New member and prospective CTD owner!

[BPrifty]

Hello everyone - I would like to make a suggestion for an addition to your great website. As a new member (and future CTD owner), I would love to see a sticky with info for prospective buyers. I'm in the process of looking at trucks and while I'm not a complete mechanical idiot, I really don't know a whole lot about Dodge trucks and CTD's in particular, so it would be great to be able to read through one thread find out all of the little things I should look closely at and questions I should ask sellers to ensure that the truck I buy is worth the hard-earned $$ i'm about to spend.



Keep up the good work here guys (and girls), this is a really cool site! - BP

 

[Oil Burner]

When you find one that you are interested in, post the year, transmission type, number of valves (for a 98), odometer reading, etc... You will have a list of things to check within hours.

-Jason

p. s. Welcome aboard!

 

[Trizae]

let me know what you want,,,,,, i am getting ready to trade for a nice 01. 5 2500 HO speed

 

[BPrifty]

I'm in the market for a 96-98 12v excab 8' bed 4wd auto - as many options as I can get. I'd like to see less than 100K miles, but that's probably not too likely in my price range.



Most of what I've seen has either been pretty low priced (either because of mileage, lots of towing/work or more than a few owners which makes me wonder about the truck) or pretty high priced because they're low mileage.



I'm basing my impression of the prices using Kelly Blue Book, NADA etc as a base. I would guess that prices will be slightly higher due to the fact that the CTD was not sold in as great numbers as the gassers. Unfortunately, I am somewhat tied to KBB because my credit union bases the amount of the loan on the Blue Book value of the vehicle.



Any advice would be appreciated.



BP

 

[Oil Burner]

those are great trucks. If you go with a 98, I think you may be able to get a quad cab with opening doors and a 12 valve motor. I wish that is what I had! Anyway, the only think I would really be concerned with on a high mileage truck with an auto would be the transmission. Other than that, they are really stout. You can't go wrong with a solid 12 valve extended cab! I drive a 6 speed, so I can't comment on transmission rebuilds or aftermarket upgrades. Others may be able to give you an idea of what kind of money you may be looking at if it comes to that.

-Jason

 

[TPCDrafting]

Things I wished I had known to ask before buying

I wished I had joined the TDR and started asking questions before buying, but I didn't find it until after I bought it. I ended up making out ok anyhow.



1. Ask if the KDP has been addressed. For more info, go to the 12 valve forum and read the stickies at the top.

2. For an auto transmission, I'd be wanting to know how often the fluids were changed and receipts to prove it.

3. What was the truck used for, I'd be interested in a daily driver/occasional trailer hauler rather than an OTR truck pulling heavy all the time.

4. If you find a '98 12 valve, the quad cab was an option that year.

5. I'd be checking to see if the AFC housing has been off before and if so, why? - Not that it is a bad thing, but I'm sure glad I've had only guys that knew what the heck they were doing in there.

6. Pull the intake hose off the front of the turbo and check the turbo shaft for play and also if the blades have any crud on them.

7. Check the seams of the hood/doors/gate for equal spacing and open them to make sure the paint matches.



I'm sure I've missed several big points, but this is what I've learned to look for.

 

[Pit Bull]

www.dodgeram.org Go though this site and read everything and you will know all you need to know. Welcome to the TDR

 

[WadePatton]

I too joined here before I bought my truck.

I found the TDR while searching the internet for my truck. I joined in May and didn't buy a truck until June-(8th 2002-a glorious day).



Tell us where you are, and/or fill in the "location" field of the "user profile" so we'll know. You might find plenty of local CTD/TDR folks who'll be happy to help you look over prospective purchases. I'll check out anything within 50 miles of me for anybody on TDR!



BTW if you run a across an inexpensive, slightly bent or broken, 12v CC 4x4 manual, let me know. I'm looking for a puller.