The Dodge Ram has been a mainstay for the better part of 40 years now and is a Truck icon. Replacing parts can be expensive and really hard to find if you have an older pickup. Finding Ram trucks at a salvage is not that difficult, but finding the parts you need for your year and model is where it gets tricky. Below I’ll share how the Dodge Ram salvage yards near me operates, where to find junked Ram trucks near you, and some tips for dealing with a junkyard.
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One of the best parts about Ram trucks is that they have been around for awhile and trucks with in the same generation share parts. So for example, a RAM 1500 made in 2002 to 2008 features a 3.7 L (226 cu in) Magnum V6. That gives you 6 years of trucks to swap engine parts with.
While finding a Dodge Ram yard, that deals exclusively in Ram trucks only is not common you can find specialized Dodge only yards, Mopar yards, and plenty of Ram trucks at your local salvage.
How Does the Dodge Ram Salvage Yard Near Me Work
These salvages are local run businesses. They follow a business model kind of like a thrift shop, except they deal in used auto parts. A salvage buys junked vehicles as cheap as possible and then sells off the functioning parts individually to make a profit.
Some yards that are self service, also called pick and pulls, will charge you a few bucks to walk around. There are other yards that are full service and pull parts for you and some only sell used parts online.
How Do Ram Trucks End Up in a Junk Yard?…
Ram trucks end up in junkyards for various reasons. Some of the sources are salvage auctions, insurance companies, private owners who junk their trucks, or even businesses who junk their truck.
When a private owner or a business junks a truck it is often that the vehicle has reached it’s end of life. The cost of repairs is worth more then the value of the truck. On the other hand when a insurance company junks a truck, it is the result of an accident and the insurance company sells the truck to a junkyard to offset paying out a claim.
How Junkyards Process Trucks
When a truck salvage gets a new vehicle, it requires some work before it can be put out in the yard.
There are procedures like draining major fluids such as oil, gas, Freon, and coolant, so that these hazardous liquids don’t leak and contaminate the environment. Some of the liquids get recycled and others, like wiper fluid for example, will get re-bottled and resold.
Next the junkyard will pull off major parts. This is so that they can preserve the quality of functioning parts and get the most resale value for them. This includes parts like engines, transmissions, starters, alternators, and the battery. Some yards may even pull of the truck bed for salvaging.
Depending on the condition of the vehicle and if it runs, some yards will actually try and flip the truck at an auction instead of putting it in junkyard.
How a Dodge Junk Yard is Arranged
In my experience with the Dodge Ram Salvage yards near me, there is a general Dodge Ram section. You may find a few other Dodge’s with it like a few Durango’s mixed in, but for the most part it’s all Ram trucks in one section. Now inside that section, you will find all different variants of Ram trucks from the 80’s to present day. Plus covering many of the models from 1500, 2500, 3500, Chassis Cab, to SRT-10’s.
The best thing to do before you go looking for used Ram truck parts is to call ahead. In my experience most places know exactly what they have in the lot, where on the lot it’s located, and what condition it’s in. I often call and ask questions like “Do you have any 265/R17 tires for a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500, and if not, do you have anything like a Durango that would have the same lug pattern”?
What Kind of Used Dodge Ram Parts Can You Find at a Junk Yard?
When it comes to finding parts for your Ram truck, you can find a lot of parts for cheap. This includes: truck beds, tires, windshields, doors, intakes, exhausts, transmissions, engines, truck beds, grilles, seats, dashes, cleats, axles, etc. In some instances you may even find almost new parts. This happens when someone tries to fix their truck and gives up and junks it anyway.
The parts that are harder to find are often the special edition stylized stuff. For example of you have a Daytona, VTS Concept, Rumble Bee, or a Contractors Special Hybrid, finding these parts can get more challenging. It really depends on what you are looking for.
Buying Used Dodge Ram Parts at a Salvage Yard
Pros of Buying Used Ram Truck Parts at a Salvage Yard
Saving money on replacement parts is the best reason to visit a junkyard. This past weekend I grabbed a set of tires for a 2012 1500 for $175 for 4 truck tires with about 60% of the tread left. You can get a door for about $75-$100, a truck battery for $25, and a starter for $30. You will save significantly vs buying new parts.
If you have an older model Ram truck, a junkyard might be your only option. This is particularly true if you are working a restoration project. this brings me to one of my other favorite perks, getting factory installed and assembled parts. This beats getting after market parts.
Some yards, may also offer you a part warranty for a few extra bucks. If you are buying something like a transmission, you can pay an extra fee and if the part doesn’t work, you will get a credit when you return it.
Cons of Buying Used Ram Truck Parts Cheap
Used parts of course may have poor quality. Since the nature of a Ram truck is to do heavy duty work, you don’t know how much stress the parts have been under. Not a big deal if you are looking for a side view mirror, but a huge deal if you are pulling a 8.3 L Viper V10 engine from an SRT-10 that was owned by a construction company.
Before you buy used parts, you should inspect them thoroughly before and after you pull them.
Resources for Ram Trucks
- Ram Truck Homepage
- Dodge Wiki
- Reddit r/RamTrucks
- The Official Dodge Ram Forum
- Ram Forumz
Dodge Ram Salvage Yards Near Me – Wrap Up
A Ram truck salvage yard is a great place to save money on replacement parts. While it’s hard to find a yard that deals exclusively in Ram trucks, you can find plenty of them a any auto junkyard. My best advise though is to call ahead and see if they have what you need. Many of these places also network with other salvos and may know where you can find the parts if they don’t have it themselves. This is what I have learned from the Dodge Ram salvage yards near me.
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