Engine has no power going up hills?

There is no engine lights on and I don't know anything about codes. Is a clogged catalytic converter something I can try and fix on my own? I'm not a mechanic but I'm pretty handy and enjoy working on my truck. And I'm not too keen on paying alot to have a pro fix a truck I just bought for $2K:)

I will do that. Thanks.

I took the truck to Autozone and they checked for codes but their were none.

So I got under the truck and disconnected the exhaust from the catalytic converter. (There was no y-pipe. Just 1 pipe coming off either side of the manifold and going into the cat separately. So 2 pipes welded into the catalytic converter.) Then I hit the highway and tried it out on some steep exit ramps at high speed. It was loud but I definitely noticed an increase in power going uphill. So I guess a clogged catalytic converter was the problem, as you suspected. What now? I'm pretty sure it's illegal to drive around with no exhaust system and the cat is welded into the exhaust. I don't have the equipment or the expertise to weld on a new catalytic converter so does this mean I have to take it to a repair shop and get a new one installed? Thanks for the advice.

Thanks alot! The cat fixed it

Truck runs great on nice days but when it rains pretty good all of a sudden the truck loses power. The engine doesnt shut off but you can push the gas pedal to the floor and it just coasts like youre in neutral. Power comes and goes sputtering.

When is the last time you had a tune up?My 1996 did the exact same thing and it ran so good on nice days I thought it did not need a tune up but it did and cured the problem with air filter cap and rotor plug wires and plugs. By the way the bosch platinum 4 plugs are awsome and worth every penny. Fuel filter and oil change is also good idea at this time.

I did a tune up3 months ago, new wires, rotor, cap, plugs. It rained a few times since and it still acted up. I got to talk to a guy yesterday who told me that more than likely I needed a new crank sensor. He said it had a insulator on it that will eventually crack over time and that moisture is wicking up the crack and causing the sensor to fail. I guess ill give it a try, although it hasnt rained here in over a month. Glad yours is runnin good, and thanks for the response =)

I recently ran out of gas and after putting gas in it over the course of a week the truck completely lost all power will Idol for a second but eventually bogs down and cuts off. I have lost all fuse panel identification cannot find on the internet anywhere need help locating a possible vacuum hose leak or fuel system fuel filter being clogged don't know how to identify anything I am a carpenter not a mechanic but have no money and I'm doing this myself please help me

Checked house next to map sensor that goes directly into throttle body and the gasket that connected it to the throttle body was dry rotted. Fixed that with some vacuum tape. Now it seems like the idle air control valve might be bad because it is still making sound after it is cranked it will run better but still not as it should and it is still making a loud air sucking noise

Its getting 6mpg in town and around 10mpg on the highway

My '98 Dodge Ram 1500 (267,000 miles) was running great and then suddenly as I was driving I felt a loss of power. My truck wouldn't accelerate any more but maintained the current speed (about 40 mph). When I stopped at the next light it would not accelerate past 20 mph. I dont feel it shifting out of a low gear but I dont think it is a transmission issue. I keep thinking I may have gotten bad gas. Now it does not accelerate past 10 mph and dies quickly when I try to accelerate. As I press the pedal, if it does not die, I can hear the engine get increasingly louder but does not rev up. Is this something I might be able to handle myself or should I go ahead and have it towed to a local shop? I am fairly handy and have friends that are willing to help me but I dont want to make things worse while we dont now exactly what is wrong. I figured I would check my fuel filter when I get out of school and work one night this week (weather premitting) but hoping for an extra insight. Thank You.