PU Truck

[Neal]

Hi guys. I wanted to get your opinion on this truck I'm looking at. It's a 2010 Dodge 1500 with 100,000 miles on it. I live in Ohio so I looked and there's no visual rust anywhere on the vehicle. The body is straight and it's a 4x4. Transmission is smooth and the engine sounds good. The hoses and belts look new. It's being sold by a reputable Ford dealership. Here are a few of the specs. The price is $10,995 and I'm pretty confident I can get that down by at least $1,000.00.

• Engine Description: Gas/Ethanol V8 4.7L/287
  
• Drivetrain: 4WD
  
• EPA-Est City*: 14
  
• EPA-Est Highway*: 18
  
• Wheelbase Code: 160.5
  
• Your opinions would greatly be appreciated.
  
• Thanks you Neal

 

[TxLady]

My husband drives a 2010 Dodge Ram with 128,000+ miles and a Hemi engine.  The lifters knock terribly.  We've had it fixed once at a dealership and it started happening again.  We've heard it's a problem with Hemi engines.  He only drives short distances so we don't worry about it much, but if you're looking to put a lot of miles on the truck, I'd think twice if it's got a Hemi engine.

It also stalls at random times in traffic.  If you throw it in neutral you can start it up again quickly, but it can be a problem at times.  Again, had it looked at numerous times and nobody can figure out what causes it.  He had a Dodge Charger for 8 years and we got a recall notice about the ignition which can randomly click over to the "accessories" setting, and we think that's why the truck is stalling. He reported it to the NTSB and Dodge corporate but so far no recall issued on the truck for that reason.  Again, just FYI that it could be an issue.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Are you planning to use it with a truck camper?  A simple cap? Pull a trailer?

I think most of us here agree that a half ton is too light for most truck campers.  No problem with a simple cap, of course.  And a trailer CAN work, depending on it's weight.

As for a known engine problem, I don't doubt that her husband's vehicle has this problem.  I personally would find a Chrysler or ram truck forum and research just how common a problem it is.  There may even be a known cure for it at this point.

 

[Neal]

I was thinking of a truck camper, but I didn't think of the weight issue, my other idea was a lightweight trailer.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Truck camper magazine (Google it) is free and online and has several good articles on properly matching campers and trucks so they safely work together.

 

[Neal]

Thanks

 

[OutdoorFT]

I had a 2008 dodge dakota crew cab with 4.7 v8 in it. Nice little truck. when I got rid of it last year for my F350, i only had 30 something thousand miles on it. If you can get the price down a bit, itd be worth it. I dont drove thst much 5k or less a year so mileage isnt a huge factor for me.

Also, if you can, get the CCC number from the door of that truck, which will help you determine a TC.

 

[Neal]

It already sold! Back to the hunt.

 

[Scott7022]

If you need 4x4 and you want to put a camper on it, look at 2500 or 250's. In the long run you will save money. It is far too easy to go overweight with a 1500/150. Even the "weight" they mark the camper with can be hundreds of pounds under. Good resource already pointed out. Be careful so many rigs are overloaded.

 

[wagoneer]

Truck camper Magazine promotes Brand new expensive campers, put your money into an at least 3/4 ton and go into the used hard side camper market and look for the cheapest /as-is slide in gutted or trashed slide in the truck is the main goal put your money in the truck. 4 x 4 are over rated IMHO and also cost more to insure.

 

[OutdoorFT]

Truck camper Magazine promotes Brand new expensive campers, put your money into an at least 3/4 ton and go into the used hard side camper market and look for the cheapest /as-is slide in gutted or trashed slide in the truck is the main goal put your money in the truck. 4 x 4 are over rated IMHO and also cost more to insure.

Worth every penny when Im cruising through 5 inches of snow and people get stuck in the middle of the road. Sure 2wds are good in the snow, but it sure helps

Now if I lived in a non snowy area...4x4 wouldn't be necessary

 

[Scott7022]

Truck camper does promote new rigs, but all the reviews are archived so you can read a three or four year old review and then look for that rig used. My father used to say "I never got stuck till I got a four wheel drive." I said if you need it. I need it. A road that a car can drive on Friday afternoon in BC can turn into a road that will suck a Deuce to the differentials on Saturday. Many use 2 wheel to get in and four wheel to make sure you can get out. I like lockers and sway bar disconnects just so a weekend doesn't turn into a week.

 

[tripper]

You need a 1 ton for all but the smallest of truck campers. If it doesn't have a bathroom/shower a 3/4 ton will do. For the really big truck campers (10-11' models) you should have duallies.

Prices for 1 ton and 3/4 ton trucks are the same, and some manufacturers (Chevy/GMC) the difference between the two models are almost none, just heavier springs and slightly larger rear brakes. Some newer Dodges the 3/4 ton and 1 tons are very different.

4x4 brings peace of mind, otherwise you are stressing over mud in the forests and soft sand at beaches and washes.

 

[akrvbob]

You need a 1 ton for all but the smallest of truck campers. If it doesn't have a bathroom/shower a 3/4 ton will do. For the really big truck campers (10-11' models) you should have duallies.

4x4 brings peace of mind, otherwise you are stressing over mud in the forests and soft sand at beaches and washes.

I agree 120% with every word!!

First 3 years of living in a 4x4 truck, never stuck once. The first day I was stuck in my new van trying to pull the trailer out of where the 4x4 had dropped it off effortlessly. That was a bad start, but it got worse. Stuck 2 more times that year alone and 6-8 times since then. 

The day the warranty expires, a locker goes into the van!

 

[GypsySpirit]

It already sold! Back to the hunt.

Just my two cents worth:  Consider yourself lucky.   Ex is a mechanic.  When I went to buy my truck, he told me get what I want, as long as it wasn't a Dodge Ram.  He's a really good mechanic, I took him at his word.  And, no offense intended to any RAM owners.

 

[Scott7022]

I agree 120% with every word!!

First 3 years of living in a 4x4 truck, never stuck once. The first day I was stuck in my new van trying to pull the trailer out of where the 4x4 had dropped it off effortlessly. That was a bad start, but it got worse. Stuck 2 more times that year alone and 6-8 times since then. 

Factor in that adding diesel and/or 4x4 lowers your Payload. I was amazed at the low payload numbers on the new 2500 Dodge Powerwagon.  It doesn't have a diesel and I would guess it doesn't because once you added the heavy bits it couldn't carry the payload of a Prius. 6.6 foot of bed for hauling sail boat fuel!! 

Pay attention to load values if you travel North of the 49th. They pull rigs into be weighed often and will sit at the bottom of long hills with Flir  cameras (looking at wheel temps and brakes). Commercial truckers complained "They" were only being targeted and so you don't want to be the token van/truck guy. 

Past that rolling overloaded is really not safe and puts a tremendous strain on the vehicle. 

Be safe

 

[Neal]

Factor in that adding diesel and/or 4x4 lowers your Payload. I was amazed at the low payload numbers on the new 2500 Dodge Powerwagon.  It doesn't have a diesel and I would guess it doesn't because once you added the heavy bits it couldn't carry the payload of a Prius. 6.6 foot of bed for hauling sail boat fuel!! 

Pay attention to load values if you travel North of the 49th. They pull rigs into be weighed often and will sit at the bottom of long hills with Flir  cameras (looking at wheel temps and brakes). Commercial truckers complained "They" were only being targeted and so you don't want to be the token van/truck guy. 

Past that rolling overloaded is really not safe and puts a tremendous strain on the vehicle. 

Be safe

I've decided the only thing I can afford is going to be a used van to start off with. Thanks for all the info. I love cheap RV Living I've learned so much!

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I know a lot of the dodge engines ending in .7 have issues......3.7, 4.7 and 5.7. Lots of info on different forums if you want to search your specific truck you're interested in. My friend has a 2011 Ram with the 4.7 and he hasn't had any issues in the 6 years he's owned it but he's getting a little worried as the mileage creeps up....he's around 85k.