I just took the 03 King Ranch S-crew that I want to buy to my mechanic to have it checked out. The dealer told me that the rear end needed some work, but they wanted to sell it "as-is." I figured I would have someone who I know and trust, and who knows his stuff, check it for me.

My mechanic said the truck is in great shape, except for the rear end issue. He thinks it's a bad bearing, either an axle bearing or a carrier bearing. He also said it would need new tires soon. Axle bearing would be about $300 to fix, but if it is indeed the carrier bearing, it could get "very expensive, pretty darn fast," to quote my mechanic.

I plan to try to talk the dealer into fixing the problem for me (I also want to talk them down in price some). I'm not about to let this deter me from buying this truck, though if they won't fix it prior to purchase...then I might have to pass. Which would be a shame, since I really love this truck.

I drove it about 178 miles today and averaged 18.2 mpg, which was with combined interstate, county highway, country/small town roads, and an hour of stop-and-go, lost-in-the-city driving. I'm pretty impressed with that, considering it is a full-sized truck and with the 5.4 L motor. Sure beats the 13 mpg average my parents get with their 04 Dodge Ram.

 

I would deff go with the truck if that's all that's wrong with it. that's a very hard truck to find my friend, especially with that gas mileage! I wouldn't seem that interested in it next time you talk to the dealer, be like my mechanic said such an such need to be changed. if you change that ill pay such amount of money. that's how I bought my 03 FX4 screw for $7K instead of $10K sticker

 

I'm going to call the dealer after I get off work today at 1:30...I'll keep y'all posted on how the negotiations go.

 

awesome dude good luck! post some pics of the truck if you can!!

 

Dealer said that they wanted to sell the truck as is and they weren't willing to fix it. The sales manager said that they were either going to sell it as-is to a buyer or take it to auction...either way, they didn't want to spend the time to fix up the rear end. I offered them $8000, the sales manager said the lowest they were willing to go was $9000. Considering the KBB value for this truck is almost $15,000, it seems like a steal...but the rear end is still an issue. Since I don't know how much it will take to fix it, I don't want to throw my savings into fixing it up.

Ugh...decisions, decisions. I really want this truck. I guess I will have to wait and see if my Chevy sells this Tuesday, since I can't afford 2 truck payments.

 

But don't feel like you can't drive the truck because of the rear end..... My rear end has been going out for over a year now and its never bothered anything... Just drive it tell you can afford to fix it.... That's a sweet truck though

 

The rear end won't take more $2,000 to fix.

If you find an axle with the same gears just swap that in. Look in the junkyards. There are alternatives.

If I were you, I wouldnt even have made this post because it would be sitting in my driveway already.

 

I would deff take it if that's all, good luck on the deal man

 

Good news is that I sold my 04 Chevy Colorado today...one less thing to worry about! My sales guy had already gotten off of work by the time I was able to call today, so I'm waiting for a call back tomorrow and see what the dealer says. Just for the heck of it I asked if they would fix the truck for me if I paid for the parts to fix it. They may or may not, but I figured it was worth a shot.

As it is, I could be getting this truck for almost $6000 under the KBB value. Crossing my fingers that all goes well and that I am able to drive it home this Friday (and I will of course post lots of pictures if I do).

 

sounds awesome man! can't wait to see pics of it