Do I need guages?

[Iwant1]

I have a stock 600 motored 3/4 ton. On the way back from Camp Jeep in VA I followed my buddy in his Duramax-Allison powered Chevrolet. He has a Western Diesel box(I don't know who makes those) on his truck. When we would start up the long hills on I-64 I would have to slow down and wait on him. Most of the hills I had my cruise set on about 75 and could maintain that speed in 6th. He said he had to back out of it because his egts were getting too high. We both were pulling Jeeps on carhaulers(mine is two foot longer) . I hope I was not running my truck too hot. I was very impressed with my truck verses his. He was too, and by the time we got to Charlston West Virginia he was ready to trade his truck for a new Dodge.



On a side note we used within 2/10 of a gallon of fuel of each other over about 200 miles of mountain driving. We were hot-rodding a bit and got around 13mpg. I had more fun towing than I did at camp Jeep!

 

[mattymac]

Originally posted by Iwant1

I have a stock 600 motored 3/4 ton. On the way back from Camp Jeep in VA I followed my buddy in his Duramax-Allison powered Chevrolet. He has a Western Diesel box(I don't know who makes those) on his truck. When we would start up the long hills on I-64 I would have to slow down and wait on him. Most of the hills I had my cruise set on about 75 and could maintain that speed in 6th. He said he had to back out of it because his egts were getting too high. We both were pulling Jeeps on carhaulers(mine is two foot longer) . I hope I was not running my truck too hot. I was very impressed with my truck verses his. He was too, and by the time we got to Charlston West Virginia he was ready to trade his truck for a new Dodge.



On a side note we used within 2/10 of a gallon of fuel of each other over about 200 miles of mountain driving. We were hot-rodding a bit and got around 13mpg. I had more fun towing than I did at camp Jeep!

Ive pulled with mine stock in the hills with gauges, it would get up to 1300-1325 on long hard uphill pulls with the snowmobile trailer (about 8,000lbs) but not any hotter. Cummins tests these 3rd gen motors at 1450 deg! for some time. But in my opinion if you have a $35,000+ truck gauges are cheap insurance! After running all my trucks Ill never own a diesel without a set.

 

[Iwant1]

I figure I'll put a box on it soon and I'll do the guages at the same time. I had a ball puttin the hurt on that Chevrolet comeing out of the toll booths. I can't wait for even more power.

 

[PJ]

I have the 7/100,000 zero deduct warranty. Gauges? Why? If it breaks, it gets fixed and I get a rental and a new motor. I never keep a truck longer than 75,000 except the 72 Chevy 4x4 I got new in 72 for high school graduation and put over 400k on it. I owned it almost 30 years. Never made me walk! But, Im not the type ofd guy that buys a $40k truck to void the warranty putting another 200hp into it. 305hp is more than enough for me.

 

[Sarge]

Iwant1, read the thead about the gauges installed in my 04. 5, then make your choice! Sarge

 

[Wiredawg]

Everyone Should Have Gauges!

IMHO, everyone should have gauges. It's not wheather you are BOMBed or not, whether you're towing or not, or whether you just use it as a car or not.



I just see gauges as insurance. Warranty aside, I like to see a problem developing and take positive action to respond. My wife and I put lots of mile on our vehicles and are traveling a lot at night on secondary roads. These gauges can help us spot a problem and take action to minimize affect.



We mostly use my wife's rig as a commutor vehicle. We do occasionally tow about 10K lbs with it, but I feel more confortable monitoring boost, EGT and transmission temp. For the most part, everything stays well inside engine/transmission parameters. My 02 is a tow/high performance monster and I wouldn't drive it (loaded or unloaded) without gauges.



Just my $0. 02 on gauges. Another case where everone is right and no one is wrong.



Wiredawg