Looking to buy..

[ManUtdMike]

Hey Everyone - I'm currently looking at purchasing a 2014-2016 Ram 1500 Sport. I like the Hemi, I like the crew cab for my rug rats. I'm just hoping for some insight. All the trucks I'm looking at are around the 50k-60K mile range and priced around 27K - 31K for my area. Are there certain issues with these years of Ram's that I should be asking about? What advice would you give me? I really appreciate any help/advice yall can give me and look forward to posting my purchase!

 

[tron67j]

Do a search in the forum, this topic has been covered for different years. Good choice, by the way. I have had Rams since 1994. You need to decide what options aside from what you learn that are important to you. 1500 vs 2500 if you want to tow and take the family the latter is possibly the way to go. Heavy towing, you need right hearing and maybe a diesel. Want best ride and not doing much hauling, a 1500 fits. Do you want every bell bed whistle up front, or basic trim. I will say I bought a brand new 2500 Tradesman with a number of options last October for less than your high range value. Used vehicle prices are really high right now, there is a thread or two on this subject and I have found my private party value is more than I paid for my truck right now. And I have added some if the missing options for a lot less than factory cost and all but one are genuine Mopar parts. Good luck

 

[LeeD]

Hey Everyone - I'm currently looking at purchasing a 2014-2016 Ram 1500 Sport. I like the Hemi, I like the crew cab for my rug rats. I'm just hoping for some insight. All the trucks I'm looking at are around the 50k-60K mile range and priced around 27K - 31K for my area. Are there certain issues with these years of Ram's that I should be asking about? What advice would you give me? I really appreciate any help/advice yall can give me and look forward to posting my purchase!

Check with sites like Carvana, etc. Also look at the rental companies sales sites. I picked up a 2018 1500 Sport with only 14K miles for 31K in April from Carvana.

 

[brny67]

Yes sir, welcome to the forum. These vehicles are great, came out of 08 Tacoma, I am in a 2016 Express wit the Hemi never looking back. Hold out for what u want and keep checking around you will find the sweet deal you are hoping for.

 

[kurek]

The biggest gotcha on these vehicles when buying used is the FPO.


Without trying to open a can of worms here - it seems a lot of people are inclined to either do insufficient maintenance, to change up the recipe on maintenance (which may be better in some cases, may be worse in others, and either way gets debated to absolute death with no conclusions or progress) - so in the end it's kinda just... good luck?

Regardless here is stuff you might find valuable to know in no particular order:

• The V6 is a fine engine and if you're not towing heavy or in need of a V8 for personal satisfaction (hey no shame there, you only get one life may as well enjoy it) - for everything else the V6 truly is enough engine. It's reliable and decently efficient, there's noting about it not to like really except "aint a V8"
• The V8 could be had with two different transmissions. If you have a column shifter you have the 6 speed if you have a knob in the dash to select drive it's the 8 speed. Both should have their transmission fluid changed at around 60k miles. The lifetime fill B.S. is just that, B.S.
• There were two different transfer cases available, one has automatic 4WD (there will be an "automatic" setting on the selector) and the other is conventional, manual part time 4wd that is still electronically shifted. If you believe your use of the vehicle will be particularly rough you will want to look for the part time 4wd as it is a full mesh engagement with no clutches to slip or heat up. If you are not planning to use the truck hard with oversize tires you'll be fine with the automatic one and can enjoy the simplicity of automatic operation when you want it. Or if you're shopping 2wd then that doesn't matter at all.
  
• There were three different axle ratios. 3.21 and 3.92 were available with the 8 speed transmission and 3.55 was available (along with 3.92) with the 6 speed transmission and with the diesel engine. If you're planning larger tires or going fast 3.92's are the only way to fly but 3.21's are certainly not a problem even with somewhat larger tires.
  
• There is an often spoke-of, poorly documented flaw in the hemi engine that leads it to digest its camshaft after a roller or two stop rolling. Much talk has been thrown around about it but nobody has any concrete proof of why it happens, how to prevent it, or how many trucks it affects. Sucks to think there might be a time bomb in your vehicle. It is most absolutely not related to the MDS, as non-MDS vehicles suffer it too.
• There was steel suspension (coil springs) and air suspension . If you're not modifying the vehicle either's fine but the steel suspension gives you more options for modification if you think you'll be changing the vehicle's ride height or using it on especially difficult terrain.

 

[djarrett]

I believe the sport models only have the automatic transfer case available. The "real" locking t case was in the express and rebels.

 

[ManUtdMike]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone. @LeeD I've been checking Carvana constantly... every ram is pending purchase and when a new one pops up it's pending purchase within 10 min. I've been sitting refreshing the page every 15 minutes for the last 2 days hah! I think I may have found a local one though, 2014 1500 Sport with 60k for $26k. Super clean, they're putting new tires on it. It's the best one locally I've seen. Carvana seems to have the best prices though, no dealer fees, and money-back guarantees.. so ideally I'd like to find one there but I'm just too impatient so I might get the local one. Thanks again for everyone's input.

 

[Barry Phillips]

Only suggestion I have on Carvana is really do your maintenance history research. Buddy of mine truck showed up and wasnt notified or told of paint damage to roof that they tried to hide and it was a pain in the **** for him to get them to cover it. Good luck!

 

[LeeD]

Only suggestion I have on Carvana is really do your maintenance history research. Buddy of mine truck showed up and wasnt notified or told of paint damage to roof that they tried to hide and it was a pain in the **** for him to get them to cover it. Good luck!

I had a completely different experience with Carvana. The trucker who delivered my truck scratched the rear bumper, tail light and fender. The Carvana rep texted me immediately and sent pictures and offered the choice of them fixing it or delivering the truck and they would make all the arrangements for repairs. Since I was anxious for the truck, LOL, I told them to bring it. Two days later it was in the body shop getting a new bumper, tail light and the fender repaired.
Their inspection of any imperfections was accurate. I guess it's all on the local staff to do it right.

Oh and yes they do move the truck inventory quickly. Mine popped up and I bought it immediately. Well after calling my wife over to take a look first...

 

[Bobw4email]

I just bought my 2017 Big Horn Crew Cab, V8 Hemi w/8 speed tranny, 'automatic' 4 wheel drive, Nav, etc with 30k miles for $30k out the door. I looked for about 6 weeks, and went back to the dealer to negotiate 4 times, but finally got exactly what I wanted, at the price I wanted.

Extremely happy with my purchase!!

Be patient, and be persistent.

 

[RLJ10X]

Kurek pretty much nailed it. I will add:

If you're going to use your new RAM as a truck, not a big car that looks like a truck, the Eco diesel, or the Hemi would be my first two choices. But I have a ton of respect for the Pentastar, also.

Again, if you're going to use your truck as a truck, look for a 3.92 limited slip rear end. You'll be glad you did.

The automatic transfer case can inexpensively turned into the real deal with one of "Brandon's Switches". I am here to tell you the switch works.

Everybody has "Their Thing". Mine is money. So, Pay Cash. Period. If you can make payments, you can save cash. And don't fall for the Extended Warranty scam. Have an emergency fund of your own. If you need to buy insurance, buy life insurance. Your truck is nickel-dime compared to if your widow has to do without your income.

Enjoy, keep us posted!

 

[ManUtdMike]

Update post! I found the one and took the plunge. 2015 1500 Sport Crew Cab V8 Hemi with 50k miles for $26k. Came with a level kit on it and brand new 35's put on. I was literally about to buy the 2014 one when this popped up.. like it was fate.. Took it to a mechanic and had them check it out, made sure they checked the manifold, water pump, etc. Only had 2 issues, A/C wasn't working properly and rear rotors were pretty rusted. The dealer agreed to replace the rotors and charge the A/C.. and cover any further costs if the charge doesn't fix the A/C issue. Super happy and LOVE driving my new rig. Thanks to everyone for all your great insight and advice! Now to start with the mods...

 

[Bobw4email]

Perfect, beautiful truck - Congratulations!

 

[Ram-in-PA]

Nice truck.

I have a pretty loaded '15 Sport that I bought new, it was a special order that the buyer walked from at delivery so I got a nice deal. Have 65k miles on it now and it really still looks/drive like new with no issues. May look to sell it and get a new '21 model, so nice to see these are holding some good retail value!

Good luck with it!