2006 Dodge 3500 Laramie - Good deal?

[RMK SeVeN]

I have been looking at trucks on and off for a while now and found one I like. I wasn't planning on buying until next year but if this truck proves to be a good deal then, well, so be it!

This is the link to the truck. And keep in mind the truck is in Alaska. So pricing is slightly higher up here.
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 diesel

2006 Dodge 3500 5.9 Quad cab Laramie.

I figure I can talk him down to 25k easily but not sure how much lower he'll go. Does it look like a good deal? I was originally looking for a 2500 but really no reason not to get the 3500 I suppose. It will eventually most likely have a sled deck on the back anyway.

THANKS GUYS!!

 

[Snopro08162]

Looks like a pretty good deal just sucks thats its a short bed. The ride is the same as 2500, an you wont have to put airbags on it when you put the sled deck in it.

 

[Cyle]

Looks like a pretty good deal just sucks thats its a short bed. The ride is the same as 2500, an you wont have to put airbags on it when you put the sled deck in it.

My 04 Dodge 3500 begs to differ. With my sled deck loaded it still sagged pretty good. The factory overloads are useless. Airbags of some form are a must or the front will be higher.

Looks pretty good, hard to say on price because of your location. But that is what it would go for here approx. I am not a big fan of short box either, but I live with it, and usually have my deck in anyways.

 

[dogtownbutcher]

none

the 06 are notorious for having BAD INJECTOR problems! I can't count how many times my dad's 2 06's have had injector failures, i would say at least 5 different times! Something to think about!

 

[rmk-rider]

Nice truck, but I would never own a short box.

 

[icr]

I've been doing a lot of truck shopping lately and I think that's a good price for up here. I'll go against the grain and say I'd never own a long bed.

 

[Extreme-One]

I wouldn't be afraid of an 06. My work bought 6 of them at the same time and none of them have had any injector issues. They've all had brake issues though, in 100,000 miles we've done the fronts three times and the rears at least once. The front ends are a little week too... some U joint issues as well has tie rods and ball joints. Over all pretty good trucks and they get driven pretty hard, always have 12,000 - 15,000 lbs behind them. They are 2500 4x4 quad cabs short box big horn additions.

 

[Supplicate]

I'll go against the grain and say I'd never own a long bed.

I said that for years, till I wound up getting a long bed.

 

[Cyle]

I wouldn't be afraid of an 06. My work bought 6 of them at the same time and none of them have had any injector issues. They've all had brake issues though, in 100,000 miles we've done the fronts three times and the rears at least once. The front ends are a little week too... some U joint issues as well has tie rods and ball joints. Over all pretty good trucks and they get driven pretty hard, always have 12,000 - 15,000 lbs behind them. They are 2500 4x4 quad cabs short box big horn additions.

When you have a heavy truck and that kind of weight behind it brakes won't last anytime if the driver doesn't know what they are doing. Not the trucks fault. My 04 has 75k miles on original brakes and they are nowhere near close to gone. Probably see over 100k out of them, and i'm running 37" tires.

I wouldn't be afraid of an 06, the year is nothing special about injector problems. The odd 03-07 has injector problems but few and far between. These trucks are pretty solid. My front axle U joints will need to be done soon as I have lost a cup and dirt is starting to get in. But replace with greaseable and they will last a very long time, as with ball joints.

I've learned to live with my short box, i've got a 8' sled deck in it so I can haul long stuff. It is nicer for city parking, but for hauling a long box is so nice.

 

[Jaynelson]

Sounds like a good buy, looks like a nice truck. Keep in mind you will be doing front axle U-joints and some combination of the ball joints (possibly all) between now and 60,000 miles. Anyone who tells you different has a Dodge horn up his/her rectum.

 

[dmkhnr]

I've had an 05 and now have an 07, both were identical to that truck. (except for color).
The weak link is the steering components, in fact there is a recall on this which will get you updated components. I went through 3 steering gearbox on my 05 in 70k miles, and already 1 on my 07 at 24k miles, I now have an aftermarket steering brace that stabilizes the steering gearbox, this is a must for these trucks. The balljoints are said to go bad prematurely, but I havent had this problem on either truck.
The 5.9 motor is bulletproof, I had an injector go on my 05 but it was under warranty, and 0 problems on my 07 with 36000 miles. That truck is still under warranty, and if 1 injector goes bad, dodge will now replace all 6 so I wouldn't worry about that. Shortbed/longbed is buyer preference, I like the shortys as they are easier to buzz around town in. I get 17 mpg in my truck now, and my 05 got a tick worse through my ownership, but at 70k miles was starting to see the 17's. The single rear wheel 3500 come with 3:73 gears, but 4:10 wouldn't be abnormal for an ordered truck so you might want to question that as fuel mileage will suffer.
That cummins is the best motor on the road to this day, so if you like the truck then jump. I've had 4k# in the bed with it riding on the overloads, I just built a sleddeck, threw it in the truck and rode my snowmobile up on it, and the truck squat maybe an inch.

 

[Nelson]

Sounds like a good buy, looks like a nice truck. Keep in mind you will be doing front axle U-joints and some combination of the ball joints (possibly all) between now and 60,000 miles. Anyone who tells you different has a Dodge horn up his/her rectum.

I will differ with that. On my 04.5 3500 Cummins It only had one lower ball joint replaced and axle u-joints replaced once with 115,000 miles. My 07 2500 Cummins has 64,000 miles on it and all ball joints and axle u-joints check perfect. Both trucks are lifted with 35" tires. Original owner.


04.5 3500

07 2500

 

[RMK SeVeN]

Thanks for all the info guys! The seller has lowered his price by $3k, which I found strange because he did it while we were still discussing me coming out and looking at it. I am just waiting for the VIN to run through CarFax and then I plan to go take a look at it.

BTW, Nelson, Sweet rides. But how come you went from a 3500 to a 2500?

 

[Nelson]

I said that for years, till I wound up getting a long bed.

I still say that. I had one and did not like it at all. I prefer my shortbox's over the longbox.

 

[Nelson]

Thanks for all the info guys! The seller has lowered his price by $3k, which I found strange because he did it while we were still discussing me coming out and looking at it. I am just waiting for the VIN to run through CarFax and then I plan to go take a look at it.

BTW, Nelson, Sweet rides. But how come you went from a 3500 to a 2500?

I wanted a new truck with the 5.9 in it still and this is all the dealer had left. The most that gets hauled in the box is a sled or dirtbikes. It doesn't tow any different than my 3500 did, just has softer rear springs which is the only differance between the 2500 and the 3500.

If the owner dropped the price $3K I would pick that up. Very reasonable price for an 06 Laramie.

 

[RMK SeVeN]

I thought it was reasonable at 26! He is hard to get ahold of and all he has listed is his email address. It's like pulling teeth trying to get pictures of it, the VIN, etc. If it wasn't such a sweet deal I would say to he!! with the guy.

 

[Nelson]

Yeah, I can understand that. I know exactly how much more vehicles are up there. My brother was stationed in the AF in Faibanks and purchased an 04.5 Laramie Cummins and paid $28K for it a little over a year ago I couldn't believe that.

 

[Jaynelson]

I will differ with that. On my 04.5 3500 Cummins It only had one lower ball joint replaced and axle u-joints replaced once with 115,000 miles. My 07 2500 Cummins has 64,000 miles on it and all ball joints and axle u-joints check perfect. Both trucks are lifted with 35" tires. Original owner.

You are the exception not the rule....just trying to give the guy a heads up, not bashing the truck.

 

[RMK SeVeN]

Well, the guy pulled his add off of Craigslist. I still have yet to hear back from him for about 3 days now. Frustrating to say the least.

 

[CATillak]

Well, the guy pulled his add off of Craigslist. I still have yet to hear back from him for about 3 days now. Frustrating to say the least.

That blows, wonder why he dropped the price then disappeared?

The long beds the only way to go, a shorty doesnt fit stacks and a long track sled, properly..