My "Cajon Pass", Ca Run with a DuraMax

[YFZBOB]

On our way the desert last weekend, Total 22K Combine pull with our 34' 5th Wheel Toyhauler. I'm trucking along minding my own when this DuraMax pulling a Tag Along 28' Toyhauler passes me. Ok, I'm not Intimidated... Well the DuraMax slows down and lets me pass him. He's looking over at me with a grin. Ok, lets Roll, I step on it, he's back there a ways and I can see he's pouring on the coals, Passes me like I'm standing still. Wife in the passenger seat looks at me. I smiled and dropped the hammer. DuraMax truck wasn't hard to find, just follow the Black Cloud. Anyone who's been up Cajon Pass knows the 2nd half of the climb (North of the truck scales) is where the boys get separated of the men. Just past the scales I catch the DuraMax. I'm on his tail for the longest time, I can see he's shifting gears from the Puff of smoke. . Cough... Finally he gives up and pulls over to the slow truck lane. I pulled along side the DuraMax and it sounds like she's ready to give up the ghost. The driver of DuraMax looks over at me, no smile what so ever, I waved and pushed the pedal to the floor. Bye-Bye!!!! Up and over the Pass we went. I slowed down on the back side of Cajon Pass, by the time I got to 395, 2 mile further, the DuraMax guy caught up with me, Gave me the Thumbs up as he went by, I returned with a Thumbs up back.

Other than the Airaid system, the CTD is completely stock. I know I was pushing the Turbo close to 1300 Deg. I don't normally push my truck that hard. She may not be the fastest on the hill, but the most consistent puller I have ever driven.

 

[RankRam]

That was a great story!



Thanks

 

[MMeier]

When me and my buddy pull containers back here, we try to have a go at it up through there every chance we get !!! 40' box up on the GN, upward of 28-29k# away we go !! :-laf

 

[Prairie Dog]

Good kill Bob!



Scotty

 

[mattymac]

I know I was pushing the Turbo close to 1300 Deg. I don't normally push my truck that hard.

1300 deg! :--)





Thats funny!

 

[rjohnson916]

Great story, but I think he way playing with you. Any Duramax with a box, as obvious by the smoke, would hand one to a stock CTD easily. I've never seen a stock Duramax even blow a slight puff of smoke, they seem to be the cleanest stock.



I've personally been trying to get D-Maxes to go every chance I can, but they seem to be the least likely to for some reason. I can get Powerjokes to race all day long.



-Ryan

 

[DieselFiend]

Buzz Kill

Someone always has to ruin it for everyone. Good kill, I believe it. I've seen stock chevy's smoke a lot.

 

[Sled Dog]

Great story, but I think he way playing with you. Any Duramax with a box, as obvious by the smoke, would hand one to a stock CTD easily. I've never seen a stock Duramax even blow a slight puff of smoke, they seem to be the cleanest stock.



I've personally been trying to get D-Maxes to go every chance I can, but they seem to be the least likely to for some reason. I can get Powerjokes to race all day long.



-Ryan

Empty, Ok



Loaded heavy, NOT.



Loaded heavy, up hill, NOT EVER. :-laf

 

[DSutton]

Knowing the road even gives the story a more special kick. I believe it too. I think the Dmax is a great motor for an empty truck. But loaded it gets bottomless quick.

 

[YFZBOB]

I figured he was setup with a box with the smoke he was generating. He may have hurt his motor during the 2nd half of the climb. I thought for sure he would walk away from me, maybe used up all of his horse power miles...

 

[GWBourne]

El cajon pass... . I-8 ?



i know i see many a jackarse pulling throught the hills like that on I-8 to yuma from san diego and back. maybe im just a hard ***... . but screwing off with a trailer on back is even more dumb than without. i will admit that with no trailer im a jerk on the road, but never tak any chances to endanger others... .

 

[rjohnson916]

Seriously, I am the first one to defend the mighty Cummins. But lets be real stock for stock there is no way possible. Again I thought it was a great story myself. I don't know to many pullers that dare "race" their +$40-50K trucks up steep grades, that is the fastest and easiest way to blow up the motor, trans and torque-converter or turbo. I will stoplight any truck from 0-60 all day long, but I am not screwing around with any sort of weight behind my truck, and I think the D-Max was thinking the same. And as far as the smoke goes, I have been around enough D-Max trucks to noticed they hardly ever show any visible smoke at idle or when taking off normally. I always thought something was wrong with my truck, because it idles showing a very subtle haze, but then I started noticing every 3rd gen Cummins truck that was next to me at a light, and everyone I've observed does it, and even blows a slight puff out when it takes off. I'm not endorsing the D-Max by any means, because there is nothing about it that I like at all, but numbers don't lie. What about the guy that posted on here awhile back, can't think of the thread, but both trucks were stock. 2004-05 CTD . VS his buddy in an '04-'05 D-max, the D-Max was loaded heavier than the CTD and the guy with the CTD admitted he could not keep up with his buddy in the D-Max, I didn't believe his story at first, but a lot of you stood up and admitted the D-Max should out pull it, now I'm hearing here that the OP beat a possibly boxed D-Max up a steep grade? I don't know about your trucks, but empty with my Edge-Juice cranked up, pedal to the floor, I've got about 10 seconds before I'm maxed out on EGT's and I better back off, perhaps the D-Max reached maximum EGT's and was being smart by backing down?



-Ryan

 

[BHolm]

I've done a fair amount of towing in the mountains with '01 and '03 D-max trucks and '03,'05 and '06 CTD's. With a load on, up a steep pass with your foot down the D-max definately smokes more. Niether smokes a lot stock, I'll give you that but my Isuzu's used to leave a pretty visible trail once they started getting close to Eisenhower tunnel on I-70. The CTDs exhaust was not noticable in the mirror on the same pull.



It also depends on the versions of the trucks and how well broke in they are. My '03 CTD QC was the fastest stock diesel I have even been it at 70k miles, it would have easily beat either of my Isuzus in a contest like this, while getting better milage Now a "600" CTD vs either of the newer Isuzu variants is probably a losing race for the Cummins. The other thing to consider is that to beat a CTD the Isuzu would be making a wicked racket inside, they are LOUD when pushed and it isn't a good loud. The CTD under the same pressure is pretty solid sounding. I would have backed out of the Isuzu myself, fearing it was going to blow. :-laf

 

[CTD 600]

That grade is no joke especially pulling a Toyhauler!! Most stay around 60 mph going up that thing. Great story, looking foward to another cajon pass story soon

 

[WyattEarp]

I think its these conditions where the Inline takes over, less moving internal parts along with a few less pounds under the hood but the ability to make the bottom end torq. thats needed.

 

[vegasredneck]

I'm looking at as the Dmax was out of its peak HP/TQ range compared to the CTD. I don't know the rpm but figuring in the grade and load. The CTD should have been right on its sweet spot compared to the Dmax. Which runs higher on both. Even if he was cresting the hill at 60 mph just around 2000 rpm. I believe it wasn't a fly by pass but a steady pull avg 5-8 mph difference

 

[Boondocker]

If the Dmax had a box, then it probably got outside the safe operating range and defueled. Nothing the driver can do about it but back off. Better to live and race again another day.

 

[macdaddy]

Great story, but I think he way playing with you. Any Duramax with a box, as obvious by the smoke, would hand one to a stock CTD easily. I've never seen a stock Duramax even blow a slight puff of smoke, they seem to be the cleanest stock.



I've personally been trying to get D-Maxes to go every chance I can, but they seem to be the least likely to for some reason. I can get Powerjokes to race all day long.



-Ryan

I agree he was playin with you, his wife probably told him to let up!!!, here it all the time .



The dmax's with a box are a true runner!!!.



By the way you want a long grade that will test you EGT's try Sherwin grade north of Bishop Ca. Sherwin isn't the steepest but the length, altitude,and summer time driving temps are a good test.



Mac