Alright guys, I have had two Fords and my family has owned several others and a couple GM trucks. Always great cars always run well without issues. My dad always told me to avoid Chrysler products, but I find myself after a Ram 1500 for my next vehicle. Here is what I want to know: My price range combined with what I want in a truck puts me with a higher mileage 4.7 or 5.7 automatic 4x4. I am looking at trucks with around 150 to 180k miles. In a Ford I wouldn't have an issue with these miles, but I have read online extensively and have some concerns with the durability of these trucks, if i buy a Ram with 170k miles on it, that has been well maintained, can i expect another 50k miles or so with good care. I realize somethings just wear out, but I don't want to have a truck that is always in the shop with some issue or suffers major mechanical failure. I see tranny issues are somewhat common, but I also see trucks with high mileage on the original tranny. I have also seen some debate to how well the 5.7 holds up compared to the 4.7 dodge engine and the 5.3 Chevy and the 5.4 Ford. I'm looking for honest answers about personal experiences. (Currently I have my eye on what is a cosmetically nearly new looking '04 single cab Laramie with 178k miles with the 5.7 Hemi. ) I drive a lot of in town and interstate, and sometimes tow my motorcycle, which with the trailer is no more than 2000lbs. The truck would be a daily driver.
Thanks y'all,
-Ben
To tell you the truth I don't think anyone would be able to give you a straight forward answer. I purchased a high mileage Ram as a (work truck.) I've done lots of work to it, (no major stuff), just replaced everything that commonly wears out. (Tranny Fluid / Brakes / Tires/ Oil / Filters/ Lot's of front suspension (ball joints, control arms, tie rods, tie rod ends, some shocks, and some other generally worn parts.) The reason I purchased the truck was because of the deal I got.
I'm a previous Chevy owner, family has been die hard Dodge's since the muscle cars in the days. My fathers first couple cars we're a 69' Dodge Dart, a 72' Dodge Demon, all the way to a Ram today. To this day, he's never owned anything but Mopar/Chrysler/Dodge.
Moral to the story, I believe all the mainstream auto makers put extensive hours and millions of dollars into research, testing, and production in their vehicles. I myself, believe a Dodge, Chevy, or Ford are all going to be reliable as their owner. If you're buying a higher mileage vehicle, I would look at who you are buying it from, and how many previous owners. (Sometimes this isn't possible.) But a vehicle is only as reliable as it's owner is to the maintenance schedule.
Believe it or not, many, many people know to change the tires to avoid a flat, change the brakes to avoid wrecks, but not everyone out there with a vehicle understands the full maintenance schedule of their vehicle. Not everyone changes their filter or oil on time. Not everyone knows to do small stuff like throttle body/sensor cleanings, greasing parts, and the other small things as owners that we are suppose to maintenance. 180k miles is a lot of miles, but as I said, if it's had good owners that kept it very well, I believe it'll easily run for another 50k. I search online and see many people with 250k+ on their Rams. Do a search and locate the thread "How many miles does your Ram have?". You'll see they'll last, but only as much as the owner takes care of them.
On the other hand, I bought my work truck at 150k, previous owner neglected. I've dumped some cash into it, the only reason I wasn't too worried, was because I enjoy learning, diy'ing, and knew what I was getting into when I purchased it, and I got a steal price on it. If it hadn't been for these factors, I would have been MUCH more picky about investigating the maintenance of the truck and the previous owner.
