Ram 2500 WIW

[41husk]

I am looking for a good tow vehichle and came across a 1997 Dodge 2500 12 v 5.9 cummins diesel.  250,000 miles, the truck is in great shape. small dent on the tail gate, and a carpet stain in the back club cah area.  It has sliding back glass, push bar, bug shields and towing/camper mirrors.  What is this worth? can some one give me a ball park?  Thanks!

[Todd Wilson]

3-4 grand..............



Todd

[Indygenerallee]

Around here thats a 8,000 truck if it's super nice. I just sold a 99 2500 with a cracked 53 block for $8,500

[gtx6970]

Buddy of mine bought his maybe 4 months ago.

1997 club cab 2 wheel drive, cummins  and a 5 speed ----- $4500 cash

[Chryco Psycho]

those were the best engines , had the inline injection pump , highly desirable

[41husk]

This one is $6500

[Indygenerallee]

If its nice snag it thats cheap.

[chargerboy69]

If it is a 4X4 that is a good deal. . . If it is 2wd, not so much.

My buddies son had a 2001 2wd Cummins extended cab long bed he could not give away.  Good engine, but a 2wd truck in the rust belt is not worth much. I do not think he even got $5500.00 for the truck.

[Indygenerallee]

the 01 probably had the 53 block 24V, 99-01 had a 24v and 2 different casting blocks the "53" casting blocks crack on the passenger side right below the freeze plugs the material in the block at that area is less than 5mm thick some are even thinner than that, If you are gonna buy a Cummins stay away from the 99-up 24v IMO better have a ton of $$$$$ because the parts are outrageous! The VP44 electric fuel injector is right at $1000.00 and if your lift pump goes out it will eat the VP44 $500 for a good aftermarket lift pump, and the motors will eat the A/T in a hurry if not built. Stay with the 94-98 12v and you will have a much cheaper and reliable Cummins.

[Aero426]

If it's in good condition and not rusty, it doesn't sound out of line.   The engine will far outlive the rest of the truck.   I know people go ga-ga for 4wd's, but if you are using it as a dedicated tow vehicle, I don't have a problem with it.     A buddy recently drove from Milwaukee to Springfield MO to buy a clean 12V 1997.    They are in demand and clean ones will continue to be in demand.   

[charger_fan_4ever]

Bought this 97 sport last year from the original owner. Came with a 9 foot meyer plow and had 156,000 miles. Stole it for $6000 plow and all. Only thing that sucks is its an auto. Drivers side front fender had a small hole in it.



Up here an auto 4x4 in decent shape is about $6500. My previous truck was the same year except not a sport and 5 speed. Sold it in 2 days for 10k. 5 speed 12v 4x4 up here will sell for whatever you ask for it as long as its not a rust bucket.

2WD trucks are cheap up here almost the price of the motor See them $2000-3000 all day long.

[41husk]

This one was very clean.  I bid $6501,01 with 30 seconds left and was the high bidder for 15 seconds.  The truck sold for $6700.  It was 2wd but very nice.  I will keep looking.

[Aero426]

2WD trucks are cheap up here almost the price of the motor See them $2000-3000 all day long.

He's not in snow country.     That will make a difference in the price.   

[Indygenerallee]

Chargerfan, Thats a steal at $6,000 I could turn around and sell that same truck for $8,000 around here!

[chargerboy69]

the 01 probably had the 53 block 24V, 99-01 had a 24v and 2 different casting blocks the "53" casting blocks crack on the passenger side right below the freeze plugs the material in the block at that area is less than 5mm thick some are even thinner than that, If you are gonna buy a Cummins stay away from the 99-up 24v IMO better have a ton of $$$$$ because the parts are outrageous! The VP44 electric fuel injector is right at $1000.00 and if your lift pump goes out it will eat the VP44 $500 for a good aftermarket lift pump, and the motors will eat the A/T in a hurry if not built. Stay with the 94-98 12v and you will have a much cheaper and reliable Cummins.

Nope he did not have a 53 block.  We are diesel guys and are well aware to stay away from those.  The problem was it was a 2wd and those just do not bring near the money, sometimes half of what a 4X4 brings. I am a dealer, I see it every week at the auction.

As a side note some 53 12V blocks made it into the 98 model year as well. Sorry to get off topic.

[Indygenerallee]

Yeah I know the 2wd don't bring as much as the 4x4s, we have Scheid diesel over in Terre Haute and ALOT of guys around here run REAL nice Cummins, Also The 4x4s sell for almost retail at the auctions I have been going to (grandfather owns a lot) seems like everything is though!! 

[charger_fan_4ever]

Chargerfan, Thats a steal at $6,000 I could turn around and sell that same truck for $8,000 around here!

I figured the truck cost $4k as the plow set up is worth around $2-2500.

I must say i did a good job at haggling him down was asking 8 or 9 k for the whole set up. It was cold out and I said it must start good ? He said no really hard to start if its not plugged in. When he went to start it i noticed the grid heaters didn't click on. I said it must have low compression or pump/inkector issues. He bought it new and had never even changed the oil himself in it. I felt kind of bad, But the guy was loaded. Bought this truck for snow removal for the 3 condo's he owns.

2WD trucks are cheap up here almost the price of the motor See them $2000-3000 all day long.

He's not in snow country.     That will make a difference in the price.   

Good point.

[73rallye440magnum]

the 01 probably had the 53 block 24V, 99-01 had a 24v and 2 different casting blocks the "53" casting blocks crack on the passenger side right below the freeze plugs the material in the block at that area is less than 5mm thick some are even thinner than that, If you are gonna buy a Cummins stay away from the 99-up 24v IMO better have a ton of $$$$$ because the parts are outrageous! The VP44 electric fuel injector is right at $1000.00 and if your lift pump goes out it will eat the VP44 $500 for a good aftermarket lift pump, and the motors will eat the A/T in a hurry if not built. Stay with the 94-98 12v and you will have a much cheaper and reliable Cummins.

Nope he did not have a 53 block.  We are diesel guys and are well aware to stay away from those.  The problem was it was a 2wd and those just do not bring near the money, sometimes half of what a 4X4 brings. I am a dealer, I see it every week at the auction.

As a side note some 53 12V blocks made it into the 98 model year as well. Sorry to get off topic.

My '98 12 valve is a 53 block. No trouble, and I've never heard of a cracked 12V 53 block.

[Indygenerallee]

The 98 "53" 12V blocks are not known to crack only the 24V "53" blocks. Your good 73Rallye!! 

[41husk]

Would a 94-98 12v diesel be over kill?  They seemed to be priced much more reasonable than the same drive train in a 2500

[Aero426]

Would a 94-98 12v diesel be over kill?  They seemed to be priced much more reasonable than the same drive train in a 2500

They only come in a 2500 or 3500. 

[41husk]

Im sorry!  1994-98 3500 12v diesel dually be over kill?  They seem to be priced more reasonably than the 2500 with the same drive train.

[Aero426]

It would not be overkill for any towing application.    

The 2500 and 3500 models are very similar.   3500 gets the dual real wheels.   When they are similarly equipped, the towing capacity between the two models are virtually identical.

[Indygenerallee]

Axles and sometimes springs are all that seperate the 2500 from the 3500, go for the 3500 12v dually you won't regret it! they are stump pulling powerhouses!!

[charger_fan_4ever]

3500 would not be overkill, but up here they have so many crazy laws. I stopped following them. At 1 point all dual wheel trucks had to go for regular safety inspections like a big trucks and the cost to plate it was more. After that you rarely see a dually that is not a company truck. Prices of parts today Im glad I only have 4 LT tires to change$$. 1 3500 has a little more rolling resistance and is heavier.

Most of the time 3500's are geared 4.10 too. No need of 4.10's in a cummins unless your religiously hooking to 10,000 plus pounds all the time.

A 12v 2500 2wd geared 3.54 with a 5 speed I would not be surprised to see over 25mpg with the stock plate slid ahead and a smoke free P-pump tune.

[Troy]

I had a 3500 Cummins dually - it was HUGE. Great for towing but pretty sucky for regular driving. A 2500 would be a much better choice. Also, tags and registration cost more for a 1 ton (here any ways) and there may be weird laws in other places. As mentioned, there isn't much difference in tow capacity (both are overkill for your needs).

Troy

[41husk]

What would you suggest?  My 1500 318 just isn't doing it.

[Indygenerallee]

I guess where we are is considered backwoods, we don't have any regulations, emission checks, or fees for dually or single wheel. kinda nice!

[Indygenerallee]

Get the 3500 Dually if your pulling the Daytona!!! You won't even know the damn thing is back there!

[Aero426]

Allan, I have an 2004 Ram 2500 reg cab with a 5.7 gasser.    It has plenty of power and being a 3/4 ton, it has the HD suspension you want.   At 345HP, it has 100 more than my old 318.   I paid $6500 for a VERY clean truck with 90k miles in 2010.   A diesel of this vintage would have cost me double.    The disadvantage is fuel mileage towing is about 9 mpg.   But I paid less and I got a much newer truck.   If you are not towing often, this is one way to consider.

If you can find an older 12V diesel at the right price, it's not a bad way to go.    You'll get fuel mileage and resale value.   The disadvantage is, these are now getting to be OLD trucks and many are just rusty, beat up and worn out around the engine.  

Diesel proponents will tell you it is the only way to go.   I say, it all depends how much you want to spend, and your intended use.  

[41husk]

Thanks, Do you know the GVW of the 3500?

[Aero426]

Thanks, Do you know the GVW of the 3500?

For what year?

[41husk]

1995 illinois goes by listed gross vehicle weight

[Aero426]

1999 is listed at 10,500 GVW.   Probably need to check the sticker on the door of the truck to be sure. 

[Aero426]

For determining towing capacities of particular year and model, these charts are very helpful.

http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-towing-guides/

[68blue]

My daily driver since 2000 has been a 2500 with the CTD. 300K and still gets up and goes.

[Chryco Psycho]

I would get a Cummins , the power & milage are unbeatable , as well as the reliability , I am well over 30 MPG with my 06 3500 4 dr long box 4 wheel [not dually ]
You will not regret owning a Cummins