Finally got myself a new truck

[detmatt1]

Well not new, but I have never bought a new vehicle in my life and can't see any reason to start now!
This one is an `02 3/4 ton with only 72,000 miles on it. Last year for this body style. I really like the looks of this generation of Rams and I have just proven with my last truck that if taken care of properly, you can drive them for 12 years and put over 236K miles on them, trouble free, I might add!
Anyway I am looking forward to driving this one into the ground as I did my `97 1/2 ton 4X4. Has minimal rust issues and was a gently used truck. Allready picked up a new replacement tailgate and a new rear bumper and will probably put a new rear passenger door on it in the spring along with some paintwork and some rust preventative measures to ensure that she stays solid through the years.

 

[68sportsatelliteragtop]

Nice truck, had a 97 w/ 5.9 just like it. Used it as a plow truck and other then the brake lines rotting off it only had 1 problem in the 6 years I owned it.The coil is mounted where it is exposed to road spray and that new open case style didn't like the salt bath it got annually. Put a new one on and wrappped a gallon size zip loc bag around it with a little duct tape, never had any problems with it after that. Good luck with yours, you'll soon find out that dude is a whole lot thirstier than the 1500!

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Congratz!! I bought a '96 2500 with a western plow that got quite a workout with yesterdays snow!

 

[Propwash]

Nice looking Truck Matt! Good luck with it.

 

[detmatt1]

Thanks guys, I will be interested to see how the mileage compares to my old one. On the one hand there's the '97 5.9 with 236K miles and 3.55 gears and the other 3/4 ton 5.9 with 72K miles and 4.10 gears. I have been keeping track and should be able to see what kind of mileage she gets with one more fill up.

 

[alleyoopmgv]

Nice looking truck detmatt1!

 

[Donny]

Very nice looking truck!!!

 

[Pistol Pete]

Congrats ! I've got nearly the same truck but in a diesel. Keep an eye on the door bottoms, they rot from the inside out. Otherwise, it's been a great truck. 10 years and I'm still on the original batteries.

 

[detmatt1]

Interestingly enough the door bottoms never did rust on my old '97, the rockers all but disappeared though!

 

[64BEL]

Looks nice, Matt. Along with Patriot Blue, Garnet Red was one of the 3 colors we considered when we ordered ours in 2000. We ended up going with Forest Green. It's still going strong.

Dave

 

[detmatt1]

I was actually hoping for a patriot blue one or the lighter blue, silver or white would have worked also. I didn't love this color when I first saw it but I couldn't pass on this truck. I do like this color more and more everyday and now I have to paint my white cap to match in the spring as well.

 

[64BEL]

The 2000-2002 Patriot Blue trucks seemed to have a lot of complaints of thin paint on them, but I always thought that was a sweet looking color. Yours looks a little bit lifted - looks nice. I believe the 2000-2002 4x4 3/4 ton Rams were the tallest stock trucks of any of the years - at least to that point. I know mine is taller than any other stock pickup I've seen it next to - regardless of brand. I have a step stool in the box so I can get under the hood when I work on it - LOL.

 

[Deleted member 214]

I just bought a used 97 F150 (not a Mopar, but the price was too good to pass up) with rust just starting to show up in the rockers. I would like to keep my truck as nice as it is as long as I can - I'm not a body guy. What rust prevention measures were you planning on?

 

[Ron 73]

Congrats on the new truck Matt, and Greg... Love the color on that Dodge!

 

[detmatt1]

The 2000-2002 Patriot Blue trucks seemed to have a lot of complaints of thin paint on them, but I always thought that was a sweet looking color. Yours looks a little bit lifted - looks nice. I believe the 2000-2002 4x4 3/4 ton Rams were the tallest stock trucks of any of the years - at least to that point. I know mine is taller than any other stock pickup I've seen it next to - regardless of brand. I have a step stool in the box so I can get under the hood when I work on it - LOL.

the only mods from stock as far as the hght is concerned are the tires on this truck. I will definitely be putting the stock size tires back on this truck when the time comes. it is a tall truck though, gotta make the mileage thing even worse while going down the highway. Like driving a brick on end!

 

[detmatt1]

I just bought a used 97 F150 (not a Mopar, but the price was too good to pass up) with rust just starting to show up in the rockers. I would like to keep my truck as nice as it is as long as I can - I'm not a body guy. What rust prevention measures were you planning on?

There are more products on the market now that are designed to convert existing rust into an inert coating and also preventing the rust from continueing. Check the Eastwood site for there own version of most of these products. For you Dodge truck fans, I have heard that they sprayed an expandable foam in between the inner and outer quarters around the top of the wheel opening. If this stuff ever gets wet it will retain the moisture and cause the rust in this area on this generation of truck. You can pull the tail light assemblies and reach in there with a coat hanger with a hook bent on the end and dig this stuff out. I'm doing that this week.

 

[shag766]

nice looking wheels matt. i agree with you on buying used. i went and priced a new one to replace my dually, 2000 yr, and fell over with the prices. sent mine in for a repaint. saved about 70,000.00 over buying new. good luck.:headbang:

 

[kb67mopar]

I agree on the used truck front, you never feel like using it if its new, you won't want to scratch it. I test drove a few of the older style but just couldn't find one in good enough shape. So I ended up buying this 2004 Ram 1500 last summer. (Yeah its got the Hemi Sport package but its not a road queen, its a 4x4)

 

[Budnicks]

All great trucks guys...

 

[detmatt1]

Nice truck kb67mopar, I like the silver.