I am looking at buying a 2002 Ram 2500 HO 6 Speed with 235,000 miles asking 7,500. It seems to have been reasonably well maintained the owner has allot of service receipts. Here's a few pictures of the truck body is really nice (all redone last year new fenders ,doors, bedside and complete repaint...) but the underside worry's me...just want some opinions. Here's a few pics Thanks !

 

Mike that's not really fair. I know you crawl under there with a toothbrush.

 

No I don't.   I just make sure to rinse the underside off once a week even in the bitter cold of the winter to get the mud and salt off the frame. The longer the salt and mud stays in contact with the metal the more rust is created. So it not just wash the paint but to rinse the underside too. I've worked on several local truck that look the same way because they think it looks cool to leave the mud caked in the wheel well and on the frame underneath the truck.   

I put rust protection mine with a leaky tappet cover gasket. It protects good but a little pricey and a giant mess. Leaky injector O rings will work just as well but pretty tough on the engine..

I prefer the hat trick attack on rust,

 

 

Oil from blowby vent

ATF from tranny lines

and some diesel from a leaky water drain

That's one of the few things I do. I bring cover-alls and roll under the truck and look up. So what the interior and paint is nice... The rest of the truck needs attention.

 

250k miles... Idaho roads are mostly dirt. Salt used quite a bit in the winter time... Very little if any surface rust.

 

 

 

 

 

SHOW OFF   

I prefer the hat trick attack on rust,

 

 

Oil from blowby vent

ATF from tranny lines

and some diesel from a leaky water drain

i did leave out the blow by vent

Nothing to add but I'm pleased to be reminded about rust!

 

No salt here in Texas, no rust on the frame or body, the contrast with my 76 Chevy that "grew up" in Chicago is totally stark.  Every time I think I ought to have kept and restored it, all I have to do is think about the door skins flapping on account of the door bottoms rusting out, and replacing brake lines after they rusted out and the pedal went to the floor (exaggeration - only one of the rear lines burst, still had fronts).

 

Back in the day we used to brag that if they didn't rust out, we'd keep them running forever.  Didn't think about getting old, weak, achy, and having to get to work every day instead of fixing baroque cars...

 

Z06Frank, I hope you find a good one you like!

Lucky here too, they use salt and other chemicals but only on city streets and interstates, not too much outside of that but they seem to be using a bit more in recent years but it doesn't seem to bother like I does in other areas where they must use some higher octane salt lol.

 

I tend to hit the car washes a lot more often in the winter with the under body wash jets just to keep the excess build up of the white stuff knocked down and first thing in spring all vehicles get an intense underbody and frame wash. 

Mike parks his truck over a running lawn sprinkler every day.

That does work. The only difference I do it weekly.

You're probably kidding but that is a good idea!  I used to fantasize about pvc pipes in a row, with squirt nozzles pointed up, in the garage, to rinse the undercarriage with hot water to wash the salt off.

 

Afraid of the clean (as opposed to salty) water freezing overnight and sticking the truck in place.  The old Chev, this was BC (before Cummins).

When looking on Craigslist Portland, Oregon there are quite a few 2nd gens for sale that look original. Might be worth the plane ticket for you.

So Cal Desert. My 2001 and my 92 first gen. Nothing underneath but shiney black paint and oil. 1947 in my avatar doesn't have any rust either.

Edited August 24, 201510 yr by oldbeek

Well I found a 2001 Ram 3500 Laramie 5 speed in Ontario, Canada never winter driven !! flying out to go get it Saturday.

Great to hear!

 

Sometimes a plane ticket and some diesel will get you a good deal and some good stories on the road.

Post photos! 

there is a good dealership in Cottenwodd AZ that usually has a good selection of 2nd gens.

i got my first cummins from them, best car buying expierence i've ever had.

 

http://courtesyautosales.net/CottonNewandusedcars.aspx?clearall=1

Truck looks clean EXCEPT for

I see 2 issues here. First the frame does look pretty rusty.....never seen a 2nd gen dodge without the front section covered in oil......I mean anti rust.

Without being able to look close tho I don't know how bad it is. The bottom of the bed and the rear of the truck look normal with surface rust.

I agree that maybe it was in a wreck. I see what could be junkyard markings on the fan shroud, which could mean it was busted up in the front. I would look for signs of a new intercooler and radiator.

Secondly I see a shock that BADLY needs to be replaced. Not a huge deal but strikes me as odd that the rest of the truck would be so clean, yet a $20 shock hasn't been done.

Other than that it seems like the first truck for sale with a sensible price I have seen in awhile.

I agree. From the picture this looks to be rust perforation. If that is the case I would shy away from the truck. A welder can weld in a patch using some 1/8 inch sheet steel but it is not something you should want to do to ensure the trucks longevity.

Mike parks his truck over a running lawn sprinkler every day.

Although funny sounding that is actually a great idea.