I think you're missing my point. This truck, though 11 years old, has
*only* 99k miles on it and over 11 years of ownership has consistently
been a POS! It is garaged and actually driven often, though seldom more
than 30 miles at a time, but it does get run up to 65~70 mph on most of
those trips. It is also serviced at 3k mile intervals, though at 99k miles
spread across 11 years it averages an oil change only 3x a year and has
had the 30k, 60k and 90k dealer service all pretty religously, at least
+/- 300 miles of when due. The tires on it today are the same ones
(Michelins) I put on it at 37k and they still have some tread left. They
get rotated every other oil change.

I don't have a tire problem and I've only had to put brakes & shocks on it
once and changed the battery and the CAT once. What I have are seemingly
frequent, **expensive** mechanical problems!!!!  It just seems like I have
to keep spending way more to keep this particular RAM 1500 fully
operational than anyone I know with a similar Dodge 318 of similar age and
also in the hot Houston area.

Initially A/C issues, just out of warranty, natch, then consuming
excessive oil (over a quart) between changes due to some issue with the
intake manifold or gaskets or whatever it was, I no longer recall. Then at
65k another AC compressor & evaporator, then at 88k or so a cracked
cylinder head, then at 95k a new radiator, water pump & serpentine
tensioner, now at 98 (almost 99k) the transmission is complaining and the
rear main seal has begun leaking. Judas Priest!!!  I had the tranny
serviced at 60k at the dealer. The dealer also did the cylinder heads & 1
of the 2 replacement AC systems (dealer replaced the 1st one, the last one
was done at an independent garage. My independent guy asked if it had ever
had any flood damage - well not to my knowledge as long as I've owned it.
I bought it "almost" new, it had 1100 miles on it, was a salesman's demo.
Yeah, we've had some floods in Houston, but nothing around that timeframe
(from date of manufacture to date of delivery). The big one, tropical
storm Allison, hit Houston in 2001 and this truck was _not_ in it.

The tranny problem is the only (known) current issue today and as I said
is only present when cold. Like you I would not hesitate to drive this
thing cross country today, although I'd probably put some new rubber on it
before starting out and with its mechanical history maybe have someone
follow not too far behind with a spare long block & transmission, AC
system, differential, etc. It's a great truck, comfortable to ride in &
drive, etc. It's just had frequent mechanical problems and been unusually
expensive to keep ***THIS ONE*** on the road.