CTD Arrives in Africa --Even Here There's Great Cummins Service

[Expat]

My CTD finally got here last week, and things have only gotten better with time!



A few weeks ago, I sent an email to Cummins asking for info on international diesel fuel specs and what oil I should use (no CH here yet). A few days later, I got a friendly message with contact info for the regional rep in Kenya and the local rep here in Uganda, as well as some very good advice and personal comments. Apparently, they also contacted the local Cummins rep.



This morning, I got a note and card from the local Cummins rep asking me to phone him. When I called, he sounded genuinely excited, and said, "I heard you just imported a Cummins-powered pickup, and I hope you'll drive it by our office. All the guys here are really excited and looking forward to seeing it, and we hope you'll let us do any mechanical work. Just don't leave the keys lying around, or I'll probably drive off in it!" I didn't even hesitate. I'm driving the truck in on Monday to say hello and show off a little, and no non-Cummins certified hands are likely to even pop the hood if I can help it. He said there aren't a lot of B series motors in the country (mostly in 5 and 7 ton trucks and in generators), but that they stock maintenance items, can get parts, and will happily do any maintenance or repair. (FYI, they also do IH, Komatsu, and some other companies). Interestingly, he also mentioned that he had seen a custom-built 8. 3 powered pickup doing an around-the-world trip.



BTW, my lifted Ram is definitely turning heads here One of the reasons I bought it was to show a region dominated by Toyota landcruisers, Toyota crewcab pickups, and Land Rovers (To their credit, most are diesel-powered) something about American vehicles. An amazing number of people have already come up to me to admire, to ask questions, and to fondly remember when American pickups were fairly common (up into the 60s). When I went to inspect it on arrival at the shipping yard, one of the managers came up to tell me that he had done his apprenticeship at Cummins UK. Another guy swore up and down that there are old Dodge Power Wagons which were warehoused in good condition for lack of spare parts. You can bet I'll be looking into that rumor as soon as I finish up my current project (a right-hand wheel '72 CJ-5).



I now consider myself to be the one-man East Africa Chapter of the TDR!



Don

 

[BigDaddy]

Expat,



Fantastic story. The local Cummins dealer wants to see and work on your truck. That is great Kinda like the Maytag Repairman



Sounds like you are going to have too much fun with your new truck. Good Luck and you can now change your signature

 

[DRR-24V]

Expat-Are You Military Or On Safari?

What in the world are you doing in Africa? Will Genoes deliver there?

 

[Brandon]

see a ctd layin smoke down in afrika that would be tight





hmmmm maybe ssome bd 5's

smokem if you got em

 

[Expat]

Big Daddy: I've tried to edit my signature, but it never "takes. " After I change it, I get a message that says my email address already exists. Any idea what's going on? I'll figure it out eventually...



DRR 24V: I'm State Department, although over the years I've worked pretty closely with the military, particularly in Somalia. During the periods I've been in Africa, I've made it a point whenever possible to get out on safari. I'm not much of a big-game hunter (mostly upland game), but I get out very frequently on fishing and game viewing safaris. Believe it or not, East Africa has some very good fishing (everything from wild brown trout to Nile Perch to Marlin). And game viewing safaris in the Mara/Serengeti are among the few things in life that absolutely live up to all the hype. One of the reasons I bought the CTD was to be able to comfortably and reliably do long-distance safaris. In the past in Africa I've had a lifted Cherokee (broke too often) and a CJ-7 (great off-road, but no room for cargo and too uncomfortable as I get older). My next major safari will be a fishing trip up to Lake Turkana in Northern Kenya (near the border with Sudan).

 

[DRR-24V]

Expat-Be Careful Out There !

Very Dangerous Place, and I'm not talking about the Animals.

 

[dodger22]

Expat - To DRR-24V's point about being a dangerous place... are you planning to install Flame-throwers on your Ram? They're legal in S. Africa. Apparently there is an epidemic of car-jackings and flame throwers are installed under the rocker panels. I think they would fit just fine under the running boards. Be way cool too!

 

[B. Gill]

and EXPAT dont forget relocate the lift pump by the fuel tank to carry a spare lift pump with you when you go out so that you dont get stranded in the middle of nowhere

 

[Doc Tinker]

Cool - we've got buddies in Ireland, Italy, Turkey and now Africa. Any others?



Doc

 

[JWhitcomb]

That is so cool. Don't know if tax payers payed for the transport but I'll tell you right now I think it was worth it if we did. Be careful, with a lifted CTD there will be no confusion as to if you are a American.

 

[Joe G.]

Doc,



I think there is one guy from Latvia. I believe he had a bent front axle. Another from Germany if I remember correctly (member not bent axle).

 

[shendren]

wish we could get that kind of service here in the states. i lived in south africa for a year and the people were very nice and i liked the little trucks - all diesel... ...

 

[Andy Perreault]

Originally posted by Joe G.

Doc,



I think there is one guy from Latvia. I believe he had a bent front axle. Another from Germany if I remember correctly (member not bent axle).

I could have sworn we had a woman in Germany posting on these forums a few years back. Correct me if I'm wrong.



Expat, were you the one who was asking (a year or so ago) about installing a sunroof in the cab, because you wanted to be able to stand up to photograph wildlife, etc. ? If I'm talking to the right person, did you ever install one?

Andy

 

[me4osu]

Cheap Anti-theft

I work frequently in South America which is known for car theft also. One of our guys down there, who does not smoke, wired his ignition through a little normally open relay and used the cigarette lighter to energize or de-energize it. So, before he would start the car, he pushed the cig. lighter in.



The same thing can be done with your rig. Use the big light blue wire running down the bottom of the steering column. It is the main fuel system wire coming from the key switch.



If you park the truck with the lighter out, the rig will turn over, but not start. This will make the thief think that the truck is broken instead of making him look for a anti-theft system.



If you are interested, let me know, and I'll find out what relay and wire you need. Unless there are some members who are good at the electrical end and would like to chime in...

 

[Expat]

Many thanks to all those who've replied both on and off the board to remind me to be careful out here! Believe me, I am. I also appreciate the suggestions on anti-theft and anti-carjacking devices. The flamethrower idea looks cool, but it only works if the carjackers are cooperative enough to stand right next to the sides of your car where the flame nozzles are located. I doubt I'd be that lucky. My general feeling is that if someone already has the drop on me with an AK-47, the best policy is to smile, give him the keys, remind him that the speedometer reads low, and urge him to use only top quality lubricants and filters. Out here, the best way to avoid carjacking is to be alert to possible carjacking situations and avoid getting caught in them. Most carjackings here involve a roadblock or ambush of some sort where armed men get the drop on you after you stop. If you don't let yourself get caught in their control, you are pretty much safe since they don't want to shoot up a car they intend to steal and they don't want to attract police. Much easier to wait for another car to come by. If you're alert, you can avoid stopping in those zones or simply do a U-turn well ahead of them. The other tactic here is to use one or two vehicles to force you off the road. Once stopped, they threaten to use their firearms. Again, being alert and staying calm will usually save the day. Also, anybody who tries to run my 7,500 lb. Ram off the road with the small cars typically driven around here may be in for a rude surprise...



On anti-theft devices, me4osu, I would be interested in any details you have, but don't kill yourself. My shop manual should get here soon. I will probably install a hidden switch rather than run through the cigarette lighter since I like to smoke the occasional cigar. I tend to think that my Ram will not be very attractive to thieves, though. Most cars here are stolen to part out, and I know of only one other diesel Ram on the entire continent. It's owned by a missionary, and I bet he won't buy stolen parts. And if anybody steals it to drive or sell, well, it does kind of stand out from the crowd.



J. Whitcomb: Yes, the taxpayer did pay the shipping on my Ram. Department policy is to encourage us to use American products wherever reasonably possible. I feel the pain of paying my tax in every paycheck, too, but I think it is a good policy for a lot of reasons: It helps promote American exports; It shows people overseas something about American products and the American lifestyle; and I think it just shows a certain degree of pride that anybody who formally represents America abroad should be pleased to express. Our Embassy limo is an armored Suburban (6. 5 turbodiesel). I STILL feel much better rumbling down the street in that with the American flag flying than I would in any Mercedes.



B. Gill: Good advice on the lift pump. When I see the Cummins rep, I'm going to discuss installing a fuel pressure gauge (I only have boost and egt) and/or a pusher pump.



Andy Perreault: That was me discussing installation of a large sunroof. I have not installed one for fear of leaks and compromising the structural integrity of the quadcab. I'm still interested, however.



Sorry about the long post



Best regards from E. Africa

 

[RKleis]

Overseas members

Hi doc, here's one, from Munich, Bavaria, Germany, Europe.



I haven't had much to contribute so far since I am truckless,

mostly lurking and learning from your collective knowledge base.

You guys are great in sharing all that, and so

my mind is set on a '02 2500 4x4, 3. 56 rear.

Once I get my order ready, expect me to hit you guys with

my questions.

The intended profile is for towing, mostly between farms.

Will be towing a trailer, roughly 14,000 pounds, airbrakes required

for that over here.



Cheers, rob kleis ( pronounce clis, I guess)

 

[SmokinJoe]

Originally posted by Expat

My CTD finally got here last week, and things have only gotten better with time!

You need some good lockers, right? I take it that if you go off road to evade a car jacker you will not want to get stuck, eh?



Then you need to make some good B L A C K Smoke and LOTS of fuel, at least 2 fuel tanks. You might as well make the thing as loud as you can, like stacks just in front of the front doors but after the front wheel!



You might even want a retired anti aircraft gun mounted in the bed of the truck with someone in the back to run the thing!