RAM gearing

[adrianp89]

I would go with less miles. Hemi tick seems to start around 75k. Never personally heard of a motor grenading due to it, but something to look out for. Seems like every brand has a weakness as it gest older. Ford has the cam phasers, and Chevy/GMC has the cylinder deactivation BS, Ram the Hemi valve tick.

The tick can happen on brand new ones. It's nothing to be concerned about, just noise... which is usually resolved with good oil.

 

[suke]

The tick can happen on brand new ones. It's nothing to be concerned about, just noise... which is usually resolved with good oil.

That's fair. The cam phaser issue on Ford's also can hit super low mileage trucks. Rare, but it happens.

 

[2kwik4u]

That's fair. The cam phaser issue on Ford's also can hit super low mileage trucks. Rare, but it happens.

Guy at work just had his 3.5 in for the phasers at 48k miles. I had ZERO issues with the lifters in my '15 5.3L up to 108k when I traded it. Next door neighbor has his '20 5.3L go in at 15k to get them replaced. Have several 5.7L Hemi's floating around the friend group, a few tick, none have been fixed that I'm aware of.

Pretty certain every manufacturer has a "thing" that goes wrong in some small percentage of vehicles that gets capitalized on by the haters. I'm pretty convinced that there isn't a "bad" truck to be had from the whole lot of them.

I really liked the Nissan overall, but really hated the fuel mileage and heavy steering. It has both the styling and capability that I want, with a relatively low price, even new.

 

[adrianp89]

Guy at work just had his 3.5 in for the phasers at 48k miles. I had ZERO issues with the lifters in my '15 5.3L up to 108k when I traded it. Next door neighbor has his '20 5.3L go in at 15k to get them replaced. Have several 5.7L Hemi's floating around the friend group, a few tick, none have been fixed that I'm aware of.

Pretty certain every manufacturer has a "thing" that goes wrong in some small percentage of vehicles that gets capitalized on by the haters. I'm pretty convinced that there isn't a "bad" truck to be had from the whole lot of them.

I really liked the Nissan overall, but really hated the fuel mileage and heavy steering. It has both the styling and capability that I want, with a relatively low price, even new.

IIRC switching to full synthetic resolves the tick, may want to share with friend.

 

[2kwik4u]

$51k goes a long way towards a Titan. $7k more than the fancy Ram's above, but over 50k fewer miles. Roughly the same equipment and capabilities.

CarGurus - 2021 Nissan Titan PRO-4X Crew Cab 4WD - $51,799

 

[adrianp89]

$51k goes a long way towards a Titan. $7k more than the fancy Ram's above, but over 50k fewer miles. Roughly the same equipment and capabilities.

CarGurus - 2021 Nissan Titan PRO-4X Crew Cab 4WD - $51,799

Drive both and see what you like more

 

[suke]

Guy at work just had his 3.5 in for the phasers at 48k miles. I had ZERO issues with the lifters in my '15 5.3L up to 108k when I traded it. Next door neighbor has his '20 5.3L go in at 15k to get them replaced. Have several 5.7L Hemi's floating around the friend group, a few tick, none have been fixed that I'm aware of.

Pretty certain every manufacturer has a "thing" that goes wrong in some small percentage of vehicles that gets capitalized on by the haters. I'm pretty convinced that there isn't a "bad" truck to be had from the whole lot of them.

I really liked the Nissan overall, but really hated the fuel mileage and heavy steering. It has both the styling and capability that I want, with a relatively low price, even new.

yup, those phasers tend to be a when, not if item. Mine have been quiet and I have nearly 80k now. I use remote start nearly everytime I start my truck and I swear EVERY now and again I'm like wait......was that a rattle? LOL! Part of why I don't wanna own this thing outside of the powertrain warranty. That's a $3500 job, and shoot dunno what the dealer would charge for that. Probably close to an engine swap price.

 

[I_squared_r]

$51k goes a long way towards a Titan. $7k more than the fancy Ram's above, but over 50k fewer miles. Roughly the same equipment and capabilities.

CarGurus - 2021 Nissan Titan PRO-4X Crew Cab 4WD - $51,799

I don't like Nissan because of the grenades they sold around 2010. Altima and Pathfinders with catastrophic failures before 100k isn't acceptable in this day and age.
My friend owns a Sentra with less than 100k miles and he already is changing a lot of things. I was in his car and we were discussing the wheel bearing noise that he has. I said "I don't like Nissan because there's always a problem". He goes to accelerate from the red light and 1 of his coil packs fail and it starts misfiring "See! Thats what I'm talking about!"

Another friend wanted a cheap beater car for NYC (the car would spend most of it's life being moved for alternate side parking). She wants to buy a used Nissan for 3k and save 2k. I told her "No. There's a reason why it's 3k. Go find a Toyota for 5k+". She went with the Nissan and the thing was a POS and she lost all of her money.

 

[suke]

Crazy Nissan used to be up there with Honda and Toyota for reliability. My dad had an old Nissan truck and you couldn't kill the thing. Finally at nearly 300k some lady rear ended him and it was totaled.

 

[2kwik4u]

Crazy Nissan used to be up there with Honda and Toyota for reliability. My dad had an old Nissan truck and you couldn't kill the thing. Finally at nearly 300k some lady rear ended him and it was totaled.

Agreed. I've had a couple and been very happy with quality on all of them.

Current '18 Rogue is to ~50k miles now with nothing but oil changes. Good Friend has a '21 Titan that is almost to 58k miles now and it's the same way. Same guy that lost the lifters on the Silverado above.

 

[adrianp89]

Agreed. I've had a couple and been very happy with quality on all of them.

Current '18 Rogue is to ~50k miles now with nothing but oil changes. Good Friend has a '21 Titan that is almost to 58k miles now and it's the same way. Same guy that lost the lifters on the Silverado above.

In-Laws currently have a Morano and a Maxima. The Maxima is the second one, they traded the first for some reason... basically got the same car but newer. Before that they had Q50 which was lemoned due to some software issues but was a first year car. Wife has had a Q50, G37, and G35 over the years. Minus the software issue on the Q50 not a single issue with any of those cars. In my eye Nissans are pretty decent.

 

[Sherwood]

I have a 2014 hemi crew cab with 3.92.
Tows my 210 fine as wine.
I'm bored senseless with my ram. I got the new truck itch. I got 66k miles on my ram and there's nothing new that excites me enough to buy one.

 

[suke]

I have a 2014 hemi crew cab with 3.92.
Tows my 210 fine as wine.
I'm bored senseless with my ram. I got the new truck itch. I got 66k miles on my ram and there's nothing new that excites me enough to buy one.

Have you driven a TRX? I got to drive one and those things are bananas!

 

[adrianp89]

I have a 2014 hemi crew cab with 3.92.
Tows my 210 fine as wine.
I'm bored senseless with my ram. I got the new truck itch. I got 66k miles on my ram and there's nothing new that excites me enough to buy one.

I feel this way with my truck, but the only thing new trucks have that I don't is heads-up display and digital rearview mirror. The DT is a major upgrade over the DS, worth while to go drive one. Honestly the best feature on the truck is the split tailgate. I am curious what features would excite you?

 

[Sherwood]

I feel this way with my truck, but the only thing new trucks have that I don't is heads-up display and digital rearview mirror. The DT is a major upgrade over the DS, worth while to go drive one. Honestly the best feature on the truck is the split tailgate. I am curious what features would excite you?

I live so close to the boat ramps a ev is actually in my thoughts. They are just so expensive, and I drive so little it just doesn't make sense. Sometimes I drive my truck, just because it's been a week and haven't driven it.
I would switch to a suv, but I surf fish spring and fall and I ain't going thu the hassle of breaking down poles or strapping them to the roof.

 

[Sherwood]

Have you driven a TRX? I got to drive one and those things are bananas!

Those are nice, but I'm way too frugal to buy one.

 

[adrianp89]

I live so close to the boat ramps a ev is actually in my thoughts. They are just so expensive, and I drive so little it just doesn't make sense. Sometimes I drive my truck, just because it's been a week and haven't driven it.
I would switch to a suv, but I surf fish spring and fall and I ain't going thu the hassle of breaking down poles or strapping them to the roof.

Jeep just announced a 4XE announcement on 9/8... might be something to look into.... though you aren't touching anything like that under 50k.

 

[2kwik4u]

I live so close to the boat ramps a ev is actually in my thoughts. They are just so expensive, and I drive so little it just doesn't make sense. Sometimes I drive my truck, just because it's been a week and haven't driven it.
I would switch to a suv, but I surf fish spring and fall and I ain't going thu the hassle of breaking down poles or strapping them to the roof.

I'm kinda the other way. I drive enough to justify an EV, but live far enough from the ramp that an EV almost doesn't work to tow with.

I really need to convince the wife that expanding the fleet is the right idea here. Of course there would end up being a giant gas guzzler and sports car instead of an EV then

Like this:

2003 Chevy 2500 Avalanche: CarGurus - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 2500 4WD - $15,499 $15.5k
- Alternate - 2011 Chevy 2500 Suburban: CarGurus - 2011 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 LT 4WD - $16,950 $17k
2008 Audi RS4: CarGurus - 2008 Audi RS 4 quattro Sedan AWD - $30,000 $30k
- Alternate - 2008 Audi S4 Avant: CarGurus - 2008 Audi S4 Avant quattro AWD - $24,995 $25k

$47k and I've got an exceptionally fun daily driver and a really nice tow vehicle.

You know my friends used to tell me I had V.A.D.D. (Vehicular A.D.D.)......I'm starting to think it's making a comeback.

 

[Sherwood]

I'm kinda the other way. I drive enough to justify an EV, but live far enough from the ramp that an EV almost doesn't work to tow with.

I really need to convince the wife that expanding the fleet is the right idea here. Of course there would end up being a giant gas guzzler and sports car instead of an EV then

Like this:

2003 Chevy 2500 Avalanche: CarGurus - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 2500 4WD - $15,499 $15.5k
- Alternate - 2011 Chevy 2500 Suburban: CarGurus - 2011 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 LT 4WD - $16,950 $17k
2008 Audi RS4: CarGurus - 2008 Audi RS 4 quattro Sedan AWD - $30,000 $30k
- Alternate - 2008 Audi S4 Avant: CarGurus - 2008 Audi S4 Avant quattro AWD - $24,995 $25k

$47k and I've got an exceptionally fun daily driver and a really nice tow vehicle.

You know my friends used to tell me I had V.A.D.D. (Vehicular A.D.D.)......I'm starting to think it's making a comeback.

I like those Gladiators, but I need 6 seats.

 

[2kwik4u]

Speaking of Nissans......I had almost this exact truck after High School. Mine was kind of a gold color with blue graphics, and I only had the 4cyl engine. I beat the snot out of that thing for a few years. Had 2 ricks of firewood in the bed on a semi regular basis. Had it semi-submerged a number of times learning to off-road in places I probably shouldn't have been. Delivered pizza in it for 2 winters. Thing never gave me a moments pause if worrying about reliability. Just turn the key and go.

Want to say I paid $12k for it back then, but it's been awhile and I've had a few drinks since then.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-nissan-hardbody-truck/