FYI, there is nothing wrong the automatic transmissions in these trucks. In fact, that design stems from the 727 platform which can handle a lot of power and torque. The issue is people didn’t properly maintain their transmissions. They needed to have the second gear band and reverse band adjusted frequently as well as fluid/filter changes. People just didn’t do that and chalked it up to “a crappy trans”.

I've had a Gen 2(98') 1500 Sport 4x4 with the 5.2 Magnum in it for several years, and so far it's a great truck! Thankfully it was my father's before I owned it, and he bought fully packaged. I've even had to sleep in it a few times comfortably...yes, my dash is GONE, lol, those things are potato chips, lol. Engine bay, and interior are perfect, clean, no issues. I've never had a problem with power at all, but gas mileage is around 12-13mpg on average. Given the opportunity, I would probably choose the Cummins I6, but I'm not complaining, I love the sound of the 5.2, and the 4WD system works perfect. SO much has to do with how they're maintained, I've got 280k, and my Dad had a fresh transmission installed 8 years ago. It's fine pulling a boat, or a dbl axle trailer, BUT the 5.2 might struggle on hills with equipment on a long trailer, that's where there's a great reason to look for the big engine, imo. Other than that, the 5.2 has been a perfect truck for me.

My ‘97 4x4 Club Cab SLT Laramie long box had a 5.2 and I thought it was ample power. I actually added rear airbags and carried a light weight 8 foot truck camper on it (Load Range E tires of course) and it handled the weight and wind drag of that camper just fine while driving through mountainous areas.

I had 2001 5.2 1500 4x4 Off Road addition factory lift,4.10 axles,and never had any of those problems not even the so often cracked dash.Never babied that truck maybe that's why,think it had 182000 when I got rid of it.

I recently bought a 96 Dodge 1500 short bed 5.2/5-speed/4x4. Maybe kind of a unicorn. I don’t really know production numbers but I will say that I have grown to really love this old truck! That 5.2 just never quits! I bought it as a project and something to drive in nice weather but I find myself driving it more and more often lately. It’s just a good old truck! Many years ago I worked for a company that had a couple as company trucks; a 91 318 with well over 300,000 miles and a 2000 5.2 Magnum. I actually enjoyed driving the 91 because of how well it ran for as many miles as were on it. But the Magnum was noticeably more powerful

I have a 97 Laramie 2wd 5.2. Im 40 years old, ive driven a lot of trucks. The gen 2 ram 1500 is the best production truck ever turned out.

I had both many years ago. I had a 96 5.9 short bed. Then, many years later, a 5.2 quad cab short bed. Obviously, the 96 indy pace truck was a beast fast. I modified it with high Flo cats jet chip cold air kit. Did the rear the 5 .2 was stock. Pulled a boat with it 23 foot Boston whaler so it did its job, but the salt ate it alive. Neither one shifted good. But I read the comments about the nobody did the mantance on the trans. I used trans medic every year. Traded in the 5.2 cash for clunkers they had going on, it wasn't worth the $5 grand I got for it, so I was happy.

I have 97 dodge ram 1500 5.9 4x2. I bought it brand new when I was 20yrs old. I'm 46yrs old now and still tows excellent original motor 230k on it 2nd transmission. Good review young man 👍👍

Replacing my old 5.2 with a cammed 5.9l this weekend. Hoping for a huge difference in power. Also if you don't want your truck to rust, you MUST use fluid film in ever nook and cranny. My all time favorite rust inhibitor for many reasons. Great stuff

My 02 5.2 has over 300,000 miles. Still going

Something about these 2nd gen dodges makes them deer magnets lol

my 5.2 magnum has been a champ, saved from the scrap yard at 130k currently at 200k and runs smooth as butter. Trans may have been cooked on this last tow, but that 5.2 just keeps giving and giving.

Have a 95 Grand Cherokee that I tricked out has the 318 Magnum 5.2 pumped it up to 450 Hp. Throughout the years building this thing I reached one conclusion ....Dodge tyranny's suck, that being said I may have solved the issue, I was about to throw in a 5 speed manual conversion and my trans guy suggested lets try this first.....he took the stock automatic 4 speed overdrive trans put in a 2500 rpm stall converter, red line racing clutches a B&M shift kit and an oversized trans cooler....that was 4 years ago and hasn't had a single hiccup, food for thought. Hype the transmission up on your Mopars.

Had a 97 4x2 5.2 with a comp cam and 3.55 gears. Excellent truck, never found anything the truck wouldn’t pull. 97 was an great year for quality vehicles but nearly all that year were a one off design

That’s a hell of a deal for a truck that isn’t rotted out

Got 98 darango 512.000 oraginal tranny no problems.97 Dakota 5.2 391 gear oraginal tranny 270.000 no problems run the hell out of em .man the darango and Dakota still has oraginal heater core.crazy man I no other people that baby's there Dakotas and the same shit u said happens does.lucky I guess.like your video's keep trucken

Just bought my first ever dodge 2500 1999 Laramie SLT 176k miles no problems for 2k ! I’m in love with

I had a 97 ram 1500 2wd with the mopar 360 and it was an amazing truck all around although i no longer have it due to it being stolen and burned to the ground and currently I’m looking at picking up a 97 ram 2500 4wd with the mopar 360

I just bought a 99’ ram Laramie club cab 8cyl 5.2l. Any advice to maintain? It all looks good for now but anxious the transmission will give in after this vid 😭

this weekend I'm planning to buy a I think 96 ram 3500 V8 Magnum ,club cab in great shape 147k 2nd trans, I owner $5k from what I've been reading, removing the check valve in the transmission, cooler line and adding a trans cooler makes a huge difference protecting these trans

I had. 1999 Laramie 2wd reg cab and lowered it slightly and put 18in wheels on it and had the 5.2, it had plenty of power for what it was I loved that truck and I sold it to a young fella and he totaled it a month later 🤦🏻‍♂️

Only reason the 5.2 makes as much power as it does compared to the 5.9 is it has a better cam in it. Change cam and lifters on the 5.9 and it’s a good ways above the 5.2

As stupid as it may sound, is their a diff lock kit or a Lsd I can throw into a 2wd sport 2nd gen?

He'll my buddy had a 96 4x4 short box standard cab in black. He swapped in the v10 when he kept blowing up 360s. Then he blew up the low revving v10 with the 4:10 gears trying to run it like it was a small block. Lol 😆 I miss aunt Jemima

These transmissions are good when they are on the lower torque Chevy and Gm motors, but when mated to the longer stroke, higher torque mopar motors, they just don't hold up. Usually an upgraded torque converter or clutch set up helps tremendously in almost every dodge truck, regardless of its age or model or spec.

The 5.2 prob has a 3:21 rearend. The 5.9 4x4 may have a 3:55. Check in glove box. 3:55 is way better for pulling. Let us know.Awsome vid keep em coming.

Lol every bolt on my 96 is rust welded. Always easier said than done removing a bolt 😅🔥

Just remember the base engine was the 3.9 magnum v6 with only 175 horsepower and 225 torque now in the midsized dakotas this engine was a perfect mix between power and fuel economy (20-24mpg hwy, but in the city 15-18 mpg) and the 5.2 was quick and still efficient on the hwy and the 5.9 rts were ridiculously fast, but in the Rams the v6 is a dog it’s too weak for the full sized trucks. Great engines, literally hard to kill, but they could’ve used another boost in power.

I have a 99 ram 1500 5.9L ..had the motor rebuilt but had a engine tuner that helps with gas ..

5.9 was a beast. sounds so godly good. Dont get me wrong i love my hemi but i loved the shit out of the 5.9mag, the way it twists the truck when you rev it up, and it sounds like a big block with an open exhaust. My 5.7 has the same muffler but it doesnt sound even nearly as good.

How can you add the lip looking thing on the roof that extends over the windshield? I like the way that looks, but I don’t know what it is called.

My grandfather had a 97 2nd Gen 2wd with the 3.9l V6 and it guzzled gas and got stuck easily but I have a 2000 sport single cab 4wd with the 5.9 but the torque converter went in it.

That's pretty lucky going through three deer and they all hit in the same place, sparing the lights and the radiator waffle.

The transmission in my 2000 slips goin up hill but it's not bad for having the 3.9

New subscriber ✓. I've owned 5-6 second gen Rams. One I bought brand new. That was a 5.9 v-8 Sport model. Too bad I'm late in watching this video..lol, I would have bought your 2 wheel drive Ram.

Don't worry about the cup holders the 4x4 hold em good 😊

You still have that 5.2?

I have a 98 2500 V10. That would have been good to see in this tussle

Where did you get that double din bezel at? I have a 95 and would like to get a double din

I’m surprised the paint is all there on both trucks wow

2 different iterations of the Dodge RAM 2nd gen. you have there: *Block One* = 1994 to 1997 that had the chrome plated metal mirrors & simpler interior. *Block Two* = 1998 to 2002 that had the black heavy duty plastic mirrors & QuadCab availability. Rarest 2nd Gen. RAM would be a 1998 2500/3500 w/ the Cummins 12v diesel+manual trans.

Tbh 5.2 are not bad at all. You probably have the 5.2 paired with the 42re trans which is what makes it even slower. I have a 96 slt laramie 2wd 5.2 with the 46re trans I even found out mine was some what hard to find since my 46re was an hd version. I bought two of the 2nd Gen's. I have 1996 extended cab the one i mentioned and have the 1999 5.2 regular cab both are sport model. But the 1999 5.2 i drove was slower than my 1996 and i was confused at first tbh shouldn't the regular cab be quicker. But now that i know the 99 has the 42re trans that made sense i even noticed the gearing how different it was from each other. So I don't see a reason to shame the 5.2 at all its just the specs on them are different from their years as I come to find out. I have owned a 5.9 2002 quadcab 3rd gen and yes its slightly quicker but its does have tons of torque. But iam swapping out the 5.2 in the 99 for a 5.9 and 46re combo. I blew my trans on it a couple months ago down the road while driving but somehow manage to drive it home on one gear for miles lol till I came home and it stopped there not being able to drive.

1-2mpg didn't sound like much until I remembered we are talking about 11city 15 highway mpg.

I was wondering what you where getting for mpgs on the 5.9 I have the same truck

Hey man, where’d you get those seat covers on the 5.9?

I had a 1996 and a 2001 ram Laramie I like the 90s interior better they both had transmission problem's and steering wheel problems

Mine would have holes but someone half you know what put on a new dash cover. When I replaced the heater core I found the old dash cover under it and it was like a thousand pieces. I need to put a suede or velour cover over it.. for a couple reasons but the 40 bucks for that keeps getting spent on more necessary things. One of these days when I have a month of thumb twiddling I'll order one. 99 short bed. Auto 2wd 318. 3.55 final. About 15 mpg local running the Air. Closer to 16 without the air. I have got better when driving farther but I don't always feel like crossing my fingers the balling wire, zip ties, and duck tape won't be stolen off of it in Springfield. I'm thinking my air fuel sensor is probably worn almost to the limit but it's stuck in there really good and there's no code so I'm probably not going to mess with it.

1). Me personally, the smaller the V8, the more fun it is. 2). Whenever someone says gasser, I can't help but think of the type of drag car.

My 5.2 magnum 4x4 has tops 10 horsepower it’s hella slow and eats gas anyone got any tips to help it so it’s not eating as much gas?

My dash on my 97 slt with 5.9 ext cab long bed

Your truck looks better than mine does but oh well i have a 2000 dodge ram laramie slt quad cab long bed 318 magnum V8 46 RH automatic overdrive transmission manual shift transfer case lever on the floor gloss black with most of the white pinstripe 1500 4x4

how heavy was the boat trailer 1200 pounds?

That don't let me know that y'all left that condenser in that condition when you need some air flow through it to get to do that damn radiator for your trans cooler another reason the heater gets so nice and toasty

They should've offered cam upgrades for towing from the factory. The stock cams especially in the 5.9 are just so wimpy, plenty of room for a good towing cam so I don't understand why they never did it. I've got a 5.9 Dakota and with just bolt ons it's making 235 HP and 325 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. That's pretty good for a 20 year old truck with just bolt ons and not rebuilt, but who wouldn't ask for more especially in the ram being close to 5k lbs alone. Yes they tow nice but could be better, even with the 3.92 gearing and the 5.9 my Dakota wasn't too happy towing roughly 1400 lbs. I know it's not built for towing, it's mainly 4th gear that wasn't happy but I could tell how goofy the differences in the transmissions are. The diesels had beefier gears and shifted quicker weighed down and empty. Mine wants to shift early and stay in 4th except when its weighed down then it couldn't make up it's mind which gear to choose.

My 2001 Ram 1500 is a 5.2 with a 5 speed manual. I have 0 transmission issues.

But the 5.2 in a short bed short cab 96 Dakota with a 5 speed is fantastic.

Rip to that 4th gen ram bumper lol Is there a way you can do a video on if a rwd 5.9 pulls a trailer as good as the 4x4?

It's worth noting on the trans that no one Ever turns the O/D off and they get hot and sloppy 🤷

The red two tone has a 318 cid the other one has a 360 cid. Are you from Canada or Europe?

"Dodge didn't spend money on the transmission". yet at the same time, even a mildly built 46re will out hold and live even a nv4500, which just high friction clutches. Don't confuse your lack of maintenance on dodge cheaping out. lol. At the end of the day, a 46re is a 727 with an extra gear set in the tail-housing.

I'd love to own one of these but even if I was able to find one in pristine condition, it wouldn't last in the rust belt. My neighbor owned one about 10 years ago, he did body work and even his rusted faster than he could fix it

As the owner of a 1995 5.2 Dodge i would have to say that you are not entirely correct as my truck has over 300k with the original transmission in it as well as 90% original motor. If you were lucky and smart enough to get a 95, 96 or first half of 97 then you have a TorqueFlite transmission. I've pulled many things with my little 2 wheel drive 5.2. 2nd gen 360's are nowhere near as reliable and as nice as the 1st gen 360's. 2nd gen 318's were just as good as 1st gen. But that is my personal opinion having driven both 1st and 2nd gen's of both platforms, though i do fancy a 225 slant 6.

Or a transmission that would bolt up to the 5.2, I can tell mine isn't going to last much longer.

I got a 4 wheel drive 95 2nd gen 5.2 and it’s the Laramie slt

Its a shame everyone only puts money into the 4x4s, the lower look of the rwd goes better with the body lines of these trucks imo

That 5.9 is underrated More like 350hp and 400ftlb

I'm a mobile mechanic of 24 years. The grill it's called a honey comb style

I'd like to buy that 5.2 if you still have it

Get a 4x4 5.2 single cab ram to make it better comparison hahaha

Flip it my way !!

The 99dodge1500v8 5.9 gasfuelsystem

The 318 usually ends up being the better engine more reliable than the 360 from what I have seen 318 is one of the best engine Mopar ever made they are not good at v6 engines at all

High oil pressure , low tempture gauge on the dash

Mine has a 5.2 it has 260,000 Mi on the Transmissions just fine

I HAVE THE 96 2WHEEL DRIVE 175000 ON IT..ENGINE IS STILL GOOD..

Me: crying in 3.9 v6

Bro the 5.9 single cab is rare

just a comment for your 97 cupholders, take the bottom plates out, then any size foam cup will fit

they dont even need salt to rust out.. my uncle finally bought a real truck n i bought his dodge instead of scappin it to use basically as a work 4 wheeler, n even with driving n taking .."some" kind of care of it, then leavin it sit for just a few months, the Fn rust everywhere is absolutely insane!!! its like dodge went to china n asked them to use the cheapest scrap they had.. its fn ridiculous.. even the rear diffs rusting like its been straight up soaking in salt water, its got 3/4 inch of solid hard rust, not just surface rust, im talkin about the hard shit that looks blue green n USE to b solid metal.. n like u mentioned the dash is Done, the headliners all fallin down the brakes like to lock up when wet, the trans is a pile of shit (like all dodge) wont go into drive or reverse slips outta 4th, along with using cheap metal, the dumbasses layered metal all over the place n didnt give water or debris anywhere to go.. like the frame rails, they have another piece of metal running along the bottom inSIDE the frame rail about 3/4 inch above the bottom that u can see...its like the junks designed TO rust... i dont get it.. the amount of shit my uncle said he had to replace in the time he had is ridiculous, i dont think im goin to have this Fn pile for long lol :p sry for typin so much..this fn truck pisses me off

Jus make sure it's a manual, and the 5.2 will do wonders

I'm looking for a 93 360

No need to yell into your mic homie lol

2:46 yeah, mine won't even open.

Haven’t had any problems with mine just rushed to shit lol 181k 5.9 sport and I beat the shit out of it

mitcheilin defender tires work best

I just wanna point out that "change" compartment is an ash tray

4:38 ohhh... I DOES sound good with better exhaust

V10 beats both!

These are junk. People ONLY buy them for the look, which I admit are nice. My f-150 has 215,000 miles and i have done nothing but brake pads, tires and battery. Runs/drives perfect, interior also perfect.

I have a '97 Ram 1500 with a 360 V8 auto with 294,000 miles on it so far, I've owned it for 10 years now and I've put 102,000 miles on it myself so far and still going strong. I think with trans in these trucks to help make them last is to put an external trans coolers on them, because the radiator trans cooler isn't enough to keep it cool enough. So when I bought my truck for $1600 10 years ago, the first thing I did was put an external trans cooler on it and I haven't had any trouble with it much since. Plus change all the fluids on time and they will last a long time.

im freakin loved my 5.9 when i had it!!!!! whenever it would break down i could get it running again for cheap. unlike my cummins hahah everything is so expensive now adays haha