As of 12/10/13, I am no longer a Cummins owner :(

[DZink24]

I wanted to take a few minutes and personally thank everyone on the site, and the admins over the years for a great site. It has truly been a great time, purchasing my 2004 in nov. of 2005, with 6,000 miles. These trucks are beyond any comprehension of awesome. We all have ideas of legendary American vehicles, Mustangs, Vettes, GTX's, Camaros, ect., but without question, any Dodge from 1989- with this legendary motor should be included in this category. It definitely has not been an easy decision in any way, but with fuel still at ridiculously high prices, and rising ($4.05-$4.12 today) I cannot continue to fight this fight. i can't even comprehend how many thousands of dollars i have saved in the almost 8 years of membership from advice received on the TDR. Hopefully someday if finances take a turn for the better, I will go back to the dark side and find the 5 speed 12v that i have always wanted :-laf. good luck to you all, keep it smoky..

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Sory to see you leave. Go test drive a 2013 or 2014 Turbo Diesel and then tell us you don't want it, lol.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

This is sad for all of us, I know the feeling of finances taking controll, we can feel so helpless. When our business needed a new truck, I had to sell all of my MOPAR drag race parts and the car, my tractor pullers will also go. Keep your chin up, hope you will again find automotive love in the Diesel side of life.

 

[Wayne M.]

Yes. Sorry that you must go. Very tough decision. I know how you feel. Diesel is very expensive, and nowadays finances limiting all the fun reasons for owning such a vehicle. Add on the insane resale value.
I hope you get the truck you're thinking of and can rejoin us someday.

 

[amsoilman]

I too am sorry to hear of your decision to get red of your Diesel truck and leave the great TDR group. I simply LOVE my latest Diesel, and I have had 4 of them since 1991. I don't ever want to sell my truck, but who knows, there may be a time where I have to! Right now, I just don't drive it much, unless I need to pull something heavy, which does save me a little money. I sincerely think the oil Companies are GOUGING us with the high price of Diesel fuel in this country. The higher price of Diesel only furthers the downfall of our economy, since 99 percent of all merchandise we purchase is hauled by DIESEL powered vehicles!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I heard somewhere that the real issue on fuel pricing is that the greenies won't allow any new or redesigned refineries, which would be needed to increase the percentage of diesel resulting from processing crude oil. As a result, they make too much gasoline and have to discount it heavily to get rid of it, and diesel remains in relatively short supply. Just another benefit to voting for legislators who listen to the greenies.

 

[RustyJC]

Rather than starting the same old tired rant about evil BIG OIL, look at the government that has no love for diesel fuel or vehicles. Not only do they tax diesel at a higher rate than gasoline, but the ULSD now required by the EPA costs more to refine (more expensive equipment and more process steps to remove the sulphur) to get to 15 ppm sulphur or less.

Anyway, sorry to see another TDR member leave the fold.

Rusty

 

[Tractorat]

What you say about the gov certainly is true. But have you noticed that gas has gone down considerably while diesel has not ? What do you attribute that to ? We are awash in oil and oil production. Taxes have not gone up recently, and the refining costs for diesel have not gone up recently.

 

[RustyJC]

It's winter. Diesel has to share refining splits with heating oil. It happens this time every year. Gasoline demand is down - the peak summer vacation driving season is over. Not so for middle distillates like diesel.

Also, worldwide demand for diesel is greater than for gasoline. European refiners, because of Europe's high population of diesel fueled vehicles, dump their excess gasoline in North America, and the tankers return to Europe with diesel fuel from U.S. refiners.

Rusty

 

[Wayne M.]

I'll go with the conspiracy thing. The EPA is really messing around with everything we need. Look at what they're doing to the coal business.

 

[DZink24]

this might be long, but i want to cover all the good points i read here. resale value- i ended up getting into a 2014 Kia Soul. i literally handed in the keys to my 2004 Cummin(G)s (as the salesman called it) with 85,560 miles, and was handed the keys to a 2014 Soul with 23 miles. i also walked out with a cashiers check from the dealer that would have filled the truck 2x... the veteran salesman said he's never seen a deal go down like that considering the age of the vehicle on trade for a brand new car. keep your trucks in good shape guys. take care of them, they WILL take care of you in the long run. i am proof of that. i have never been unhappy with the mileage of the truck. 15 is about the worst i've ever seen, and that was in winter. summer is consistently 17-19, and long trips of 200+ miles would get 20-21. i have recently picked up a p/t job, and all told drive about 280-300 miles a week. i live in NYS, so i don't need to say anymore about that. prices range from $3.99-$4.19 today. a local news station did an investigative report today on the state taxes from gasoline, and where they go.. something isn't adding up.. the sad thing is that 99% of the gasoline buying public does not care about the cost of #2.. if it isn't being pumped into their cars, they are oblivious to it. they are too dumb to see the big picture. they'd rather pick their congressman's brain about no fracking, no guns, or no drones, all the while that Wal Mart 18 wheeler on the highway next to them has over $1,000 in diesel in its tanks, and will need to refuel in the next day or two. in the 8 years one month and 3 days i owned that truck, there was a period of about 2 weeks where i paid less for #2 than RUG. probably why i am paying almost $5 for a gallon of milk and $2 for a loaf of bread and absurd $$ for everything else. the gov't has us by the short and curlys and there is nothing that you and i can do about it. because we are outnumbered.

 

[Wayne M.]

AMEN TO THAT POST! and good luck. They say Kia is decent for the money BUT please don't let the hamsters drive it! Get that piggy bank going for your 12 valve resto you're gonna do once you get tuned back in!
One thing to add to the woe of living in NY, for me, the TOLLS! they were $13 per axle and they just went up to I think $17! To bring my CTD and my car trailer across the Outerbridge will cost me $51!

 

[Bluebird]

Yes, it's sad to see folks leave the ranks of the CTD drivers. I thank you all for the encouraging words to take care of my truck! When I told my wife she turned over 300k, she said, "Oh, is it time to put a 'for sale' sign on it?" Hmmmm, I had to restrain myself. Nuff' said. My truck will be pulling the Redlands Community Orchestra in the Redlands Christmas Parade (So Cal) on Saturday 12/14/13, 6pm, pst. Gonna be televised...

Happy Christmas and Merry New Near. Godspeed. Cheers, Patrick

 

[JR]

AMEN TO THAT POST! and good luck. They say Kia is decent for the money BUT please don't let the hamsters drive it! Get that piggy bank going for your 12 valve resto you're gonna do once you get tuned back in!
One thing to add to the woe of living in NY, for me, the TOLLS! they were $13 per axle and they just went up to I think $17! To bring my CTD and my car trailer across the Outerbridge will cost me $51!

I had to look up The Outer Bridge to see what you were talking about, wow! Now thats a racket. That bridge alone has to bring in millions of dollars a month of revenue. At nearly 100 years old I wonder how much longer they will keep it in service? If it costs that much just to leave the island I don't know how people could afford to leave on a daily basis.

 

[JR]

DZink, i'm sure it was a difficult decision to let your baby go. For the most part a vehicle is a vehicle but these trucks are different and mean much more to most of us, that's why sites like TDR are created and continue to thrive. My best wishes go out to you and your family in the future.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Consider flying to May Madness. The Cummins and Ram people will give you good info, in case some time in the future you consider buying another tow vehicle/pickup.

 

[Ram4Sam]

Yes, it's sad to see folks leave the ranks of the CTD drivers. I thank you all for the encouraging words to take care of my truck! When I told my wife she turned over 300k, she said, "Oh, is it time to put a 'for sale' sign on it?" Hmmmm, I had to restrain myself. Nuff' said. My truck will be pulling the Redlands Community Orchestra in the Redlands Christmas Parade (So Cal) on Saturday 12/14/13, 6pm, pst. Gonna be televised...

Happy Christmas and Merry New Near. Godspeed. Cheers, Patrick

Shoot, since I am just a few blocks from the parade route, I guess I better come down a watch the parade.

Sam

 

[Wayne M.]

I had to look up The Outer Bridge to see what you were talking about, wow! Now thats a racket. That bridge alone has to bring in millions of dollars a month of revenue. At nearly 100 years old I wonder how much longer they will keep it in service? If it costs that much just to leave the island I don't know how people could afford to leave on a daily basis.

The tolls are one way -to get back. Still robbery though. Its sister bridge, the Goethals, will be replaced soon. I'm sure we're paying for that.

 

[AlFischer]

and there is nothing that you and i can do about it. because we are outnumbered.

While I understand and totally agree with most of your post I want to totally disagree with your comment that there is nothing you and I can do about it.

1. Normally only about 50% of eligible voters "bother" to go to the polls. Shameful! We can vote.
2. Meet and KNOW your legislators. Let them know who you are and what you want. That's what the greenies do.
3. Consider running for some office. Even a poor man from Kenya can be President... So you or I can win some election if we try.

Not trying to offend you. Just offering some food for thought.