The 2nd Generation Threads are Rather Quiet

[Tank Guy]

I can't help but wonder if it isn't a reflection of how few of them are still on the road. They are exceptionally good looking trucks, so it's kind of sad to see them becoming scarce the way they are. I never saw myself as a pickup owner until the 2nd generation trucks came along.

When introduced in 94, annual sales of Dodge trucks went from 40,000 units to 400,000 and sales continued to grow from there. I started seeing them around town in Los Angeles and like many others was impressed by the styling, but I wasn't ready to pull the trigger and buy one yet.

A couple of years later one of my coworkers at the Van Nuys Airport bought a nice looking red one, and I had to walk past it every day on my way to the hangar. Temptation.

A few months later my boss bought a black one ton with an extended cab. It was a beautiful truck. More temptation.

Then one afternoon I'm stuck in traffic on the 134 southbound approaching the 5 east interchange by Griffith Park and next to me is a blue half ton Dodge with a center band two tone paint job. I'd never seen that paint scheme before and was struck by how good it looked on that truck. More Temptation.

Some time later in the fall of 97 it's late at night and I'm at the ARCO station on Sherman way near the 405 southbound on-ramp pumping gas into my little 87 Nissan Pulsar. Behind me I hear a big rig pull into the station, but I pay no attention. They often refill the tanks at night. When I turned around to hang up the fuel hose I was surprised to see that there was no big rig there, just a 3/4 ton Dodge with a Cummins engine. Damn it! I can't take it anymore!

Within the week I was at the Dodge dealership in Thousand Oaks ordering my truck, a 3/4 ton quad cab short bed with a Cummins and five speed manual transmission and metallic green and silver center band two tone paint.

That truck has been following me around ever since, but I don't mind. It's been incredibly reliable over the last twenty seven years needing very little maintenance beyond brakes, tires, oil changes and fuel filters. Arguably one of the best purchases I've made in my entire life.

Here in western Pennsylvania, because of it's condition it attracts a lot of attention, enough to make me a little nervous sometimes about leaving it parked in front of the garage instead of in it, but then I remind myself that this is western Pennsylvania, not Los Angeles.

These second generation trucks, along with the other surviving Chrysler products of that period are reminders of what was, and what could have been. They were designed and built at a time when the Chrysler Corporation could seemingly do no wrong. Everything they produced was a hit and it seemed Chrysler's glory days would go on forever. I miss those days. The Daimler takeover changed everything in the worst possible way. I used to browse through the various automotive magazines whenever I had the chance just to see what Chrysler was doing next, but I haven't picked one up in decades.

 

[Daw14]

I could not get further than about six lines of text then it all melted into a glob.

It is very difficult to comprehend in my head to many letters without some spaces here and there.

I will try after medication to see if it helps me .

Or maybe a piece of paper to cover and break it up some.

 

[Tank Guy]

Sorry about that. It got a bit longer than I intended.

 

[97RedRam]

Nicely said

 

[David Vandercook]

I think the reason the second gen thread is quiet is because they are such good trucks, always run, nothing to talk about. Because at least in the south, they aren't scarce at all. Can't swing a dead cat without hitting one. Almost all of them have at least 200k miles too, a testimony to their greatness.

 

[Tank Guy]

I think the reason the second gen thread is quiet is because they are such good trucks, always run, nothing to talk about. Because at least in the south, they aren't scarce at all. Can't swing a dead cat without hitting one. Almost all of them have at least 200k miles too, a testimony to their greatness.

I’m glad to hear that. Around here on the rare occasions when I do see one it’s got severe corrosion issues. I had my windshield replaced and some upholstery work done a few years back and the truck spent a week at a shop sitting outside waiting for me to come pick it up. I had been out of town while the work was being done. The shop owner was relieved to see me when I came to get it. It seems that during the week it was there at his shop about a dozen people stopped to ask if it was for sale and he was tired having to say no.

 

[mikeru]

I read your post. I almost didn’t because it was a little daunting to see a single huge post, but it was an interesting read. If you don’t mind a little unsolicited advice, next time try organizing your thoughts into paragraphs if you want to make a long post.

My step dad bought a ‘97 half ton in silver. I enjoyed it when he’d let me borrow it for landfill runs. It stayed in the family until a few years ago when it finally gave up the ghost. It had over 350k miles on it lol.

 

[Sean J Blackburn]

I have had 3 ram trucks, a 96 1500 5.9 gas engine, a 2005 2500 5.9 Cummins, and 2010 ram 1500 5.7 hemi.

The Cummins and hemi trucks have been excellent trucks with minimal repairs outside of normal maintenance. My 96 1500 was the least reliable vehicle I've ever owned by a wide margin. Engine and transmission both had to be rebuilt, tons of little things constantly breaking. The final nail in the coffin for that truck was when the dash literally fell off in the passenger side. I don't mean the normal cracked dash, I mean actually fell off the firewall. Oh and let's not forget how the paint flaked off, well known issue for second gens.

I loved the 96 when it worked but it was always needing massive repairs. By contrast, my Cummins and hemi trucks are much older now than than my 96 was when I had it and have needed comparatively few repairs outside of normal maintenance. I think the reason we see relatively few 2nd Gen rams is that they are very little monetary value now and when they need a major repair (like transmission which was super common on second gens) it's not worth it to most owners and they get scrapped. The 2nd gens are all 31 to 22 years old, high mileage, and most normal owners don't keep a vehicle that long anyway, let alone repair something that old.

I'm sure lots of guys got good service from their 2nd gens but mine was a disaster and I don't think I'm too much of an outlier. Even barring that, they are all old, high mileage trucks and most people don't keep vehicles anywhere near long enough to still be driving a 2nd Gen.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Tank Guy]

I have had 3 ram trucks, a 96 1500 5.9 gas engine, a 2005 2500 5.9 Cummins, and 2010 ram 1500 5.7 hemi.

The Cummins and hemi trucks have been excellent trucks with minimal repairs outside of normal maintenance. My 96 1500 was the least reliable vehicle I've ever owned by a wide margin. Engine and transmission both had to be rebuilt, tons of little things constantly breaking. The final nail in the coffin for that truck was when the dash literally fell off in the passenger side. I don't mean the normal cracked dash, I mean actually fell off the firewall. Oh and let's not forget how the paint flaked off, well known issue for second gens.

I loved the 96 when it worked but it was always needing massive repairs. By contrast, my Cummins and hemi trucks are much older now than than my 96 was when I had it and have needed comparatively few repairs outside of normal maintenance. I think the reason we see relatively few 2nd Gen rams is that they are very little monetary value now and when they need a major repair (like transmission which was super common on second gens) it's not worth it to most owners and they get scrapped. The 2nd gens are all 31 to 22 years old, high mileage, and most normal owners don't keep a vehicle that long anyway, let alone repair something that old.

I'm sure lots of guys got good service from their 2nd gens but mine was a disaster and I don't think I'm too much of an outlier. Even barring that, they are all old, high mileage trucks and most people don't keep vehicles anywhere near long enough to still be driving a 2nd Gen.

Just my thoughts.

You’re obviously right as far as the original purchaser goes, but these trucks would have continued on in the hands of second, third and fourth owners for many years longer once their first owners sold them. But also as you noted, by now many of them have been used up and found their way into junk yards. Here in western PA I see very few of them around and those I do see tend to be rust buckets from too many winters on salted roads. I miss seeing them and feel they were better looking and a better size than the more modern counterparts.


Was the transmission problem you mentioned limited to the automatics? My manual transmission has never had an issue of any kind and I’m still using the original clutch.

One more thing, I’ve been offered thirty thousand for my truck on two separate occasions within the last year or so by mechanics at local shops where I was having some work done. But it was likely the twelve valve Cummins and the manual transmission, along with the overall condition that were responsible for that. So if well cared for they do still seem to have some value.

 

[David Vandercook]

Yep. The Cummins trucks are just different, I wanted one, but the cheapest ones I could find had 450k miles, been in a few wrecks, and first gen body style, you could expect to pay about six grand for one of those... The gas powered ones are the forgotten and overlooked gems, but where I'm at they are all still work trucks, still going strong and hauling loads like they have been doing for the past thirty years and quarter million miles. Takes a good truck to last that long.

 

[David Vandercook]

It would be the same story with first gens if anybody cared about them, but as it is none are left on the road it seems.

 

[Tank Guy]

I read your post. I almost didn’t because it was a little daunting to see a single huge post, but it was an interesting read. If you don’t mind a little unsolicited advice, next time try organizing your thoughts into paragraphs if you want to make a long post.

My step dad bought a ‘97 half ton in silver. I enjoyed it when he’d let me borrow it for landfill runs. It stayed in the family until a few years ago when it finally gave up the ghost. It had over 350k miles on it lol.

I took your advice and broke it up a bit. Hopefully that helps.

 

[tjfdesmo]

Tons of Second Gens still rolling around here in AZ. Even a surprising number of First Gens. Saw a First Gen ranch truck the other day pulling a load of hay, not a square inch of body without a dent, but 12 Valve still chugging along.

 

[David Vandercook]

Yeah, my 3/4 ton is a former farm truck, it might look good in the picture, but it's mostly dent lol

 

[Tank Guy]

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone that commented here, especially those that let me know that what I'm seeing here in western PA doesn't apply to other parts of the country where the winters are less severe. If anything ever happened to my truck I'd want to replace it with another 2nd generation, so it's good to know that they're still out there in large numbers in other parts.

 

[Sean J Blackburn]

Was the transmission problem you mentioned limited to the automatics? My manual transmission has never had an issue of any kind and I’m still using the original clutch.

Good question, as far as I know it was just the automatic trans that was a known weak point. I think the manuals were generally pretty solid. I recall when I had my trans rebuilt several shops I got quotes from somewhat jokingly (but not entirely a joke) said that particular transmission kept the lights on in the shop as they failed often. I'm glad lots of guys got good service from their 2nd gens, quite possible mine had more issues than average.

 

[Sean J Blackburn]

Yep. The Cummins trucks are just different, I wanted one, but the cheapest ones I could find had 450k miles, been in a few wrecks, and first gen body style, you could expect to pay about six grand for one of those... The gas powered ones are the forgotten and overlooked gems, but where I'm at they are all still work trucks, still going strong and hauling loads like they have been doing for the past thirty years and quarter million miles. Takes a good truck to last that long.

The 12v Cummins in the 2nd Gen trucks is about as bulletproof as it's possible to make an engine. And totally just my opinion on this, but the best sounding diesel in a pickup.

 

[Tank Guy]

The 12v Cummins in the 2nd Gen trucks is about as bulletproof as it's possible to make an engine. And totally just my opinion on this, but the best sounding diesel in a pickup.

When I was a kid I wanted to be a long haul truck driver. The sound of the engines at idle, all the chrome(I was a kid in the sixties and seventies), the air horns, not to mention the movie Convoy. It looked like a great way to earn a living, but I grew out of that. The sound of that Dodge Ram with a Cummins when it pulled into the gas station on the night described above brought all of that back to me and I knew I was going to have to get one.

 

[David Vandercook]

That's also half the reason I want a Cummins. Maybe the entire reason. It's a really intoxicating idle sound.

 

[TXd150]

I liked it, it's amazing how you remember ever detail of the trucks you saw back then. I too remember seeing the new Dodge Ram for the first time, a neighbor bought one and I couldn't stop staring at it. I had to go over and take a look, he was a lot older than me ( I was in my 20s and he was like 80 ) but didn't mind taking the time to show it off. I recently bought my first 2nd Gen Dodge Ram 1500 and just love it.