the backbone question...

I'm in Seattle. if its snowin', I aint drivin' (I have my regular car for snow and do fine, but most of these maroons have NO idea how to drive in the stuff, so its best to stay out of their way.... heck, I used to drive in eastern WA with my wee toyota pickup with rear wheel drive. toss some sandbags in the back, good tires and you're set!). pavement is often wet, but well drained.

I'll be pulling to "urban trailheads" (ie paved roads, no real hills, paved parking lots) and the occasional camping trip (paved highways to paved/gravelled logging roads into paved camp grounds. once in a while I may pull/camp in a big pasture, but that will be the exception, not the rule.

Here is my opinion and yes I will get slamed about saying this but here goes.

The dually will not make up for the 2 wheel drive, the dually will make your ride feel more stable towing or not.  The major downfall of dual wheels is in the snow or ice, the grap gets built up between the dual and act like a huge ski on top of the mess.  My self I have NEVER owned a 4x4 for personal use and have never needed it either.  I do not live in snow and ice country but we do have our fair share of rain and muddy messes in the hay fields and still have never had the need for a 4x4 truck.  This in my opinion is where common sence come in at.  If you know or think there is a chance you will get stuck just don't do it!

So bottom line is if you can live with the 2 wheel drive, like the truck and it checks out fine you need to be buying it if the price it right.  The 1998 and older 12 Valve Cummins trucks are worth more money than the 1998.5 up 24 Vaalve trucks are.

Something else you need to look at or have someone look at is check for blow by.  With the truck running remove the oil cap and pull the dip stick out a few inches. What you are looking for is smoke, a light haze is normal but should not look like a train.  There is also a clear tube running down the driverside of the engine under the fuel filter (can be seen from under the truck behind the left front wheel)  With the truck running there could be a litlte haze coming from here too.  Just do not want to see oil running out of it.

again, super useful and helpful discussion from you all! even when you're disagreeing I'm learning about parameters and options, which makes my geeky heart happy. I cant wait for my test drive to try out my new knowlege (assuming I can see into the engine compartment on this monster! do they come with stepstools for short legged girls?)

yes, its exciting in a "Oh my gosh, what am I thinking, I live in the city! I wont be able to get this giant loud thing into my work garage!" kind of way :) but its also exciting in all the good ways too :)

if I get it, I promise I'll be really careful and not try and drive in snow or mud or slippery grass. and I promise I'll have roadside assistance just in case!

(this is awesome, I feel like I got a whole bunch of dads and moms looking over my shoulder now!)

One of my co-workers has nearly the same model  - he gets stuck all the time.  A gentle slope getting hay, pulling the trailer to the front yard to load with just a light dusting of snow, pulling off the side of the road to check on the horses etc.  You name it, he's probably been stuck that way.  Even he is amazed at how easily/frequently he gets stuck (you'd think he would learn!!  LOL)

My dually is a 4WD - and I wouldn't consider anything else.  I've never gotten stuck.  I can't afford to as I drive by myself quite a bit.  I think of it as extra insurance.

Maybe a set of chains would help if you got stuck???

Best of luck.

UPDATE:

thanks for all the advice!!!! I am now the proud owner of a 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie edition dually cummings diesel shiney red truck, complete with souped up exhaust system, super bumper pull, camper package, gooseneck hitch (one of the ones that you can flip and make the bed flat), one of those forever air filters, power mirrors, pony brake light covers and ponies on the mudflaps ;)

I checked what you suggested (it all chedked out) and I could even get in and out of it and reach the pedals! I was suprised how easy it was to drive and how tight a turning radius it had. I had forgotten what its like to ride in a truck though (BOUNCEY!) as compared to my wee SUV but I'll deal :)

thanks, all!

next up...a trailer!

Just remember that the forever filters are not forever. Most require you to clean and reoil the filter on a reqular basis.

Have fun

Lets go ahead and get one thing straight from the get go.... It Cummins Diesel, not cummings diesel.... Drop that "G" off the end..... LOL!!

dually noted!

thanks for the headsup! in the next week I'm going to have a highly recommended local diesel mechanic go over it with a fine tooth comb (the truck hasnt been moved out of the garage for three months), inspect and replace all fluids as needed and help me come up with a schedule for what will need to be done when. I'll be sure the maintenaqnce/cleaning of the air filter is on there :)

big adventures ahead for our heroine! :)