Old Ram New Ram

Apparently, it's getting the job done and keeping you happy.
That's all that matters. :)

Living in the area of the Frozen Tundra, a/k/a the rust belt, keeping a vehicle that long isn't really possible.

Nice! How many miles do you have on your truck? While it's not a truck I am about to pass 172k miles on my Town Car...no plans to replace it either.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

SouthpawHD,

I've always lived in West Michigan and the same winter conditions and salted roads you have. Sold our purchased new 1993 2500 Chevy Silverado ext long box 4X4 truck in 2004 to an asparagus farmer friend and we see it several times a year. Still NO rust other than where he dented it in the door and top of the front fender where he hit it with his bucket loader while turning the loader around. A little rust just starting in a box corner the last time I'd seen it last Fall. Was 22+ years old and had 381,000 on it and he said it still has the same engine (350 V8 and auto tranny and were never rebuilt. Hauls crates of asparagus to farm markets etc and much of the stuff needed for the farm and says he'll "keep driving it till the wheels fall off". GM uses all 2 sided G-60 galvanized exterior sheet metal except for the roof. Not all pickups rust fast!

Our 2004.5 Chevy 2500 HD D/A diesel CC LB 4X4 still doesn't have a bit of rust anywhere and still looks new and is getting close to 200K in miles on the clock. Neither of these trucks where ever garaged either as our other vehicle's occupy them. Probably was a help staying outside as the rain helped keep the salt somewhat washed off and the air flow helped dry them out.

I love living in the West, our 99 Chevy Tahoe that I sold last month still had its original muffler, and havent had to use a torch on a bolt in a long time. I grew up just west of Cleveland, so I know what the rust belt does to vehicles and you can keep it!

rmoparman wrote:
Funny everyone talking about new trks.
Im still driving a 92 Cummins.;)

Good man. Being its mechanical, it would of saved me $1,200 last month because of a loose wire connection at fuel pump. On our way to AZ we talked with a couple in central CA. They were around 570,000 miles. Hopefully long time before I replace our 01.

What all has it needed?

Wow. And here I am thinking about how nice all the new features a 2016 has that my 2012 doesn't.

Those 1st Gen CTDs were rough around the edges. I am glad you are still enjoying yours.

travelnutz wrote:
SouthpawHD,

I've always lived in West Michigan and the same winter conditions and salted roads you have. Sold our purchased new 1993 2500 Chevy Silverado ext long box 4X4 truck in 2004 to an asparagus farmer friend and we see it several times a year. Still NO rust other than where he dented it in the door and top of the front fender where he hit it with his bucket loader while turning the loader around. A little rust just starting in a box corner the last time I'd seen it last Fall. Was 22+ years old and had 381,000 on it and he said it still has the same engine (350 V8 and auto tranny and were never rebuilt. Hauls crates of asparagus to farm markets etc and much of the stuff needed for the farm and says he'll "keep driving it till the wheels fall off". GM uses all 2 sided G-60 galvanized exterior sheet metal except for the roof. Not all pickups rust fast!

Our 2004.5 Chevy 2500 HD D/A diesel CC LB 4X4 still doesn't have a bit of rust anywhere and still looks new and is getting close to 200K in miles on the clock. Neither of these trucks where ever garaged either as our other vehicle's occupy them. Probably was a help staying outside as the rain helped keep the salt somewhat washed off and the air flow helped dry them out.

Good to know about the GM trucks! My previous 2003 Explorer was really starting to have some rust issues. It ran great otherwise. But from what I have seen, the Ford SUVs of that generation were prone to some rust and paint bubbling after several years.

travelnutz wrote:
SouthpawHD,

I've always lived in West Michigan and the same winter conditions and salted roads you have. Sold our purchased new 1993 2500 Chevy Silverado ext long box 4X4 truck in 2004 to an asparagus farmer friend and we see it several times a year. Still NO rust other than where he dented it in the door and top of the front fender where he hit it with his bucket loader while turning the loader around. A little rust just starting in a box corner the last time I'd seen it last Fall. Was 22+ years old and had 381,000 on it and he said it still has the same engine (350 V8 and auto tranny and were never rebuilt. Hauls crates of asparagus to farm markets etc and much of the stuff needed for the farm and says he'll "keep driving it till the wheels fall off". GM uses all 2 sided G-60 galvanized exterior sheet metal except for the roof. Not all pickups rust fast!

Our 2004.5 Chevy 2500 HD D/A diesel CC LB 4X4 still doesn't have a bit of rust anywhere and still looks new and is getting close to 200K in miles on the clock. Neither of these trucks where ever garaged either as our other vehicle's occupy them. Probably was a help staying outside as the rain helped keep the salt somewhat washed off and the air flow helped dry them out.

I don't know about the new GM's but those old GM trucks had galvanized coating on all the panels except the roof.

rmoparman wrote:
Funny everyone talking about new trks.
Im still driving a 92 Cummins.;)

I sold mine to my B-I-L in 1998, he traded it late last year, body & front end were getting bad. Post a picture of yours.