I've come full circle- back to stock

[midlife crisis]

Well. . before you know it we'll even have a password or secret handshake. I sure hope I am not overqualified with my Ziebart or SS Tip from Geno's. There is something about a clean 10+ year old stock truck, in perfect condition, that turns my head.



Every time I think about bombing, ( not that there's anything wrong with it), I think of all the nights in a campground, or house upgrades, extra mortgage payment, or the boat or quad or somewhere else I could put the krona's. I bought new so I wouldnt have to fix it. My SO pulls my TT just fine. Keep it stock & clean- Its a small club, but all are welcome--

 

[4xquadrod]

Well, I like my truck and I enjoy all the Mods but I'm kind of a gadget nut anyways.

 

[Tim]

Only mods on mine are the Tekonsha Prodigy and TDR sticker.

 

[OTRPU]

Mods. . . I've done a few, but then. . . too few to mention. I just wish the durned thing would quit breaking. I'm an old man, and real gentle with this truck. Afraid bad luck is my middle neme. Truth is if I knew then what I know now I wouldn't be doin it in a pickup.



Cheers,

Steve J

 

[Coolslice]

I'm happy to report that as of this morning my leveling kit and 35's have been removed, and the stock wheels/ tires, ect. are back on now. I couldn't be happier (other than having to look at the truck. :-laf) My power is back, my mileage is up, and the truck drives excellent. If anyone tells you that these trucks handle and drive better with the said setup (as many claim), tell them to put down the crack pipe. Now all I have to do is talk to someone about having the fenders repainted where the flares left their scars. I've never felt so good about downgrading something in my entire life! Oo.

 

[Matt400]

I can relate, I remember having a 4" lift with 36's in the 80's and when I finally took it off was when I realized how badly it was handling, but it looked cool.

 

[Cattletrkr]

Now pulling out the SRT-10 A-Pillar cuz I want more gauges and I may destroy it getting it off because I overtightened one screw that now wont come out. Must be a nut tacked to the pillar that came loose.



Went 5" and a big Donaldson and was rewarded with a big drone so redid it all over with 4" and a different Donaldson, now its ok but stock was stealth!

/QUOTE]



I DID NOT even tighten one of the bolts on the pass side A-pillar handle and it stripped. Those DUMB***** inserts suck. I had to pull the headliner down to hide my CB wiring a couple weeks ago and found out what had happened. I knew it when I put the screw in a few months ago (after initial CB mounting) that something didn't seem right, but wasn't sure. I ended up completely trashing the POS insert and that particular portion of the pillar to goet it out. The lucky part is the plastic cover w/handle is sturdy enough it doesn't need that 2nd screw. I accidentally lost the cover piece and it looks like crap, but I almost never see it and I have to point it out before other poeple see it. PM me and I'll send you a pic of what the screw looks like now. Still have it sitting on the workbench just for $hits and giglgles.



About the Donaldson... The local Cummins shop is a big rig shop and they don't know anyhting about DC. The are actually a Furd auto dealer too. They don't handle Donaldson, but they do handle Nelson. I figured one big rig muffler is the same as the next. Man was I wrong. Put the 51" Nelson on dad's truck (better his than mine :-laf ) and it sounds AWESOME! Problem is, there is a wicked drone. I've seen a pic of the Donaldson since, and it has a center baffle that the Nelson doesn't. OOPS! That's when I ended up going back to stock on mine.



Later

Jake

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Booo Hisss

I couldn't disagree more. There is nothing like a good flatbed mod to turn these trucks into real sweet mochines.



PS: Just returned today from a 2K road trip to the southwest. Same results as last year; I am truly amazed on how much better the longer stock rear leaves on my 3G DRW handles UT's wash board roads, e. g. Escalante - 50 mile bench than my 2Gs did

 

[y-knot]

Hey it's all part of the EXPERIENCE



You learn by making mistakes, unfortunately that is how most everyone I know does it. But a few wrong turns should not stop you from expressing yourself. Some like things stock and I can respect their decision, but the reason most change their trucks is to make their own. A stock Ford,Chevy or Dodge is just like any of the tens of thousands of stock trucks out there. You modify it because you want it to reflect your personal style, at least thats why I do it. I have never had a truck that I didn't heavily modify, and I have never regretted any of them. Hell, I love planing the theme for a new truck or car. That, for me is the most fun... that planning stage, where you determine what the vehicle will be. I have had my dodge since it was ordered, and I still love working on it. It has gone Thur three different stages along with all the parts and pieces it took for each stage. These last stage which I started last year, will be finished this spring when I tear down the front of the truck and powder coat the pieces.

Don't worry about the money, you never get it back. This isn't an investment, it's a choice. Like racing, or any other fun sport you don't do it for the money.

 

[Coolslice]

Hey it's all part of the EXPERIENCE



You learn by making mistakes, unfortunately that is how most everyone I know does it. But a few wrong turns should not stop you from expressing yourself. Some like things stock and I can respect their decision, but the reason most change their trucks is to make their own. A stock Ford,Chevy or Dodge is just like any of the tens of thousands of stock trucks out there. You modify it because you want it to reflect your personal style, at least thats why I do it. I have never had a truck that I didn't heavily modify, and I have never regretted any of them. Hell, I love planing the theme for a new truck or car. That, for me is the most fun... that planning stage, where you determine what the vehicle will be. I have had my dodge since it was ordered, and I still love working on it. It has gone Thur three different stages along with all the parts and pieces it took for each stage. These last stage which I started last year, will be finished this spring when I tear down the front of the truck and powder coat the pieces.

Don't worry about the money, you never get it back. This isn't an investment, it's a choice. Like racing, or any other fun sport you don't do it for the money.

Very true. I too like the planning stages, the shopping for parts, and oddly enough- waiting on UPS to arrive. I brings back that feeling of being a 6 yr old on Christmas morning.



Modding my truck has been a learning experience. I think somewhere along the way, I lost touch with reality. It was a mixture of what I wanted, what others liked, and the hope that I was creating the perfect truck. In that whole mess, I forgot to remember that EVERYTHING has a negative, as well as a positive side. It's like you get blinders put on, and you only see the things you want to. I now totally realize how easy it is to get caught up in fantasy land. I looked up and my truck was starting to look more like a Baja racer ( which is nice!) more than it was a truck that is on city streets 90% of the time. Fact is, there is a reason race trucks and off-raod trucks generally look different than stock trucks. Why on earth it took me so long to come to reality, I have no idea.



Anyways, I appreciate all the positive comments, it could have easily gone the other way. . It's not the easiest thing to stick your neck out sometimes and admit that you've done something foolish, but it sure feels good to know you're not alone. :-laf

 

[tschwab]

Coolslice,



There was an article a few years back in one of the quarterly TDR magazines titled "The Factory Knows Best". It makes a lot of sense, if you have access to any back issues, you might want to give it a read. Sorry I don't remember what issue, but I definetly remember the article, really got me thinking "that the factory really does know best" = everything works in harmony. I know the ones who BOMB will disagree, so those that disagree, no need to reply, save the bandwidth.

 

[rbattelle]

This thread has really made me rethink my plans. I had planned to put on some Skyjacker D25s (2" lift) up front to run 35s. I've decided against the 35s now, because of the mileage penalty (and sensitive ball joints), so I'll go with 33s. Well, I can fit 33s with no lift.



So why bother with a lift and all the potential handling issues that go along with it? Personally, I have absolutely no interest in running around to every alignment shop in the county looking for someone who can get rid of a pull, or death wobble, or squirly handing, or whatever.



Thanks, Coolslice, for starting this thread. I have much to consider now...



-Ryan

 

[evldsl]

I have had the D25's since I bought the truck (3500) and I have never had a problem. I will be removing them tomorrow and selling them on the TDR due to the install of the DRC (KORE) front suspension. I have allready installed the rear suspension and I don't have any problem's. Oo. :-laf

 

[HOCummins04]

Somebody once said that judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. Might also be called the school of hard knocks. I have been a member of that school for quite some time now.



Every once in a while I get the urge to mod my truck (other than something cosmetic like a bedliner, etc). I don't know about every one else, but my truck payments are not insignificant, and I simply can not afford to spend big bucks on upgrades just to cause more maintenance and upkeep and more bucks chasing them. I gained 80 HP from my 01 HO to this truck. And if there are problems with it, they are the full responsibility of DC as long as I follow maintenance.



I have read more than once on the TDR - either online or in The Register - where a BOMB caused problems either right away or down the road.



You can always drill it later, but you can never put that piece back the way it was once it is drilled. Sure you can replace it, but there go more bucks . . .



I suspect that if you were able to recoup 25 cents on the dollar (price of MODs not counting owner time to install/maintain) on resale of the truck, you would be doing well. I don't know that, but when shopping used, I would never buy a truck that has had engine/transmission/drive train mods.



Also, how many spend years and thousands of dollars to get the truck "just right" and then get the lust for a new one and start all over? If I want to work on my truck that much, I will buy a DMax or a Pstroke I bought it to drive and use. I enjoy the maintenance to keep her in good working order.

 

[Crunch]

Somebody once said that judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. Might also be called the school of hard knocks. I have been a member of that school for quite some time now.

Yet I don't believe many people would flat-out say that modifying your truck is a bad thing. It all depends on the reason you bought your truck. If you bought it as a work truck or farm truck it's probably best not to lift it, put giant wheels and tires on it or drop a couple grand into performance mods. But if the reason you bought your truck was because you see it as something to show off, or plan on making money street racing or entering shows, doing significant modification is a great thing. I got my truck to haul and tow, sometimes long distances on the highway. As much as I'd like some modifications, this truck wouldn't be better off for it and I would be one of those guys selling his stuff on TDR.

 

[dclassens]

I have a hand full of miscellaneous electrical parts on my truck, along with over sized tires. The northern michigan roads are rough with this rig. I plan on getting a 05/06 and this one will stay 100% stock. Nothing different. To each his own i guess.

 

[Matt400]

Lots of reasons to justify making changes, its all personal. The mods I do are because I want to and the truck has turned into a true interest vs just transportation.



Over the last 20 years I haven't done mods on my autos other than wheels. This truck is different and I don't know why. . it's my baby and is taking over my thoughts.

The other day my wife redecorated our bedroom, new bead spread, pillows, drapes and some other stuff, I said looks nice but why did you do that? She said hush honey. . you turbo your truck and I turbo the house.

 

[CLAYTON]

I use my truck to drive and enjoy. I also tow my 5th wheel and dirt bikes with it. If my truck was only for work I would think twice about BOMBing it. I modded my truck because I caught the bug. This is my first diesel truck and I'm loving it. I'm the type that likes to be a little faster then the next guy (granted there will ALWAYS be somebody faster). But there is nothing like seeing the face on some kids face with a riced out honda after you spank him and he gets lost in a smoke screen from a gallon of unburt fuel. For some reason I can't leave anything stock. I've always got to tweak it a little. Personally I haven't had any problems with this truck except for towing with to much horse power and having to upgrade my transmission. Upgrading my transmission was always in the master plan but it came sooner then later.

 

[Coolslice]

Lots of reasons to justify making changes, its all personal. The mods I do are because I want to and the truck has turned into a true interest vs just transportation.



Over the last 20 years I haven't done mods on my autos other than wheels. This truck is different and I don't know why. . it's my baby and is taking over my thoughts.

The other day my wife redecorated our bedroom, new bead spread, pillows, drapes and some other stuff, I said looks nice but why did you do that? She said hush honey. . you turbo your truck and I turbo the house.

My girlfriend really got me good the other night. I think I was letting her have it for buying a couple of purses she didn't need. So she told me I had managed to take a $40k truck and turn it into a $50k truck that is only worth $30K. :-laf

I never saw it coming, I had to just tuck my tail and leave the room.

 

[Matt400]

Coolslice - thats good! :-laf :-laf