I am looking at an 01 Ram 2500 QC LB 4x4 CTD. It has 172k miles and automatic tranny. They are asking $16,900. The lift pump and injection pump were just replaced at the dealership when they got it. It's a laramie with leather and all the stuff that came on it back then. It has a spray in bedliner and 5th wheel rails. It is supposedly a 1 owner truck.

Questions
1) Anything I should look for mechanically? (other than the normal used car stuff)
2) Is this a fair price? They showed me the receipt for the work on LP and IP and it was about $2200.
3) I am a former 3rd gen owner and don't know a ton about 2nd gens, I know the 47RE isn't the best, but will it handle a mild box without upgrades?

Thanks,
Nick

 

It sounds a touch high to me. I would like to see it closer to $15,500 or so. I know that is not a lot of miles, but on the chassis and body parts, it is not a little either.
Having the Lift pump and VP-44 swaps out of the way is a nice feature. I wouldn't be over excited about seeing the 5'er rails, but it wouldn't totally turn me off either.
From what I have read here when I had a 2001, you should be OK with adding about 60-65 HP, as you stated the weak link is the auto. A upgraded valve body and TC would go a long way, getting an aftermarket trans makes them about bulletproof (from the good builders)

 

Thanks PJ. I am not overly concerned about the 5th wheel rails and there is some dings and scratchs on the body. I was thinking about 15500 like you said, but they are offering me about 1000 more on trade than the other dealers, so I think that is where they placed their initial lowering of price. I have a little negative equity in my Rav4 (carried over from when I traded in my 03 Ram CTD).
As far as just tc and vb on the tranny, do you know what a rough idea would be on cost?
Also, it has 4 wheel antilocks, but still has the rear drums. And for me the negatives are 1)mileage a little higher than I was looking for 2)automatic 3)no tow mirrors 4)4.10 gears
I am going to see what they will do on price and if they won't come down, I will keep looking. But I don't see many decent 2000 and newer CTD 4x4s for under 18k.
Thanks,
Nick

 

i would make sure it isnt a 53 block.

 

Was that still an issue on 01s? I thought it was just earlier years 98-00.

 

Cummins 24v ISB engine in a 1998-2001, some late 12v engines have 53 blocks http://www.cumminsdatabase.com/read.php?id=185

 

Thanks for pointing that out. I was aware of the 53 block, but didn't think it effected 01s.

 

Yup no problem happened to my buddy went drove a 01 was nice really liked it a lot i just figured what the heck lets see if it was a 53 sure enough it was! Hope that truck isnt good luck, that price to me with that milage is alittle high i would try and work on then with that

 

Another questions:

What kind of mpg should I expect with the auto and 4.10s? I will be putting on 285/70/17 Cooper Discoverer ATRs.

Thanks

 

Sounds like a lot of money for something that doesn't have the options you'd maybe prefer. 4.10 gears AND an Auto Tranny, LOTS of miles, even with a New IP and LP, I'd be leary. Also you may check to make sure it isn't the BLACK Re-Manufactured Pump. As seen in my signature, my Re-Manned pump lasted only 10,300 miles, and there was another truck in the shop mine was in that got only 15k miles in 6 months, Chrysler refused to pay for either one.


(Mine ended up getting paid for after a BBB Complaint, but the second pump is a Bosch, not OEM.)

 

Bosch is the manufacturer of the pump for Cummins/Dodge. A Bosch is a factory unit, and the only one that makes their (Bosch's) VP44.

 

I don't think I'd be too excited about that 2001. It's an early vin number so it has the drums instead of the prefered rear disks.

4.10's suck in anything that isn't pulling daily, and heavy at that. They are even worse when paired with the auto as they don't load the motor very well compared to the 3.55's.
4.10's make the truck feel almost like the converter is very loose.

With 179K on the original trans you can forget adding a valve body or TC, as it would be like buying a new set of nice rims for the truck but having the tire shop put on your old nearly bald tires back on that are shot.

If you are going to get into the trans, might as well go with a complete rebuilt unit.

 

Assuming I get the truck and then eventually get a new tranny (DTT, Goerend, suncoast,etc) what kind of MPG should I expect?
I got ~19-21 without a trailer in my 03 with the 3.73.

Thanks

 

I got a 01 quad cab 4x4 SLT, has a goerend tranny 6 months old
guages 1 year old, ats manifold
275 injectors/ superchips box
4" dyna something exhaust, dumps behind the rear wheel
injection & lift pump 1 year old
new paint 2 years old w/badges removed
new brakes, drum in rear, 1500 miles old
3.73 gears, 285/16 tires,new 4000 miles old
gooseneck and bumper hitches
spray in bedliner
165.000 miles
Aftermarket (dss i think) stabilizer kit bought 1 year ago
on this board
can do the 18k, no less
haven't advertised it, not really trying to sell it.
My point being is that you should look around.
not sure on the fuel milege haven't checked it in a long time
but i am not complaining, pulls a 8000 lb gooseneck trailer great.

 

Thanks for the info guys. I think I am going to keep looking unless they call and offer to lower the price a good amount. I did find a 2000 2500 with 125k for the same price, but it is a little further away so I am waiting for info before I go look at it.

Thanks again,
Nick