Harry bought this pickup straight from the dealership and has always serviced and repaired it himself, never once going to a service center. The Ram is already 24 years old, and the body looks worn — the paint is worn off and scratched in places, with traces of rust — but technically it's a fully functional truck. The Oregonian uses it for towing campers, boats, and hauling horses.
The owner turned out to be a man with nerves of steel — his patience is something to envy. Despite its durability, the pickup required frequent attention: for example, the factory transmission, the five-speed NV4500, broke down 12 times, and was eventually replaced with a more reliable six-speed G56. The Cummins diesel engine was also replaced — three times in total, the last time at 1.6 million km of mileage.
An interesting detail: Harry's pickup has Ram 5500 badges installed, even though at the time of its release, such a modification of his Ram 3500 did not yet exist — it appeared only later. The owner put them on just for fun: when passersby noticed the discrepancy, he said the truck was from a special experimental batch.
Harry has no intention of replacing his pickup with a new vehicle. He is confident that modern cars are difficult to repair at home, whereas the old Ram 3500 is excellent machinery in this regard. It is unpretentious in maintenance and easily amenable to DIY repairs.
