Failed experiment, back to another diesel

[75Monza]

Well, a few years ago, I got rid of my 99 Dodge 2500 cummins 4x4, hatted the ride and the front suspension fell apart every two years. Went back to gas and picked up two square bodies with the goal of making my 86 be my universal do everything truck. Two years now, and just not working for me because I just don't have any spare time to work on them when they break, like my 82 over a year now with the motor out, at least 6 months engine ready on the stand to go in and no time...now my 86 I need to yard the motor too. Decided to become a realist and go buy a truck that I shouldn't have to work on, gets good mileage and that the wife could drive too (she won't even ride in my other 5). Took over a month to find what I really wanted and got this.

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2005 Dodge Ram SLT 3500, common rail 5.9 cummins, 48re trans, short bed, 112k on it, one owner, taken to the dealer it's whole life by the car fax report and it shows. Honestly nicest truck I've ever owned, hated dropping 23k for it though. Put my ultra guage on it and calibrated it, driving it around at 59mph just cruising, managed to average 24.6 mpg with it through the first tank. Second tank I started playing a bit, trying out the power...lower gears are meh...3rd and 4th are stick you in the seat impressive at 2/3 throttle. Bone stock 4" exhaust, still has the cat, just a leveling kit with 285's on it and re calibrated for the taller tire. Towing wise, yarded my 86 to the shop two days ago on the car trailer and really didn't even notice it was behind me, lol. Think all I'm going to do is give it a True flow air filter, 5" pipes and no cat, and basic Smarty junior since it's the only one that will not drop a code, just have to be careful with the high setting because that puts it around 430hp and 800ft/lbs, about all the stock trans can handle, lol.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

I knew my brother made a mistake buying that stupid SOB 2002 Ram 2500, but no one listens to me. He bought it in December, and it’s already broken down three times. Most recent is suspension, and he’s paid a good $1700 in shop repairs not counting the suspension kit he has to buy and will have a chance of being too lazy to do himself and taking it to the shop. It rides sloppily bad, it’s got straightpipe exhaust with one of those huge tips in the back so there’s a ton of drone, and it’s real ugly dressed with tar black tint on the windows and half the windshield, moto wheels, and blacked out LED taillights. It’s embarrassing to go home and see that **** in the yard. Sorry. Rant over.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Not sure what it is about square bodies and wife's but mine doesn't like them either. Says they're mundane because there is/was so many of them everywhere. She'll ride in mine, and has driven it, but likes Crusty Biscuit more.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Nice truck by the way

 

[75Monza]

Down side is the same steering problems in the future, but I did find that Synergy mfg makes an upgrade to the "T" style steering of the 09 and up trucks with upgraded Tie rod ends that will not rotate like stock on the main connecting bar, to the tune of $750. Fortunately, steering is awesome on this one, tracks true and can one finger the wheel with almost zero slop...pretty sure truck was a garage queen...still has every factory bar code sticker underneath from front to back, lol.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Very nice. Not the $750 part, but the factory bar code part.