Looking at a 2011 Ram ... Questions

[Brandon32689]

Hey all so im looking for a inexpensive truck to use for back and forth to work. I have owned a few rams in the past and like them. I have had a 2011 sport quad cab 2wd with the 5.7 and a 2006 mega cab with the 5.9 and a 2007 4x4 with the 5.7 i wish i never let go. I have recently owned chevys. My latest truck was a 2014 silverado High Country that i just traded in for my wife a new Yukon after we where hit on the Hwy an totaled out her Tahoe. So i use my truck for back and forth to work and doing stuff around the house ect. I have been looking at a few dodge trucks and wanted to maybe get some input from people that know more than me. I have found a 2011 Ram Big Horn 4x4 5.7 hemi. It has 110k Miles and they are asking 16k. The outside looks damn near new but inside needs a good cleaning it is also a crew cab which i prefer over a small backseat. Is there anything i should be looking at? any years to skip? any big problems ? Thanks in advance.

 

[atrupo]

I just traded in my 2011 with 114k. It had the dreaded manifold leak, some rust over the rear wheels, a little valvetrain noise during MDS and at cold start. I bought it at 56k with the valve noise, but never really noticed it because I always put it in 5 to keep it out of MDS. The manifold is pretty typical as you probably know. I think it depends in the previous owner more than the year. Maintenance records would be great. I wouldn't trust a truck that had exclusively gone through quick lubes.

 

[huntergreen]

Hey all so im looking for a inexpensive truck to use for back and forth to work. I have owned a few rams in the past and like them. I have had a 2011 sport quad cab 2wd with the 5.7 and a 2006 mega cab with the 5.9 and a 2007 4x4 with the 5.7 i wish i never let go. I have recently owned chevys. My latest truck was a 2014 silverado High Country that i just traded in for my wife a new Yukon after we where hit on the Hwy an totaled out her Tahoe. So i use my truck for back and forth to work and doing stuff around the house ect. I have been looking at a few dodge trucks and wanted to maybe get some input from people that know more than me. I have found a 2011 Ram Big Horn 4x4 5.7 hemi. It has 110k Miles and they are asking 16k. The outside looks damn near new but inside needs a good cleaning it is also a crew cab which i prefer over a small backseat. Is there anything i should be looking at? any years to skip? any big problems ? Thanks in advance.

IIRC, some say the 2011 is the worst year for the cam lifter failure. Never had an issue on my 11 but I might be Leary of picking up a used 11.

 

[blrmkrl83]

Only problems with mine were the battery (105,000), manifold leak(115,000), and front wheel bearings(130,000)

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

My 11 has 107k and is running strong. I have no problems other than a manifold leak.

Mine is tuned, runs redline and I run it 600 miles a week. 18 mpg.

 

[Brandon32689]

So is the manifold leak like not something to worry about?

 

[atrupo]

IIRC, some say the 2011 is the worst year for the cam lifter failure. Never had an issue on my 11 but I might be Leary of picking up a used 11.

Some say that cheaper cam parts were used before the 2013 refresh. I don't know for sure, but I would definitely buy that truck again.

 

[huntergreen]

So is the manifold leak like not something to worry about?

It can be costly to fix, but I wouldn't not buy a vehicle over it.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

So is the manifold leak like not something to worry about?

Obviously I'm not losing sleep over it. I hear it at start up, engine warms, it goes away. Should I fix it, yes. Am I going to, if I need to but I'm not going to immediately tear it down. It's been there at least 30 k.

When it's fixed, it will be with shorties headers and not the cast iron logs from the factory.

 

[Kap1]

So is the manifold leak like not something to worry about?

Yes it needs to be fixed as it could get worse.

Depending on where you're living at, it could cost around $2-3k.

Get used truck checked out by your mechanic.

Personally it would be too much risk for me to buy a 2011. You could also get the popular cam and lifters failure which is $4-5k or a new engine = $8k+

You're looking for trouble buying a 100k used truck, for $16k! Which is a lot of risk and not cheap at all. Just see how much the very common repairs cost...

 

[Wahrsuul]

Hmm... get the price down some, that's a little high, but not bad. At least not compared to the prices I've seen around here.