2006 Dodge 4x4 2500 Laramie, $20k. Buy? or Not?

[Homicide]

Folks,



Looking at a 2006 Laramie 4x4 with 150,000 miles, which many miles probably were from towing. Clean Carfax with 3 owners, whom may had flipped (sold) the truck after a season of towing (owner 1 - 3. 5 years; 2 and 3 ten months).



Only got a couple of hours to do research, so I'm asking anyone and everyone to throw their "two cents" in on what I should be looking for on this vehicle.



I might be able to get the vehicle in the mid-teen range.



Any ideas of what I should be looking for is greatly appreciated 'cause I only got a couple hours to do research.





THANKS!Oo.

 

[WMoroni]

I bought the same but a 04. 5 with 119000 for $15,000 about a month ago. Last year I bought a 04. 5 long bed slt 4x4 2500 for 12,000. both from different dealers both were asking close to $20k. Both were super clean one owner diesel autos 4x4 quad cabs. Make a low but reasonable offer, bet they take it.

 

[HBarlow]

We Dodge-Cummins owners know the quality of those trucks, even with 200k or 300k miles, but the bottom line is any truck with over 100k miles is a wholesaler's unit. Dealers take them in on trade but usually unload them out the back door to wholesalers because lenders usually don't want to lend to retail buyers.

Coupled with the fact that diesel fuel prices are currently very high, high mileage used trucks are probably not selling great.

With cash in hand or your own financing available you should be able to buy it at a very attractive price well below $20k as Moroni said above.

If I was seriously considering a used Gen III HPCR Dodge-Cummins from any source except the original owner who is my personal friend I would probably pay a dealer the hour of service labor to plug it into their computer and read out the engine operating history.

The dealer can print out a sheet of data that can be interpreted by a skilled tech to help determine if it has been previously modified or worked extremely hard.

Some may react with outrage when I express this opinion but I personally would never buy a truck that had been used for towing and also had a magic black box installed. Magic black boxes are very popular with many but when injection pump timing is advanced or fueling is increased injectors are subjected to increased stress and wear and excessive combustion heat can result. Some performance enthusiasts may be offended but no one can seriously deny that when the engine is modified to produce power output beyond what the manufacturer intended additional stress does result and damage may and often does occur.

 

[LBARTLETT]

As Harvey said recommends pay to get the engine operating history



a dealer with the VIN can supply you with all warranty work that was performed on the truck



finally since it's a 4x4 check the ball joints and other front end components, you can tie up a couple of grand there unless you can do the work yourself

 

[EWingertsahn]

I picked up my 2500 slt 4 door long bed for 13,300. It did have 167000 on it though. But I felt the price was good.

 

[Homicide]

I wish I read was able to get/read these posts prior to buying my 2006 Pickup. Essentially, I paid $17999 for the loaded 2006 4x4 Laramie, with the only problem is that Tow/Haul doesn't seem to work. The good news is this is essentially a near straight trade with my 1999 4x4 SLT, as my neighbor is gonna pay $17k for mine with low miles. I think I bought a work truck that was "WORKED". To late to have buyers remorse, just gonna have to work with what I got. Relatively clean package, some dings, but overall it made it home ok from a 100 mile trip. The plus is near straight trade, and I only put 3000 miles if im lucky per year. thanks all.