Ever hear of a $2,500 tire rotation?

[lloyd3]

Winter hits with a bang here last week, so out comes my old standby 4X4 truck, 2001 Ram 1500 Off-Roadster (off road package). My wife's 4x4 (Mitsubishi SUV) quickly seems to have a problem with it's transfer case, so it's off to the shop. Shop can't deal with it (proprietary software in data-reader) so off to Mitsubishi dealer. While all of this is ongoing, my truck starts pulling off to the right hard enough to start wearing out a fairly expensive 17-inch tire. Sheesh! When it rains it pours. 

I don't drive this truck much (compared to my little Civic, it sucks gas and is a challenge to park in these modern lots anymore) and pretty much keep it for big game and the occasional hauling job. Love it, had it since new, just don't use it much, unless weather dictates.  Saturday morning I drop the truck at the local Big O for a tire rotation and a line-up. Bought tires there new a few years ago, so it shouldn't be a big deal right? Wrong.  Shop calls...can't line it up, tie-rod ends and adjustors are shot (all of them), steering stabilizer is shot, front brakes are down and can't be turned, serpentine belt is shot, front tires are wrecked, etc.....you probably know the drill.  I got a winter storm coming and I'm down to a Honda Civic and a '68 Charger left to drive.  What to do?  Normally I'd have gone up there and looked everything over and might or might not have pulled it for a more reasonable approach to evaluating and fixing it. But it's fish or cut bait time....I let them have their way with it (and me).  It does drive really nice now, and it is presently snowing (hard).

[lukedukem]

I think you did the right thing, and might not of had a choice. With a snow storm comming you needed that truck on the road. Being a 2001, has any of the front end stuff been replaced, how many miles? It was probably due anyway. Those 1500's had a strait front axle which was a ruff ride and harder on the components than if it was IFS.

Luke

[myk]

Real men do what they must, not what they want to.  If this was your only alternative other than being an accident waiting to happen in the other cars, you did the right thing...

[lloyd3]

This old 2001 is at 104K and was, largely, original equipment, so yea, it was time. As to the rough ride of the straight axle, yes, it is. But...I've kept my family in elk meat with it for what? 13-years now and it's been almost unstoppable out there in the boonies. Always good to have a truck around, especially with my driveway.

[Kern Dog]

104,000 miles? 
My 2007 has 213,000 with all original suspension other than shocks. It still responds and handles fantastic. Maybe the 2wd truck front suspension is more durable?

[Ghoste]

Right thing to do although I would have asked them what the brakes and serpentine have to do with tire rotation.

[Stegs]

I like off road edition dodge rams

got any pics to post? 

[lukedukem]

This old 2001 is at 104K and was, largely, original equipment, so yea, it was time. As to the rough ride of the straight axle, yes, it is. But...I've keep my family in elk meat with it for what? 13-years now and it's been almost unstoppable out there in the boonies. Always good to have a truck around, especially with my driveway.

that's low miles for a 2001 and having it since new, wow. i had a 1994 single cab short bed 4x4 with a 318. it too was unstoppable. i had to get rid of it cause it wouldn't pull the trailer with that tractor on it. well it would pull it but it didn't like it. i regret getting rid of it, cause it was a great little 4x4 truck, but I'm glad i have the diesel now.

104,000 miles? 
My 2007 has 213,000 with all original suspension other than shocks. It still responds and handles fantastic. Maybe the 2wd truck front suspension is more durable?

yeah the 2wd doesn't have the strait front axle to support up front, plus it sounds like he lives in an enviroment that really puts some wear on a truck

luke

[lloyd3]

One of the few new vehicles I've ever owned.  We have lots of deer (both where I live and where I play) so it's got the big bumper.  Low-tech by today's standards for pick-ups, it has served me faithfully and well for many years now. The first of the "real" off-road trucks, with factory body-lift, Kevlar panels under the gas tank and transfer case, 4:10 gears, and reinforced axle housings. The advertising for it called it "The Off-Roadster".

Ghoste: You know how it is, once they get you in the door they look for every up-sale opportunity.

[Stegs]

One of the few new vehicles I've ever owned.  We have lots of deer (both where I live and where I play) so it's got the big bumper.  Low-tech by today's standards for pick-ups, it has served me faithfully and well for many years now. The first of the "real" off-road trucks, with factory body-lift, Kevlar panels under the gas tank and transfer case, 4:10 gears, and reinforced axle housings. The advertising for it called it "The Off-Roadster".

Ghoste: You know how it is, once they get you in the door they look for every up-sale opportunity.

love 2nd gen dodge ram, especially with the off road package....4.10s in those trucks was a great idea, especially with the limited slip locker!

[lloyd3]

For almost 20-years, I've had access to a 20,000 plus acre ranch up near Maybell, Colorado where this truck was the ideal tool for getting around. Sadly, that ranch is for sale now, so that window seems to have closed for me. I've also gotten to the point where I'm much happier chasing birds instead of ungulates (deer, elk, antelope, etc.) for the simple reason that they are much easier to carry, so the truck gets used less and less.  I suppose both the truck and I are "ageing-out" just a bit.  I've got at least one more trip up to the northwest of Colorado this December to hunt elk (but mostly to support the two other fellas going) and then we'll see. 

[Cooter]

Just had to put a fresh JWW Performance 46RE in my 99 2500.

Not saying all shops are fine, upstanding citizens, but suppose they just rotated your tires and sent you on your way. You get halfway down the road and a ball joint falls out, or tie Rod end breaks?
what now?
FIRST thing goes through john Q. publics mind is, "WTF did those jackasses do to my truck!!?"(knowing full and well many times people call around for the cheapest shop to do the work and can't understand why they didn't get top notch work??

SECOND thing after being told it was "nothing they did", is "WHY THE HELL didn't you guys notice a bad ball joint or tie rod ready to fall out!!!??"

We can't win.

[lloyd3]

Cooter: I'm sure that it feels that way sometimes. I've used these guys for years. Enough so that most (if not all) of the folks I knew there have retired. It's just a bunch of young guys that I don't recognize now. In the back of my head, I vaguely remembered that the belt and brakes had been changed somewhat recently, but there was too-much on my plate that day to dig up my files on it. I'm fairly confident in their work and they were at the ready, so I let them do it.   My primary reason for the post wasn't so-much to bad-mouth the garage as it was my mild amazement at how little $2,500 buys anymore.  My brother bought a '64 Rambler wagon for $40 in ~1975 and proceeded to drive it for 3-4 years, putting very little else into it. Things have obviously changed a bit.

[Dmichels]

If 2500 gets you anther 100,000 out of it then it is money well spent. Or look at it this way. 2500 over 5 years is 500 a year Will you have your truck for another 5 years? if so 500 bucks a year for a truck is dirt cheep Have you priced used cars lately? You are hard pressed to find anything  decent under 5000 This summer 5000 bought me a 14 year old ford ranger with 135k on it.
Dave

[Silver R/T]

I rebuilt suspension on my 01 ram and my daily driver and only time they go into a shop is to get aligned, since I don't have an alignment rack. They rip you off on labor and mark up part prices.

[rt green]

theres a company that has figured out the dodge truck wander problem.  they are putting a brace under the sway bar and incorporating a bearing on the steering gear shaft. pretty cool idea. whole kit costs a couple hundred bucks.

[Silver R/T]

theres a company that has figured out the dodge truck wander problem.  they are putting a brace under the sway bar and incorporating a bearing on the steering gear shaft. pretty cool idea. whole kit costs a couple hundred bucks.

They are getting cheaper and cheaper, better get one and install one. I installed one on my truck.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Steering-Gear-Box-Stabilizer-Bar-94-02-Dodge-Ram-1500-2500-3500-4x4-4WD-/161336688845?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item25906a80cd&vxp=mtr
Also I've rebuilt factory track bar using luke's link and pressed in polyurethane bushing instead of factory rubber one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lukes-Link-For-Dodge-Track-Bar-Tie-Rod-Ends-94-02-/201085737345?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ed1a4d981&vxp=mtr

[rt green]

huh.   never seen the luke's thing before.  works?