Looking to buy my first Cummins Diesel, need some advice

Kroni · Aug 3, 2020

Would you guys buy from a used car dealer? I have been looking specifically at Ram dealerships.

Used dealers seem sketchy to me...

Also, I've been looking for trucks with under 50,000 miles. Am I limiting myself too much by trying to keep the miles low?

mtnrider · Aug 3, 2020

Kroni said:
Would you guys buy from a used car dealer? I have been looking specifically at Ram dealerships.

Used dealers seem sketchy to me...

In general I would say no, I find them sketchy as hell as well. You will probably find more lifted, deleted trucks at a used car dealer and I would avoid them at all cost.

.

BossHogg · Aug 4, 2020

Kroni said:
Would you guys buy from a used car dealer? I have been looking specifically at Ram dealerships.

Used dealers seem sketchy to me...

Also, I've been looking for trucks with under 50,000 miles. Am I limiting myself too much by trying to keep the miles low?

Independent used car dealers usually get their vehicle yard stock from auctions, they have no idea of the vehicle's history. On the other hand, they do get in good used vehicles. If I was looking I would look at independent dealers but do my due diligence.

I would prefer a vehicle with mileage that indicated it didn't do a lot of short-haul and stop and go driving. That type of driving is rough on the diesel emission system. I would prefer one that was worked towing within its capacity.

2018 Hemi · Aug 4, 2020

Go with the diesel! I had 2 of them than went to a 2018 Hemi 6.4 and have sick about it ever since. No comparison what so ever and would love to go back but can’t at this point..

jejb · Aug 4, 2020

Gr8bawana said:
Before I bought my truck last summer I used several online car and truck sales sites. I looked over a lot of trucks for probably 6 mos. or so before I saw one close to me that was worth taking a look at. This lets you weed out all those super high mile trucks or trucks that have been deleted and tuned.
I would personally NEVER buy a tuned and deleted truck.

Completely agree. Totally stock drive train, or I did not even look. Jacked up, bigger wheels/tires, leveled, deleted, etc? Off the list immediately.

jejb · Aug 4, 2020

Kroni said:
Would you guys buy from a used car dealer? I have been looking specifically at Ram dealerships.

Used dealers seem sketchy to me...

Also, I've been looking for trucks with under 50,000 miles. Am I limiting myself too much by trying to keep the miles low?

I would not buy from a non-dealer personally. You could make them pull a carfax for you though. But that won't show any repairs or work done by the owner themselves.

Kroni · Aug 4, 2020

BossHogg said:
Independent used car dealers usually get their vehicle yard stock from auctions, they have no idea of the vehicle's history. On the other hand, they do get in good used vehicles. If I was looking I would look at independent dealers but do my due diligence.

I would prefer a vehicle with mileage that indicated it didn't do a lot of short-haul and stop and go driving. That type of driving is rough on the diesel emission system. I would prefer one that was worked towing within its capacity.

Doing my due diligence... I’m not quite sure what I can do besides visually check for emissions components and oversized tires. Like one of the guys said Carfax won’t tell me the maintenance or lack of maintenance the owner did and I’ll never now how it was used.

Is there something I’m missing that I can look for?

Kroni · Aug 4, 2020

I just found a 2013 2500 SLT with 88,000 miles for $31,000.

I've been trying to find trucks with lower mileage than this. What's too high for miles and what do you think about the price?

I know the cummins motor can go like 400,000 miles. Its the rest of the truck that I'm worried about.

Kroni · Aug 5, 2020

I found an new truck that I’m very interested in.
It’s a 2018 SLT with 9500 miles on it. Red, clearance lights, obviously the diesel, sound package, tonnuo cover. I don’t know if the bed has spray liner or not. They want $48,000 and CarGurus says that 3k too high. It’s at a dealership and it says it’s certified.
If I can get them to drop the price by 3k, do you think it’s a good price? I’m thinking it is.

Is there anything particular about the drivetrain or the vehicle itself being a 2018 I need to look out for?

I’m going to look at it tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks

HDGoose · Aug 5, 2020

WOW!! No wonder the dealer quickly went up to $20,000 trade in on my 2013 Ram 2500 Tradesman diesel.

mtnrider · Aug 5, 2020

Kroni said:
I found an new truck that I’m very interested in.
It’s a 2018 SLT with 9500 miles on it. Red, clearance lights, obviously the diesel, sound package, tonnuo cover. I don’t know if the bed has spray liner or not. They want $48,000 and CarGurus says that 3k too high. It’s at a dealership and it says it’s certified.
If I can get them to drop the price by 3k, do you think it’s a good price? I’m thinking it is.

Is there anything particular about the drivetrain or the vehicle itself being a 2018 I need to look out for?

I’m going to look at it tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks

That still seems like a lot to me but prices are crazy right now. I just looked online at my local dealer and they have several 2020 tradesman trucks with a few options in the $50-$55K range. I would rather pony up a few extra $ and get new with full warranty then pay $48K for a 2 year old truck. Also probably get a better interest rate on new vs used.

.

Dennis Shellito · Aug 5, 2020

Kroni said:
Walter,
Thank you very much for your post, it helped a lot. However after looking for a used 2500 diesel and going to a few dealers, there just aren't any used diesel trucks that make sense for me. My camper can be loaded to a max weight of 9600, it usually around 7300. I am now leaning towards a new or possibly very lightly used 2019 2500 with the 6.4 hemi. I really didn't want to compromise and go to the gas engine, but its rated at 14,200 pounds towing. I'm thinking I don't need the 18,000 pounds of towing capacity that the diesel brings...

My son has a 2016 single rear wheel Ram 3500 with the 6.4L Hemi and 4.10 rear diff and it pulls his 30' Keystone Springdale (34' including the tongue) camper OK. I don't know what it weighs but on steep grades he has to run high rpms to get into higher torque range. The Cummins hits the top of the torque range at 1600 rpms, so be prepared to rap that gasser to get you up steep
mountain roads.

Kroni · Aug 5, 2020

I believe the 2500 that I'm going to look at tomorrow has 3.42 gears. The new ones have 3.73's. Should I be concerned about this? I would assume with the Cummins it won't make that much difference.

mtnrider · Aug 5, 2020

Kroni said:
I believe the 2500 that I'm going to look at tomorrow has 3.42 gears. The new ones have 3.73's. Should I be concerned about this? I would assume with the Cummins it won't make that much difference.

All the late model cummins 2500's have 3.42's so that's what you are going to get (I think 2014-2018?). It tows fine. The only issue you may run into is if you want to run like a 37" tire or something, then I would think about re-gearing.

.

Kroni · Aug 5, 2020

mtnrider said:
All the late model cummins 2500's have 3.42's so that's what you are going to get (I think 2014-2018?). It tows fine. The only issue you may run into is if you want to run like a 37" tire or something, then I would think about re-gearing.

.

Awesome, thanks. No, I'll be keeping the stock size tires on this truck.

Its all about towing for me.

jejb · Aug 6, 2020

Kroni said:
I found an new truck that I’m very interested in.
It’s a 2018 SLT with 9500 miles on it. Red, clearance lights, obviously the diesel, sound package, tonnuo cover. I don’t know if the bed has spray liner or not. They want $48,000 and CarGurus says that 3k too high. It’s at a dealership and it says it’s certified.
If I can get them to drop the price by 3k, do you think it’s a good price? I’m thinking it is.

Is there anything particular about the drivetrain or the vehicle itself being a 2018 I need to look out for?

I’m going to look at it tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks

What model truck is it? If it's a under a Longhorn or loaded up Laramie, I'd sure be comparing that price to a new one. As another poster said, if a new one of the same truck can be had for not much more, I'd go that way. My local dealer shows a brand new 2020 Tradesman 4x4 CTD with clearance lights for $51.5K, for example.

Walter Conrad · Aug 6, 2020

This dealer ship is about 60 miles west of Pittsburgh Pa. Columbiana Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram in Columbiana Ohio.
Here are 3 examples and they have about 10 more all in the same average price range upper $40,000. Plus you can deal on price from there. These are Tradesman 2500 models with a few options, They have nicer more optioned models obviously at a higher price tag. You can access the window stickers to view the options.

https://www.columbianachryslerjeepdodge.net/new-Columbiana-2020-RAM-2500-Tradesman-3C6UR5HL0LG170238
https://www.columbianachryslerjeepdodge.net/new-Columbiana-2020-RAM-2500-Tradesman-3C6UR5HL1LG163167
https://www.columbianachryslerjeepdodge.net/new-Columbiana-2020-RAM-2500-Tradesman-3C6UR5HL5LG163169

Walter Conrad · Aug 6, 2020

Same dealership Low $50,000 range Tradesman 3500

https://www.columbianachryslerjeepdodge.net/new-Columbiana-2020-RAM-3500-Tradesman-3C63R3GL0LG176798
https://www.columbianachryslerjeepdodge.net/new-Columbiana-2020-RAM-3500-Tradesman-3C63R3GL1LG176793
https://www.columbianachryslerjeepdodge.net/new-Columbiana-2020-RAM-3500-Tradesman-3C63R3GL9LG176797

Sandevino · Aug 6, 2020

For $48k, I’d take a long hard look at a new one.

A 2020 3500 CC Tradesman 4x4 long bed dually 6.7 HO sells for $52-55k new around here.

Walter Conrad · Aug 6, 2020

Sandevino said:
For $48k, I’d take a long hard look at a new one.

A 2020 3500 CC Tradesman 4x4 long bed dually 6.7 HO sells for $52-55k new around here.

What state/region are you in?
That's what I paid for my Bighorn. Nicely equipped 52 and change.
Seems the OP doesn't want to do any homework or doesn't want to travel any distance to get a good deal.
I posted some examples of new units in my area which isn't all that far from the OP.

Looking to buy my first Cummins Diesel, need some advice

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