2003F350
Senior Member
My former 2003 2500 has 150k miles, most towing 5th wheel, regular campers, and large boats all over the eastern half of the country. It has climbed mountains through NY, NE, PA, NC, and other states more times than I can count, and still going strong for parents who have it now. I am just one person, but I have never been let down yet, knock on wood. I don't push it past it's max, I compensate by lowering accessories weight if traveling in mountains, and keep maintenance up to date. On my third Ram now and believe the them to be reliable throughout. Key thing for me is I don't ever buy used trucks, I see how people abuse them sometimes. So that may be the unfortunate circumstance for the OP.
True story, public place out in the country where trucks came all the time to 4-wheel. One guy showed up every so often in a different truck. Finally found out he worked for a dealership and when a 4wd came in on trade he took it for the weekend to see what it could do. That was when I stopped buying used vehicles.
I used to buy new out of necessity - I was on a budget. But even then I knew I was buying a potential problem, because it is common knowledge, at least around here, that dealers take the 'good' used cars out on the weekends just because they can. Kid needs a nice car for prom? Take a used one. Need to impress family? Take a used one. Happens all the time and nothing is going to change.