1997 Dodge Ram 2500 Mark III - would you buy this van?

[gabby]

i just today looked at this 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 Mark III, which the owner (a friend of a friend) has to sell by the 27th:<br><br><a target="_blank" href="http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/cto/2717891262.html">http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/cto/2717891262.html</a><br><br>is there anything about the dodge ram conversions i should know? so far i've heard they have real bad (ie every 60k miles) tranny problems. also the owner has to get the fuel pump fixed, so i couldn't even test drive it. it does have a new tranny &amp; some other stuff, &amp; we've worked out a deal where i give her a $600 deposit so she can fix the pump, then i can test-drive it when it's driveable, &amp; decide then. she said it sat in a garage for 10 years before she bought it.... woof. but the price seems right, for my budget especially. probably won't get too crazy on the conversion to a living space -- thinking i'll just use it to get to the west coast, then trade it for a more secure, less tricked-out van of some type.<br><br>anyway i was curious whether you seasoned pros thought this was worth buying. i gotta let her know by tonight! thanks to anyone who can toss a couple cents at this<br><br>-gabby<br><br>

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

go online and look for forums regarding this years van.&nbsp; Maybe Edmunds but I don't know how far back they go.&nbsp;I have had a dodge van and a dodge dakota-prior to 2002. Vans trans went out, the&nbsp;dakota went&nbsp;as a trade in&nbsp;working well with high milege but a slipping linkage.&nbsp; Other people love Dodge.<br><b>Dragonfly</b><br>

 

[MK7]

That's a good price if the tranny is new. Mileage is very low too. It looks very stealthy also once you black out the windows. Almost like a cargo van. <br><br>What's really bad though is if it sat for 10 years. That's crazy. All the gaskets and such are probably dried up, rust on parts, pulleys, etc.&nbsp; Rust in the motor, oh boy. Cars needs to run, to circulate the oil to keep parts lubed, gaskets moist, etc. Sitting around for 3 years is bad, but damn, 10?&nbsp; It's gonna make a lot of metal scraping noises when it's started up. Whatever gas is in there is gummed up by now, that's probably why the fuel pump failed. Gasoline starts to gum up after like 6 months of sitting w/o adding stabilizer. It still runs after 6mos, but adding stabilizer is still a good idea....now 10 years? Sheesh. <br>&nbsp;<br><br>

 

[Seraphim]

Offer her $600 as is and you'll fix the fuel pump. Expect to put more money into the car, as MK7 stated - at least the other $1300. Possibly more if you can't do the labor yourself. The fuel lines may be fouled up as well. The gas tank? - maaaybeee. <BR><BR>If it's totally messed up you can get $600 for it for scrap.<BR><BR>Or, work a deal with her. $600, then whatever is left of the other $1300 after necessary repairs to make it run.<BR><BR>She wants someone to buy it this week and promise to replace the pump next week? Yea, people are gong to line up for THAT deal <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">. &nbsp;If you give her $600 (refundable deposit), she replaces the pump and the car still doesn't run, will she have the money to return your deposit? If hse does, why doesn't she use her own money to replace the pump?<BR><BR>I know she's a friend, but I've seen a lot of friendships end this way.She may believe the pump is the only problem, but she may be misinformed as well.<BR><BR>

 

[gabby]

thanks guys, yeah, the whole deposit thing is weird. i thought the low miles &amp; new tranny/pump/other stuff made $1900 a good deal, but now you've got me thinking otherwise... if the engine's rusty &amp; goes right after i buy it i'd be miserable. <br><br>this is especially tricky as i'm losing my apartment on the 1st, and need somewhere to put my stuff and/or transport my stuff to another place, otherwise i'm on the street.... so i feel like beggars can't be choosers, since i really don't have any housing options now and i haven't seen anything better on craigslist yet.... not within biking distance, anyway! maybe i'll see if i can talk her down some.... ugh!<br><br>

 

[Seraphim]

<P>

if the engine's rusty

<BR><BR>Not something I'd worry about:&nbsp; I've bought several vehicles that sat for years - my 79 VW was in a barn for about that long - and never came across one with rust in the engine.&nbsp;Replaced the fuel pump, some lines and the gas tank, yes.&nbsp;</P>&nbsp;I'd just make sure you have some guarantee that the fuel pump is the only problem. The $600 plus offer above is not a bad offer to her. Just amke sure she signs the title over to you when you hand her the $600. Put the rest of the deal in writing for her. Keep receipts of the work you have done, and pay her the difference once the car is running.<BR><BR>Point out to her that no one is going to buy that vehicle when it's not running, and hasn't been for such a long time, with just her word a new fuel pump will fix it. &nbsp;If she's a friend, she'll work with you. Point out, as well, that there are rubber parts you'll probably have to replace.<BR><BR>Get the title signed up front, though, before you invest any money into it&nbsp;- else she still owns the vehicle plus whatever work you have done to it.<BR><BR>If she takes you up on that offer, I think you'll come out well.<BR><BR>&nbsp;<BR>

 

[gabby]

ok, that's a bit reassuring. the whole story is a previous owner let it sit for 10 years with only 15,000 miles on it -- then present owner bought it (in '07) and drove it a lot (in a touring band), putting a ton of repairs into it as things broke/fell off/rusted through along the way... so.... maybe it's not so bad? <br><br>i've already asked her to get the mechanic to do an inspection on it while he replaces the pump, so hopefully he'll be able to tell me for sure whether this is a good investment. i'm just gonna stick with her mechanic since it sounds like she trusts him and i don't have even the barest shred of a lead on a trustworthy, affordable mechanic in new york. another benefit: she'll pay to tow it to the shop (which is only like 3 blocks from the van but still).<br><br>if i do end up buying this, i'll happily donate that back row of seats to whoever wants it!<br><br>thanks for the advice, this is helping a lot. i'd like to think buying a used van isn't always this stressful and uncertain but it probably is. i guess it's better than gambling at atlantic city -- costs more but at least i get a maybe-running van out of it!<br><br>

 

[gabby]

tragic end to this story: i ended up not buying the van. AFTER giving her the $600 deposit. i feel kind of bad but at least the van's running now &amp; she can sell it to some other sucker- - i mean fine new yorker.<br><br>between the sitting-for-10-years, the lack of security (windows everywhere &amp; those old-style locks you can break into w/ a screwdriver), the overabundance in frills (it had an air pump and way too many cup holders), the lack of stealth, and the ridiculous fees for registering/insuring in NY.... it all kind of added up to Headache.<br><br>i'm a little bummed but now at least i have a better idea of what i want now (cargo, not conversion). if y'all know of any please post them in the classifieds, i've been checking them! i'll probably try to find a way to buy something well south of here.<br><br>

 

[MK7]

Can't you get some of that $600 back. That's crazy if she doesn't pay you back.<br><br>You should also research very carefully about getting a conversion van. It's going to be dripping with water in the winter due to condensation and no insulation. Insulating it decently will be no easy task nor cheap. They also cost about the same as a conversion van used and over 10 years old.&nbsp; A cheap $300 all white paint job will make it stealthier. Even paint some of the windows white and tint the inside. Some people with cargo vans wishes that they went with a conversion van, and they like being able the see all around w/the windows. <br><br>

 

[gabby]

thanks mk7, yeah i got the $600 back no problem, so, dodged a bullet i guess?<br><br>i've read so much debate between cargo &amp; conversion! the condensation does sound like an issue. is that even a factor if you install a vent/2-way fan in the roof? i lived in a box truck in the winter in vermont a couple years ago - it was pretty close to a conversion insulation-wise and it was still COLD. but at least the added height kept the condensation from getting too bad.<br><br>what i like mainly about the IDEA of the cargo is building it up from scratch the way i want it. pretty much all the conversions i've seen have way, way too much frills for me. i don't need water pumps or cup holders or power windows or fancy A/C vents or carpeting all over everything or the other doodads like the air pump this mark iii had - all of that adds weight, too. what i value most is 1) fuel efficiency and 2) stealth and 3) reliability. a bonus would be a van that was easy to work on, but i know that's quite a pipe dream outside of the older VWs.<br><br>anyway, the dream's on hold for at least another month. plenty of time to dive into the archives &amp; see what other people are saying here.<br><br>

 

[MK7]

You should check out this vandwelling group: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/VanDwellers/messages&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was reading about insulating a cargo van there.&nbsp;&nbsp; They said that you must.&nbsp; It doesn't look easy at all. I'm not sure how much a roof vent/fan would help. You should ask people on here. I'm pretty sure a roof vent is a big must for any vandweller so I think I was advised that you still need insulation even with one.<br><br>This guy insulated his Astro cargo van + roof vent. He went all out with his blog too. Lot's of pictures.<br><br>http://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopic.php?f=127&amp;t=10979<br>http://wanderingyeti.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-10-22T10:42:00-07:00&amp;max-results=7<br><br>I hear what you say about conversion vans though. Like 20 cupholders in them. I would try to take rip out as much of that crap as possible. <br>

 

[butterfly]

<p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">For what it's worth, I'm crying in my prune juice that I&nbsp;bought an awesome '07 Chevy Express 8 passenger cargo van last March, hubby has it rigged up for travel but not being able to stand up in it is becoming a huge pain in my 62 yr old back...still owe a wad of $$ on it too...it was the first thing I saw when I became&nbsp;smitten by the idea of vandwelling.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Tahoma"></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Tahoma">Patience is a virtue I don't have....and bless my hubby's heart, he's such a softy.</font></p>

 

[Seraphim]

We've all experienced buyer's remorse...

Would it be financially feasible to have a high top added to your current van? Someone on the forum quoted a price of $1400 to have one added. Not sure what type vehicle.

If the 07 was a recent purchase, unlikely you can your money back out of it if you chose to sell it, and are unhappy with it as a mobile home choice. Another option might be an inexpensive trailer to pull with the van. Then you have several options.

Just a couple of thoughts.

 

[gabby]

on hightops: yeah, at 6'2" that's definitely something i covet in a van as well! and my back &amp; neck aren't getting any sturdier myself...<br><br>these guys make it look... relatively easy to add a hightop to an existing van:<br><a target="_blank" href="http://cheaprvliving.com/Installing_A_Hightop.html">http://cheaprvliving.com/Installing_A_Hightop.html</a><br><br>i have to admit that when i lived in my box truck i really appreciated the headspace. it's the difference between feeling like you're living in a cave &amp; living in a for-real apartment that just happens to be on wheels.<br><br>

 

[butterfly]

<p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Gabby, glad you got the $600 back and dodged a bad deal.&nbsp; Hope you find something that works for you soon.&nbsp; </font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Adding a hi-top looks simple enough but isn't something hubby and I have skills/finances to do.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Tahoma">There is actually a truly Ugly hi top vehicle for sale a few blocks away.&nbsp; the bottom half is Crayon Blue w/ white top half&nbsp; NEW'S is written in huge letters on the back.&nbsp; A paint job would definatly be necess. for stealth.&nbsp; No&nbsp; other details known as I've been too put off by the sight of it to stop and ask price ect...and I'd definatly need to find a buyer for the Express.&nbsp; </font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Tahoma">and&nbsp;yes, Jerry, something to tow behind would be an option.&nbsp; In addition to the van we have our '05 Dodge truck as poss. tow vehicle....</font></p>

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Butterfly, some people here put on after market high tops. I know, more money but since you are still making payments on your van could that be a consideration?<br>You mentioned another tow vehicle, how about setting up the van to tow with since it is so nice. That may be needless money spent since you have the Dodge. Small travel trailers can be picked up cheap this time of the year. Whats nice about the right tt, you can always sell it if you don't like it.<br>I wish I had a smaller tow vehicle, I don't need as much as I have. <br>If I can sell my 3/4 ton silverado I think I will research , maybe jeep cherokees or something similar.<br>***Good luck Gabby, I hope you have time to get the right vehicle for you without going thru what we are****<br><br><b><FONT color=#00ff00 size=3>Dragonfly</FONT></b><br>

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Gabby, there is more than one way to raise a van roof. Take a look at the straight up lift with side fillers on this one.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="http://cheapgreenrvliving.com/Ambulance-Living.html" target=_blank>http://cheapgreenrvliving.com/Ambulance-Living.html</a></p>