looking at getting a 99 3500 with 200k on it. whats a list of things to check for on these trucks to try and see the condition they are in?

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ok i guess it would help if i gave more info on the truck. 1999 3500 quad cab 5spd drw 4x4 200k, from pictures the only thing i can tell it has done to it are exhaust. or at least there is a tip on the exhaust. have not talked to the owner yet to find out anything. but if i drive to see it i want to check it all out and any tips or hints would be apprieciated.

btw i dont mind getting dirty in a parking lot to crawl all over this thing.

 

Front end, lift pumps are junk, ip could be in poor shape, auto needs a rebuilt, suspension, 53 block, etc. Lots and lots. If you search on the forum you can find alot.

 

I can help you with this.. Just buy mine....

1999 Dodge Ram 3500 2wd Dually For Sale

 

is it the same truck as in your sig? and where are you located?

 

This one is bone stock and I am in GA.. Next to Ft. Benning

 

Check the reciever hitch on the back as well. When I was looking at trucks the majority of them (it looked to me like any that towed trailers a lot) had cracks in the hitch. Especially on a 1 ton the hitches are not rated nearly as much as what the truck can pull and they are overloaded regularly. The common cracking area is on the bracket where the rearmost bolts are holding the hitch to the frame. This point gets the most stress when you tow without a weight distributing hitch. The factory hitch is only rated to 5,000 lbs weight carrying with the 10,000 only coming in if you use a weight distributing hitch.

The truck I ended up buying did have cracks on the hitch, and it was replaced by the seller with a class IV 2" reciever when I purchased it (15k weight carrying, 16k weight distributing and 1200 lbs tongue weight weight carrying).

Other problems outside what has already mentioned were stuck center disconnects (I took a flood jack with me and lifted up one front wheel at a time to spin it), one truck had a fuel tank that was falling off and only held on by one of the straps, as well as some more normal things.

I always prefer to meet the owner where the truck normally sits so I can see it cold, check all fluids and then start the truck and observe the coolant in the radiator. This also gives you a chance to look for anything odd on a cold start and drive the truck while it is warming up.

 

Bingo! These are the all the main thing to check right here

 

yeah 53 block and fuel pressure i would say biggest, didnt know that when i bought mine six years ago and neither were cheap to fix, new engine and injection/lift pump

 

ya... this scares me. not to mention its at a shady dealership. i found a 97 12 valve instead.

was hoping to find a decent one and do pump conversion on it. with parts ive already got but i cant find any that fit my criteria. i thought i found one... untill he told the guy told me he was a hotshot.

 

ok update. no 97 they wanted tooooooo much for it and had a lot done to it. which scares me 150hp injectors and a stock turbo... so i went for a drive and test drove a couple different trucks and ended up with a 2002 excab dwr 4x4 6spd. dash shows 323. but im not sure or not if its the stock one. but it was reasonably priced so i will have money to work on it vs. buying and breaking an expincive one. hope all turns out well.

ALSO i test drove an 02 3500 excab 2x4 6spd with 134k in a bank repo lot... i opened up the bid on it. 10 days i find out if its enough. which reminds me i need to call someone upstairs at the bank