New owner need mod advise

[10.5 Dave]

I'm a new owner and need to get educated on the basic mods for our trucks. I pull 15 yard,15,000-20,000 lb trailers locally for work and a 44 ft gooseneck around the country for play. Things I need to know.



1. Cat elimination pipe;don't want to spend big bucks on a new exhaust when DC gives us a 4 incher stock.



2. Best box for power;not looking to drag race,just want to be able to get up a 5% grade at 75mph loaded without rowing through the gears. I had Edge hot juice on my Dmax and it ran 14's in the 1320.



3. Exhaust brake to help slow me down,had one on a commercial truck I used to own and loved it.



I've owned a stroker and Dmax in the last 5 yrs and let me tell you the Cummins just has a more commercial,stout feel to it. I never thought I would own a Mopar but I'm glad I bought it. Oo.

 

[JohnnyH]

As far as the cat is concerned, you will get mixed comments on that. I left mine, but I have to pass emmisions and dont want to have warrenty/criminal issues. The biggest thing is get rid of the stock muffler. I did, and wrote my impressions of it on this forum.



Cant help you on a box, because I dont have one and dont plan on getting one.



Either Pac brake or Jacobs brake are probably the most popular options. Both seem to be great, with each having its own little benefits. I havent decided which one I'm going to get when the funds are available.



Enjoy the truck.



John

 

[10.5 Dave]

I'm not concerned about the cat. I don't have to worry about testing and we don't have Nazi style cops around here checking for them. I just want to lower my EGT's mainly and that big azz cat has to be holding up exhaust flow.

 

[DPKetchum]

Removal of cat and adding a fuel box will REALLY void warranty. Eaither one. I'd leave the cat at least.

 

[Tim]

Removal of cat and adding a fuel box will REALLY void warranty. Eaither one. I'd leave the cat at least.

That is not true and you know it. The only way the warranty is voided is if the aftermarket part causes the failure. Removing the cat only voids the emission warranty. The fueling box is an entire can of worms..... supposing that the dealer figures out it was there.

 

[CLAYTON]

That is not true and you know it. The only way the warranty is voided is if the aftermarket part causes the failure. Removing the cat only voids the emission warranty. The fueling box is an entire can of worms..... supposing that the dealer figures out it was there.

That couldn't be further from the truth!!! No just kidding I agree with what Tim said. Warranty is voided if the aftermarket part causes the failure. Couldn't be said better

 

[DPKetchum]

There have been some ISSUES about warranty and the cat. removed. I fully understand about how it has to be proven it caused a failure etc. But the cat. removal is EASILY spotted and it fuels the fire. (warranty issue)Take one in with a trans or engine problem with the cat. removed and see if they don't really start looking for a box,calling rep etc.

 

[Car_nut57]

Leave the cat in place and remove the muffler and replace it with an Aeroturbine and off-set pipe to reuse the stock tail pipe. The muffler is the most restrictive part of the exhaust. We are running a special in the vendor promotions of the TDR for the 4040L SS kit for the 04. 5-05 trucks. The Aeroturbine will really help to loer EGTs without drone.



As for the box either an Edge Juice with Attitude or Banks Six-Gun are good choices. With the Banks you will need to get gauges seperatley.



Another thing you shouls consider would be a Turbo Air Guide (TAG) and good air intake such as the Scotty RA3 with 2-stage foam filter. Flows much better than stock and is an excellent filter for stopping dirt.

 

[10.5 Dave]

Leave the cat in place and remove the muffler and replace it with an Aeroturbine and off-set pipe to reuse the stock tail pipe. The muffler is the most restrictive part of the exhaust. We are running a special in the vendor promotions of the TDR for the 4040L SS kit for the 04. 5-05 trucks. The Aeroturbine will really help to loer EGTs without drone.



As for the box either an Edge Juice with Attitude or Banks Six-Gun are good choices. With the Banks you will need to get gauges seperatley.



Another thing you shouls consider would be a Turbo Air Guide (TAG) and good air intake such as the Scotty RA3 with 2-stage foam filter. Flows much better than stock and is an excellent filter for stopping dirt.

Thanks for the input. I don't mind ditching the muffler instead of the cat. I just don't want a loud truck. It gets old real quick rolling down the road for hours listening to exhaust drone.



Looks like I'm going to do the Aeroturbine and Edge Juice with a air intake.

 

[Cattletrkr]

Don't waste your money on an aeroturbine or any other muffler for that matter. I have my cat in place and the factory muffler is back on after a couple months MIA. Got sick of the drones and finally said enough. Take a pipe and knock a few holes, a torch makes a few more and you've got a muffler that flows better and isn't any louder than stock. As for EGT's I can't get above 1200* with 25K behind me. I don't pull any long hills so I'm sure you'll see higher, but that 1200* is me trying to get things heated up with Juice on 2. I do however have an X-intake from BD which uses an AFE PG7 filter. Didn't have EGT probe in before the intake swap so I don't know how much of a difference it made.



I know this is contrary to what a lot of us have been preaching for years, myself included. But the factory 4" is plenty good for most uses, maybe a little "modification" to the muffler, but that's about it. I've tried 3 different mufflers,



4" glasspack --BEST sound quality, just too much sound QUANTITY

IMCO straight thru design--not bad, just an annoying drone

51" Nelson-this one's on dad's '03, nice at idle/slow speeds, but at 70mph it drones bad.



Juice rocks, 6-gun not so much.



BD exhaust brake stops me, and I love it.