Keep it stock or get a new one?

[Horsepuller]

I have a '93 that runs great and works well for what I use it for. Eventually, we are going to get a bigger, heavier trailer and will either need to bomb the '93 to the max or get a newer Dodge (boy those 3500 2004, High ouputs sure look sweet!).

The truck has no mods yet, very stock but runs great.



Should I invest in the '93 or save my money for a newer one. If I could get around 235 HP out of the '93, it might be worth it to me. What I don't want to do is spend a whole bunch of money on my truck if it will never do the job well. Know what I mean? I love the truck but also don't want to push her too hard. If I sell her, she will go to a good home. I already have a buyer and it isn't even for sell yet.



Your opinions please.



Thanks

 

[paccool]

Horsepuller, you and I have been thinking about the same thing. I was going to get a new truck a few years ago but decided to keep the old one. Spent a lot of money on it and sort of hate to get rid of it. But, everytime I ride in a newer one I am reminded of the noise issue! Then I think about what I have done to the old one and decide again to keep it. Bought a new Volvo for the wife, tried to talk her into a new Dodge Cummins instread but she wasn't too keen on that idea!



Anyway, what kind of weight are you talking about towing?

 

[Horsepuller]

pacool: You have a nice looking truck there, looks like a lot of love and money went into it.



To answer your question, right now the trailer empty weighs around 4500lbs. Add 3 - 1000lbs horses and my future living quarters, hay, water and tack and I will more than likely be around 10-12 thousands pounds.



The most I have towed now is around 6000lbs. It pulls pretty good at this weight, done some trips to NW and SW Texas, up to New Mexico, and through Flagstaff (some decent hills) and have never had to shift below third, 90% of the time I can climb in 4th. Right now my horses are babies and I haven't put the Living Quarters in, so in a few years my trailer weight will just about double. This is what I am thinking about.

 

[paccool]

Thanks for the truck comment, took a lot of work but not as much as some of these guys put into their trucks!



I thought maybe you were talking 16,000 # or heavier. Your truck would pull the load you are talking about. The 235 HP

is achievable, could probably be had for less than $2000.



New injectors

Gauges

larger exhaust

BHAF air filter setup

16 cm Turbo housing

Pump tweaks



What kind of shape are the brakes, front suspension, transmission , clutch, rearend, cooling system? Getting those into shape if needed could add to the bill considerably.



I know what I said here doesn't help keep you in the 93 but is my opinion. Keep the 93!

 

[Horsepuller]

Thanks for the recommendations and advice. I would like to stay in the '93. The older models have a real classic, old fashioned, brawny appealing look to them. But, you know that.

 

[TPCDrafting]

A friend and I do a lot of summer trail riding and elk hunting with our horses. We usually are pulling at least 4 horses sometimes 5. He has a '85 5 horse trailer that's 6500lbs empty. Put 5 horses and gear and the trailer is approaching 13k! (See my readers rigs for pics of the old grey 5 horse) We don't dare wash the mud off, it'll fall apart for sure. It's like dragging an anchor down the road. He pulls it all the time with his '91 CTD 250 auto. He has around 190k on it with few problems. It's slow going up the passes but we go over 11,000 feet frequently. He has no fear of hooking up and going. My '98 12 valve can outpull him easily on the hills, but he's usually not too far behind. He also pulls a 24' gooseneck which we load at least 4' high with logs for milling and firewood. A few times a summer we haul his JD 2040 with loader and 4x4 to his cabin. His first recommedation to you would be to get an exhaust brake. Work on the slow before you work on the go.

I agree, the new ones are really tempting, but the first gens are one tough truck!

 

["Mad Max"]

how much is enough???

These have been the two questions I have wrestled with since I knew what a carburator was. How much is enough, and how fast can I afford to go?



For me, my 93 LE has every option I would want in a new truck. I have plenty of power, probably somewhere like 140 hp to the tires and plenty of torque. I don't tow often, but my rig will haul 8000 lbs at 70 mph getting about 14 mpg all day long, and 21 mpg unloaded. The ONLY thing that 350 hp and 600 tq would allow me to do is go uphill faster, and nothing else. My big block 71 Demon is my toy - it's scary fast and it was built to be that way - and it is also definitely not my daily driver. My 93 Cummins is all the truck I'll ever need, and it's paid for. $600/month payment for the rest of my life for any vehicle is out of my reasonability level, but it would for sure buy the baddest truck on the market. Plus, for me, I just like to be able to tinker on stuff, and I hate digging through wiring harnesses. A new rig wouldn't give me much to improve on, and I just like that ability... call me weird.



One other thing - I like my vehicles to be just a little unique - So every addition and modification I do makes my 93 more 'mine'. I hate it when folks say "yeah, I have one just like this... " - stuff like that makes me want to go out and Bomb it some more. Bombing the 1st gens is probably lots cheaper, and more rewarding, than bombing the newer rigs - IMHO.



Besides, being the underdog has always been appealing - all Mopar owners can relate to that...



Old school or no school!



- Sam

 

[DPKetchum]

Went with a friend truck shopping today. He's been looking at a Duramax. we test drove a 2003 h. o. 2500 2wd with a 48re. It was like WOW. It will out pull,out run,stop better,etc. Then MINE WOULD EVER HOPE TO BE. Made mine feel like a boat anchor. 3. 73 rear gear and at 80 stand on it and can still push you into the seat. They showed invoice minus $300. 00 minus $2000. 00 rebate. A $37,000 truck for $30,000 and change. He liked it all WHOLE lot better then the 2500 Duramax and it was several thousands less. Was hard to crawl back in mine to go home. Thoight my truck all of a sudden looked TIRED.

 

[DPKetchum]

Went with a friend truck shopping today. He's been looking at a Duramax. we test drove a 2003 h. o. 2500 2wd with a 48re. It was like WOW. It will out pull,out run,stop better,etc. Then MINE WOULD EVER HOPE TO BE. Made mine feel like a boat anchor. 3. 73 rear gear and at 80 stand on it and can still push you into the seat. They showed invoice minus $300. 00 minus $2000. 00 rebate. A $37,000 truck for $30,000 and change. He liked it all WHOLE lot better then the 2500 Duramax and it was several thousands less. Was hard to crawl back in mine to go home. Thought my truck all of a sudden looked TIRED.