Dodge V10 owners...how do you like it?

[John_Joey]

Saw a low mileage '01 Dodge Ram 2500 V10 2WD going for a very reasonable price. Thinking of using it as a puller for a 5'ver that will still needs to be purchased.

Any comments on the Dodge v10?

[Tankcar]

Hi. All

As of yesterday! Both front seats were re-covered. With original 1996 dodge OEM fabric.

[carlw32]

I had a 99 for 4 years loved the engine it pulled no problem. Mine had bee rode hard before I got it had to replace the transmission as the PO did not take care of it. The crankshaft pulley dampner did break on me and that was a pain I had to wait for a month and a half for one. Other than that it was a good truck. MPG for me was 10 and down to 6 towing.

[Greentreena]

I had a 99 2500, no problems and only traded it because I needed a bigger truck. I had planned on keeping it for a long time but it wasn't child seat friendly. Traded it with 190 000 km so 119 000 miles.

[Tankcar]

Hello.

Results: Response to V-10 posting. Engine Re-Built, now back on road. Engine internals all clean.
Conditions found:
Bore: 0.002 taper average all holes.
Crank good, bearings warn, Crank journal's: polish, replaced Main, and rod bearing with Std. bearings. Block bored .020 over new piston's and ring's.
Real problem with engine was the heads (R/L). both rebuilt.
Re-sealed engine.

[Keith_Haw]

vern kelly wrote:
With the price of new trucks today I'm hanging on to mine for at least 4 more years.

X2

[vern_kelly]

John and Joey,

I bought mine new in 1998. I love the "BIG BOY" Dodge. There is no gas moter that can match its low end torque. Mine has the 3.55 rear end. At 55 MPH it tachs only 1600 RPM in over drive with over 400 lbs of torque. A quick downshift to Drive puts you at ~2500 RPM and gives you the 450 LBS of torque. Horse power for such a big engine is only 300 at 4000.

I haul a 10 ft. lance camper and get 10 to 11 MPG keeping it at no more than 60 MPH. Overdrive is very usable under load on the highway because of the torque rating. Cooling system is megabeast! Towing the boat with the camper 8 to 9 MPH. Mine is two wheel drive. It is very quiet and a pleasure to drive. I keep it covered at home and always use a windshield screen so I have not had the dreaded dash crack problem. Payload is great for this truck as well at ~3200 lbs limited by the stock rim size tires. Truck still looks new!

If the truck has proof of regular scheduled maintenance I would recommend it! With the price of new trucks today I'm hanging on to mine for at least 4 more years.

[arkie_camper]

I had a 2001 V10 and loved it. I typically got 7 mpg towing our 5er and 11 mpg as a daily driver. I had it for 4 years and never had any issues with it. Something I really miss about that truck is the comfort of the seats. No matter how far I drove, I was comfortable. My 2006 Dodge is not that way. Hope this helps.

[Keith_Haw]

You'll probably be fine for a long time. I know it's kind of a different animal but my 18 wheeler had 2.2 million on it, with no major engine problems, when I sold it. Was just saying that when things do start to go bad it gets expensive fast on a diesel.

[Cummins12V98]

Had an oil analysis done and they said I got a good one. So time will tell.

[Keith_Haw]

There is around here. A 99 with around the mileage I have, 140K, goes for around $10K. I paid $3K for mine 2 years ago. A comparable diesel always seems to be $5k-$10k more, at least that's what I've seen. At 313k yours should still have a lot of life left in it but, when the repair bills start rolling in you'll see another big difference in the prices.

[Cummins12V98]

Keith Haw wrote:
I have a 99 2500 V10 and use it to tow our TT. Really like the truck but like said it's thirsty and the dash sucks. But that said, we did 8.5mpg on our trip from Flagstaff to Quartzsite last fall and about the same back home from there. Seems to have plenty of power for our 8000+lb trailer and never even starts to overheat. True they don't get the MPG a Cummins does but for the difference in cost I can buy a lot of gas.

Is there a lot of difference in used in the 2nd gen trucks with V10 or Cummins?

I picked up a 98 2wd 5 sp 313k for 5k.

[Keith_Haw]

I have a 99 2500 V10 and use it to tow our TT. Really like the truck but like said it's thirsty and the dash sucks. But that said, we did 8.5mpg on our trip from Flagstaff to Quartzsite last fall and about the same back home from there. Seems to have plenty of power for our 8000+lb trailer and never even starts to overheat. True they don't get the MPG a Cummins does but for the difference in cost I can buy a lot of gas.

[lazydays]

Owned 2003 3500 for 4 years. Was a great truck. Gas mileage was not great but was similar to my brothers Chevy 8.1l. Only complaint was it being a 4 speed.

[Acampingwewillg]

My 96 V-10 dually is sitting in my driveway as it has for most of its 18 years(25,000) original miles.....it is a gas guzzler,off hand about 10 mpg not towing.