Hoping to buy an 06 Laramie w/5.9 Cummins
 

Hey guys - I found a 5.9 Diesel which appears to be in decent shape, my only concern is it has 98k miles. I'm looking to tow an RV within the next 3-4 years (buy the truck first, RV second once truck is paid off), but i'm concerned that by then it'll be a 10 year vehicle with 160k on it (Should I be?)

I've done a lot of research and decided I only want the 06-07 5.9 so I don't have to deal with the EPA crap they have now. I don't think i'm as concerned about the Engine as much as the body and trans.

What are your thoughts? Dealer is asking 29k which I think is a little high. But it's a one-owner truck and has a clean carfax.

Vehicle History report -> Welcome to AutoCheck

The dealer is about 120 miles away, so I only want to make the drive if i'm very serious about it. I'm not sure if I should continue looking for something closer or not.

Any advice would be great - this would be my first diesel.

Here are the pics.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/adgjqetuo/1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/adgjqetuo/2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/adgjqetuo/3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/adgjqetuo/4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/adgjqetuo/5.jpg

My truck has 240K on the engine and originall tranny! what kills the tranny is lack of maintaince and not adjusting the bands. Looks like a decent truck I had a friend just buy an 06 with a 6 speed for 21K with 102K miles on it but trucks. Cummins is a very good and dependable engine. As long as you take care of it. It will take care of you. You can put on a bigger exhaust, add a new aftermarket lift pump, and a programmer and you can have a great daily driver and a good hauler! I would not worry about having 160K miles on it once its ten years old that nothing for a cummins as long as you take care of it.

Seems high to me.if your going to be pulling remember you'll need gauges,fuel system,and trans modifications.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC

Thanks for the response - this thing will need modifications to hull a 10-11lb RV?

I thought these things were ready to go right from the factory?

Shell pull that no problem stock, but the little upgrades always help. They're relatively inexpensive and can make a big difference. And i do agree with needing trans upgrades becasue the 48re isnt known for its longevity. I have the same truck (higher miles though) it pulled 12k without a flinch, with just the exhaust done to it.

How about the body? I often here "the body will go before the engine will" I asked the dealer to be very picky and go around and send me a picture of everything he could find.

He came back with these pictures - think these are a big deal?

If your going to pay anything near what there asking if have them fix some of them. These trucks are ready to haul from the factory. But when your towing you take a big risk of causing damage if you don't watch your exhaust gas temperatures (egt), your fuel pressure,boost, and trans temp you can destroy parts in an instant if temperatures get to high.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC

I'm surprised these don't have the trans temp right on the dash. My dad's 7.3 turbo diesel ford has it from the factory.

They're asking A LOT for that truck to begin with so i would see what he'd do about the rust on the fender. as for the minor scrathes and dents, its a truck... they're gonna happen eventully no matter how hard you try.

If you take care of the body by washing and waxing often it should be ok, and putting on mudflaps that will protect the inside of your fender wells. Trans upgrades are a commodity in my oppinion and I wouldent worry about them untill you run into issues. But guages, or an edge insight to monitor egt, boost, and fuel pressure will make you aware of issues before them become a major problem and costly repairs. I think they are asking a little high but im sure you can knock him down several grand. but that truck looks like it either has a bad pain job on the bed because of the bubbles? I think that 29K is to much for a truck with cosmetic issues like that... more like 19-20K at least for the area here...

Actually when i bought my truck.. identical to yours, color, motor, package, but mine had 114k on it and it still nada booked for 28,750. Nada guide is the one my banker goes through.. so there right at book value for it.. n it'll last.. just take care of it don't beat on it.. but first thing i would do is change tranny fluid and filter... But it definatly looks good. Nice to see my less body modified twin!

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also I would talk to em bout them paint bubbles.. cause if your gonna pay that much id ask em what there gonna do bout that..

I am 99.999% sure that that trans temp on the 7.3 is aftermarket.

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This 06 5.9 you don't need a chip and you don't need gauges to pull future camper. If the truck had normal use and care the trans should last a long time.

Put a chip in for a little more power then yes gauges and trans mods are a good idea.

From the Pictures of the truck. When I trade I get deducted for any body flaws. Big time!! That is how they are going to make big money on this truck. Buy it at a deducted price, sell it to somebody that doesn't notice or think it is a big deal.

I'm pretty sure gauges are very important especially if he's pulling with it.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC

I would have Dodge run the vin and see how many trans have been the '06. I picked my friend up at dodge 3 times since he bought it new. Wasn't that the first year for the 6spd auto?

Nope 6spd auto didn't come out till 6.7

Well there you go, havn't had an auto since my 91. Sorry about that figured it had to something new for Dodge to repair 1 and put 2 new trannies before 80,000. Mabey my buddy just don't know how to drive! Haha. Nice truck, you will enjoy it. If its your first cummins, it will change your life, you won't go back to gas.

Thanks for all your responses - as expected the dealer called me today willing to go lower on the price.

When I was talking with him on the phone he told me the one previous owner had a remote start added to the truck, but removed it prior to trading it in.

They said it was replaced with "quick disconnects" and no wires were spliced into.

But should this be a red flag??





Also, not to double post, but he is the only owner of his 7.3 turbo excursion limited and the trans temp came from the factory with it - its to the right of the tachometer above the engine temp. Here is an image of one I found online:
http://www.cstatic-images.com/supers...5/H4918/12.jpg

That excusrsion must be an late 03... the 6.0L come with em.. I wouldent to much about the quick release but if you go look at it make them show you where it is...

Again not to go off topic but that picture is from an 02 7.3 (pulled it from cars.com). I looked at my dads 02 7.3 dash today and its exactly the same.

I'm not trying to argue and I'm not even considering ford, I just wanted to make the point I found it weird dodge didn't incorporate that stock - sounds like something that would be essential for trucks marketed to tow so much weight.

On our 99 superduty Lariat with a 7.3 it had a completely differnet gauge cluster then the one you pictured above. So some where between 99 and 02 they put the trans temp gauge in.