Considering a trade

[mikel]

Howdy all,



I'm thinking about trading my truck (see sig) in on an '01 ETH/DEE and I wanted to get some advice from the members.



First, it seems like I read somewere about the ETH having high EGT's even in stock form, but I can't remember where I read that. Can someone help me with this? What is the cause and more importantly what is the solution?



Second, BOMBING plans are in my future whatever decision I make on the truck, so if I go with the ETH are people having problems with clutches slipping? Once again I thought that I read somewhere that power in the range of DDII's could cause the slippage, but I haven't been able to find the post I thought that I read this in.



Third, can anyone that has made a trade like this offer any general advice?







Thanks,

Mike

 

[LSMITH]

Mike, I wanted to do the same thing a couple of months ago but the price of the new one was a little steep. I drove the ETH/DEE trucks and absolutely fell in love. I think you won't need or want to go as far in the bombing because the power is going to get to the ground rather than being wasted in the torque convertor. I felt that the ETH ran like a broken in ETC with an EZ or VA on it, and the ETH's I drove were all under 100 miles on them. I was very impressed with the power. In the end I have decided to keep my 99 and put half the money that it would have cost to get a new one into making it better (DTT TC annd VB, etc). I am sure someone will advise you to do the same, but my suggestion is to get a new one if that is what you want. Good luck.



Edit: I drove the 5 speeds as well and did not like them. The power was not even close to the ETH and the gap between 3rd and 4th was huge. I also had a hard time hitting third smoothly in two different 5 speeds. IMO the ETH/DEE is a far superior rig, and I know people that think the opposite too. To each his own.

 

[Big A]

Drive the 5spd as well. I drove both the 5 and 6spds, and I can tell you the difference in both is not noticeable. The 6spd would probably come in handy up a steep grade with a very heavy load. But with a small power upgrade, the 5spd will more than keep up.

Just my thoughts

Big A

 

[MBUCCI]

My brother has a 17000lb 1000gallon hydroseeter that I had to tow to one of his jobs due to his truck having an electrical problem with the trailor brakes. I had just put in the DD2's and was worried about EGT's, well they would jump to 1100 then drop to a hair under 1000 on big grades. No problem at all here.



matt

 

[WCrovo]

Mike I did what you are considering. Dumped my dissapointing 99 Auto 4x4 with the optional brake pull for my new truck. Apples and oranges. The ETH is awesome for the loads I go with. I only regret the $ issues(so dose my wife). The auto would never of been right for me. I think with the proper bombing and trans upgrades it would of been useable. I COULD NOT STAND THE BRAKE PULL!!!! I love the six speed even with no loads.

 

[mikel]

Thanks for the help

Thank all of you for the advice. It's a very nice looking truck. The steering on this one is WAY WAY WAY!! better than on my '99, and I too have the optional 'which way is the truck going to go this time' brake pull.



The down side of the new truck is that it does not have the trailer tow (!?) or camper package, so there is no reciever hitch or overload springs or rear sway bar, but in driving it empty I can't tell a difference. I occasionally pull a gooseneck trailer so I am worried about not having this hardware. It also has the trailer tow mirrors (no towing package, remember) which I really don't need since I drive empty maybe 90-95% of the time and make it harder to fit in my garage and the office parking garage.



It looks like the money thing is going to come out with my note staying almost unchanged from a 3 year lease to a 5 year purchase so I don't think that their numbers are way out of line.



Anyhow, if anyone has any more thoughts I'd like to hear them.



Thanks all,

Mike

 

[Barry]

A man once told me that "if it is not exactly what you want, it's not a good deal no matter what you paid for it". The spec's you gave are strange for an ETH/DEE... ..... From a stand point of usability and resale, I would not buy a Dodge/Cummins without the trailer tow pak and the overloads... ... ... ... Shop around, get what YOU want, and think twice about those Alfalfa mirrors... ... ... if you need some help, let me know and I'll be glad to point you to a place that won't jerk you around... ... ...

 

[mikel]

I somehow left out some of the story on the new truck. The dealer has agreed to install a trailer hitch and the wiring for my brake controller so the hitch is a wash, the extra springs are another issue.



I know that I have loaded my current truck pretty heavy before and not managed to push the truck down to the overloads. The only time they touched was on bumps. Even empty the overloads will slap off the stops sometimes which is annoying as it creates a rough, jarring ride.



Then again the extra capacity would be there if the springs were installed... .



The mirrors are goofy looking to me right now, but I could probably get used to them and there is no doubt in my mind that I can see better out of them.



Decisions... . decisions... .





mike

 

[Barry]

Call 1 800 Bossier and ask for Deanna..... she is the sales manglers wife... ... ... sells about a hundred units a month by herself. Knows her trux. Sent a lot of TDR guys there and I send all my RV customers there, not one complaint. If nothing else, you'll know how good your deal is as she will fax you the invoice... ... P. S. Tell "Giggles" I said Hi.

 

[mikel]

Thanks Barry

I just called Bossier, we'll see what they have to say.



Thanks,

Mike

 

[Pete Peterson]

Well Mike I traded my 99 Driftwood for a ETH/DEE and haven't ever looked back!!! The ETH/DEE is as good as it gets. Even had a little bombing done to the 99 but the ETH will stay stock cause it pulls so good it doesn't need any help... ... ... ... ... . Pete

 

[Barry]

Hey Mikel, have you heard from "Giggles"??