First and last time Dodge Ram owner

[S0CAL]

Only on hemi's because there are 2/ cylinder

 

[kiloRAM]

These days, if a vehicle was considered end of life at a 100k miles, there is no way I'd buy it. Specially when you consider how much they cost. I consider end of life to be when repair costs approach or exceed what I'd be paying for a new vehicle, or when a vehicle becomes so unreliable you don't trust it to get you from point A to B.

All of my RAMs have had well over 100k miles and never left me stranded. My last had 230k when my daughter used it for trade in. It had power steering hoses replaced, condenser fan, tires, brakes, and oil. It was extremely extremely dependable and took wonderful care of me in spite of my driving it 130k miles past "end of life". Heck, even at 230k miles it had been years since it was in the shop for repairs (except brakes).

To contrast, when I was a kid, a car with more than 90k miles was considered ancient, but that was when you could buy a fully loaded car for less than $10k. My '85 IROC-Z made 150k, but long before it reached that point, there was more wrong than right with the car.

To the original poster, I'm sorry you don't like your RAM, and I hope you eventually find something that takes as good care of you as my RAMs have done for me.

 

[Ramit355]

I never said all of them are bad or was I speaking about ram specifically. I’m just saying in most instances the first year of a new generation or new model is risky because hey don’t know what kind of bugs their vehicle is going to have because here isn’t any type of longevity examples. After a few years they know what kind of bugs their vehicles have and correct them. For instance. 06-08 chargers had a front end rattle problem. They finally had it corrected for 09-10 models. Remain calm.


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Good point ....but you must also consider most times they get it right on the next generations from learning about the past generations and you luck out and get a really good truck Like i did in 2003 When the 5.7 Came out in the Ram 1500.

 

[Ramit355]

These days, if a vehicle was considered end of life at a 100k miles, there is no way I'd buy it. Specially when you consider how much they cost. I consider end of life to be when repair costs approach or exceed what I'd be paying for a new vehicle, or when a vehicle becomes so unreliable you don't trust it to get you from point A to B.

All of my RAMs have had well over 100k miles and never left me stranded. My last had 230k when my daughter used it for trade in. It had power steering hoses replaced, condenser fan, tires, brakes, and oil. It was extremely extremely dependable and took wonderful care of me in spite of my driving it 130k miles past "end of life". Heck, even at 230k miles it had been years since it was in the shop for repairs (except brakes).

To contrast, when I was a kid, a car with more than 90k miles was considered ancient, but that was when you could buy a fully loaded car for less than $10k. My '85 IROC-Z made 150k, but long before it reached that point, there was more wrong than right with the car.

To the original poster, I'm sorry you don't like your RAM, and I hope you eventually find something that takes as good care of you as my RAMs have done for me.

One one hand you can say the costs are high of the Newer trucks...but on the other they actually go much farther and the trade values are higher which offsets the initial costs....For example I traded a 2011 ram I paid 41000 for a 2014 I paid 47000 for. 6 grand more for the 14. But i just traded my 14 and got 29000 trade in when I only got 22000 for the 2011. its about the same just higher numbers on both ends....Like I told my old grandma years ago...yea the bread was 25 cents and now a dollar,but 25 cents took an hour to earn then just like a dollar took an hour earn when it was a dollar! Just higher numbers,

 

[hotrod45]

I want, no, demand to know where I go to get paid.

 

[Bee1971]

Heading outside to put the factory rims and tires back on the Junk 2011 Ram for the winter operations

Summer tires and rims in the garage looking pretty

Good ole salty WI winter roads over the last seven years can take its toll

Anyone want some pictures of what a mint 2011 Ram can look like when taken care of especially when it’s spent it’s entire seven years only driven in the winter here in WI because I live and die for U.P. Snowmobiling

Frame - Motor - Body still look brand new

Thank you PDQ underbody flush and LPS3 and Fluid Film and a five stall garage

 

[indept]

Heading outside to put the factory rims and tires back on the Junk 2011 Ram for the winter operations

Summer tires and rims in the garage looking pretty

Good ole salty WI winter roads over the last seven years can take its toll

Anyone want some pictures of what a mint 2011 Ram can look like when taken care of especially when it’s spent it’s entire seven years only driven in the winter here in WI because I live and die for U.P. Snowmobiling

Frame - Motor - Body still look brand new

Thank you PDQ underbody flush and LPS3 and Fluid Film and a five stall garage

Yes post a pic here so we can see it.

 

[tbird71]

It was 2007 and I drove them ALL, Chevy too expensive with any options and didnt like lack of power, Ford OK but way overpriced and again that lack of power (I was driving the small V8) I also drove a leftover 2006 Dodge reg cab pretty loaded up with 20" wheels (early express?) Nice truck but RODE like crap bounced me around everywhere, then the TITAN, it was heads and tails above anything in that price range in 2007 lot of std features inc that beautiful 5.6. I still own it.

Then fast forward to 2015 and my current 14 Ram Express Hemi leftover. They got the ride quality fixed at least enough so it's not a deal breaker, I see no reason NOT to own a late (09 up) Ram whatsoever. LOT of truck for the money. I wont be getting rid of my Titan tho, and even tho they're years apart I'd be hard pressed to choose between them. IMO tho Ford and Chevy are OUT. Not even in the running. Thats my .02

 

[coobie]

been a Chevy man all my life, multiple Chevy trucks, 1970 camaro rd/ss 1970 Chevelle ss big block, 1996 Pontiac GTO 6.0 6 speed. I can honestly say I never had any issues besides wear and tear.
Last year I picked up a super mint 2011 Dodge Ram Laramie crew cab, once I drove it, I fell in love with it, and decided to give the dodge a shot.
92,000 miles on the truck, I’ve changed the front wheels baring and tie Rod ends. Last week the famous exhaust tick started, so I ordered 2 new Dorman manifolds and bolts, upon inspection, 2 broken manifold bolts on the driver side. One of my friend a 35 year seasoned mechanic hasn’t been able to extract one bolt so far, 2 days of welding nuts to the stud.
Never again will I own a dodge! Wile my dodge is in the shop I’m driving my 2004 old trusty 2004 Chevy 4x4 with 257,000 on it, and still running like a champ. Dodge ad a chance to grab a new coustomer from Chevy, but failed. Going to trade it soon, and going back to what has worked me before

Try getting 8 spark plugs out of the 5.4 ford motor.That was fun.On a side note my BRAND NEW 2002 chevy 1500 was the biggest **** I ever purchased offed it with 30,000 miles.All truck makers have there issues.

 

[14Tradesman]

Try getting 8 spark plugs out of the 5.4 ford motor.That was fun.On a side note my BRAND NEW 2002 chevy 1500 was the biggest **** I ever purchased offed it with 30,000 miles.All truck makers have there issues.

View attachment 144006

I had a 2006 F150 with the 5.4 before my ram. I was a ford guy then, and knew well the history of the modular engines due to several in the family. The only way I would buy that truck was if I knew the plugs had been changed. Luckily the previous owner was the stereotypical old man and that wrote EVERY SINGLE THING he did to the truck in the little maintenance log book that comes with the owners manual, and the glove box was full of every receipt (and a couple traffic tickets haha). He changed the plugs at 75,000 miles, all 8 broke and had to be extracted. Had it done at the dealership I bought it from, cost him almost $2000, which seems ridiculous but it was a dealership.

I bought the truck with 85,000 miles and dumped it for my Ram at 150,000 miles when I knew plugs were about due again, my PS front hub was starting to whine (i had already replaced DS, $450 for just the hub), it had formed a bad exhaust leak I didnt want to deal with, and several electrical issues were making themselves known. That being said, it served me well and never left me stranded.


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[ronheater70]

You know you can go on every forum for a particular truck brand and find some kind of similar thread "first and last time owner" Or " Never Again"
You can read back through some of my posts about my 2500 and Ram service and I have more or less said the same thing, But I bought a new 3500 2.5 weeks ago. Point being, folks just plain have different experiences, and some of those experiences are simply dealer / service issues, good or bad.
i thought about going back to ford, because my f-150 ecoboost I had was nearly flawless, and the minor issues I did have were quickly resolved under warranty, AND the dealership always went a step beyond what they needed too.
Was not enjoying My Ram experience at times so It just made sense to look at Ford again. However, there are Many Ram owners on here who love their trucks who came over from Ford because of issues with them. At no time can anyone purchase any truck and drive away with 100% certainty that it is going to turn into a positive ownership experience. There is just no way to tell.

 

[Naldo1710]

I think every manufacturer has issues like everyone has been saying. I picked up my 14 Express with 45k miles on it and dealer warranty. It's my first pick up truck and my first domestic vehicle. I hope I don't have to go through many problems, but so far I love the truck

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[ilovemyramlaremie]

Manifold update!! I was informed that the broken bolt was successfully drilled out with the drill jig!! The only minor issue was the y pipe sealing with the new Dorman Chinese made donut flange, it was drivin for 15 minutes, and the flange re tighten, much much better now. I’m going to pick up the truck later today after work!! Should had the passenger side done also, I might attempt to do it myself since it’s less congested before the bolts snap off on his own, they might snap while try to do it! Pictures to follow!

 

[indept]

Manifold update!! I was informed that the broken bolt was successfully drilled out with the drill jig!! The only minor issue was the y pipe sealing with the new Dorman Chinese made donut flange, it was drivin for 15 minutes, and the flange re tighten, much much better now. I’m going to pick up the truck later today after work!! Should had the passenger side done also, I might attempt to do it myself since it’s less congested before the bolts snap off on his own, they might snap while try to do it! Pictures to follow!

Great news. I hope the Dorman manifolds don't warp. Good luck.

 

[hotrod45]

Great news. I hope the Dorman manifolds don't warp. Good luck.

Let's hope not. Following the exact tightening sequence (in stages) and precision torquing of the clean, dry fasteners is what prevents that.

 

[coobie]

You know you can go on every forum for a particular truck brand and find some kind of similar thread "first and last time owner" Or " Never Again"
You can read back through some of my posts about my 2500 and Ram service and I have more or less said the same thing, But I bought a new 3500 2.5 weeks ago. Point being, folks just plain have different experiences, and some of those experiences are simply dealer / service issues, good or bad.
i thought about going back to ford, because my f-150 ecoboost I had was nearly flawless, and the minor issues I did have were quickly resolved under warranty, AND the dealership always went a step beyond what they needed too.
Was not enjoying My Ram experience at times so It just made sense to look at Ford again. However, there are Many Ram owners on here who love their trucks who came over from Ford because of issues with them. At no time can anyone purchase any truck and drive away with 100% certainty that it is going to turn into a positive ownership experience. There is just no way to tell.

Well said Mr heater70

 

[coobie]

Manifold update!! I was informed that the broken bolt was successfully drilled out with the drill jig!! The only minor issue was the y pipe sealing with the new Dorman Chinese made donut flange, it was drivin for 15 minutes, and the flange re tighten, much much better now. I’m going to pick up the truck later today after work!! Should had the passenger side done also, I might attempt to do it myself since it’s less congested before the bolts snap off on his own, they might snap while try to do it! Pictures to follow!

Had to replace both manifolds on my 2006 ford f-150 5.4 engine to the tune of $1300 bucks.I feel your pain.Rear end went out at 130,000 miles for another $1800.

 

[ilovemyramlaremie]

She’s finally home and all cleaned up!!

 

[ilovemyramlaremie]

After countless hours of battling, my buddy charged me $ 300 for the job. Can’t complain about that, I got him a 30 pack of beer. Lol

 

[David_fr]

Good News !

Time is come for you to reconcile with your nice truck .
Whatever happen in the futur, don’t forget you are lucky to own it.
There is millions of people here in Europe who dream to own one but will never do because of our taxes..

In France from 1st january 2019 a new carbon tax was just voted last week for trucks ( 10500€ for the title ! )

Enjoy your new manifolds