Should I sell it, Wife says yes and I am undecided...

[SmokinJoe]

Hi Guys,

I custom ordered a 2001 4x4 Sport LWB manual transmission truck, the only thing I would have changed was maybe the cab clearance lights, sliding window and 6 speed transmission.

Now it has Michigan rust, 165k on the clock and is approaching 20 years old.

I purchased it because I wanted the legend and I knew the common rail would be quiet and sound like a VW diesel.

Now I have the bed and cab to replace because of rust and using it as my primary all year daily driver. There are also some things that need to be fixed on a 20 year old truck, i.e. never replaced the clutch, vacuum pump, injectors flow tested or upgraded, stainless steel brake lines, drivers seat and some interior pieces are not perfect that I could hunt for.

I would need to build a pole barn to store it and work on it, just to have a nice looking 20 year old truck that has no rust and can drive anywhere and pull any trailer. It would go up in value from $6k to $30 if I make it look perfect.

I have a lease truck to drive all year, don't need another car/truck but will never want to spend $80k just to have the automatic transmission **** to bed in 4-5 years of use. I have had 18 years of 0 engine and transmission issues. I live in a small town and have a local dealer that does not have good service.

I am torn as to what to do and have several buyers that want the truck, if I was buying I would want a 24 valve with a manual to pull... Nothing else is going to pull or last. The new aluminum 6 speed is not as stout as the cast iron NV transmissions, that said NV is out of business so that too is a concern.

What to do...

 

[DenverPilot]

When did the switch over happen to 24V? I have a 2001 3500 and it’s the “High Output” 24V. Was that a “late model year” change?

In a similar dilemma here. Don’t have the large trailers I used to pull with it and it’s not my daily driver, but this one doesn’t even have rust having lived its whole life here in Colorado.

Only 147,000 or so on the clock, blew a head gasket towing a couple years ago so had it reworked and studded. Bigger turbo. 4 exhaust front to back. Runs great.

Hate to sell it. Can’t get that much for it due to age and certainly can’t replace it for anywhere close to what it’ll sell for if I ever start towing big trailers again, but just don’t need a dually anymore.

Kinda stupid to sit on it and not use it but even dumber to sell it and then need a big weight hauler and not have it.

 

[SmokinJoe]

I think you can always get a used truck. Might not be the color you want, the condition or options you want. Might have went thru 3 or 4 owners, one of the owners being a teenaged kid that put stacks on it and used it to mud bog and do jumps with...

I think I am going to build/buy a garage to work and store it.

 

[DenverPilot]

I think you can always get a used truck. Might not be the color you want, the condition or options you want. Might have went thru 3 or 4 owners, one of the owners being a teenaged kid that put stacks on it and used it to mud bog and do jumps with...

I think I am going to build/buy a garage to work and store it.

Hahaha. The “tricked out” trucks are what I’d like to avoid. A few reasonable upgrades here and there on your toys are fun, but some of the used stuff just gets ridiculous.

 

[jgillott]

Unless you are suffering from frame rot like many others from the salt belt, keep it and fix as needed. You are not going to find another one that is yours.

I'm in a similar quandary with my '07. I really don't need it anymore, but I'm hanging on to it at least for now.

 

[MLee]

How many of the members here have had that same Quandary, and sold there pride and joy,to only wish they had it back a few years later.
But if you are certain that you will not miss your pride and JOY then by all-means SELL her and be done with it.

 

[GrantP]

I had a hard time selling my 97 years ago, it really hurt to see it go. I can say looking back now it was the right choice, hard as it was to do.

 

[Bob Wagner]

Marco sold his 99 way back and still regrets it today. I still have my 01 and have no plans on selling it ever.

 

[DavidC]

I am being buried in my 99

Dave

 

[BoeingDiesel]

I am being buried in my 99

Dave

I like that Dave!
I'm not selling my '99 unless something comes up and I absolutely have to. West coast truck no rust never in an accident body and paint is perfect. I'm moving it to Texas in the near future and then I'll redo the interior-suspension- and engine rebuild. Trans only has about 15000 on it and other than it being a 53 block (no crack) I'm guessing it will still be rolling along twenty years from now.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Hardly use my '02 any more - mostly used it to tow our 24 foot 5th wheel. I'm nearly 82 years old - pretty near enjoy just puttering around here at home - truck only has 95K miles, and mods listed below. NO rust or bumps, original interior still look good as new...

BUT, we do still need a truck for occasional hauling, and still have the 5er too - I know I could get top dollar selling outright, or in trade - but don't have any plans in that direction, the truck has been my "rod and custom" since new - and what could I possibly replace it with that would cost less, or I would enjoy more?
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'02 HO Quad cab 2500 ETH-DEE, all extras except leather! Could these be the LAST of the "real diesels" from Dodge/Cummins...?

Edge comp, BHAF, Frantz oil/fuel filters, Don M 1.6 FI injectors, Rip's 4 inch exhaust - pillar mount boost/EGT and fuel pressure - coolant bypass filtration system - Walbro 392GSL fuel pump - DSS stainless intake tube - Amsoil/Donaldson 4510 aircleaner...

Icom 706 MKIIG "DC-to-daylight" Ham transceiver, Ameritron ALS-500 mobile amp... 40/20 meters... 7.175/14.182 mhz... '88 KIT 24 foot 5th wheel.

 

[SmokinJoe]

I find it crazy that the ones with no rust and 300k with lower trim levels are selling down south for 20-25k, the rusty ones up north are 5-10k.

 

[DavidC]

I find it crazy that the ones with no rust and 300k with lower trim levels are selling down south for 20-25k, the rusty ones up north are 5-10k.

No rust is a big bonus, most everything else is replaceable with less cost and effort.

Dave

 

[SnoKing]

Thinking you will GREATLY increase the value of it may be a pipe dream. You would be lucky to get back half of what you put into it. We sold our 2001.5 3 years ago. It was a fun to drive truck with the expensive mods I did to it. It was in great shape with 112K on the clock.

Have driven and towed with the 2015 for 3 years I would not go back.

Just my thoughts.

SnoKing

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

YUP - great volume of mods won't usually be of great importance to the next guy - who has his OWN set of values on mods HE may like - or dislike. BUT, excellent maintenance, low miles, and obvious good care will pretty much always bring best trade-in or resale value. THEN again, once you get the truck of your dreams, that fit all your personal needs and expectations - why get rid of it, just for something different - and maybe not even as good?

- - - - - - -
'02 HO Quad cab 2500 ETH-DEE, all extras except leather! Could these be the LAST of the "real diesels" from Dodge/Cummins...?

Edge comp, BHAF, Frantz oil/fuel filters, Don M 1.6 FI injectors, Rip's 4 inch exhaust - pillar mount boost/EGT and fuel pressure - coolant bypass filtration system - Walbro 392GSL fuel pump - DSS stainless intake tube - Amsoil/Donaldson 4510 aircleaner...

Icom 706 MKIIG "DC-to-daylight" Ham transceiver, Ameritron ALS-500 mobile amp... 40/20 meters... 7.175/14.182 mhz... '88 KIT 24 foot 5th wheel.

 

[Tractorat]

Rule of thumb is: If the wife wants you to sell it, its a keeper.

 

[SmokinJoe]

I agree, the wife knows the finance but not legends. So far the RAM has out lasted 3 of her cars and even though rusty the RAM is almost worth more than her 15 impala with 75k on it... LOL The last car of hers I sold for $2k with 240k on it and it was an 07 Buick Lucerne and she said I should sell the truck and drive that heap to work. The Lucerne had rust just starting to bubble under the paint and never had engine or transmission work done, but if I were going to drive it for another 200k I would have had the transmission rebuilt before it puked and it was starting to shift hard and odd.

The RAM with the manual always shifts right. LOL

 

[rebar]

Sell it. Its a 24v after all

 

[Tractorat]

Sell it. Its a 24v after all

Snob

 

[DHayden]

Luckily my wife views the trucks the same way I do, will never get rid of it.

Trucks

• DHayden
• Aug 17, 2018