Dodge and the Cummins Name

[BNH4221]

Getting back to the thread topic line,



I was thinking that it is also interesting that Dodge did not feel it necessary to give the Cummins option a "corporate" name i. e.

Powerstroke or Duramax.



No need to hide the true manufacturer of the engine.



Dodge staked its reputation on the good name of Cummins and gained a lot of loyal customers as a result.



Good move Dodge!



Steve

 

[nickleinonen]

Originally posted by rbattelle

Hmph. I'm surprised to find Cummins is not as big a name in OTR trucks as I thought.



I'm surprised Cat's are preferred... it seems to me their HEUI injectors would be maintenance-intensive. I guess I'm wrong?

most otr truck engines use EUI [electronic unit injector] type injectors. they work well, are pretty simple, [and are expensive... sadly] they need an injector lobe in the cam to actuate the rocker arm to plunge the plunger in the injector to make pressure when the electronic solonoid closes to fire the fuel... most trucks with compression release brakes [jake brakes] use the injector rocker assembly to actuate the jake brake...



picture of EUI injector



#ad

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

You know how people think that a big muffler and a R sticker must add like 50 hp or something, well many people feel somewhat this same way when they see yellow paint

 

[Sled Puller]

Originally posted by Dl5treez





Go around and ask truckers which engine they'd like to have--Cat will win out, trust me.

Yes, but a lot of people say Ford builds the toughest truck, also. And the Chevy V-8 is the most popular race engine, and McDonalds sells the most hamburgers.



They can keep their Cats.



But since they bought out Perkins,who knows what could happen in the pick up market?

 

[libertyram]

In central texas I have mainly seen Cummins in the big trucks. An acquaintance of mine who retired after 30 + years of driving said most of his trucks had Cummins and a few Detroits sprinkled in. I recently looked at a pair of Western stars (nice trucks) that both had ISX's in them.

 

[HeavyHauler]

I'll add a second to that... well said.

 

[TPyle]

*You know how people think that a big muffler and a R sticker must add like 50 hp or something, well many people feel somewhat this same way when they see yellow paint*



That same analogy could be made regarding people buying a diesel powered pickup and all of a sudden become experts on everything that is diesel powered. Opinions are great, but facts are even better. Caterpillar is NUMBER 1 in PINS (Percent of Industry Sales) in the HD segment. In March '03 Cat HD PINS were 38. 2% in North America. Cummins @ 21. 5%, DDC @ 16. 6%, Mack @ 14. 8%, Volvo @ 4. 4%, Other(MBE) @ 4. 5%. In MD PINS Cat @ 29%, Cummins @ 11. 9%, International @ 44. 1%, Other(Izuzu,Fuso,Mitsu etc... ) 14. 2%. This is not Cat hype. This is from R. L. Polk & Co. You can bet you local Cummins distributor has the same report. I am using March figures because that is the latest that I can find. These figures do not include Class 8 GVW Buses or the Federal Government. It does include state and local municipalities.

 

[Sled Puller]

Yep, and the PSD out sells the 5. 9 by how many??



I have drove Cats, Detroits, Cummins, IHs, Macks I have operated equipment with Cats, Detroits, Cummins. All shapes and sizes.



So far, in 17 years of exprience, I prefer the Cummins over the rest.



I'm sure I have not drove them all, there has to be one good Cat engine, but I have missed it so far.



Sometimes, there has been 'deals" made to gain market share, has nothing to do with quality, power, etc.



Big sales, 99. 9% of the time, means good marketing.

 

[Sled Puller]

The last Cat I drove was a 3116. Stone. I think we all agree on the 3208s.

Wasn't impressed with the M-11 Cummins, but the N-14 was awesome, and I can't think of a piece of equipment, with a Cummins that didn't have plenty of power, right down to the 4 cyl. s



On the other hand, Cat powered equipment seems you are ALWAYS waiting on it, it drives me nuts.



Did you ever notice Cat keeps a fleet of mechanics on the road at all times?

Coincidence?

 

[ndurbin]

I drove both Cats and Cummins at my previous job. Cats were in 2 freightshakers, not sure what model they were but ran about 350 hp. The Cummins (both N-14s) were in a Pete and IH. I prefered to drive the Pete or IH over the freightshakers. The N-14s were strong engines both had 750,000+ on them.



Also drove a L-10 but we wont get into that.

 

[TPyle]

Yep, and the PSD out sells the 5. 9 by how many??



I have drove Cats, Detroits, Cummins, IHs, Macks I have operated equipment with Cats, Detroits, Cummins. All shapes and sizes.



So far, in 17 years of exprience, I prefer the Cummins over the rest.



I'm sure I have not drove them all, there has to be one good Cat engine, but I have missed it so far.



Sometimes, there has been 'deals" made to gain market share, has nothing to do with quality, power, etc.



Big sales, 99. 9% of the time, means good marketing.

As I stated, opinions are good. Its my opinion that led me to purchase my 2001 CUMMINS powered Dodge Ram 2. 5 years ago. Why? Because in MY OPINION the Dodge/Cummins combo is the best that the lite truck market has to offer. In stating Polk market share data I was resonding to specific posts in this thread that in MY OPINION were legitimate questions as to the number of OTR trucks that were Cat powered. Believe what you want about "Deals" being the reason Cat is NUMBER 1 in the market. However that doesn't change the FACTS. I'm sure that some people probably believe that Cat made a "deal" with JD Power&Associates to have them rate the C-15 highest in QUALITY,POWER, and customer satisfaction for the past 3 years. And the C-12 was second.

Who makes the best engine? Define best. Its all opinion. But our opinions need to be based on facts.

 

[onestackdram]

if we are going to get into the serviceability of some engines, I would like to state this from MY OPINION I have worked on lots of different types of diesel engines from the 4 bangers in little utility tractors to water pumps for feild irrigation to the big monsters in 631 scrapers, and gleaners, and combines and Big OTR trucks. Now while I DO NOT want anyone to take this as a bash on ANY brand I must say this. While getting parts for a CAT is extremely easy and quick, it does however bother me that I have to order parts for them so much. I can honestly make a guess that I see 3 Catepillar powered equipment and trucks to 1 Cummins or 2 Detroits. That is just the way it is in our shop granted we have a lot of Cat powered stuff in our neck of the woods, we have a heavy equipment division at the local college that we keep going, so ofcoarse they have a lot of Cat things but the things that are powered by the Cummins (their Big Rig that gets their equip. to their job sites. ) to and an asortment of other things almost never sees our shop unless for routine maintence or the fact that 18 year old kids are too rough on it. Again this is just what I personally have experienced take it as you please.



Russell

 

[MPatrick]

Cummins

SeaRay (in Florida) boats use to offer Cats as standard equipment. The last three large SeaRay boats my brother has purchased: had Cummins QSM-11's as power. After his third (2003 50 footer)



I asked him why not Cat's and his response was SeaRay had problems with service and reliability. I do know that SeaRay makes very fine large boats.

 

[Heavy Metal]

my 2 cents

I gotta agree with the Cat guys on this one.