Advice for potential used truck buyer

derkmar · Dec 16, 2022

I am looking to buy a 2017 RAM 1500 Rebel with around ~73,000 miles on it.

I am coming from the Toyota world and for a Toyota 73,000 is almost considered low miles. If you were to buy a Toyota at 73,000 you could expect at least another good 150,000 miles from it.

How does that apply to Ram's? Would you buy a 2017 Ram with 73,000 miles on it? Users with similar trucks/similar mileage, how is your truck holding up?

Thanks!

Burla · Dec 16, 2022

2017 is a good year, no TIPM and no RFE. Take it for a long test drive check all the temps on evic and check for warm idle tick. Have a mechanic drop a boroscope in the spark plug hole. Generally hemi rams are known for longevity, but some do need cam/lifters. Rebels are nice and desirable models. If you stick around you will learn more about lubrication then you might care too.

reddawg67 · Dec 16, 2022

With 5.7 yes it’s a 350000 or 400000 motor as long as you are stringent with maintenance like most are

Kap1 · Dec 16, 2022

derkmar said:
I am looking to buy a 2017 RAM 1500 Rebel with around ~73,000 miles on it.

I am coming from the Toyota world and for a Toyota 73,000 is almost considered low miles. If you were to buy a Toyota at 73,000 you could expect at least another good 150,000 miles from it.

How does that apply to Ram's? Would you buy a 2017 Ram with 73,000 miles on it? Users with similar trucks/similar mileage, how is your truck holding up?

Thanks!

The pain points are exhaust manifold bolts breaking, which is not as terrible if fixed by competent mechanic, or could be very bad if they mess up the heads which exhaust manifold is connected to.

Bigger issue is the well known issue of lifters seizing and grinding through the camshaft around 100k miles - best case $6k repair, worst case a new engine $12k. Take a glance at the Engine sub forum here and look for camshaft or lifters, you'll see what I mean.

tron67j · Dec 16, 2022

The best thing to do with a used truck is have your own mechanic go through it. Costs some, but it gives you some assurance. As with any vehicle, look for rust in weird places like under seat, under the dash, just to make sure it isn't a flood truck.

I have had 3 Rams, total of about 300k miles, did have a couple broken header bolts in my 2003 2500 at about 145k miles 12 years in to service. You will read about the lifter issue, some trucks get it but no way to know service history of those trucks and if good or poor maintenance done. No one I know has ever had that problem and I have known a lot of people over the last 20+ years with Rams.

Good luck.

Marmay · Dec 17, 2022

#1 costly problem ,cam&lifters issue, manifold bolts are not that expensive,the rest are as any other vehicle, good luck!

Octane · Dec 17, 2022

I've also known of quite a few Ram owners, (mine has 197k or so),that has never had a lifter or exhaust manifold issue.Even the 5.7 in the Challengers/Chargers, that were high mileage without a major failure.
As I read these forums tho,even I get paranoid over it.lol. Every bad thing is posted and almost no good things are.
I put 130k on a Challenger w/ the 5.7 without major issue. I say this and my truck will be sure to explode today! Lol

Dean2 · Dec 17, 2022

I have owned a great many makes and types of vehicles. I have never had one that needed major repairs and many were run well past 200,000 miles. My 96 2500 has 167,000 miles on it, no repairs beyond normal maintenance. I can say the same about the Toyotas I owned, as well as the Lexus car I have now that has 115,000 miles on it. If Toyota made an 8' bed, crew cab I would have looked seriously at them when I bought the 2021 2500, but they don't make a HD truck. One thing I will say for Ram is they have a way nicer interior than Toyota pickups.

zrock · Dec 17, 2022

like said above have your own tech look at it even if you are buying from a dealer. When i got mine the dealer said it was certified ready to go and the front end and brakes were shot so some tech got lazy and signed off on it, i would blame the dealer but the dealer just changed hands and this truck was leftover inventory and the old dealer was known for this.. They came good for all the repairs but it was just a pain in the ass.

I love my dodge but if had the choice between this and the Toyota the Toyota would win every time.

1 MEAN66 · Dec 17, 2022

My concern is NOT the actual mileage - regardless of brand - it is how well was it taken care of., and WHY are they selling. Rust is the only killer to a vehicle, see Toyota Frame recalls, if it wasn't for the recall, they would have even come close to the mileage you are stating. And I would never buy one of the years that had that recall, even if the recall was completed. Model T's are still out there running. ANYTHING mechanical can be fixed, repaired,etc. You can even fix rust ( I do not have the patience - so I can't).

1979PowerWagon360 · Dec 17, 2022

It's already been written but...MAINTENANCE, MAINTENANCE, MAINTENANCE. I too have seen many 5.7's go for 100,000's of miles without lifter/cam issues and I'm talking fleet cars. They are sensitive to receiving proper maintenance. Given that they are durable, powerful and wonderful engines. If you can obtain maintenance records that would be great. If it sounds good now and you proceed with good maintenance from her forward (oil changes with oil that has good additives) you're probably good for many, many more miles!

Jeepwalker · Dec 17, 2022

Why are you not looking at a full-size Toyota? So later on after a couple niggling issues get under your skin, or the dealers aren't giving you Toyota-like satisfaction, you can't say to yourself, "Dang, I shouldda bought an F-ing Toyota in the first place!"

. Which we've heard on this forum a time or three.

BTW, My tk has over 170k of trouble-free miles, and no squeaks, rattles or loose steering. It's hard to say what specific to look for. Just the normal things. Every vehicle has some weak areas. On the Ram it's the exhaust manifolds warping and cam/lifter issues (which aren't necessarily epidemic). Once the manifolds are dealt with (resurface originals ..not new ones), it's a one and done issue. Yeah, maintenance on any vehicle is key. A little good luck doesn't hurt either. Look for one which has the 8-spd tranny.

mtofell · Dec 17, 2022

Go in with your eyes open.... these are NOT Toyotas. My 2014 has been through two transmissions and just had to have the engine replaced as 120K miles. Obviously, one person's experience it statistically irrelevant but there are a lot of people on these boards with problems. And, of course, we only hear about problems but still the quality of Ram is just not what you'd be used to with Toyota. As for your specific question - 73K is still pretty low miles and there should be a lot of life left but, as others have mentioned, get it checked over and do what you can to check for the lifter/cam problems.

turkeybird56 · Dec 17, 2022

Octane said:
I've also known of quite a few Ram owners, (mine has 197k or so),that has never had a lifter or exhaust manifold issue.Even the 5.7 in the Challengers/Chargers, that were high mileage without a major failure.
As I read these forums tho,even I get paranoid over it.lol. Every bad thing is posted and almost no good things are.
I put 130k on a Challenger w/ the 5.7 without major issue. I say this and my truck will be sure to explode today!

I have been happy with my EARLY build MY 19 DT truck (Apr 2018). Just the usual MX, and I put good tires and some goodies on it. The only real issue is the very sorry AC. But I am a BOIRD and a (UNICORN) here, as my ride only has 20,750 on the odometer. So the Driveway Princess works for me. With any mass produced truck, U gonna have issues sometimes, just FWIW I think luck of the draw. ALSO, as SAID above, Maintenance, MX, MX, and do not cheap out. Good Oil, Good Filters, etc.

Jeepwalker · Dec 18, 2022

There are two transfer case systems used in the Ram too. IDK if that matters on your tk's pkg.

Kap1 · Dec 18, 2022

tron67j said:
The best thing to do with a used truck is have your own mechanic go through it. Costs some, but it gives you some assurance. As with any vehicle, look for rust in weird places like under seat, under the dash, just to make sure it isn't a flood truck.

I have had 3 Rams, total of about 300k miles, did have a couple broken header bolts in my 2003 2500 at about 145k miles 12 years in to service. You will read about the lifter issue, some trucks get it but no way to know service history of those trucks and if good or poor maintenance done. No one I know has ever had that problem and I have known a lot of people over the last 20+ years with Rams.

Good luck.

It's good to have mechanic check it out, however, there may be no symptoms of lifter failure one day, then tomorrow you can get a hemi tick and check engine light in two months.. So lifters failure issue not something that you can really predict.

tron67j · Dec 18, 2022

True, a mechanic is not going to be able to find everything but if there is a tick, they should be able to comment on it. From as much research as I have been able to find, I just don't think the lifter failure is that much to worry about 8f you don't hear massive amounts of clatter. I would be more worried about the expendables like brakes, etc.

Kap1 said:
It's good to have mechanic check it out, however, there may be no symptoms of lifter failure one day, then tomorrow you can get a hemi tick and check engine light in two months.. So lifters failure issue not something that you can really predict.

Elwood · Dec 19, 2022

derkmar said:
I am looking to buy a 2017 RAM 1500 Rebel with around ~73,000 miles on it.

I am coming from the Toyota world and for a Toyota 73,000 is almost considered low miles. If you were to buy a Toyota at 73,000 you could expect at least another good 150,000 miles from it.

How does that apply to Ram's? Would you buy a 2017 Ram with 73,000 miles on it? Users with similar trucks/similar mileage, how is your truck holding up?

Thanks!

I heard you should check the idle hours percentage. Under 25% is best. Since it’s at idle that the lifters and cam starve for oil. I bought mine as a year old former rental with 24,000 miles but nearly 30% idle. Now at nearly 80,000 miles I’m about 22% idle. Divide idle hours by total hours to get the %.

CaptOchs · Dec 19, 2022

Exactly. With any used vehicle how well it was taken care of and the amount of rust it has is a decisive factor. When I looked, I saw some real beauties...until you look at the chassis. I saw some with frame rust. Another had snow tires on it.. In the middle of June! The dealer wouldn't buy new tires, but offered them at cost. Another looked like they drove it through an ATV trail. The RAM I ended up with was an older gentleman's trade. The dealer fully serviced it since new. It was very clean compared to what else was out there.

Ronald Nadeau · Dec 19, 2022

2016 2500 w/5.7. 136k and no issues at all. It’s really a gamble.

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