I've been nursing along a '64 Chev 1/2 ton for 20+ years. It's such a good beater I hate to give it up, and I really don't need a truck often, but I would like a newer rig with the modern appliances. I just want a basic, but full size pickup, and a Ram 1500 looks good to me. Just a V-6 is powerful enough. So I ask those of you who are familiar with say, 1998 to 2006, to educate me about the pros, and especially any cons, good years, bad years, etc. Anything worth knowing before I leap would be appreciated.
Problems with my 2004 (2500) have included horrible paint (so check for rust!) and constant failures of suspension and drive line components including hubs due to lack of lubrication from the factory. Both hubs, most of the U-joints, ball joints all may be problem areas in Dodge trucks. Chrysler's quality slipped massively in that year range and as a result you do need to be careful to inspect fully the vehicle.
Although everything I own except my beater back and forth to work car, is a DODGE, financially, I would have to recommend that you keep the Chevy. It is not a dodge vs Chevy or ford or anything. Even if you had a dodge of that era, I would tell you the same thing. What you have: it is antique, tags and taxes have to be as close to non existent, so take that money you would have to spend just on tags and insurance and taxes for the newer car/truck for as long as you have owned it, invest that money in it, to keep it running. I guess some states this might not be as true, with smog and other factors, but still 1964 should probably be exempt.
My buddy built a really nice 72 Chevy with modern type engine updates, air conditioning, and modern paintjob, the thing is fantastic, and worth more than he has in it, well as long as the economy doesn't go more into the "tank" I assume. worth more than my 12 year old Dakota by a long shot, and he's got about the same # of dollars in it, that I did buying my Dakota, even if I don't include interest payments... Course he did do as much work on his own as untrained but humanly possible...
I been hunting myself for a 64-66 Chevy, or 67-68 ford 1/2 ton pickup to fix up. cheaper engine & parts, and thousand of other reasons IMHO to fix up an old truck, and to me the best reason, is cost of ownership...
I had a '95 that would not die. Over 300k on it, and a rough 300k they were. I did replace a wheel bearing and a thermostat, but that's not bad over the life of the truck. It was a monster! Traded it in in 2005 and it brought in $3500
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