One more Cummins on the road

[BKunic]

Picked up my '04 a week ago Saturday. Guess I would have posted earlier, but I've been driving it too much since I picked it up! These are amazing trucks, so far no surprises. My goal is 400K miles, time will tell if that is realistic or not.



I found the TDR while researching new trucks. Originally I thought that I wanted a Ford Crewcab, but then started researching the diesel engines, and the Cummins sealed the deal for me. I'm also really pleased with the Dodge truck wrapped around the Cummins, so now I'm wondering why I was ever considering the Ford? Several thousand $$ less as well.



Had the dealer install the Mopar exhaust brake before I picked it up, and love it!



Adios,



Bryan

 

[lschultz]

Welcome to the road. You will enjoy that truck. I got a few more weeks to wait on my 04

 

[AndyMan]

Sweet man!



Welcome to the club!



I too auditioned all three diesels. I'm dang glad this is the one that I ended up with!! There was something about it when I drove it. It just seemed to much tighter and more powerful than any of the others. I've got 15K miles on my '03, and I LOVE IT MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY!



Enjoy it, it's one truely awesome piece of work.



Later,

Andy

 

[JNutter]

Congrats!



I pick up my new 2003 2500 QC LWB 4x4 HO 6 spd tomorrow night. It seems that there's no Jake Brakes in Minneapolis right now, so I'll have to give it back for a couple days next week to get the JB installed.



I drove a Ford 6L but the low number on the mpg indicator in the ceiling scared me away. All the problems people seem to be having with the 6L didn't help either. I still had to give it a chance since my '94 F250 withthe IDI 7. 3 TD has been so good. I guess my mind might have been made up in favor of the Dodge before I even drove the Ford, but I did give it a try.



I didn't even consider the Chevy. IFS on a heavy 4x4 truck

 

[ttreibel]

Welcome... . you will gain power with miles driven.

I have 15K and have only been to the dealer once for a safety CO2 flash and an alternator bracket. I have one of the early builds and was worried about a new design the two thinks fixed were not even really broken in my mind probably could of gone 1 million miles that way.



My first pull with the travel trailer was a bit disappointing in the power department, but now with the miles on the truck it pulls like a champ and I have a standard output.



Remember to cool down that turbo it's not a 7. 3idi

 

[gonzo2]

Picked up my new '03 QC 4x4 3500 6sp on Saturday(my third Cummins). I'm starting to forget my tears from losing my '98 already. My only problem is finding something to tow as my snowmobile trailer just isn't heavy enough.

Overall quite impressed.

 

[DWendt]

Picking up the '03 tonight. Going to be the wife's truck as my '02 is pretty well set up for me and couldn't see trading it in and starting all over again ( well I guess I will have to start now on the 03. Was going to order a 04 but couldn't pass up the deal on the 03. Picked up a new 3500 DRW HO 6 spd with most of the toys except leather for $29,500 out the door ( no trade). Needed a second truck and seeing that I put 68,000 trouble free miles on the 02 in 9 months there was no choice for me but the Dodge/Cummins. Cummins builds a great motor.



Derek

 

[BKunic]

Thanks for the kind words.



The funny thing is that I was sort of bummed out about not being able to get the HO (I'm stuck in that strange left coast state), but after having driven it for the past week and half, I have to say that it's really a moot point. I mean, the SO puts out a surprising amount of power. I can always replace the chip and get it up to around 300 hp. On the weekend I met a guy who has a 92, which he says was rated at 165 hp. He's got a flatbed on it and has routinely hualed 1. 5 tons of hay on it, and pull much heavier loads. He's never had a problem with a "lack of power. " So, while power is a funny thing in that we always want more of it, at this point I really don't regret having to get the SO as much as I thought I would. It's all relative. I personally think that a simple HP rating such as you see in the advertising for the Ford and Chevy doesn't really tell the whole story.



When I ordered it, a friend up in MT said that even with that SO, I'd have more power than I'd know what to do with and not to worry about it, and he was right about that.



Now, it's time to start fixing this truck up. Got the hitch and tow brake squared away, and am getting it Rhino lined and bed rail protectors put on in about two weeks.



I bought this truck with the goal of putting 400K miles on it, so it's time to start driving!



Adios,



Bryan