Recent Content by mbirch

I would have to agree with those that recommend 8 inches clearance if you intend to get off the highway, I have 9 inches on my 5th wheel. Dodges have a tendency to sit pretty high and after making contact with the truck bed I bit the bullet and raised the trailer 6 inches. It now sits level when...

Bought the Cat batteries today for $116 apiece, not too back for a good battery these days. I knew my old batteries were turning the engine over kind of slow, but I didn't realize how slow until I put in those new batteries. I guess it adds new meaning to the window sticker on the back of my...

I had a similar experience when my 48re torque converter sprung a leak. At 150k I decided to have the transmission overhauled, billet steel torque converter and shift kit included. Ran fine for about a month just driving around not towing anything. Hooked up the travel trailer, hit the freeway and 150...

I checked into the Diehard Platinums and they are $250, the Deka/Cat are $130, some on this forum are saying they have a special going until the end of this month for $110, I will see if I can confirm that on Monday. I think the Deka/Cat batteries are in my immediate future.

My 2005 has the original Daimler/Chrysler batteries in it and this morning with the weather below freezing it would not start. 10 years is pretty good in my opinion. Others have on the forum have said they like the Deka batteries that the Caterpillar dealership has, so I think I will check into...

My 2005 4x4 is higher than my chevy truck and it was a problem for my 5th wheel. Like you I wanted 8 to 9 inches of clearance front to back on my bed because I have "kissed" the trailer before. You can adjust the hitch pin up or down but you want the trailer to be level after you do it. I had to...

While my trailer is 9.2K and not 15K it still shifts frequently on steep switchback mountain roads which I am sure is making the temp rise in the transmission. I am used to the predictable shifting pattern and when it doesn't shift as it should it is pause for concern, even the wife can notice the...

I think it's rather presumptive of Bignasty to know the exact location of MY travels, but no, it was not on I-5 that I encountered problems. The first time it happened was after leaving the coast highway above San Francisco on highway 29 between Calistoga and Middletown. One of the other times...

I had a recent experience similar to spin05, also on a trip to California. It happened three times, always after towing my 9200 lb. 5er up very steep switchbacks for about 10-12 miles. I was going about 45 mph, I think I was in second gear and the transmission would shift into overdrive and the engine...

Everyone makes a pretty good argument on both sides. It's hard to fathom how one guys leather seats last forever and the next guys can wear out so fast though. I am getting the impression that the leather seats may not be quite as comfortable as the cloth. Rob has a very good argument that I...

Retirednak, I would go on that trip up north. When I made that trip, they had just graded the road and it could not have been better. As Cerberusiam says, you could take your old parts as a back-up.

Sounds like most of you prefer the cloth seats over leather. I have 183,000 miles on my truck and every time I get in and out of it my belt must rub the bump in the lumbar area and it has worn through the cloth and foam padding. There is a metal bump on the outer edge of the seat that is...

My cloth driver side seat is wearing through in the lower back and a metal bracket is poking through on the door side. I have a chance to get a very good used OEM leather seat from a 2005 Laramie (mine is an SLT) for $250. Any opinions on the leather versus cloth seats as far as wear and...

I replaced mine steering earlier this year with the 2008.5 upgrade, I went into the dealer and he said I needed the new parts. I told him that they have only been on the truck less than a year and I made him get the head mechanic to look at it. The mechanic told me they were only going to...

Thanks for that follow up Harvey, I guess I wasn't just dreaming about the exhaust gas option on the Brakesmart. And thanks to all the other TDR members that have helped me after buying my Dodge pickup. By reading articles in the TDR magazine and by watching this forum I have been able to...