"MrCrash" (MrCrash)
10/08/2014 at 13:12 • Filed to: None
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"MrCrash" (MrCrash)
10/08/2014 at 13:12 • Filed to: None | 2
| 20 |
I currently own continue to pay for what I consider my dream truck (2010 Ram R/T). I absolutely love everything about it aside from the lack of room and it's inability to move in winter conditions. I'm out of the main factory warranty, and thanks to some arm twisting when I mortgaged my house, I'm stuck paying for roughly another 3 years. At that point, all warranties are long gone, and I'm assuming with it will be most of the sheet metal and it will have destroyed at least one more trans (it's a Dodge. Trying to be realistic). Thankfully, it's value is higher than what I owe, so I'm considering doing one of the following:
1) Trade it in, and roll the extra cash into a down-payment on a new Wrangler Unlimited, or perhaps another Ram (lease for now. Buyout later).
2) Sell it somewhere, and take the cash left over to buy something reasonably priced like a Cherokee, or maybe put it towards a CRD Liberty.
3) Keep it, buy some winter tires, and pray I can get around in the snow. It's not exactly the best setup for winter driving regardless of tires (rwd + 400 crank hp + 4.10:1 gears + 2800 stall converter).
I'm inclined to go towards option 2 just to avoid or have a much smaller monthly payment, but given I'll be starting a new job sometime soon, I'd really prefer to have something where I know it will run every day and let me get to work relatively on-time. I'm sure my dog would enjoy having more room, hence the SUV choices. My growing german shepherd puppy does not fit nicely into one bucket seat anymore. All this also depends on what the dealerships go by for value. KBB doesn't have an entry for the R/T, so I get lumped in with the base models. NADA has an entry for it, and the rough trade in value is a little over $1k higher than the very good value from KBB, and peaks at just over $4k more.
Oppo, am I crazy for considering giving up a known vehicle for lower payments, maybe a warranty, more room for my mutt, and the crushing feeling that I have sold off the one vehicle I've owned so far that brings a smile to my face every time I look at it? My family and friends all know how much I love the truck, so they are not helpful here. I'm hoping y'all can provide a better perspective on this.
Twism
> MrCrash
10/08/2014 at 13:17 |
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If it brings you hapiness, keep it.
It's really sweet, by the way.
TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts
> MrCrash
10/08/2014 at 13:21 |
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Heres my 2 cents.
-Winter tires and wheels
-A cap, for room for the dog. (I know a lot of people dont like how they look, but if it works...)
-Bags of sand/salt and a few cinderblocks or other heavy items in the box to help with traction.
If my old man managed to survive Canadian winters (even the ice storm of '96) in a 2wd '90 F150 with a 'breathed on' 351, you can manage if you really want to. You like the truck, if you want to keep it, do what you can to make it work.
But thats my 2 cents.
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MrCrash
> Twism
10/08/2014 at 13:23 |
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Thanks! I'd love to keep it, but part of me thinks it's no longer reasonable to do so. When I got it I worked from home and had no reason to bring a passenger (human or dog) anywhere. Now I'll be commuting again, and will be boarding my mutt daily so she isn't stuck in a crate all day.
thismightbemylastburner
> MrCrash
10/08/2014 at 13:29 |
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I've got the ability to not become emotionally tied to my cars, despite them being my primary hobby and objects of lust. I put a lot of work into my Miata, and I love it to bits, but I know its days are numbered with me. And thats okay.
You should let it go. Everyone should experience owning as many vehicles as they reasonably can. For enrichment purposes, or some shit. Chances are you find something that will easily score as well with you as the Ram has.
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MrCrash
> TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts
10/08/2014 at 13:30 |
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I'm with you on the weight and tires. I've used a few hundred pounds of sand in previous years with mixed results. I've never had winter tires, so I don;t know how much of a difference they will make. Might be time to try. As for a cap, I'd never let my dog ride in the bed, restrained or not. I've thought about building a "seat extension" for her, but haven't decided on a specific plan for it yet. Thanks for the input. If the rest of the world can get by without 4wd and knobby tires when it snows, I'm sure I can probably do so as well.
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Twism
> MrCrash
10/08/2014 at 13:32 |
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maybe get a box cover for the dog?
It's not pretty, but at least it can protect your dog. and you can always remove it when you don't need it.
Those R/T are rare, I'd hate to see an enthusiast sell his.
Have you tried driving it in winter? It's not THAT bad (haven't tried the 4.10, but the regular 2WD 5.7 Hemi with good tires and weight on the back is okay in snow and ice)
Milky
> MrCrash
10/08/2014 at 13:35 |
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I'd say tires and sand bags this winter. Then depending on how that new job works think about upgrading?
This should be enough room for the dog.
Love your truck btw.
Luc - The Acadian Oppo
> MrCrash
10/08/2014 at 13:37 |
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Dude! winter tires make ALL THE DIFFERENCE! this is my old SRT8 I drove it daily for 3 years including harsh Alberta winters with winter tires I did not get stuck once.
I also had this Ram 1500 2wd with Goodyear Duratracs 4 Season tires and it was unstoppable in the snow WAY better than a 4x4 on stock tires thats for damn sure.
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MrCrash
> thismightbemylastburner
10/08/2014 at 13:41 |
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That was partly why I'm limiting myself to 4x4s. I've gone offroading with friends a couple times and greatly enjoyed it. I thought it might be fun to have my own 4x4 to give it a shot with. I just know that anything I get to replace it will probably check all the boxes opposite what the Ram does. Maybe the massive difference would make it fun in it's own way, but I'm concerned that some of those boxes are mandatory for me to really enjoy it. As the famous Ricky Bobby says, I wanna go fast.
cazzyodo
> MrCrash
10/08/2014 at 13:43 |
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I'm at a crossroads with my car and my love of trucks. If it makes you happy, keep it. I miss my family truck like crazy and am sad we can never have it back (totaled).
It was 4wd but there were winters where 4wd wouldn't engage so I drove it rwd with no weight on all seasons through New England winters...if I can do it, so can you. Get the right wheels and tires, sand in the bed (useful if you ever get stuck, too!).
The only problem is the dog...a regular cab is clearly tough. It will have to take some creativity but if I were you I would hold tight to that thing.
Granted, I have no stake in this and am biased towards trucks.
JGrabowMSt
> MrCrash
10/08/2014 at 14:01 |
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One of my friends has a Chevy 1500 SS Intimidator clone. Four wheel drive, 4.10's front and rear, and very similar power. It was bought as a "winter truck." You know more than most how useless that statement is.
All that said, do you have a handheld tuner in the cab? If so, why not tune it down a bit for the winter? Also, snow tires make a massive difference. Such a massive difference in fact, that you should more than just consider them if you're planning on keeping the truck.
I'm going to say keep the truck.
Get winter wheels on it with winter tires. Figure out a winter tune for the truck. Buy several sand bags for the bed, along with some bungee cords to hold them towards the back for weight.
Slide the seat back, or just take it out for the puppy. I met someone with an LS2 GTO. He just yanked the backseat out completely for his bulldog. Passengers? What are those? Get your own car...
Or you could find some $1000 or less POS beater for the winter...
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MrCrash
> Milky
10/08/2014 at 14:04 |
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Thanks! Not a bad plan, and another I've considered but didn't list. I'd love to get my hands on an outdoorsman with the ecodiesel eventually if I don't go with a Wrangler.
JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
> MrCrash
10/08/2014 at 14:09 |
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That truck is way too awesome to get rid of!
Id just invest in good winter tires and what ive seen is people taking sandbags to weigh the bed down a bit. Itll help.
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MrCrash
> Twism
10/08/2014 at 14:10 |
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Good tires are what I've been missing. Weight helps a little, but it always seems to break traction no matter how delicately I drive. I would never let my dog ride in the bed, so a cap is out. I'm thinking of something I can build to put in the foot well to give her more room to lay down. Might just stuff a box and a blanket in there for now.
T5Killer
> MrCrash
10/08/2014 at 14:15 |
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Keep it. I kept my dream car '95 Cobra. And daily drove it for 10+ years. Even in snow, rain what ever. I love the damn thing and if I didn't have kids and gas wasn't $3+ a gallon I would still daily drive it (I sill have the car but daily a old Legacy)
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Milky
> MrCrash
10/08/2014 at 14:29 |
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Ram Sport, Ecodiesel, Wrangler …. not a single bad option listed.
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Twism
> MrCrash
10/08/2014 at 14:40 |
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Good tires makes all the difference.
Seriously, we drove around in 2WD pickup (and RWD cars) with good snow tires for decades and it went just fine.
I was scared of driving my RT magnum in the snow because of years of manufacturer's propaganda about FWD being the only way to move in winter, but after hearing lots of old folks telling me about how they drove around in 8 inches of snow in Olds 442 and 426 Challenger, I decided to give it a try. A set of hakkapeliitta later (stupid expensive, but Oh so Worth it), and I never had troubles.
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MrCrash
> JGrabowMSt
10/08/2014 at 14:42 |
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I didn't consider the tuner option. I have one though I've left it untuned since the trans was rebuilt. I might try throwing the eco tune on for winter and see if it helps. If I make it through this winter, a beater for next year is definitely something I'm looking at getting. I'd love to be able to park the Ram once they start pouring salt everywhere.
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JGrabowMSt
> MrCrash
10/08/2014 at 14:50 |
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All things considered with Dodge quality, their post-Diamler Benz build quality is much higher. The bean counters at Mercedes did some bad things to what could have been good cars, meanwhile the engineers and designers really taught them some good things.
Your Ram has the 5.7L hemi right? It's a newer one, so they're very good, very reliable motors. Something let go inside my 05 5.7L, but I do think I'm going to have it rebuilt rather than replaced. They're very good engines, and the drivetrain is mostly reliable. Dodge's transmissions are no bueno, but you could do a trans swap, or even have the internals beefed up to keep it for a long time.
Honestly, if you really love a car, and you really can't let go of it, don't let go of it. Sure, you have payments on it, but unless you're just unable to afford it, you're giving up something that can't be replaced. Even another Ram wont be your Ram.
MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
> MrCrash
10/08/2014 at 16:53 |
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option 4? add tires and make it more winter friendly...electric locking diff or lsd +400lbs of sand and you'll be better off than majority of the people on the road