Attention: TDR Forum Junkies Hey folks!
It's been a while since I needed to be on here. I finally sold my faithful 97 2500 with 440,000 miles a year or so ago - it was too much truck for my wife, and she needed one for her flower farming business. We bought a 2015 Tacoma instead, and yeah, I cried a little.
She's since sold the farm, and now, wouldn't ya know it, we're gonna need a big truck again! Thinking of getting into the world of RV, and a Toyota is obviously not going to cut it. I've decided that a truck camper is going to be the way to go for us, based on versatility, maneuverability, and storage limitations, and truck campers mean DUALLIES!!
I'll make this as short as possible. I found a 04.5 3500 DRW QC auto with 140,000 miles. It's being sold by a nice woman close(ish) by as a package deal with her 2006 Host truck camper, and she's asking $35,000. Her husband (no longer with us) bought the truck and camper each new, and has taken great care of them. I am no expert, but the truck seems in great shape. No smoke on start up, idles smooth, no blow by out the crank case, clean of oil underneath, a/c blows cold on both sides, transmission shifts well, but the fluid is a little brownish. I'm figuring a transmission rebuild into my decision anyway. Interior is damn near perfect, too, even the dash is in one piece! I looked through all the service & maintenance records as well, they've kept em all.
The only catch is that probably 75% - 80% of those 140,000 miles have been with this 4,000 lb camper on the back. They took it down through Mexico several times, even as far as to Panama. Up to Alaska as well. I know these engines love that kind of hard work, but not so much the transmissions and front ends... I don't have much about what to look for as far as front end component wear & tear, or how to identify problems.
Bottom line: the camper could probably be resold for $15k - $20k or so, meaning that I'd be getting a low(ish) mile, one owner 04.5 for around $15,000, knowing that I'd probably owe it a transmission rebuild, and possibly a front end rebuild as well. Around $7,000 ballpark for both jobs maybe.
What do you all think? Is it worth it? I have to admit, the truck is so clean and runs so well, I'm already a little biased from seeing and driving it briefly today. Man, it felt good to drive a 5.9L again. But am I missing anything? What else should I look for? How big a deal is it that the miles have been under such a heavy camper?
Thanks, all. I look forward to your input!
It's been a while since I needed to be on here. I finally sold my faithful 97 2500 with 440,000 miles a year or so ago - it was too much truck for my wife, and she needed one for her flower farming business. We bought a 2015 Tacoma instead, and yeah, I cried a little.
She's since sold the farm, and now, wouldn't ya know it, we're gonna need a big truck again! Thinking of getting into the world of RV, and a Toyota is obviously not going to cut it. I've decided that a truck camper is going to be the way to go for us, based on versatility, maneuverability, and storage limitations, and truck campers mean DUALLIES!!
I'll make this as short as possible. I found a 04.5 3500 DRW QC auto with 140,000 miles. It's being sold by a nice woman close(ish) by as a package deal with her 2006 Host truck camper, and she's asking $35,000. Her husband (no longer with us) bought the truck and camper each new, and has taken great care of them. I am no expert, but the truck seems in great shape. No smoke on start up, idles smooth, no blow by out the crank case, clean of oil underneath, a/c blows cold on both sides, transmission shifts well, but the fluid is a little brownish. I'm figuring a transmission rebuild into my decision anyway. Interior is damn near perfect, too, even the dash is in one piece! I looked through all the service & maintenance records as well, they've kept em all.
The only catch is that probably 75% - 80% of those 140,000 miles have been with this 4,000 lb camper on the back. They took it down through Mexico several times, even as far as to Panama. Up to Alaska as well. I know these engines love that kind of hard work, but not so much the transmissions and front ends... I don't have much about what to look for as far as front end component wear & tear, or how to identify problems.
Bottom line: the camper could probably be resold for $15k - $20k or so, meaning that I'd be getting a low(ish) mile, one owner 04.5 for around $15,000, knowing that I'd probably owe it a transmission rebuild, and possibly a front end rebuild as well. Around $7,000 ballpark for both jobs maybe.
What do you all think? Is it worth it? I have to admit, the truck is so clean and runs so well, I'm already a little biased from seeing and driving it briefly today. Man, it felt good to drive a 5.9L again. But am I missing anything? What else should I look for? How big a deal is it that the miles have been under such a heavy camper?
Thanks, all. I look forward to your input!
