How did you come to know about TDR- - - Membership

[1stgen4evr]

I have posted on this before but didn't ask the question. I know there a lot of new guys and I also know that there a lot of Cummins/Dodge owners that have never heard of TDR.



I stumbled onto TDR about 15 to 18 months ago. I was looking for a solution to the anti lock light problem and thought that since the internet has so much info of every kind, just maybe, there was something about the Dodge problem. Sure enough, there was a site and they claimed to have a lot of answers. I was new to computers and didn't even know how to use the site as a browser. I emailed a question to administrative and got a completely useless answer so didn't follow up.



I did however get into the classified and found a transmission that I bought from BillMaine. He and I talked like old school friends and it was his information and prodding that got me to browsing and later to join. I still email with him now. I feel like I know a whole bunch of the regular guys through their comments and PMs. Tugboat, Jay, Daniel, Phillip, Paycheck, Michael, just to name a FEW. Especially for first gens, there is a comraderie here that is very wholesome. Maybe for the others as well but I don't read their forums very often.



I often strike a conversation with drivers of Cummins/dodge trucks and about ninety percent of the time, they never have heard of TDR. Sometimes I have a membership sheet but don't always. I always try to be sure they remember that it is TURBO DIESEL REGISTER. I repeat this several times and they will often ask again. They sometimes express surprised that their dealer hasn't told them about TDR. Yeah, right.



It is almost unimaginable to me that the word is still not out to every owner with a Cummins, but that is the case. There are only a few over 20k TDR members and Dodge has sold over a million trucks with the Cummins. Even considering that some have been crashed and are gone, there still must be some 800k owners with Cummins that don't know about TDR. Do you suppose the new trucks never have any problems? One thing I have noticed. Some owners of the new trucks are a bit haughty about talking to me as I drive a somewhat shabby 93 Dually. It is a scuzzie old dog on the outside but it is a slick fox at heart. So when I approach with a membership sheet in my hand, they make the assumption that I am selling something. I can forgive them as I don't like strangers trying to sell me either. After they understand what I am 'pushing', they warm up a bit. I don't know if I have ever been responsible for a single new membership, but I have passed the word.



SO. I know that it is surely making Robin cry all the way to the bank but if you like TDR and think you get your moneys worth, don't you want to pass it on to fellow owners?



Another question I have is this. To what extent is the magazine a part of the overall experience. I thumb through them but don't have the back issues so there is little good from them to me. Almost without exception, I have gotten a good answer from a fellow member for any question I have ever posted. I don't advocate that the magazine go away but I would forgo that if it was a savings. TDR is a internet experience for me. Well I did notice that there were a few post from me in the last magazine.



So how did ya find out.



1stgen4evr

James

 

[Paychk]

Google search on "Cummins forum" did the trick for me. Ghosted a while then became a member.

 

[Philip]

I can't remember how I found this site. Probably doing some home work on the new to me CTD. I lurked for a couple of years before I joined.



Most peole I have talked to do not know about the TDR. Most of the ones I tell go When they find out it is a pay site. Plus most of them have no clue of how to work on a CTD. They get in and turn the key. If it doesn't start call someone who does know something.



I have gotten to the point I don't even talk about the site to strangers. If a person is interested in their truck. They will find the site.

 

[tugboatphil]

I was first online in early 1996. I had owned my 90 for 2 years at that point. I did a search for Cummins Diesel and found an article somewhere that mentioned the name and address for TDR. I'm not sure if they had a website then or not. The subscription was probably $25 or $30 then, but being the cheapskate I am, it was WAY too high.



I never had a problem with ol' Blue, except for the transmission and rear end, so never thought much about it again. Got my 93 and have been a member since about 6 months after that. I'm still hesitant to go very far into my pump, as it is my work truck and I'm sure I'd screw something up.



Like James, I could or could not do with the magazine. Although the first thing I do is check to see if I got "published" in the new issue. (just for the record, not only did I make this issue, but I got on a GLOSSY page!!) However, I use the magazine more for the ads and the new product info more than anything. Most of the book is geared toward those roundy models anyway.



I also notice that newer truck owners look at "Blackie" like she's a dinosaur. But I tend to treat them with reverse snobbery. And it doesn't matter if it's -50 outside, if I see another 1st Gen approaching on the highway, I roll down the window and practically crawl outside waving at them. I notice that most of them not only wave back, but I can tell they were looking at mine with the same admiration.



This is a great bunch of people on the forum and I also feel like I'd have no trouble talking to any of you if we met. I just posted about Greenleaf stopping by on his way to Florida. No sooner than he was out of the truck, we were talking like we'd just seen each other yesterday.



If you're lurking out there and happen to read this thread, go ahead and pay for a year. If it's not the best money you ever put into your truck, well, you'll just be out the money. But I'll bet you'd renew next year.

 

[bmoeller]

First I heard of it, was in Dodge sales lit for the '97 model year trucks. Didn't have internet at the time and forgot about it. Stumbled across it later in there and looked it up. They must've had problems with the site for awhile, unless it was the computer. Could only get the banner at the top. Finally got to look at the site about 8 months before joining and after buying my '97. Been here ever since.

 

[MMiller]

This question got me thinking, James. I sit and can't remember a time that I had internet access that the TDR wasn't the place I would go. I can't even remeber how I found the TDR but I know it has been well worth the money to keep the member ship. I do talk to CTD owners about the TDR, but usually when they show enthusiasum about the trucks. Yeah most go :--) about the $35 dollars, but I don't think there are many that can argue that they haven't got their money's worth. I guess the ones that don't swing their own wrenches, or the ones that trade every couple of years probably don't get the value the guys in this group get. HOWEVER I am sure most have saved money and gotten better taken care of on their new trucks with the info here when bartering with the dealerships. I did bomb my truck a little before finding the TDR, but now it is much easier to find the help now. Heck I have had people ask me if I put the cummins in my truck, most don't realize dodge/cummins was a great combo back in '89, instead of starting in '94.



Second part: I do enjoy the magazine, it doesn't always mean a lot too me, just like the other forums here, but it lets me have much reading material. It also keeps me on the ball enough to help field questions from all my friends looking at differnt CTD's.



I have learned much about my truck here. I have also learned if I tear something up on my CTD somebody else already has, and has fixed it better then stock! Better known as bombing! I know there is other cites dedicated to the diesels, and even some dodge diesel webcites, I have been to them too. None of them even come close to the help hear in the first gen forum for our trucks. Yeah there are some out there running more HP, I know not everything that happens on a CTD happens here, but if you want help keeping your pride and joy, or even your work truck on the road this is the place to be!



Michael

 

["Mad Max"]

...not paperless...

I think I first heard about the TDR from a friend of mine - he has a healthy Powerstroke Ford and was helping me diagnose my 93 right after I first got it. I think he found the TDR when surfing for ways to up the juice on his rig, and I surfed my way in. Also been here ever since.

I like the mag because it kind of brings all of the major highlights from all the forums into one simple to 'see' area, and so help me, I am no where near paperless - If I can write something down with pencil and paper I will all day long verses plugging in a 'reminder' on a computer, so having the magazine really helps for taking notes and filing the really great threads. And uh, getting 'published' is really cool too... !

- Sambo

 

[Headshot zod]

Its an easy one for me... ... .....



Back in 1995 we had a 2'+ snowfall a few days before Christmas. Everything in NJ was shutting down. I was unemployed (like now) and was delivering flowers to every freaking ungrateful jerk and his/her/spouse/mother and dog in northeastern NJ. Around 5-6 o'clock I was asked if I wanted to go to JFK airport in NYC pick-up a load of flowers and drive them to Boston. All the planes were grounded and they had just recieved a load of flowers from Hawaii that would die on the dock there from the cold. Oh, and they had to be there by 7:30AM. I said sure. I love driving and the second worse snowstorm of the season was just the incentive I needed to get going. SaddleBrook NJ to JFK was a few hours. Well I left JFK at 11pm and arrived at the florist at 7:15am... It was the slowest drive of my life. It was great though, people in snowbanks all over the place. Well... ... . on the way back I stopped in a dodge dealer in Mystic CT. Just to look at the sec. gens. He talked me out of the gas and into a cummins. He gave me a copy of TDR to go. I suscribed for a year and finally bought a first gen last month. So when I was ready... ... I knew exactly were to go for diesel info/stuff. Almost forgot... I got $400 in cash and a $100 fruit basket for the run... .

 

[Flexiheep]

pretty boring really

I don't have a good story like everyone so far, I was just surfing around a year ago when I finally got my dad to let go of his death grip on the truck (first truck he bought new, or even got to choose for himself!). I was searching for information on how the VE worked, since it is the heart of the beast (it pays to be well informed, or maybe you pay less when you are ). I found the TDR and references to it everyplace, sucked info off the boards for 6 months or so and then jumped in. It has definitly been the cheapest tuition I have paid yet Oo. Oo.



I have noticed I get more attention from other "old" Dodges than the newer diesels, guess the first gens just dont fit in completely. Maybe that explains why we are all "funny" around here.

 

[Greenleaf]

I purchased my rig and needed to "belong" to some group of "Diesel-Nut-Case-Tinkering-Smoke-Luv'n-Gear-Head-A. M. Radio Types who would rather spit polish thier truck's valve covers and Armer-All the mud flaps as opposed to go to thier Brother's wedding or... ..... guys who would rather tinker on the rig as opposed to set in the easy chair w/a Mt. Dew and fall asleep.



Or. . Your wife has to "remind" you six times that dinner is on the table while your "working" on the truck.



So I serfed the net and joined!



-S

 

[Headshot zod]

due to our numbers we need to stick together..... and promote each other... and cry on each other's cheesey valve covers. I try to think of the 1993 model year as final year of the 1972 model run Oo.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

As I recall I started reading in early 1998. I hung out for some time, in fact until about late 2000 then signed up. Best thing I ever did. The guys have all expounded on the great benefits/friendships/info/innovations/ideas etc and of course they all apply to me as well.

There were a couple fella's who really helped me out alot... one fellow, "Old School" aka: Frank Symkowski (sp?)

HE set the tone for me when I started posting, and fortunately we have a great group who have carried on that helpful approach with virtually zero problems and always willing to answer the same question over and over... .



pastor bob... .

 

[jrjuday]

I don't remember how I found TDR, but it was probably the same way as everything I've learned about computors-from my kids. I like the magazine because I can take it with me- I aint sayin' where- but mine get read thoroughly. The first couple years I just lurked and got all the information I needed from the replies to all the questions C. B Parker asked. Now that he's slid down that slippery slope to the land of 2nd Gen. I guess I'll have to ask my own questions- but at least I can pad my post count that way. Thanks for all the good information . This forum is really great, because of all the really great people on it. John Juday.

 

[JLEONARD]

Like a lot of you guys, I found TDR after doing an internet search looking for info on the old Dodge truck I just bought a few years ago.

When I first found TDR, there was something going on where they weren't accepting members, or the site was messed up, whatever. I got in a few times to ghost, but then got denied access for some reason.

After a couple of months I went back and things were working correctly, so I joined.

It's been an obsession ever since.

Jay

 

[Grey Wolf]

I joined the TDR through an advertisement in the Trailer Life magazine around 1994. I don't remember when the internet site came up but I wasn't very computer savy (still not very ) until 1995 or so, but I do remember something about them talking about taking the information to the internet. It has been great and very informative since the beginning

 

[RACE427]

TDR Membership

At the Vocational School where I teach the students and teachers were involved with the restoration of a couple of totaled Dodge pickups with the Cummins diesels. I needed some information about these trucks and decided to do a search on Google. TDR came up on the serach , read a few lines, sent my membership fee in and have never regreted it one bit!!



Wonderful information, at times a little too opinionated, but overall the membership has beem great!! Have really enjoyed speaking with those who I have met!!!



Thanks!!

 

[CGauthier]

When I saw this thread I knew it would be a hot one James. I like others was just searching for info on my new pride and joy when I stumbled across this site. If you could find a buried treasure on the internet this is it. Absolutely great bunch of guys here, unbelievable knowledge wise and I feel like we're all part of a big family (except CB Parker of course, because he went from prince turd to King ***** in front of my very eyes! Lol, J/K bro) Chris is a good guy, I dont care what everybody I mean anybody says haha-too bad he had to go to a different family Honestly, I believe that the $ I spent to get on here is THE best $ I've ever spent. Anyone owning a CTD and not having a membership here is a crime... I'm sure the dealer doesn't mind tho

As far as the magazine goes it doesn't really matter to me... If i could choose I'd probably save the $ because for me it's really all about the internet. That's just me tho... . Good thread James



Carl G

 

[KeithTaylor]

TDR Rules!

I was guided to TDR my a co-worker/friend that had his own CTD. I had been looking for a CTD and when I found my 92, I really jumped into the forums. Lurked around for a few months, then signed up as N2DUNES. Ex-wife stole my computer (as well as a whole bunch of other stuff - including a set of brand new POD's), so I fell off of TDR for a while. Came back with my present sign on and will be here for a long time. Maybe a note to those in charge at TDR - I would still pay the 35. 00 a year and not get the magazine. You might find that some of the members would be willing to have internet access only and save you a lot of $$ in publishing costs. Great group of guys in the first gen forums! Talked to Nascar Mark the other day on the phone and have PM'd several members with questions - everyone is always helpful!

Keith

 

[tugboatphil]

Carl G,



You are TOO funny! I was really rolling on the floor. :-laf

 

[DavidGardner]

I was at the Dodge dealer getting some warranty work done on my 95 which was new at the time. While waiting I picked up a TDR mag that some one left in the waiting room Couldnt put it down! When they told me that my truck was ready I snuck the magazine under my jacket and took it home where I read it cover to cover. I sent in for a subscription the next day. I didnt get a cumputer and go online until around 2000. I now visit this site at least once a day.